Managing communications between robots and controllers

• US 8,505,086 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Norman, David Anthony, Mimlitch, Robert H. III, Chitwood, Corey Lee, Torrance, Richard D., Lambert, Mark J., Martus, Brandon Lee, Heath, Lester E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, HEE K
• Application Number:
  US12/106,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20080263628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 713/155, 700/245, 700/248, 726/1, 726/6, 726/11, 901/1, 901/22, 901/23, 901/43, 901/45, 901/50, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.15
• US Class Current: 726/11
• 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 to the robot;

one or more processors operable to;

receive and transmit signals with a wireless network;

prior to the robot transmitting a wireless signal identified by the robot and during a robot competition, determine the wireless signal is destined for another robot in the robot competition violating the security information;

automatically discard the wireless signal in response to at least determining that the destination violates the security information, wherein the robot includes the robot controller; and

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.

2. The robot controller of claim 1, wherein the QoS features include a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

3. 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.

4. The robot controller of claim 3, wherein the wireless network login instructions include a network address and a security key assigned to the robot.

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

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

7. A computer program product for managing wireless communications with a robot comprising a machine-readable, non-transitory medium storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to:

receive and transmit signals with a wireless network;

prior to the robot transmitting a wireless signal identified by the robot and during a robot competition, determine the wireless signal is destined for another robot in the robot competition violating the security information;

automatically discard the specified signals in response to at least determining that the destination violates the security information, wherein the robot includes the machine-readable medium; and

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.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the QoS features include a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, 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.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the wireless network login instructions include a network address and a security key assigned to the robot.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the wireless network includes a network arena controller.

13. An operator controller for managing communications with a robot, comprising:

memory storing security associated with a robot competition and QoS information;

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;

prior to the robot transmitting a wireless signal identified by the robot and during a robot competition, determine the wireless signal is destined for another robot in the robot competition violating the security information;

automatically discard the specified signals in response to at least determining that the destination violates the security information, wherein an operator station includes the operator controller; and

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.

14. The operator controller of claim 13, wherein the network includes a network arena controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the robot.

15. The operator controller of claim 13, wherein the operator controller is included in a PC.

16. The operator controller of claim 13, wherein operator controller is configured to communicate only with the robot.

17. The operator controller of claim 13, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

18. The operator controller of claim 13, wherein the QoS information includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

19. A computer program product for managing communications with an operator of a robot comprising a machine-readable, non-transitory 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;

prior to the robot transmitting a wireless signal identified by the robot and during a robot competition, determine the wireless signal is destined for another robot in the robot competition violating the security information;

automatically discard the specified signals in response to at least determining that the destination violates the security information, wherein an operator station includes the machine readable medium; and

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.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the network includes a network arena controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the robot.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operator controller is included in a PC.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein software is configured to communicate only with the robot.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the QoS information includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

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

one or more wireless connections for wireless transmitting commands to participating robots during an event;

one or more hardwired connections for communicating with the participating robots prior to the 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 and 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, wherein the security policies are at least partially different for each robot, wherein the security policies substantially prevent transmission of a wireless signal by a participating robot if the wireless signal is destined for another participating robot in the robot competition.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the security policies for each robot includes at least one of a network SSID, a WAP password, an IP address, or a preshared key.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is a PC.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is a network arena controller.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein security policies is stored in a wireless radio of a robot controller system.

30. The device of claim 25, wherein a wireless radio storing the security policies is distributed to each robot prior to the event.