Authentication of remote appliance messages using an embedded cryptographic device

• Main Authors: EVANS SCOTT CHARLES, DAUM WOLFGANG, HERSHEY JOHN ERIK
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.06.2007
• Subjects: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SIGNALLING; TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION; TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILARSIGNALS

A method for authenticating appliance messages sent between an appliance and an appliance communication center over an appliance communications network includes maintaining a shared message counter at both the appliance communication center. A shared message counter at both the appliance communication center and the remotely located appliance. An authentication algorithm is applied to the appliance message and the shared message counter to generate an authentication word. The appliance message is then transmitted to the appliance or the communication center along with the authentication word. Upon receiving the appliance message, the appliance or the communication center will apply an authentication algorithm to the appliance message and the shared counter to generate an authentication word. The generated authentication word may be compared to the word received with the appliance message to determine authenticity of the message.