Authenticated Mesh Group Discovery With Bridge Relays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility and distribution companies face challenges in maintaining accurate network topology information for smart grids due to outdated connectivity data, leading to degraded smart grid analytics and functionality, as connections are often changed without updating records, and transformers remain in service for decades.
Innovation Solution
Implementing ad-hoc authenticated group discovery and data sharing techniques in mesh networks using bridge devices to authenticate and relay messages between devices without direct wireless communication, reducing the need for repeated broadcasts and utilizing signature and certificate passing for secure group formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices repeatedly broadcast messages to ensure delivery in mesh networks, then message delivery reliability is improved, but network traffic increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge device as an intermediary component in the mesh network. The bridge device receives messages from one device and forwards them to other devices that are not in direct wireless communication, eliminating the need for repeated broadcasts while ensuring reliable message delivery across the network
2Reliability
If devices repeatedly broadcast messages to ensure delivery in mesh networks, then message delivery reliability is improved, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device serves as a mediator that consolidates message forwarding. Instead of multiple devices performing repeated broadcasts, the bridge device receives a single message from one device and efficiently forwards it to all necessary destinations, significantly reducing overall network traffic while maintaining delivery reliability
3Speed
If ad-hoc group discovery is implemented without authentication, then device discovery speed is improved, but network security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication through certificate passing during the group discovery process. Devices exchange and verify certificates before being added to ad-hoc groups, ensuring security is established in advance rather than requiring repeated authentication during communication
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge device acts as an intermediary that manages authentication and certificate verification for devices joining ad-hoc groups. This centralized authentication approach maintains security while allowing rapid device discovery and group formation
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for ad-hoc authenticated group discovery and data sharing in a mesh network. A group of devices is created without leaving a security gap due to the open communication needed to establish the discovery of the devices forming the group. The group can be authenticated autonomously following network discovery of the devices. Instead of requiring global pre-assigned keys for authentication, the devices in the group are authenticated with signatures and certificate passing thereby providing strong security. The efficiency of data sharing between the devices of the network, such as a mesh network, can also be increased. One or more devices may act as a bridge device between devices of a same group that are not in direct wireless communication with each other to reduce re-broadcasts within the mesh network.