System, Method and Program for Detecting Anomalous Events in a Utility Network
First Claim
1. A utility network communication device configured to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with at least one node in a utility network, the communication device comprising:
- a memory unit having threshold operating information and situational information defined and recorded therein, the threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of nodes in the utility network based on respective locational information of the nodes in the utility network, and the situational information including data indicative of configured operation data expected to be received from nodes in the utility network during a predetermined time period based on at least one of a condition and an event that is occurring during the predetermined time period;
a communication unit configured to receive operation data from nodes in the utility network;
a control unit configured to compare the operation data received from a node in the utility network with (i) the threshold operating information defined for the node from which the operation data was received and (ii) the situational information, and to determine whether the operation data received from the node constitutes an anomalous event based on the comparison of the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information defined for the node and (ii) the situational information; and
a notification unit configured to output notification of the determined anomalous event.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A utility network communication device is provided to detect whether anomalous events occur with respect to at least one node in a utility network. The communication device has recorded therein threshold operating information and situational operating information. The threshold operating information includes data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of the nodes in the utility network based on respective locational information of the nodes. The situational information includes data indicative of configured operation data expected to be received from nodes in the utility network during a predetermined time period, based on a condition and/or event occurring during the predetermined time period. The communication device receives operation data from nodes in the network, and determines whether the received operation data from a node in the network constitutes an anomalous event based on a comparison of the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information defined for the node and (ii) the situational information. The communication device outputs notification of any determined anomalous event.
203 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A utility network communication device configured to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with at least one node in a utility network, the communication device comprising:
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a memory unit having threshold operating information and situational information defined and recorded therein, the threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of nodes in the utility network based on respective locational information of the nodes in the utility network, and the situational information including data indicative of configured operation data expected to be received from nodes in the utility network during a predetermined time period based on at least one of a condition and an event that is occurring during the predetermined time period; a communication unit configured to receive operation data from nodes in the utility network; a control unit configured to compare the operation data received from a node in the utility network with (i) the threshold operating information defined for the node from which the operation data was received and (ii) the situational information, and to determine whether the operation data received from the node constitutes an anomalous event based on the comparison of the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information defined for the node and (ii) the situational information; and a notification unit configured to output notification of the determined anomalous event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a utility network communication device to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with at least one node in a utility network, the method comprising:
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defining, in the communication device, threshold operating information for nodes in the utility network, the threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of the nodes in the utility network based on respective locational information of the nodes in the utility network; defining, in the communication device, situational information for the nodes in the utility network, the situational information including data indicative of configured operation data expected to be received from nodes in the utility network during a predetermined time period, based on at least one of a condition and an event that is occurring during the predetermined time period; recording the defined threshold operating information and situational information in a memory unit of the communication device; receiving operation data from at least one node in the utility network; comparing, in a processing unit of the communication device, the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information and (ii) the situational information which are respectively defined for the at least one node from which the operating data was received; determining, in a processing unit of the communication device, whether the received operation data constitutes an anomalous event based on the comparison of the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information and (ii) the situational information; and outputting, from a notification unit of the communication device, notification of a determined anomalous event.
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18. A computer-readable recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon that causes a control unit of a utility network communication device communicatively connected to the computer-readable recording medium to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with at least one node in a utility network, the program causing the control unit of the communication device to execute operations comprising:
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defining threshold operating information for nodes in the utility network, the threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of the nodes in the utility network based on respective locational information of the nodes in the utility network; defining situational information for the nodes in the utility network, the situational information including data indicative of configured operation data expected to be received from nodes in the utility network during a predetermined time period, based on at least one of a condition and an event that is occurring during the predetermined time period; recording the defined threshold operating information and situational information in a memory unit of the communication device; receiving operation data from at least one node in the utility network; comparing the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information and (ii) the situational information which are respectively defined for the at least one node from which the operating data was received; determining whether the received operation data constitutes an anomalous event based on the comparison of the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information and (ii) the situational information; and outputting notification of a determined anomalous event.
