System and method for privacy-preserving data retrieval for connected power tools

1. A method for network-connected tool operation with user anonymity comprising:

generating, with a processor in a power tool, a first cryptographic key that is stored in a memory in the power tool;

generating, with the processor, a first encrypted serial number for the power tool based on an output of an encryption function using the first cryptographic key applied to a non-encrypted serial number for the power tool stored in the memory;

generating, with the processor, usage data based on data received from at least one sensor in the power tool during operation of the power tool; and

transmitting, with a network device in the power tool, the usage data in association only with the first encrypted serial number to a maintenance system to enable usage data collection that prevents identification of the power tool as being associated with the usage data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system during a maintenance operation for the power tool;

transmitting, with the processor in the power tool, the first cryptographic key to the maintenance system via the data connection to enable the maintenance computing system to identify the usage data associated with the power tool only at the time of the maintenance operation;

generating, with a processor in the power tool, a second cryptographic key that is stored in the memory in the power tool;

generating, with the processor, a second encrypted serial number for the power tool based on an output of the encryption function using the second cryptographic key applied to the non-encrypted serial number for the power tool stored in the memory;

generating, with the processor, additional usage data based on data received from the at least one sensor in the power tool during additional operation of the power tool after the maintenance operation; and

transmitting, with the network device in the power tool, the additional usage data in association only with the second encrypted serial number to the maintenance system to enable usage data collection that prevents identification of the power tool as being associated with the additional usage data.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: transmitting, with the processor in the power tool, the non-encrypted serial number to the maintenance system via the data connection;

regenerating, with the maintenance system, the first encrypted serial number based on another output of the encryption function using the first cryptographic key received from the power tool applied to the non-encrypted serial number received from the power tool; and

verifying, with the maintenance system, authenticity of the power tool in response to a match between the first encrypted serial number received from the power tool and the regenerated first encrypted serial number.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: generating, with the maintenance system, an alarm indicating the power tool is not authentic in response to the first encrypted serial number received from the power tool not matching the regenerated first encrypted serial number.

5. The method of claim 2 , the establishing of the data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system further comprising: establishing the data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system using a peripheral device in the power tool that is different than the network device during the maintenance process.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: establishing, with the processor and the network device in the power tool, an authenticated and encrypted communication channel with the maintenance system for the transmitting of the usage data in association only with the first encrypted serial number.

7. A method for network-connected power tool operation with user anonymity comprising:

generating, with a processor in a power tool, a plurality of linked cryptographic keys using a first secret cryptographic key stored in a memory in the power tool and a one-way function, the generating further comprising:

generating each linked cryptographic key in the plurality of linked cryptographic keys based on an output of the one-way function applied to a previous linked cryptographic key in the plurality of linked cryptographic keys in a predetermined order starting with the first secret cryptographic key until generating a final linked cryptographic key in the plurality of linked cryptographic keys;

generating, with the processor, a first encrypted serial number for the power tool based on an output of an encryption function using the final linked cryptographic key applied to a non-encrypted serial number for the power tool stored in the memory;

generating, with the processor, usage data based on data received from at least one sensor in the power tool during operation of the power tool; and

transmitting, with a network device in the power tool, the usage data in association only with the first encrypted serial number to a maintenance system to enable usage data collection that prevents identification of the power tool as being associated with the usage data.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

establishing a data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system during a maintenance operation for the power tool;

transmitting, with the processor in the power tool, the final linked cryptographic key to the maintenance system via the data connection to enable the maintenance computing system to identify the usage data associated with the power tool only at the time of the maintenance operation;

generating, with the processor, a second encrypted serial number for the power tool based on an output of the encryption function using a second linked cryptographic key in the plurality of linked cryptographic keys applied to the non-encrypted serial number for the power tool stored in the memory, the second linked cryptographic key being previous to the final linked cryptographic key in the plurality of linked cryptographic keys;

generating, with the processor, additional usage data based on data received from the at least one sensor in the power tool during additional operation of the power tool after the maintenance operation; and

transmitting, with the network device in the power tool, the additional usage data in association only with the second encrypted serial number to the maintenance system to enable usage data collection that prevents identification of the power tool as being associated with the additional usage data.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting, with the processor in the power tool, the non-encrypted serial number to the maintenance system via the data connection;

regenerating, with the maintenance system, the first encrypted serial number based on another output of the encryption function using the final linked cryptographic key received from the power tool applied to the non-encrypted serial number received from the power tool; and

verifying, with the maintenance system, authenticity of the power tool in response to a match between the first encrypted serial number received from the power tool and the regenerated first encrypted serial number.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: generating, with the maintenance system, an alarm indicating the power tool is not authentic in response to the first encrypted serial number received from the power tool not matching the regenerated first encrypted serial number.

11. The method of claim 8 , the establishing of the data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system further comprising: establishing the data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system using a peripheral device in the power tool that is different than the network device during the maintenance process.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one-way function is a cryptographically secure hash function.

13. A power tool configured for anonymized network-connected operation comprising:

at least one sensor;

a memory configured to store:

a non-encrypted serial number;

a first cryptographic key; and

usage data;

a network device; and

a processor operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the memory, and the network device, the processor being configured to:

generate the first cryptographic key that is stored in a memory in the power tool;

generate a first encrypted serial number for the power tool based on an output of an encryption function using the first cryptographic key applied to the non-encrypted serial number for the power tool stored in the memory;

generate the usage data based on data received from at least one sensor in the power tool during operation of the power tool; and

transmit the usage data in association only with the first encrypted serial number to a maintenance system with the network device to enable usage data collection that prevents identification of the power tool as being associated with the usage data.

14. The power tool of claim 13 , the processor being further configured to: establish a data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system during a maintenance operation for the power tool;

transmit the first cryptographic key to the maintenance system via the data connection to enable the maintenance computing system to identify the usage data associated with the power tool only at the time of the maintenance operation;

generate a second cryptographic key that is stored in the memory in the power tool; generate a second encrypted serial number for the power tool based on an output of the encryption function using the second cryptographic key applied to the non-encrypted serial number for the power tool stored in the memory;

generate additional usage data based on data received from the at least one sensor in the power tool during additional operation of the power tool after the maintenance operation; and transmit the additional usage data in association only with the second encrypted serial number to the maintenance system with the network device to enable usage data collection that prevents identification of the power tool as being associated with the additional usage data.

15. The power tool of claim 14 further comprising:

a peripheral device that is different than the network device; and

the processor being operatively connected to the peripheral device and further configured to: establish the data connection between the power tool and the maintenance system using the peripheral device during the maintenance process.

16. The power tool of claim 13 , the processor being further configured to: establish an authenticated and encrypted communication channel with the maintenance system with the network device for the transmission of the usage data in association only with the first encrypted serial number.

17. The power tool of claim 13 wherein the power tool is a motor vehicle.