Message formatting, authentication, and error detection in home control systems
First Claim
1. A home control system that uses electrical power lines for communications, comprising:
- a plurality of components that are connected for communications among themselves through the electrical power lines, wherein the communications among the plurality of components is established through a single communication protocol;
a sending one of the components being configured to send messages over the electrical power lines in accordance with acts comprising;
calculating a first message authentication code based on a predefined one-way function of data from a message and of a key value that is shared between sending and receiving components;
including the message authentication code in the message;
sending the message over the electrical power lines;
a receiving one of the components being configured to receive messages in accordance with acts comprising;
receiving a message over the electrical power lines;
calculating a second message authentication code based on the predefined one-way function of the data from the message and of the current shared key value;
concluding that the message is either not authentic or contains a data error if the first and second message authentication codes do not match.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a system for communicating over electrical wiring in a house or other building, components are grouped and send messages to each other using a unique group identifier code associated with the group. Each message includes the group identifier code, message data, and a message authentication code (MAC) that is calculated for each message. A receiving component disregards any message whose group identifier code is not the same as that of the receiving component. MACs are calculated using a shared key value and a one-way hash function. The shared key value, in turn, is taken from an ordered sequence of key values that is defined for each component group based on a counter value.
11 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A home control system that uses electrical power lines for communications, comprising:
-
a plurality of components that are connected for communications among themselves through the electrical power lines, wherein the communications among the plurality of components is established through a single communication protocol; a sending one of the components being configured to send messages over the electrical power lines in accordance with acts comprising; calculating a first message authentication code based on a predefined one-way function of data from a message and of a key value that is shared between sending and receiving components; including the message authentication code in the message; sending the message over the electrical power lines; a receiving one of the components being configured to receive messages in accordance with acts comprising; receiving a message over the electrical power lines; calculating a second message authentication code based on the predefined one-way function of the data from the message and of the current shared key value; concluding that the message is either not authentic or contains a data error if the first and second message authentication codes do not match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An electrical component that is connected for communications with other electrical components of a particular group using electrical power lines in a building, comprising:
-
a processor; a transmitter that is responsive to the processor to send data using the electrical power lines; the processor being programmed to compose and send messages in conjunction with the transmitter, each message including a message authentication code based on a predefined one-way function of data from the message and of a key value that is shared between a plurality of components; wherein the communications with other electrical components of the particular group is established though a single communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. An electrical component that is connected for communications with other electrical components of a particular group using electrical power lines in a building, comprising:
-
a processor; a receiver that functions in conjunction with the processor to receive messages from other electrical components using the electrical power lines, such messages including first message authentication codes; the processor being programmed to calculate a second message authentication code for each message based on a predefined one-way function of data from the message and of a key value that is shared between a plurality of components; the processor being further programmed to compare the first and second message authentication codes to authenticate each message; wherein the communications with other electrical components of the particular group is established through a single communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of communicating electronically between a plurality of electrical components using electrical power lines in a building, the method comprising:
-
designating groups of the electrical components that communicate among themselves; sharing a key value between components of a particular group; calculating a first message authentication code based on a predefined one-way function of data from a message and of the key value that is shared by components of the particular group; including the message authentication code in the message; sending the message over the electrical power lines; receiving the message; calculating a second message authentication code based on the predefined one-way function of the data from the message and of the shared key value; and comparing the first and second message authentication codes to authenticate each message; wherein the electronic communication between the electrical components is established through a single communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification