Patents by Inventor Colin Gordon

Colin Gordon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240075629
    Abstract: In some examples, an autonomous robotic welding system comprises a workspace including a part having a seam, a sensor configured to capture multiple images within the workspace, a robot configured to lay weld along the seam, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify the seam on the part in the workspace based on the multiple images, plan a path for the robot to follow when welding the seam, the path including multiple different configurations of the robot, and instruct the robot to weld the seam according to the planned path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander James LONSBERRY, Andrew Gordon LONSBERRY, Nima AJAM GARD, Colin BUNKER, Carlos Fabian BENITEZ QUIROZ, Madhavun Candadai VASU
  • Patent number: 11895152
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to operate in a recovery mode after initiating a startup operation, transmit a data frame to a device of an electric power delivery system during the recovery mode, the data frame indicating a request for a security association key (SAK), receive the SAK from the device in response to transmitting the data frame, and use the SAK to communicate data via a media access control security (MACsec) communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane C. Skelton, Colin Gordon
  • Patent number: 11843479
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric power distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory having instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine establishment of setup criteria to operate in a passive mode, operate in the passive mode to communicate data without initiation of a media access control security key agreement (MKA) protocol in response to determination of the establishment of the setup criteria, receive activation data during operation in the passive mode, the activation data being indicative that a media access control security (MACsec) communication link is to be established, and operate in an active mode in response to receipt of the activation data to initiate the MKA protocol to establish the MACsec communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Gordon
  • Patent number: 11843583
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory having instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to perform operations that include receiving an indication to establish a media access control security (MACsec) communication link in accordance with a confidential mode configured to block access to communication traffic associated with the MACsec communication link, indicating that the MACsec communication link is to be established in accordance with the confidential mode, receiving establishment of the MACsec communication link in accordance with the confidential mode, and communicating data via the MACsec communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Gordon
  • Patent number: 11811947
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric power delivery system includes processing circuitry a memory that includes instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive first data via parallel redundancy protocol (PRP), generate a first integrity check value using a media access control security (MACsec) integrity check function based on the first data, receive second data via PRP, generate a second integrity check value using the MACsec integrity function based on the second data, compare the first integrity check value and the second integrity check value with one another, and output a notification in response to determining that the first integrity check value and the second integrity check value do not match one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Gordon
  • Patent number: 11777931
    Abstract: A system includes an intelligent electronic device (IED) and a proxy device communicatively coupled to the TED via a Media Access Control (MACsec) communication link. The proxy device is configured to perform operations that include receiving permissions data, receiving a request to perform an action associated with the TED, determining whether the action is authorized based on the permissions data, and transmitting data to the TED via the MACsec communication link in response to determining that the action is authorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Dennis Gammel
  • Patent number: 11764969
    Abstract: A key server may establish an initial media access security (MACsec) connectivity association (CA) between a set of devices on a communication network of a power system. The key server may identify a device in the set of devices on the initial CA as a suspect device. The key server may communicate a new connectivity association key (CAK) of an independent CA to one or more other devices in the set of devices to cause the one or more other devices to join an independent CA without the suspect device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, William Herrmann
  • Patent number: 11722501
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to establish, over a communication network of a power system, a connection association (CA) with a receiving device using a MACsec Key Agreement (MKA). The processor is configured to automatically send device management information via the MKA process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Duane C. Skelton
  • Patent number: 11677268
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to establish, over a communication network of a power system, a connection association (CA) with a receiving device using a MACsec Key Agreement (MKA). The processor is configured to automatically send an announce message indicating a set of enabled application protocols on the IED to the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Sai Krishna Raghupathula
  • Patent number: 11652846
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric power distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory that includes a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable comprising instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive operating data associated with the electric power distribution system, determine whether the operating data matches with expected operating data, generate a connectivity association key (CAK) based on the operating data in response to a determination that the operating data matches with the expected operating data, and establishing a connectivity association based on the CAK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Bradetich, Colin Gordon, Arun Shrestha, Karen S J Wyszczelski, Hidayatullah Ahsan
  • Patent number: 11637444
    Abstract: A control system of an electric power distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory having instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations that include receiving an indication of a profile, generating a connectivity association key (CAK) based on the profile, distributing a copy of the CAK to a device of the electric power distribution system, and establishing a connectivity association with the device in accordance with the profile based on a verification that the device possesses the copy of the CAK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Gordon
