US 11,870,771 B2
Method for secure communication between a field device of automation technology and an end device as well as a system for secure communication between a field device and an end device
Wolfgang Hottgenroth, Essen (DE)
Filed by KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH, Duisburg (DE)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/813,195.
Claims priority of application No. 102019106049.4 (DE), filed on Mar. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0287895 A1, Sep. 10, 2020
Int. Cl. H04L 29/06 (2006.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 63/0853 (2013.01) [H04L 63/0428 (2013.01); H04L 63/083 (2013.01); H04L 63/105 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for secure communication between a field device in automation technology and an end device connected to the field device via an end device communication link, wherein the field device has a cause-effect relationship with a physical process by measuring a process variable of the physical process by a sensor of the field device, and wherein the field device is connectable via a field bus interface to other field devices and/or a process control system for the exchange of process information, the method comprising:
storing an individual access code in the end device;
transmitting the access code from the end device to the field device;
connecting the field device to an authentication server via a server communication link;
using the field device to transmit the access code or an access code derived from the access code to the authentication server;
storing authentication data on the authentication server, on the basis of which the authenticity of the access code is checked on the authentication server;
transmitting the resulting authentication result from the authentication server via the server communication link to the field device; and
depending on the authentication result transmitted to the field device, making resources of the field device available to the end device;
wherein the field device at least partially logs the communication with the end device in a transcript for tracing influences on the field device; and
wherein the transcript is transmitted to the authentication server upon completion of the communication and the transcript is stored on the authentication server, or is continuously transmitted to the authentication server during communication and the transcript is stored on the authentication server.