MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ROBOTS AND CONTROLLERS

• US 20080263628A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Mimlitch, Robert H., Norman, David Anthony, Lambert, Mark J., Torrance, Richard D., Martus, Brandon Lee, Heath, Lester E., Chitwood, Corey Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,505,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for managing communications with robots. In some implementations, a computer network, where operators interface with the network to control movement of robots on a wireless computer network includes a network arena controller and a plurality of robot controllers. The network arena controller is configured to provide firewall policies to substantially secure communication between robot controllers and the associated robots. Each controller is included in a different robot and configured to wirelessly communicate with the network arena controller. Each robot controller executes firewall policies to substantially secure wireless communication.

Claims

1. A robot controller for managing wireless communication with a robot, comprising:

memory storing security information assigned with the robot;

one or more processors operable to;

receive and transmit signals with a wireless network; and

automatically discard signals transmitted to least one of an identified operator station or an identified robot based, at least in part, on the security information.

2. The robot controller of claim 1, wherein the processors are further operable to automatically lower a wireless transmission rate to the network area controller based on at least one of wireless signals transmitted to or wireless signals received from an associated operator station in accordance with locally stored QoS features.

3. The robot controller of claim 2, wherein the QoS features includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

4. The robot controller of claim 1, wherein the processors are further operable to:

store wireless network login instructions in response to at least a direct wired connection to a device; and

automatically connect to the wireless network in accordance with the wireless network login instructions.

5. The robot controller of claim 4, wherein the wireless network login instructions include a network address and a security key assigned to the robot.

6. The robot controller of claim 1, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

7. The robot controller of claim 1, wherein the wireless network includes a network arena controller.

8. Software for managing wireless communications with a robot comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to:

receive and transmit signals with a wireless network; and

automatically discard signals transmitted to least one of an identified operator station or an identified robot based, at least in part, on locally stored security information.

9. The software of claim 8, further operable to automatically lower a wireless transmission rate to the network area controller based on at least one of wireless signals transmitted to or wireless signals received from an associated operator station in accordance with locally stored QoS features.

10. The software of claim 9, wherein the QoS features includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

11. The software of claim 8, further operable to:

store wireless network login instructions in response to at least a direct wired connection to a device; and

automatically connect to the wireless network in accordance with the wireless network login instructions.

12. The software of claim 11, wherein the wireless network login instructions include a network address and a security key assigned to the robot.

13. The software of claim 8, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

14. The software of claim 8, wherein the wireless network includes a network arena controller.

15. A operator controller for managing communications with a robot, comprising:

memory storing security associated with a robot competition;

one or more processors operable to

identify at least one of digital inputs or analog inputs from an operator of the robot;

receive and transmit signals with a network; and

automatically discard signals transmitted to least one of an identified operator station or an identified robot based, at least in part, on the security information.

16. The operator controller of claim 15, wherein the network includes a network arena controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the robot.

17. The operator controller of claim 15, wherein the operator controller is included in a PC.

18. The operator controller of claim 15, wherein robot controller is configured to communicate only with the robot.

19. The operator controller of claim 15, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

20. The operator controller of claim 15, wherein the memory stores QoS information, the processors further operable to automatically lower a wireless transmission rate to the network based on at least one of wireless signals transmitted to or wireless signals received from an associated operator station and in accordance with the QoS information.

21. The operator controller of claim 20, wherein the QoS information includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

22. Software for managing communications with an operator of a robot comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to:

identify at least one of digital inputs or analog inputs from an operator of the robot;

receive and transmit signals with a network; and

automatically discard signals transmitted to least one of an identified operator station or an identified robot based, at least in part, on the security information.

23. The software of claim 22, wherein the network includes a network arena controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the robot.

24. The software of claim 22, wherein the operator controller is included in a PC.

25. The software of claim 22, wherein software is configured to communicate only with the robot.

26. The software of claim 22, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

27. The software of claim 22, further operable to automatically lower a wireless transmission rate to the network based on at least one of wireless signals transmitted to or wireless signals received from an associated operator station and in accordance with locally stored QoS information.

28. The operator controller of claim 27, wherein the QoS information includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

29. The device for substantially securing communications with robots participating in an event, comprising:

one or more hardwired connections for communicating with participating robots prior to an event; and

a security module configured to automatically configure the participating robots with security policies in response to at least the participating robots connecting with at least one of the one or more hardwired connections such that communication between an operator station and an associated robot are substantially secure during the event, wherein the security policies are at least partially different for each robot.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the security policies for each robot includes at least one of a network SSID, a WPA password, an IP address, or a preshared key.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the device is a PC.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein the device is a network arena controller.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein security policies is stored in a wireless radio of a robot controller system.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein the wireless radio storing the security policies is distributed to each robot prior to the event.