A method for registering an intelligent electronic device with a certification authority. The method includes enrolling a configuration tool at the certification authority; generating a one-time password for the intelligent electronic device and storing the one-time password in the certification authority and in the configuration tool; connecting to the intelligent electronic device with the configuration tool, wherein the configuration tool authenticates at the intelligent electronic device; sending the one-time password from the configuration tool to the intelligent electronic device; enrolling the intelligent electronic device at the certification authority with the one-time password and registering the intelligent electronic device with the certification authority; and receiving a device certificate from the certification authority in the intelligent electronic device.

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for managing discovery in wireless peer-to-peer networks. Various discovery procedures may be implemented by supporting a broadcast of a plurality of discovery signals spaced apart in time by silent periods from a peer node and changing the duration of at least one of the silent periods.

A technique for key sharing among multiple key servers connected to one another over a communication network is provided herein. Each key sever of the multiple key servers stores respective cryptographic keys, and provides the keys to a local device group connected with the key server, to enable the device group to encrypt messages with the keys. Each key server acts as a proxy for the other key servers in order to receive other keys from the other key servers over the network, and provide the other keys to the device group for use to decrypt messages received from other local device groups respectively connected with the other key servers that were encrypted with the other keys and to check message integrity. The multiple key servers may share keys with each other directly, or alternatively, indirectly through a central key server, as needed to support secure communications between their respective device groups.

A method includes establishing a cost for consumption of a given resource by a given resource consumer for a designated period of time, the cost comprising a fixed cost for consumption of the given resource up to a threshold consumption level for the designated time period and an additional cost associated with consumption of the given resource exceeding the threshold consumption level for the designated period of time, monitoring consumption of the given resource by the given resource consumer, determining whether resource consumption by the given resource consumer is projected to exceed the threshold consumption level over the designated time period, generating an alert responsive to determining that resource consumption by the given resource consumer is projected to exceed the threshold consumption level over the designated time period, and providing the alert for presentation via a user interface of a user device associated with the given resource consumer.

An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a predictive sensor configuration system that can dynamically determine imminent lighting conditions for a sensor array of the AV as the AV travels a current route. The predictive sensor configuration system can dynamically determine one or more configurations for the sensor array to compensate for the imminent lighting conditions, and preemptively execute the one or more configurations for the sensor array as the AV travels the current route.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for managing simultaneous outputs of surgical instruments. In some aspects, methods are presented for synchronizing the current frequencies. In some aspects, methods are presented for conducting duty cycling of energy outputs of two or more instruments. In some aspects, systems are presented for managing simultaneous monopolar outputs of two or more instruments, including providing a return pad that properly handles both monopolar outputs in some cases.

A secure control system includes a network of multiplexers that control end/field devices of an infrastructure system, such as an electric power grid. The multiplexers have a default secure lockdown state that prevents remote access to data on the multiplexers and prevents modification of software or firmware of the multiplexer. One or more of the multiplexers include a physical authentication device that confirms the physical proximity of a trusted individual when remote access is requested. A user accesses the network and one of the multiplexers remotely by way of login credentials. The trusted individual confirms the identity of the remote user and operates the physical authentication device connected with and in proximity to that multiplexer, thereby confirming that the remote user can be trusted to access data and reconfigure the multiplexers. The multiplexer connected with the physical authentication device generates a token that is passed to each of the multiplexers that the remote user needs access to. The token may specify a time period, after which, the multiplexers will reenter secure lockdown mode.

In one embodiment, a supervisory device for a network of a power substation identifies a plurality of nodes in the network of the power substation. The supervisory device associates each of the nodes with one or more security certificates. A particular security certificate authenticates a particular node to the supervisory device and authorizes the particular node to communicate in the network of the power substation. The supervisory device determines a security perimeter for the nodes in the network. The supervisory device schedules communications among the nodes using the one or more security certificates and based on the determined security perimeter.

A system and method are described for generating an interactive preview for an IoT device. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: in response to initiating a preview of a new IoT device, determining whether a corresponding IoT device exists and, if not, then generating a virtual IoT device; associating the virtual or real IoT device with a set of device attributes and presentation definitions; establishing a communication channel with a mobile app; in response to detecting changes to the attributes and/or presentation definitions, transmitting updates to the mobile app, the mobile app dynamically updating the attributes and presentation definitions in real time.

A system for managing house appliances supplied through a power grid is provided. Each house appliance operates according to at least one corresponding operative mode. Each operative mode comprises a sequence of operative phases. The system comprises at least one control unit interfaced with the house appliances for exchanging data. The at least one control unit collects power profile data comprising timing and electric power consumption data of each operative phase of each operative mode of the house appliances; generates a time schedule of the house appliances operations by distributing in time the execution of the operative phases thereof such that total power consumption of house appliances is kept under a maximum power threshold of the power grid; and controls the operation of the appliances based on the time schedule. The at least one control unit is configured to generate the time schedule by exploiting a Particle Swarm Optimization approach.