  • Publication number: 20230095159
    Abstract: A controller for an electric power distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory that includes instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine that a first switch of the electric power distribution system is a primary switch communicatively coupled to an intelligent electronic device (IED) of the electric power distribution system, determine that a second switch of the electric power distribution system is a backup switch communicatively coupled to the IED, and distribute a first copy of a security association key (SAK) to the first switch and a second copy of the SAK to the second switch in response to determining that the first switch is the primary switch and the second switch is the backup switch to enable the first switch and the second switch to establish respective media access control security (MACsec) communication links with the IED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Robert Meine
  • Patent number: 11601278
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to establish, over a communication network of a power system, a communication link according to a media access control security (MACsec) Key Agreement (MKA). The TED receives a plurality of access control secure association keys (SAKs) via the communication link. The TED receives one or more checked-out SAKs indicating a request to access the TED The TED allows access based on the one or more checked-out access control SAKs matching at least one of the plurality of access control SAKs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Timothy J. Watkins, Paul Stoaks, Duane C. Skelton, Dennis Gammel
  • Publication number: 20230066208
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric power delivery system includes processing circuitry a memory that includes instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive first data via parallel redundancy protocol (PRP), generate a first integrity check value using a media access control security (MACsec) integrity check function based on the first data, receive second data via PRP, generate a second integrity check value using the MACsec integrity function based on the second data, compare the first integrity check value and the second integrity check value with one another, and output a notification in response to determining that the first integrity check value and the second integrity check value do not match one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Gordon
  • Publication number: 20230050220
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to operate in a recovery mode after initiating a startup operation, transmit a data frame to a device of an electric power delivery system during the recovery mode, the data frame indicating a request for a security association key (SAK), receive the SAK from the device in response to transmitting the data frame, and use the SAK to communicate data via a media access control security (MACsec) communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane C. Skelton, Colin Gordon
  • Patent number: 11570179
    Abstract: A key server device obtains authorization information of a user associated with an intelligent electronic device (IED). The key server communicates the authorization information to the IED, via a Media Access Control Security (MACsec) Key Agreement (MKA) protocol to allow the IED to authenticate the user. The key server receives one or more commands from the user. The key server communicates the one or more commands to the IED to allow the IED to perform operations based on the one or more commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Paul Stoaks, Dennis Gammel
  • Patent number: 11552822
    Abstract: A controller for an electric power distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory that includes instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine that a first switch of the electric power distribution system is a primary switch communicatively coupled to an intelligent electronic device (IED) of the electric power distribution system, determine that a second switch of the electric power distribution system is a backup switch communicatively coupled to the TED, and distribute a first copy of a security association key (SAK) to the first switch and a second copy of the SAK to the second switch in response to determining that the first switch is the primary switch and the second switch is the backup switch to enable the first switch and the second switch to establish respective media access control security (MACsec) communication links with the IED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Robert Meine
  • Patent number: 11502825
    Abstract: A system includes an entropy device configured to generate and distribute input entropy data and an intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric power distribution system. The IED is configured to perform operations that include receiving the input entropy data distributed by the entropy device, generating a set of keys using the input entropy data, and establishing a Media Access Control Security (MACsec) communication link using the set of keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Dennis Gammel
  • Patent number: 11489554
    Abstract: A system includes a switch of an electric power distribution system, the switch being configured to receive data and to transmit data, and the system includes a controller configured to communicatively couple to the switch. The controller is configured to create a software defined network by instructing the switch to transmit data to a location, and the controller is configured to generate a set of keys and to provide the set of keys to the switch to enable the switch to communicate data via a Media Access Security (MACsec) communication link, a MACsec key agreement (MKA) connectivity association, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Gordon, Duane C. Skelton
  • Publication number: 20220345488
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) of an electric power distribution system includes processing circuitry and a memory that includes a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable comprising instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive operating data associated with the electric power distribution system, determine whether the operating data matches with expected operating data, generate a connectivity association key (CAK) based on the operating data in response to a determination that the operating data matches with the expected operating data, and establishing a connectivity association based on the CAK.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Bradetich, Colin Gordon, Arun Shrestha, Karen SJ Wyszczelski, Hidayatullah Ahsan