Mitigation of gratuitous conditions on electric power delivery systems
AssigneeSchweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
InventorDavid J. Dolezilek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mitigation of gratuitous conditions on an electric power delivery system is disclosed herein. Intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) may take actions on the electric power delivery system based on commands received via communications channels and based on detected electrical conditions. When a gratuitous condition (such as a cyber attack) is detected, a block command is provided to the IEDs such that the IEDs do not effect actions corresponding with commands received over a communications system. Communications may pass through a condition monitor of a communications device to detect insecurity and either block the communications or command the IED to enter interlock mode.
Claims18
An electric power system communication device for mitigating an insecurity condition of the electric power delivery system, comprising:
- a processor;
- a communications network interface in communication with a supervisory system, and configured to receive automation commands from the supervisory system;
- an intelligent electronic device (IED) interface in communication with an IED for:
- providing the automation commands from the supervisory system to the IED;
- and,
- receiving IED status information from the IED;
- cyber logic computer instructions that when executed by the processor cause the device to:
- receive a supervisory command from the supervisory system;
- detect a gratuitous condition by comparing a predetermined gratuitous condition indication with the supervisory command;
- and,
- when the gratuitous condition is determined, effect a blocking operation of the automation command from being executed by the IED.
A mitigation system for mitigating an insecurity condition on an electric power delivery system, comprising:
- an intelligent electronic device (IED) in communication with a portion of the electric power delivery system to receive electric power system information and effect an operation on equipment of the electric power delivery system;
- a supervisory system in communication with the IED for receiving electric power system information from the IED and sending supervisory commands to the IED;
- a communication device in communication with the IED and the supervisory system for communicating between the supervisory system and the IED, comprising:
- a processor;
- cyber logic computer instructions that when executed by the processor cause the communication device to:
- receive the supervisory commands from the supervisory system;
- detect a gratuitous condition by comparing a predetermined gratuitous condition indication with the automation commands;
- and,
- when the gratuitous condition is determined, effect a blocking operation of supervisory commands from being executed by the IED.
A method for mitigating insecurity on an electric power delivery system, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a predetermined gratuitous condition indication for the electric power delivery system;
- receiving supervisory commands from a supervisory system;
- receiving status of intelligent electronic devices (“IEDs”) providing protection and supervisory operations on the electric power delivery system;
- compare the supervisory commands with the established gratuitous condition indication;
- when the established gratuitous condition indication is not met, communicating the supervisory commands from the supervisory system to the IED;
- and,
- when the established gratuitous condition indication is met, effecting a blocking operation of the supervisory command from being executed by the IED.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.