Internet of things security
View Patent ↗Apparati, methods, and computer-readable media for improving the security of communications networks. An embodiment of the present invention is a system for enabling smart devices ( 1401, 1402, 1403 ) to communicate with each other over a network ( 1450 ) without human intervention. The system comprises at least two bidirectional smart devices ( 1401, 1402 ) adapted to send and receive messages ( 1460 ) over the network ( 1450 ). Each smart device ( 1401, 1402 ) is coupled to the network ( 1450 ) via a bidirectional intelligent chip, logic device, or smart device ( 1411, 1421 ). In message sending mode, intelligent chip, logic device, or smart device ( 1411 ) appends an identifier ( 1417 ) to each message ( 1460 ) emanating from its associated sending smart device ( 1401 ). The identifier ( 1417 ) comprises a fixed portion ( 1415, 1416 ) uniquely identifying the associated sending smart device ( 1401 ), and a variable portion ( 1414 ). The receiving intelligent chip, logic device, or smart device ( 1421 ) invokes a module ( 1423 ) contained within each intelligent chip ( 1411, 1421 ) configured to screen incoming messages ( 1460 ), by validating both the fixed and variable portions of the identifier ( 1417 ).
1. A system for enabling smart devices to communicate with each other over a network without human intervention, said system comprising:
at least two bidirectional smart devices adapted to send and receive messages over the network, each smart device coupled to the network via an associated bidirectional intelligent chip; wherein
each intelligent chip is configured to append an identifier to each outgoing message emanating from the smart device associated with said intelligent chip, said identifier comprising a fixed portion uniquely identifying the associated sending smart device, and a variable portion;
each intelligent chip comprises a module for approving incoming messages by validating both the fixed and variable portions of the identifier; and
each intelligent chip comprises:
a processor;
coupled to the processor, a clock for tracking the current date and time;
coupled to the processor, a first memory storing the type of smart device associated with said intelligent chip; and
coupled to the processor, a second memory storing a unique identification of the smart device associated with said intelligent chip;
wherein the processor is adapted to:
digitize the time tracked by the clock according to a time interval preselected by a user of the intelligent chip, and make the digitized time the variable portion of the identifier; and
make the type of the sending smart device and the unique identification of the sending smart device the fixed portion of the identifier.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is the Internet.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the outgoing message contains the addresses of several smart devices that the sending smart device has designated to be recipients of the outgoing message.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein each outgoing message comprises a substantive portion and a portion containing the address of a smart device that the sending smart device designates to be a recipient of the outgoing message.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the identifier comprises 40 digits, and uses an ISO Track 2 format.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor approves an incoming message addressed to the smart device associated with the corresponding intelligent chip only when:
the time portion of the identifier falls within a preselected acceptable time prior to the current time;
the type of sending smart device is found in a first whitelist of acceptable sending smart device types; and
the unique identification of the sending smart device is found within a second whitelist of acceptable sending smart device identifications; wherein:
the first and second whitelists are stored on the corresponding intelligent chip.
7. A method for a first bidirectional smart device to send a message over a network to a second bidirectional smart device without human intervention, said method comprising a first bidirectional intelligent chip coupled to the first bidirectional smart device performing the steps of:
appending an identifier to the message, said identifier comprising a fixed portion uniquely identifying the first bidirectional smart device, and a variable portion; and
sending the message over the network to a second bidirectional intelligent chip coupled to the second bidirectional smart device; wherein
the first bidirectional intelligent chip comprises:
a processor;
coupled to the processor, a clock for tracking the current date and time;
coupled to the processor, a first memory storing the type of the first bidirectional smart device; and
coupled to the processor, a second memory storing a unique identification of the first bidirectional smart device;
wherein the processor is adapted to:
digitize the time tracked by the clock according to a time interval preselected by a user of the first bidirectional intelligent chip, and make the digitized time the variable portion of the identifier; and
make the type of the first bidirectional smart device and the unique identification of the first bidirectional smart device the fixed portion of the identifier.