Patents by Inventor Robert A. Brandt

Robert A. Brandt 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).

  • Patent number: 10565390
    Abstract: An automation control system is provided that includes an interface device configured to enable a user to monitor, control, or monitor and control processes of the automation control system. The interface device includes a display that presents a graphical-user-interface that enables the user to monitor, control, or monitor and control the process of the automation control system. Further, a processor renders a plurality of interface screens to the display. The processor determines a current set of access rights of a protected interface screen of the plurality of interface screens, at least one object of the protected interface screen, or both. The access rights are inherited from access rights associated with one or more of the plurality of interface screens, a folder containing the at least one interface screen, or both. Further, the processor provides access, via the protected interface screen, to monitor, control, or monitor and control the processes based upon the set of access rights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Bush, Robert A. Brandt, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael B. Miller
  • Patent number: 10360355
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate protecting control programs used in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, control system content provided by a primary entity is received along with a primary security authority provided by the primary entity, wherein the primary security authority defines primary usage rights for the control system content granted to a secondary entity. A secondary security authority provided by the secondary entity is received, wherein the secondary security authority defines secondary usage rights for the control system content that further restrict the primary usage rights. A request is received from a user associated with the secondary entity to perform an action associated with the control system content, and the request is processed with the secondary security authority to determine if the user is authorized to perform the action associated with the control system content based on the secondary usage rights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Brandt, Clark L. Case, John C. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 9767308
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment are disclosed. In at least one implementation, a policy set associated with an object type is created, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type. An object of the object type is identified for security configuration, and a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object is received. In response to the selection of the policy set, security is configured for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Wilkinson, Robert A. Brandt, Clark L. Case
  • Publication number: 20170161475
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate protecting control programs used in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, control system content provided by a primary entity is received along with a primary security authority provided by the primary entity, wherein the primary security authority defines primary usage rights for the control system content granted to a secondary entity. A secondary security authority provided by the secondary entity is received, wherein the secondary security authority defines secondary usage rights for the control system content that further restrict the primary usage rights. A request is received from a user associated with the secondary entity to perform an action associated with the control system content, and the request is processed with the secondary security authority to determine if the user is authorized to perform the action associated with the control system content based on the secondary usage rights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Robert A. Brandt, Clark L. Case, John C. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 9613195
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate protecting control programs used in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, control system content provided by a primary entity is received along with a primary security authority provided by the primary entity, wherein the primary security authority defines primary usage rights for the control system content granted to a secondary entity. A secondary security authority provided by the secondary entity is received, wherein the secondary security authority defines secondary usage rights for the control system content that further restrict the primary usage rights. A request is received from a user associated with the secondary entity to perform an action associated with the control system content, and the request is processed with the secondary security authority to determine if the user is authorized to perform the action associated with the control system content based on the secondary usage rights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Brandt, Clark L. Case, John C. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20160350521
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate protecting control programs used in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, control system content provided by a primary entity is received along with a primary security authority provided by the primary entity, wherein the primary security authority defines primary usage rights for the control system content granted to a secondary entity. A secondary security authority provided by the secondary entity is received, wherein the secondary security authority defines secondary usage rights for the control system content that further restrict the primary usage rights. A request is received from a user associated with the secondary entity to perform an action associated with the control system content, and the request is processed with the secondary security authority to determine if the user is authorized to perform the action associated with the control system content based on the secondary usage rights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Robert A. Brandt, Clark L. Case, John C. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20160350559
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment are disclosed. In at least one implementation, a policy set associated with an object type is created, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type. An object of the object type is identified for security configuration, and a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object is received. In response to the selection of the policy set, security is configured for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: John C. Wilkinson, Robert A. Brandt, Clark L. Case
  • Publication number: 20160217298
    Abstract: An automation control system is provided that includes an interface device configured to enable a user to monitor, control, or monitor and control processes of the automation control system. The interface device includes a display that presents a graphical-user-interface that enables the user to monitor, control, or monitor and control the process of the automation control system. Further, a processor renders a plurality of interface screens to the display. The processor determines a current set of access rights of a protected interface screen of the plurality of interface screens, at least one object of the protected interface screen, or both. The access rights are inherited from access rights associated with one or more of the plurality of interface screens, a folder containing the at least one interface screen, or both. Further, the processor provides access, via the protected interface screen, to monitor, control, or monitor and control the processes based upon the set of access rights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Michael A. Bush, Robert A. Brandt, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael B. Miller
  • Patent number: 9386015
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Taryl J. Jasper, Michael B. Miller, Robert A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9323245
    Abstract: An automation control system is provided with an interface device configured to enable a user to monitor, control, or monitor and control processes of the automation control system. Upon power on or initialization of the interface device or when a previously logged in user is logged off, the interface device logs in a guest account associated with a user role having a defined set of access rights and provides access to monitor, control, or monitor and control the processes based upon the set of access rights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Bush, Robert A. Brandt, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael B. Miller
  • Publication number: 20150229640
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Taryl J. Jasper, Michael B. Miller, Robert A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9043600
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Taryl J. Jasper, Michael B. Miller, Robert A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20130298217
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Taryl J. Jasper, Michael B. Miller, Robert A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 8504837
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Taryl J. Jasper, Michael B. Miller, Robert A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20120096272
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Taryl J. Jasper, Michael B. Miller, Robert A. Brandt