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19. A node in a utility network, the node comprising:
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a network interface configured to enable the node to communicate with at least one other node in the utility network; a control unit configured to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with the node in the utility network; and a memory unit having defined and recorded therein threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of the node during a predetermined time period, the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit including a threshold value indicating a maximum number of times that the network interface transmits a communication failure message to a first other node in the utility network attempting to communicate with the node during the predetermined time period, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a value of a counter each time that the network interface transmits a communication failure message to the first other node, and generate operation data representing the adjusted value of the counter, compare the value of the counter represented in the generated operation data with the threshold value included in the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit, determine that an anomalous event has occurred when the threshold value included in the recorded threshold operating information has been reached based on the comparison of the value of the counter with the threshold value included in the threshold operating information, and generate a notification signal indicating the determination of the anomalous event, and wherein the node further comprises a notification unit configured to transmit the notification signal generated by the control unit to a second other node in the utility network distinct from the first other node in the utility network. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A node in a utility network, the node comprising:
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a network interface configured to enable the node to communicate with at least one other node in the utility network; a control unit configured to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with the node in the utility network; and a memory unit having defined and recorded therein threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of the node during a predetermined time period, the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit including a threshold value indicating a maximum number of times that the network interface receives a communication from a first other node in the utility network attempting to communicate with the node during the predetermined time period, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a value of a counter each time that the network interface receives a communication from the first other node, and generate operation data representing the adjusted value of the counter, compare the value of the counter represented in the generated operation data with the threshold value included in the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit, determine that an anomalous event has occurred when the threshold value included in the recorded threshold operating information has been reached based on the comparison of the value of the counter with the threshold value included in the threshold operating information, and generate a notification signal indicating the determination of the anomalous event, and wherein the node further comprises a notification unit configured to transmit the notification signal generated by the control unit to a second other node in the utility network distinct from the first other node in the utility network. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A node in a utility network, the node comprising:
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a network interface configured to enable the utility meter to communicate with at least one other node in the utility network; a control unit configured to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with the node in the utility network; and a memory unit having defined and recorded therein (i) a routing table including each downstream node which has registered with the node in the utility network to forward respective communications from the downstream nodes to another node constituting an upstream node of the node in the utility network, and (ii) threshold operating information including a threshold value indicating a number of the downstream nodes registered in the routing table which transmit an un-registration message to the network interface during a predetermined time period, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a value of a counter each time that the network interface receives an un-registration message from a downstream node registered in the routing table recorded in the memory unit, and generate operation data representing the adjusted value of the counter, compare the value of the counter represented in the generated operation data with the threshold value included in the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit, determine that an anomalous event has occurred when the threshold value included in the recorded threshold operating information has been reached based on the comparison of the value of the counter with the threshold included in the threshold operating information, and generate a notification signal indicating the determination of the anomalous event, and wherein the node in the utility network further comprises a notification unit configured to transmit the notification signal generated by the control unit to the upstream node of the utility network. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A node in a utility network, the node comprising:
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a network interface configured to enable the node to communicate with at least one other node in the utility network; a control unit configured to detect anomalous events occurring in connection with the node in the utility network; and a memory unit having defined and recorded therein threshold operating information including data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of the node in the utility network during a predetermined time period, the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit including a threshold value indicating a maximum value of a commodity expected to be consumed at a premises at which the node is located during the predetermined time period, wherein the control unit is configured to monitor a value of consumption of the commodity at predetermined increments of the predetermined time period, and generate operation data representing the monitored consumption value, compare the consumption value represented in the generated operation data with the threshold value included in the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit, determine that an anomalous event has occurred when the consumption value represented in the generated operation data is greater than or equal to the threshold value included in the threshold operating information recorded in the memory unit, and generate a notification signal indicating the determination of the anomalous event, and wherein the node in the utility network further comprises a notification unit configured to transmit the notification signal to another node in the utility network with which the node in the utility network is authorized to communicate. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification