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Enhancing security in a wireless network

  • US 8,670,746 B2
  • Filed: 04/10/2008
  • Issued: 03/11/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of enhancing security in a wireless mesh communication network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of wireless network devices, comprising:

  • processing a join request from a wireless device wishing to join the wireless mesh communication network, the wireless device configured to perform a physical control function within a process being controlled in the process control environment, and configured to communicate in the wireless mesh communication network using a wireless protocol that includes commands for transfer of data corresponding to the process, the processing the join request from the wireless device including;

    establishing a direct wireless connection between the wireless device and at least one of the plurality of wireless network devices; and

    propagating a join request from the wireless device via the at least one of the plurality of wireless network devices to a network manager responsible for managing the wireless communication network;

    maintaining an absolute slot number at the network manager, the absolute slot number indicative of a number of communication timeslots scheduled since a start time of the wireless network, wherein each of the plurality of wireless network devices communicates with at least one other of the plurality of wireless network devices within a communication timeslot associated with a respective superframe having a repeating sequence of communication timeslots;

    causing the wireless device to enter a quarantined state including providing a limited network functionality to the wireless device if the join request is granted, the providing the limited network functionality to the wireless device including;

    providing the absolute slot number to the wireless device; and

    exchanging a plurality of messages between the wireless device and the at least one of the plurality of wireless network devices, including a generating a message integrity code for at least one of the plurality of messages by including the absolute slot number in a nonce value used to generate the message integrity code;

    while the wireless device is in the quarantined state, requesting a complete approval of the wireless device; and

    causing the wireless device to exit the quarantined state and to enter an operational state including granting a full network functionality to the wireless device if the complete approval of the wireless device is received.

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