Anti tamper processing
A method includes determining, by a processing module of a data logging device, whether an event has occurred that potentially compromises reliability of the data logging device. The method further includes, when the event has occurred, determining, by the processing module, whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised. The method further includes, when the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised, generating, by the processing module, a compromised indication signal. The method further includes, when the reliability of the data logging device has not been compromised, generating, by the processing module, a data integrity indication signal.
1 . A method comprises:
determining, by a processing module of a data logging device, whether an event has occurred that potentially compromises reliability of the data logging device, wherein the data logging device is affixed to an object to record data within data sampling frames over a period of time to track conditions of the object, wherein the event is one of a tamper indication, a battery failure indication, a device failure indication;
when the event has occurred, determining, by the processing module, whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised by comparing a value regarding the event to a condition threshold;
when the value regarding the event compares unfavorably to the condition threshold:
generating, by the processing module, a compromised indication signal indicating that the data has been compromised by the event; and
when the value regarding the event compares favorably to the condition threshold:
generating, by the processing module, a data integrity indication signal indicating that the data has not been compromised by the event.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
producing, by a display of the data logging device, a visual indication that reliability of the data logging device has been compromised based on the compromised indication signal.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises one or more of:
an unacceptable temperature excursion;
an unacceptable environment/ambient light exposure;
an attempt to read/retrieve logger data by an unauthorized user;
an invalid data write request;
an invalid data read request;
physical damage to the data logging device;
removal of the data logging device from an object;
tear strip removed or damaged;
auxiliary environmental condition;
a functional failure of the data logging device; and
an invalid mode change request.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised further comprises:
determining, by the processing module, whether a data write request is received subsequent to the data logging device being placed in a ready mode; and
when the data write request is received subsequent to the data logging device being placed in the ready mode, indicating, by the processing module, that the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised further comprises:
obtaining, by the processing module, a request for a mode change;
determining, by the processing module, whether the requested mode change is valid; and
when the requested mode change is invalid, indicating, by the processing module, that the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
detecting, by an anti-tamper detector of the data logging device, the event; and
providing, by the anti-tamper detector, an indication of detection of the event to the processing module.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
generating, by the processing module, the compromised indication signal that supersedes an environmental favorable indication signal and an environmental unfavorable indication signal; and
providing, by a display of the data logging device, no visual indication for the data logging device to indicate that the data logging device has been compromised, wherein, without the data logging device being compromised, the display would provide a visual indication based on the environmental favorable indication signal or the environmental unfavorable indication signal.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
when the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised, placing, by the processing module, the data logging device in a finished mode.
9 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
producing, by a display of the data logging device, a visual indication regarding data integrity based on the data integrity indication signal.
10 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
storing in a memory, by the data logging device, the compromised indication signal.
11 . The method of claim 10 further comprises:
sending, by the processing module, the stored compromised indication signal to a reader.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compromised indication signal includes one or more of:
a compromised environmental indication signal;
a compromised data integrity indication signal;
a compromised hardware indication signal; and
a tampering indication signal.
13 . The method of claim 12 further comprises:
storing in a memory of the data logging device, one or more of:
the compromised environmental indication signal;
the compromised data integrity indication signal;
the compromised hardware indication signal; and
the tampering indication signal.
14 . The method of claim 1 further comprises:
when the value regarding the event compares unfavorably to the condition threshold, generating, by the processing module, a first visual representation of the compromised indication signal; and
when the value regarding the event compares favorably to the condition threshold, generating, by the processing module, a second visual representation of the data integrity indication signal.
15 . A computer readable memory comprises:
a first storage section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module of a data logging device, causes the processing module to:
determine whether an event has occurred that potentially compromises reliability of the data logging device, wherein the data logging device is affixed to an object to record data within data sampling frames over a period of time to track conditions of the object, wherein the event is one of a tamper indication, a battery failure indication, a device failure indication; and
when the event has occurred, determine whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised by comparing a value regarding the event to a condition threshold; and
a second storage section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
when the value regarding the event compares unfavorably to the condition threshold:
generate a compromised indication signal indicating that the data has been compromised by the event; and
when the value regarding the event compares favorably to the condition threshold:
generate a data integrity indication signal indicating that the data has not been compromised by the event.
16 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
send the compromised indication signal to a display of the data logging device, wherein the display displays a visual indication that reliability of the data logging device has been compromised based on the compromised indication signal.
17 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the event comprises one or more of:
an unacceptable temperature excursion;
an unacceptable environment/ambient light exposure;
an attempt to read/retrieve logger data by an unauthorized user;
an invalid data write request;
an invalid data read request;
physical damage to the data logging device;
removal of the data logging device from an object;
tear strip removed or damaged;
auxiliary environmental condition;
a battery failure;
a functional failure of the data logging device; and
an invalid mode change request.
18 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the first storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to determine whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised further by:
determining whether a data write request is received subsequent to the data logging device being placed in a ready mode; and
when the data write request is received subsequent to the data logging device being placed in the ready mode, indicating that the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised.
19 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the first storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to determine whether the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised further by:
obtaining a request for a mode change;
determining whether the requested mode change is valid; and
when the requested mode change is invalid, indicating that the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised.
20 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the first storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
receiving detection of the event from an anti-tamper detector of the data logging device.
21 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
generate the compromised indication signal that supersedes an environmental favorable indication signal and an environmental unfavorable indication signal.
22 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
when the reliability of the data logging device has been compromised, placing the data logging device in a finished mode.
23 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
send the data integrity indication signal to a display of the data logging device, wherein the display displays a visual indication regarding data integrity based on the data integrity indication signal.
24 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
store the compromised indication signal in a memory of the data logging device.
25 . The computer readable memory of claim 24 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
send the stored compromised indication signal to a reader.
26 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the compromised indication signal includes one or more of:
a compromised environmental indication signal;
a compromised data integrity indication signal;
a compromised hardware indication signal; and
a tampering indication signal.
27 . The computer readable memory of claim 26 , wherein the first storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module of a data logging device, causes the processing module to:
store in memory of the data logging device one or more of:
the compromised environmental indication signal;
the compromised data integrity indication signal;
the compromised hardware indication signal; and
the tampering indication signal.
28 . The computer readable memory of claim 15 , wherein the second storage section further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
when the value regarding the event compares unfavorably to the condition threshold:
generate a first visual representation of the compromised indication signal; and
when the value regarding the event compares favorably to the condition threshold:
generate a second visual representation of the data integrity indication signal.