Intelligent electronic device having user-authenticating capabilities

An intelligent electronic device (IED), comprising:

• a metering module configured for measuring or calculating parameters of waveforms of voltages and currents of electrical services;
• a processing module configured for processing data obtained using the metering module and administering operational features of the IED;
• a user interface module configured for displaying data and configuration settings of the IED;
• and
• a user authentication module configured for authenticating an authorized user of the IED and preventing an access by non-authorized personnel to a user-selectable portion of the operational features, wherein the user authentication module comprises a reader of ID cards for acquisition of user's authenticating information.

A method of protecting a user-selectable portion of operational features of an intelligent electronic device (IED) from an access by non-authorized personnel, the method comprising:

• providing the IED with a user authentication module having:
• a memory device containing a database of information authenticating authorized users of said IED;
• and
• a sensing means configured for authenticating the authorized users, said sensing means including (i) at least one of a biometric sensor, and a reader of magnetic, holographic, RFID, or smart ID cards;
• and
• a controller configured for comparing user's authenticating information acquired using the sensing means with records contained in the database;
• requesting a user to provide the user's authenticating information using the sensing means;
• denying an access to the user-selectable portion of the operational features to users whose authenticating information does not match the records contained in the database;
• authenticating users whose authentication information matches the records contained in the database as the authorized users;
• and
• allowing the authorized users to access the user-selectable portion of the operational features for a duration of a pre-determined time interval.

A system for authenticating a user of an intelligent electronic device (IED), comprising:

• at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) comprising:
• a metering module configured for measuring or calculating parameters of waveforms of voltages and currents of electrical services;
• a processing module configured for processing data obtained using the metering module and administering operational features of the IED;
• a sensor for acquiring authenticating information from at least one user;
• and
• a communication module for transmitting the at least one user's authenticating information to a remote server;
• and
• the remote server for authenticating an authorized user of the IED and preventing an access by non-authorized personnel to a user-selectable portion of the operational features by comparing the received at least one user's authenticating information to at least one record in a database coupled to the remote server.