SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INEXPENSIVELY PROVIDING SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION OVER A COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL

摘要

An inexpensive arrangement is described for providing an authentication value, which is associated with a controllable device, to a device controller which can control the device over a communication link using a selected communication methodology that facilitates authentication and/or encryption of messages transmitted therebetween. Message authentication and/or encryption is facilitated by the authentication value associated with the device. The arrangement includes an authentication value storage device and, in connection with the device controller, an authentication value input. The authentication value storage device is configured to store the authentication value separate and apart from the device. The authentication value input is configured to receive the authentication value and is used by the device controller in connection with communications with the device. A number of illustrative authentication value storage devices and corresponding authentication value inputs are described, including tamper evident forms on which the authentication value is printed in alphanumeric, bar code or other appropriate forms and in those cases the authentication value input is in the form of a keypad which an operator can use to input the authentication value, a bar code reader for reading the bar code, or the like. Other illustrative authentication value storage devices include, for example, smart or other cards in which the authentication value is stored in electronic, magnetic or other form, and the authentication value input is in the form of a smart card reader, magnetic strip reader or the like for retrieving the authentication value from the storage device. Authentication values can also be stored in, for example, an external database and retrieved over a network.