System and method for grid based cyber security
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a secure communication path over an electrical distribution grid, comprising:
- receiving, by a computing device, a signal from a receiver coupled to the electrical distribution grid in an electrical substation, the signal comprising;
a request, received by the receiver via the electrical distribution grid from an intelligent communicating device (ICD) located at an edge of the electrical distribution grid, for a key token for use in secure communications;
an electrical phase on which the signal was received by the receiver; and
an electrical feeder on which the signal was received by the receiver;
based on the electrical phase and the electrical feeder, inferring an inferred location of the ICD;
based on the inferred location of the ICD, obtaining the key token; and
causing, by the computing device, the key token to be communicated to the ICD via the electrical distribution grid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for providing a secure communication network using an electrical distribution grid is disclosed. A device connected to the electrical distribution grid initiates a request for a secured key token by signaling an intelligent communicating device residing at or near an edge of the grid. The intelligent communicating device forwards the request to a receiver at a distribution substation on the electrical grid. This receiver enhances the properties of the request such that a grid location for the request can be inferred. The enhanced request is forwarded to a server at the distribution substation, which compares the request grid location to a Grid Map and Policies of known secure grid locations. Any inconsistencies between the grid location inferred from the enhanced request and the Grid Map and Policies locations are considered evidence of tampering, and the server rejects the request.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a secure communication path over an electrical distribution grid, comprising:
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receiving, by a computing device, a signal from a receiver coupled to the electrical distribution grid in an electrical substation, the signal comprising; a request, received by the receiver via the electrical distribution grid from an intelligent communicating device (ICD) located at an edge of the electrical distribution grid, for a key token for use in secure communications; an electrical phase on which the signal was received by the receiver; and an electrical feeder on which the signal was received by the receiver; based on the electrical phase and the electrical feeder, inferring an inferred location of the ICD; based on the inferred location of the ICD, obtaining the key token; and causing, by the computing device, the key token to be communicated to the ICD via the electrical distribution grid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for establishing a secure communication path over an electrical distribution grid, comprising:
a computing device comprising; a communication interface; and a processor device coupled to the communication interface and configured to; receive a signal from a receiver coupled to the electrical distribution grid in an electrical substation, the signal comprising; a request received by the receiver via the electrical distribution grid from an intelligent communicating device (ICD) located at an edge of the electrical distribution grid for a key token for use in secure communications; an electrical phase on which the signal was received by the receiver; and an electrical feeder on which the signal was received by the receiver; based on the electrical phase and the electrical feeder, inferring an inferred location of the ICD; based on the inferred location of the ICD, obtaining a key token; and causing, by the computing device, a transmitter to transmit the key token to the ICD via the electrical distribution grid. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
Specification