US-20260129434-A1 - Method for Configuring a Communication Device, Method for Configuring a Communication Device by Means of a User Device, Communication Device, System and Computer Program

US20260129434A1US 20260129434 A1US20260129434 A1US 20260129434A1US-20260129434-A1

Abstract

A method configures a communication device, which is suitable at least for: arrangement on a motor-driven processing device, collecting data from the processing device, cryptographically processing the collected data with a cryptographic key, wirelessly transmitting the processed data, and connecting to an electrical energy storage device for supplying the communication device with energy during the processing and transmission, and in particular collection, of the data. The method includes: transferring the communication device to a configuration state triggered by establishing the connection to the energy storage device by a user, such that the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, wherein in the configuration state the communication device is designed to wirelessly receive the key and accept the received key; receiving the key by the communication device in the configuration state; and configuring the communication device by the acceptance of the received key by the communication device, such that the configured communication device is configured for processing the data with the key and transmitting the processed data.

Inventors

Holger MOESSINGER

Assignees

ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251106
Priority Date: 20241107

Claims (18)

1 . A method for configuring a communication device that is suitable for: arrangement on a motor-driven processing device, collecting data from the motor-driven processing device, cryptographically processing the collected data with a cryptographic key, wirelessly transmitting the processed data, and connecting to an electrical energy storage device for supplying the communication device with energy during the collecting, cryptographic processing and wireless transmission of the data, the method comprising the steps of: a) transferring the communication device to a configuration state triggered by establishing the connection to the energy storage device by a user, such that the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, wherein in the configuration state the communication device is configured to wirelessly receive the cryptographic key and to accept the received cryptographic key; b) receiving the cryptographic key by the communication device in the configuration state; and c) configuring the communication device by accepting the received cryptographic key such that the configured communication device is configured for processing the data with the cryptographic key and transmitting the processed data.
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in the configuration state, the communication device is configured to independently transfer itself into a non-configuration state triggered by an expiry of a limited time period since the establishment of the connection to the energy storage device and/or since the transfer to the configuration state, wherein in the non-configuration state the communication device is configured not to receive the cryptographic key or not to accept the received cryptographic key, wherein the time duration is a maximum of 120 s.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication device is configured to output optically, acoustically and/or haptically, information about the transfer to the configuration state in a manner perceptible by the user, and/or to output different information about the transfer to the non-configuration state in a manner perceptible by the user.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cryptographic key is transmitted wirelessly from a user device, which is different from the motor-driven processing device, the communication device and the energy storage device.
5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein step a) comprises: wirelessly transmitting information to the user device about the transfer to the configuration state by the communication device, triggered by the establishment of the connection to the energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, and the method further comprising the steps of: wirelessly receiving transmitted information by the user device; and wirelessly transmitting the cryptographic key to the communication device triggered by the receipt of the transmitted information.
6 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the user device comprises a mobile terminal device and/or a mobile gateway.
7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of: d) transferring the configured communication device to an operating state triggered by the configuring of the communication device, wherein in the operating state, the communication device is configured for bidirectional wireless communication with the user device.
8 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the transmission, the reception, the sending and/or the communication is/are based on a short-range technology.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the short-range technology has a maximum range of 10 m and/or comprises Bluetooth technology, ZigBee technology, and/or Wireless Local Area Network technology.
10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a housing, which is configured to accommodate the energy storage device and has an open state and a closed state, wherein in the open state the energy storage device is insertable into the housing and/or removable from the housing.
11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a container for receiving the energy storage device and a lid for closing the container, the lid is removable from the container in the open state and the lid closes the container in the closed state, and the container and the lid have at least one bayonet closure to form a mechanical connection with each other.
12 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication device and the energy storage device are designed separately from the motor-driven processing device, and/or wherein the communication device, when the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, is designed, at least in an off-state of a drive motor of the motor-driven processing device, for transmission and for processing.
13 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data comprises operating data of the motor-driven processing device.
14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the data is an operating duration of an ON state of a drive motor of the motor-driven processing device.
15 . A method for configuring a communication device via a user device, the method comprising the steps of: wirelessly receiving information by the user device, the information being about a transfer of the communication device to a configuration state, wherein in the configuration state the communication device is configured to wirelessly transmit the information; and wirelessly transmitting a cryptographic key from the user device to the communication device triggered by the reception of the information, wherein in the configuration state the communication device is configurable at least with the transmitted cryptographic key.
