SECURING COMMUNICATIONS WITH ROBOTS

• US 20080269949A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Mimlitch, Robert H., Norman, David Anthony, Lambert, Mark J., Torrance, Richard D., Martus, Brandon Lee, Heath, Lester E., Chitwood, Corey Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/248
• 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 computer network, where operators interface with the network to control movement of robots on a wireless computer network, comprising:

a communication network configured to provide firewall policies to substantially secure communication between operators and the associated robots; and

a plurality of robot controllers with each controller included in a different robot in and configured to wirelessly communicate with the network arena controller, wherein each robot controller executes firewall policies to substantially secure wireless communication.

2. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the communication network includes a network arena controller.

3. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the network area controller is further configured to provide quality of service features to limit at least one of wired network traffic with the robot controls or wireless network traffic with robots in the robot competition, the plurality of robot controllers is further configured to execute quality of service features to limit outbound wireless network traffic.

4. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the operators interface the network using at least one of digital inputs or analog inputs.

5. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the operators interface the network using personal computers connected to the network.

6. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the network area controller configures the robot controller such that associated firewall rules and quality of service limits work in concert to substantially ensure only approved communications occur.

7. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the network area controller configures the robot controllers such that network addresses and security keys are stored in the robot controller for subsequent use in wireless network login and communication.

8. The computer network of claim 1, further comprising a wireless access point coupled to the network arena controller and configured to wirelessly communicate with the robots in the competition.

9. The computer network of claim 3, wherein the wireless access point is integrated into the network area controller.

10. The computer network of claim 1, further comprising a field control device coupled to the network area controller and configured to control rounds of the robot competitions.

11. The computer network of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of switches with each switch connected to a one or more robot controls and associated with a different team of robots in the robot competition.

12. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the robot controls are directly connected to the network arena controller.

13. A computer network, where operators interfacing with the network are operable to control movement of robots on a wireless computer network, comprising:

a communication network configured to update network security settings in a plurality of robot wireless communication devices in response to at least an event; and

the plurality of robot wireless communication devices with each communication device connected to a robot and configured to automatically update security setting associated with the connected robot in response to receiving a signal including the updated network security settings from the communication network.

14. The computer network of claim 13, wherein the communication network includes a network arena controller.

15. The computer network of claim 13, wherein the event includes at least one of an expiration of time, an end of a match in a competition, a status of a robot, a status of the network, or a status of an operator station.

16. A network area controller, where operators interface with the network to control movement of robots on a wireless computer network, comprising:

memory storing security information associated with a robot competition;

one or more processors operable to;

receive signals from operator stations and associated robots; and

automatically discard signals between an identified operator station and an identified robot based, at least in part, on the security information.

17. The network arena controller of claim 16, wherein the processors are further operable to automatically lower a wireless transmission rate to one or more of the robots based on at least one of wireless signals transmitted to or wireless signals received from the one or more of the robots in accordance with Quality of Service (QoS) information stored at the network arena controller.

18. The network arena controller of claim 17, wherein the processors are further operable to automatically configure the operator stations with security protocols and QoS limits in response to at least the operator stations directly connecting with the network arena controller.

19. The network arena controller of claim 17, wherein the processors are further operable to automatically configure the robots with security protocols and QoS limits in response to at least the operator stations directly connecting with the network arena controller.

20. The network arena controller of claim 17, wherein the QoS information includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

21. The network arena controller of claim 16, wherein the processors are further operable to automatically configure the robots with network addresses and security keys.

22. The network area controller of claim 16, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.

23. Software for managing wireless communications with robots comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to:

receive signals from operator stations and associated robots; and

automatically discard signals between an identified operator station and an identified robot based, at least in part, on predefined security information.

24. The software of claim 23, further operable to automatically lower a wireless transmission rate to one or more of the robots based on at least one of wireless signals transmitted to or wireless signals received from the one or more of the robots in accordance with QoS information stored at the network arena controller.

25. The software of claim 24, further operable to automatically configure the operator stations with security protocols and QoS limits in response to at least the operator stations directly connecting with the network arena controller.

26. The software of claim 24, further operable to automatically configure the robots with security protocols and QoS limits in response to at least the operator stations directly connecting with the network arena controller.

27. The software of claim 24, wherein the QoS information includes a bandwidth limitation for wireless communications.

28. The software of claim 24, further operable to automatically configure the robots with network addresses and security keys.

29. The software of claim 24, wherein the security information includes firewall policies.