Power grid surveillance via topology detection system using power line communications

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, including instructions that when executed by the processor perform operations comprising:
• observing, at a first time, first signals sent via Power Line Communication (PLC) between a plurality of nodes in an electrical grid;
• generating a first list for a given node of the plurality of nodes of first channel impulse responses (CIRs) for the given node to communicate with other nodes in the plurality of nodes based on the first signals as observed;
• observing, at a second time subsequent to the first time, second signals sent via PLC between the plurality of nodes in the electrical grid;
• generating a second list for the given node of the plurality of nodes of second CIRs for the given node to communicate with the other nodes in the plurality of nodes based on the second signals as observed;
• identifying from the first list and the second list a certain node with a highest variation in CIR with the given node between the first time and the second time;
• sending a first token for the given node from the given node to the certain node via PLC;
• and
• in response receiving a second token from the certain node at the given node, generating a topology change alert.

A memory, including instructions that when executed by a processor perform operations comprising:

• observing, at a first time, first signals sent via Power Line Communication (PLC) between a plurality of nodes in an electrical grid;
• generating a first list for a given node of the plurality of nodes of first channel impulse responses (CIRs) for the given node to communicate with other nodes in the plurality of nodes based on the first signals as observed;
• observing, at a second time subsequent to the first time, second signals sent via PLC between the plurality of nodes in the electrical grid;
• generating a second list for the given node of the plurality of nodes of second CIRs for the given node to communicate with the other nodes in the plurality of nodes based on the second signals as observed;
• identifying from the first list and the second list a certain node with a highest variation in CIR with the given node between the first time and the second time;
• sending a first token for the given node from the given node to the certain node via PLC;
• and
• in response receiving a second token from the certain node at the given node, generating a topology change alert.