Method and System for Remote Operation of an Installation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a system for operating a device. The system comprises: a mobile communication device, an internal server and an external server, the external server being adapted to generate a certificate and to send the certificate to the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device being adapted to send a device specific command comprising the certificate to the internal server, the internal server being adapted to check and validate the device specific command comprising the certificate, the internal server being adapted to send a request to the device to perform an action specified in the device specific command if the internal server validates the device specific command comprising the certificate, the device being adapted to perform the action, wherein the device specific command from the mobile communication device to the internal server is adapted to be sent via a cellular network.

1 . A method for operating a device comprising:
 an external server generating a certificate,   the external server sending the certificate to a mobile communication device,   the mobile communication device signing a device specific command with a signing key being associated with the certificate, wherein the certificate certifies the authenticity of the signing key and the signing key identifies the mobile communication device by which the device specific command has been signed, and sending the device specific command to an internal server, wherein the device specific command comprises the certificate,   the internal server checking the device specific command comprising the certificate,   if the internal server validates the device specific command comprising the certificate:   the internal server sending a request to the device to perform an action specified in the device specific command,   the device performing the action,   wherein the device specific command from the mobile communication device to the internal server is sent via a cellular network.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the external server generating the signing key,   the external server sending the signing key to the mobile communication device, and   the mobile communication device signing device specific commands using the signing key.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the external server uses a digital identification when generating at least one from the group of the certificate and the signing key. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the certificate and/or the signing key are limited in time. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the external server or the internal server revoking the certificate.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the device specific command from the mobile communication device to the internal server is sent via the external server via the cellular network,
 wherein if the external server validates the certificate, the external server sends the device specific command to the internal server via the cellular network.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the request from the internal server to the device is sent via a short range wireless protocol. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the short range wireless protocol is at least one from the group of Bluetooth, ZigBee, and WLAN. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 the internal server storing information about which mobile communication device has been validated by the internal server, or   the external server storing information about which mobile communication device has been validated by the internal server.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising setting certificates via a web interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the device is a lock module,   wherein the device specific command is a lock/unlock command, and   wherein the step of the device performing the action is the lock module locking/unlocking.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the external server generating the certificate upon receiving an alarm event. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the external server selecting a first party from a predetermined list, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a party which is geographically closest to the internal server using Global Positioning System, and
 sending the certificate to the first party.   
     
     
         14 . A system for operating a device comprising:
 a mobile communication device, an internal server, and an external server,   the external server being adapted to generate a certificate and to send the certificate to the mobile communication device,   the mobile communication device being adapted to sign a device specific command with a signing key being associated with the certificate, wherein the certificate certifies the authenticity of the signing key and the signing key identifies the mobile communication device by which the device specific command has been signed, and to send a device specific command comprising the certificate to the internal server,   the internal server being adapted to check and validate the device specific command comprising the certificate,   the internal server being adapted to send a request to the device to perform an action specified in the device specific command if the internal server validates the device specific command comprising the certificate,   the device being adapted to perform the action,   
       wherein the device specific command from the mobile communication device to the internal server is adapted to be sent via a cellular network. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the certificate and/or the signing key are limited in time. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the certificate and/or the signing key are limited in time.