Patents by Inventor Derrick Southerland

Derrick Southerland 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).

  • Restricting communications in industrial control
    Patent number: 10356046
    Abstract: Communication in industrial control is restricted (42). Virtual private network functionality is integrated (32) within a programmable logic controller (20) of an industrial control network so that physical access to network interface (16) is insufficient to access information. The programmable logic controller (20) only accepts commands or messages provided through the virtual private network interface (21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) and does not accept (42) messages routed directly to the programmable logic controller (20) itself, preventing security breaches in communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Derrick Southerland
  • RESTRICTING COMMUNICATIONS IN INDUSTRIAL CONTROL
    Publication number: 20160269363
    Abstract: Communication in industrial control is restricted (42). Virtual private network functionality is integrated (32) within a programmable logic controller (20) of an industrial control network so that physical access to network interface (16) is insufficient to access information. The programmable logic controller (20) only accepts commands or messages provided through the virtual private network interface (21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) and does not accept (42) messages routed directly to the programmable logic controller (20) itself, preventing security breaches in communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Derrick SOUTHERLAND
  • AUTOMATED INPUT SIMULATION FOR SIMULATED PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20150356220
    Abstract: Input simulation is provided (36) as part of simulating (38) a programmable logic controller. The simulator program itself includes a graphic user interface for the user to configure a sequence of changes in input values. For example, the value of a variable is to be changed at each of multiple times. The sequence is used to simulate (38) the PLC reaction to the changing input in real-time. The output is provided (40) in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Derrick Southerland, Yi Dong, Ryan Kingsley, James W. Cornett