Peer-to-Peer Grid Control System for Autonomous Device Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grid control systems rely on central servers, which are cumbersome, vulnerable to security breaches, and costly, with manual registration and testing processes that can be manipulated by third parties, and require high security expenditures to protect confidential data.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer network-based grid control system that detects and registers controllable electrical devices autonomously, using a peer-to-peer application to manage and control electrical grids without a central instance, ensuring high security standards and reducing transaction costs by distributing the monitoring and registration processes across multiple nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central server is used for grid control, then control functions can be centralized and managed, but security vulnerabilities increase and transaction costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control function into distributed peer-to-peer nodes. Each node independently performs detection, registration, and control operations, eliminating the single point of failure and security vulnerability inherent in centralized servers. The control functionality is divided across multiple participants in the electrical grid, each running identical peer-to-peer application code.
Solution Approach 2:
The peer-to-peer application enables nodes to autonomously detect and register themselves and other controllable electrical devices without requiring manual intervention or centralized authentication. The system self-organizes through decentralized consensus mechanisms, allowing nodes to independently verify and record device registrations in the distributed ledger, eliminating dependency on centralized security infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If manual registration and testing processes are implemented, then device verification can be performed, but the processes are cumbersome and vulnerable to manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical registration and testing processes with automated peer-to-peer detection and verification. The peer-to-peer application automatically discovers controllable electrical devices through network communication, performs cryptographic verification of device identities, and records registrations in an immutable distributed ledger, eliminating cumbersome manual procedures and their associated manipulation vulnerabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where peer-to-peer nodes constantly monitor the electrical grid for device connections, automatically verify device identities through cryptographic protocols, and update the distributed registration ledger in real-time. This automated feedback mechanism ensures accurate device verification without manual intervention, maintaining precision while reducing complexity.
3Loss of information
If a central instance manages confidential data, then data can be stored and accessed, but high security expenditure is required to protect from unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the confidential data storage and management function across multiple peer-to-peer nodes rather than concentrating it in a central server. Each node maintains a copy of the distributed ledger containing registration data, and cryptographic protocols ensure that no single node has access to all confidential information. This segmentation eliminates the need for expensive centralized security infrastructure while maintaining data protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The peer-to-peer application acts as an intermediary layer between electrical devices and the distributed ledger, using cryptographic protocols to securely manage confidential data. The application encrypts sensitive information and distributes it across multiple nodes, with access controlled through cryptographic keys rather than centralized authentication systems, reducing security expenditure while maintaining confidentiality.
4Speed
If server-client structure is used, then control instructions can be transmitted, but infrastructure complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional server-client architecture by making all nodes equal peers in a decentralized network. Instead of a central server issuing instructions to clients, any peer-to-peer node can initiate and transmit control instructions directly to controllable electrical devices. This inversion eliminates the need for complex server infrastructure while maintaining fast instruction transmission through direct peer-to-peer communication channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The peer-to-peer application implements multiple functions within a single decentralized framework: device detection, registration, authentication, control instruction transmission, and ledger maintenance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate server infrastructure components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining efficient control instruction transmission through the unified peer-to-peer protocol.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a grid control system (200, 300, 700, 1000) for at least one electrical grid (202, 302, 702), comprising: at least one peer-to-peer network (216, 316, 716, 1016) comprising at least one peer-to-peer application (220, 320, 720, 920), wherein the peer-to-peer application (220, 320, 720, 920) comprises at least one detecting means (222, 922) executable by at least a part of the nodes (218, 318, 718, 1008, 1010, 1012, 1018, 1044) of the peer-to-peer network (216, 316, 716, 1016) and configured to detect at least one first peer-to-peer module (226, 326, 726) assigned to at least one controllable electrical device (210, 310, 312, 710, 712) upon a connection of the controllable electrical device (210, 310, 312, 710, 712) with the electrical grid (202, 302, 702), wherein the first peer-to-peer module (226, 326, 726) is configured to communicate with the peer-to-peer application (220, 320, 720, 920), and wherein the peer-to-peer application (220, 320, 720, 920) comprises at least one registering means (224, 924) executable by at least a part of the nodes (218, 318, 718, 1008, 1010, 1012, 1018, 1044) of the peer-to-peer network (216, 316, 716, 1016) and configured to store at least one identifier assigned to the detected controllable electrical device (210, 310, 312, 710, 712) and at least one switching pattern of the detected controllable electrical device (210, 310, 312, 710, 712).