16 . A device to be configured, comprising: a communication device suitable at least for: arrangement on a motor-driven processing device, collecting data from the motor-driven processing device, cryptographically processing the collected data with a cryptographic key, wirelessly transmitting the processed data, and connecting to an electrical energy storage device for supplying the communication device with energy during the collection, processing and transmission of the data, wherein the communication device is configured to: transfer the communication device to a configuration state triggered by establishing the connection to the energy storage device by a user, such that the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, wherein in the configuration state the communication device is configured to wirelessly receive the cryptographic key and accept the received cryptographic key, receive the cryptographic key by way of the communication device in the configuration state, and configure the communication device by the acceptance of the received cryptographic key by the communication device, such that the configured communication device is configured for processing the data with the received cryptographic key and transmitting the processed data.
17 . A system, comprising: the communication device as claimed in claim 16 ; and the motor-driven processing device, the energy storage device and/or a user device.
18 . A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed by a processor, causes the acts of: a) transferring a communication device, arrangeable on a motor-driven processing device, to a configuration state triggered by establishing a connection to an energy storage device by a user, such that the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, wherein in the configuration state the communication device is configured to wirelessly receive a cryptographic key and to accept the received cryptographic key, b) receiving the cryptographic key by the communication device in the configuration state, and c) configuring the communication device by accepting the received cryptographic key such that the configured communication device is configured for processing data, collectable from the motor-driven processing device, with the cryptographic key and transmitting the processed data.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from German Patent Application No. 102024132507.0, filed November 7, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is herein expressly incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The invention relates to a method for configuring a communication device, a method for configuring a communication device by means of a user device, a communication device, a system comprising such a communication device and a computer program for carrying out such a method and/or by means of such a communication device and/or by means of such a system. The object addressed by the invention is the provision of a method for configuring a communication device, a method for configuring a communication device by means of a user device, a communication device, a system comprising such a communication device and a computer program for carrying out such a method and/or by means of such a communication device and/or by means of such a system, which have/has improved properties. The invention solves this problem by providing methods, a communication device, a system and a computer program described in the independent claims. Advantageous refinements and/or embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. The method according to the invention is designed to configure a communication device at least once. The communication device is at least suitable, and configured, in particular after the configuration, for: - arrangement on, in particular in, a motor-driven processing device, - collecting data from the processing device, in particular when arranged on the processing device, - cryptographically processing the collected data with a cryptographic key and/or by using the key, - wirelessly transmitting the processed data, and - connecting, in particular electrically, to an energy storage device for supplying the communication device with, in particular electrical, energy during or at least for the processing and transmission, and in particular the collection, of the data. The method comprises the steps of: a) transferring the communication device to a configuration state triggered by establishing the connection to the energy storage device by a user at least, in particular exactly or only once, in particular as a single or one-off action, in such a way that the energy storage device supplies the communication device with energy, wherein the communication device in the configuration state is designed to wirelessly receive the key and to accept the received key; b) receiving the key by means of the communication device in the configuration state; c) configuring the communication device by means of the acceptance of the received key by means of the communication device, in such a way that the configured communication device is configured for processing the data with the key and transmitting the processed data. This enables the configuration of the communication device triggered by the user, in particular who may be or needs to be in actual possession of the communication device in order to establish the connection to the energy storage device. Thus, this enables the configuration to be secure, in particular protected against manipulation by an unauthorized person who cannot be in actual possession of the communication device. In addition or alternatively, this enables a simplicity of the communication device. In particular, the communication device may not or need not have a user-operable trigger, such as a button, for an operation by the user that is different from the establishment of the connection to the energy storage device in order to trigger the transfer of the communication device to the configuration state. Further, in addition or alternatively, this enables a resetting or a reset function or a reset in the form of a hard reset of the communication device, in particular into a factory or delivery state. In particular, the method, the configuration, the collection, the processing, the transmission, the supply, the transfer, the reception and/or acceptance can be automatic and/or computer-implemented. The term "initialize" or "set up" can be used synonymously for the term "configure". The term "set up", "designed" or the phrase "programmed to perform the function/s of" can be used synonymously for the term "configured". The arrangement can be implementable by the user, and in particular in a releasable, in particular non-destructively releasable, manner and/or in a contact-based manner and/or mechanically. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement may comprise, in particular be, an attachment or fastening or connection, in particular a materially bonded connection, such as an adhesive bond, a force-fitting connection, such as a latching or snap-in connection, and/or a positive-locking connection, such as a screw connection. Further, in addition or alternatively, the communication device can contact the processing device directly