Itron Gmbh

Bernard M Woodland

Eric Donald White

Scott Dale Brown

Matthew Rockey

Scott Michael Collins

A method of determining whether a received message at a communications device is from a legitimate second device may include building a message intended for a legitimate second device, generating a time delay using a secret key known to the device and the legitimate second device, sending the built message to the legitimate second device, starting a timer at the time of sending the built message, receiving a response to the sent message, determining a response time of the received response based on a time value of the timer, determining an acceptable receive window of time based on the generated time delay, determining whether the determined response time is within the determined acceptable receive window of time, and when the determined response time is within the determined acceptable receive window of time, recognizing the received response as a legitimate message from the legitimate second device.

Man-in-the-middle extender defense in data communications

Techniques for hub and spoke publish-subscribe are described herein. In some examples, an outgoing-data database comprising addresses of remote device hubs on respective remote devices is maintained. First data is received from a first process operating on the device. The first data is sent to a first remote hub associated with a first remote device and associated with an entry in the outgoing-data database. An incoming-data database is maintained to associate processes operating on the device with data to which the processes subscribe. Second data is received from a second device hub associated with a second device. It is determined&#x2014;by reference to the incoming-data database&#x2014;that the second data is data subscribed-to by a second process operating on the device. The second data is sent to the second process.

Hub and spoke publish-subscribe

A network node device and method of determining a communication route to one or more other network nodes through a network. The method includes sending current routing information to a network management server (NMS), and receiving new or supplemental routing information from the NMS, this supplemental routing information determined by the NMS based on the current routing information of the network node and the other network node(s). The supplemental routing information may include lateral route information identifying designated routing nodes that form lateral band(s) of nodes that span the network. Each lateral band may include gate node(s) as entrances/exits to the lateral band. The method further includes determining, based on the supplemental routing information, a route to one or more of the other network nodes, which may include an optimal path and/or alternate path(s) from the network node to one or more of the other network nodes.

Server-assisted routing in network communications

A method for synchronizing time may include receiving initial time information including an initial timestamp from a first device, adjusting a clock of the device with the initial time information, storing the initial time information as an earliest possible time, receiving additional time information, including a second timestamp, from a second device, and evaluating the additional time information. When the evaluated additional time information includes information that is unacceptable, the method may further include adjusting the clock with the second timestamp, and replacing the earliest possible time with the second timestamp. When the evaluated additional time information includes information that is acceptable, the method may further include adjusting the clock with the additional time information, and replacing the earliest possible time with the additional time information. The initial time information and additional time information may be respectively determined based on reconciled time data received from two or more proximate devices.

Time synchronization using trust aggregation

A device and method for sending a configuration setting update to a networked endpoint device are provided. A head-end device in a communication system receives, from an endpoint device, a version audit that includes version information associated with parameter values set at one or more hierarchical level assignments for one or more applications used at the endpoint device, sends, to the endpoint device, a data packet including one or more parameter updates, and receives, from the endpoint device, an error message in response to the endpoint device failing to receive the data packet or an acknowledgement of receipt of the data packet.

Hierarchical configuration of networked communication devices

A device and method for locally authenticating an accessor device to access an operable device. The method comprises receiving reservation information at a validation device from an access granting device, the reservation information identifying one or more accessor devices as having permission to utilize the operable device, where the operable device is local to (e.g., within a predetermined proximity) of the validation device. The method further comprises receiving a request from an accessor device requesting permission to utilize the operable device, the request including an identifier of the requesting accessor device, validating the request based on the reservation information and the identifier, and when validation is successful, granting to the requesting accessor device permission to utilize the operable device. The method may further include receiving an instruction from the access granting device to revoke such permission from the requesting accessor device, and revoking such permission from the requesting accessor device.

Local authentication of communications device

A technique for receiving a configuration setting update at a networked endpoint device involves receiving a data packet from a head-end device, including one or more parameter updates that each include a parameter identification, a designated parameter value, and a predetermined level assignment for the designated parameter value. The technique further includes updating a record of two or more records of each parameter with its designated parameter value, the two or more records associated with differentiating level assignments defining a prioritized hierarchy of parameter values for the parameter at the endpoint device. The updated record is the record associated with the predetermined level assignment provided in the data packet. A level assignment may be for an individual endpoint, group of endpoints, or as a default, for example. An application may be run at the endpoint device using the parameter value recorded at the highest priority level assignment for each parameter.

A network node device and method of determining a communication route to one or more other network nodes through a network. The method includes sending current routing information to a network management server (NMS), and receiving new or supplemental routing information from the NMS, this supplemental routing information determined by the NMS based on the current routing information of the network node and of the one or more other network nodes. The supplemental routing information may include lateral route information identifying designated routing nodes that form lateral band(s) of nodes that span the network, each lateral band including gate node(s) as entrances/exits to the lateral band. The method may further include determining, based on the supplemental routing information, a route to one or more of the other network nodes. A lateral band may facilitate a route through a chokepoint or other abnormal topological layout.

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Cary, NC, United States of America

Bernard M Woodland