Smart energy network configuration using link key database

• US 8,341,186 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Joel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Isaac M
• Application Number:
  US12/792,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 707600-899
• US Class Current: 707/791
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]

Abstract

Various embodiments include a method and system for configuring a smart energy network using a link key database. An energy services interface, on the smart energy network, extracts a unique identifier associated with a smart energy device from a communication with the smart energy device. The energy services interface may then use the unique identifier to receive information associated with the smart energy device from the link key database.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network device, the network device having a link key;

a storage device including a database, wherein the database includes a plurality of link keys; and

a network portal coupled to the network device and the database, the network portal configured to;

extract a key value from an unencrypted portion of an encrypted network device communication to join a network;

retrieve the link key from the link key database using the key value, wherein the link key is used to both encrypt and decrypt the encrypted network device communication;

extract a unique identifier from a communication with the network device; and

load a portion of information associated with the network device from the database using the unique identifier, wherein the portion of information includes a driver for the network device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the key value is the media access control (MAC) address of the network device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network portal is further configured to decrypt the encrypted network device communication using the link key and join the network device to the network.

4. A system comprising:

a storage device including a database, wherein the database includes a plurality of link keys;

a network portal coupled to the database and capable of communicating with a network device having a link key, the network portal configured to;

extract a key value from an unencrypted portion of an encrypted network device communication to join a network;

retrieve the link key from the link key database using the key value, wherein the link key is used to both encrypt and decrypt the encrypted network device communication;

extract a unique identifier from a communication with the network device; and

load a portion of information associated with the network device from the database using the unique identifier, wherein the portion of information includes a driver for the network device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the key value is the media access control (MAC) address of the network device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the network portal is further configured to decrypt the encrypted network device communication using the link key and join the network device to the network.

7. A system comprising:

a network device having a link key

a storage device including a database, the database configured to map a key value to the link key;

a network portal coupled to the network device and the database, the network portal configured to;

extract the key value from an unencrypted portion of an encrypted network device communication to join a network;

retrieve the link key from the database using the key value, wherein the link key is used to both decrypt and encrypt the encrypted network device communication;

extract a unique identifier from a communication with the network device; and

load a portion of information associated with the network device from the database using the unique identifier, wherein the portion of information includes a driver for the network device;

a network communicatively coupled to the storage device and the network portal; and

a device capable of communicating with the storage device over the network, wherein the network is configured to associate a street address with a unique identifier associated with the network portal to allow the network portal communicate with the database through the network.

8. A method comprising:

storing, a plurality of link keys using a database;

providing network portal capable of communicating with the SE a network device having a link key;

coupling the network portal to the database; and

configuring the network portal to;

extract a key value from an unencrypted portion of an encrypted network device communication to join a network;

retrieve the link key from the database using the key value, wherein the link key is used to both encrypt and decrypt the encrypted network device communication;

extract a unique identifier from a communication with the network device; and

load a portion of information associated with the network device from the database using the unique identifier, wherein the portion of information includes a driver for the network device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the key value is the media access control (MAC) address of the network device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

decrypting, using the network portal and the link key, the encrypted network device communication; and

joining the network device to the network.