The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2017
Filed:
May. 23, 2015
Astrolink International Llc, Bethesda, MD (US);
Dominion Energy Technologies, Inc., Richmond, VA (US);
Henrik F. Bernheim, Denver, CO (US);
Marcia Reid Martin, Longmont, CO (US);
Steven J. Berens, Boulder, CO (US);
John J. Loporto, Superior, CO (US);
Theodore V. Niemann, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Astrolink International LLC, Bethesda, MD (US);
Dominion Energy Technologies, Inc., Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for providing a secure communication network using an electrical distribution grid is disclosed. A device connected to the electrical distribution grid initiates a request for a secured key token by signaling an intelligent communicating device residing at or near an edge of the grid. The intelligent communicating device forwards the request to a receiver at a distribution substation on the electrical grid. This receiver enhances the properties of the request such that a grid location for the request can be inferred. The enhanced request is forwarded to a server at the distribution substation, which compares the request grid location to a Grid Map and Policies of known secure grid locations. Any inconsistencies between the grid location inferred from the enhanced request and the Grid Map and Policies locations are considered evidence of tampering, and the server rejects the request.