Intelligent electronic device having user-authenticating capabilities

An intelligent electronic device (IED), comprising:

• a user authentication module configured for authenticating an authorized user of the IED and preventing an access by non-authorized personnel to a portion of the operational features of the IED, the user authentication module including a database with a list of users matched with an associated authentication credential and a preselected mode of communication;
• a first sensor configured to receive user authentication information;
• wherein upon confirmation of a match between the user authentication information and the associated authentication credential, the database generating a dynamic password and the user authentication module communicating the dynamic password to the user via the preselected mode of communication;
• and
• wherein the sensor is configured to receive the dynamic password to complete the authentication of the authorized user to permits access to operational features of the IED for a predetermined period of time.

A method of granting authorized users access to operational features of an intelligent electronic device (IED), the method comprising:

• storing a user profile in a database, wherein the user profile includes a user credential and a preferred means of communication;
• receiving, via a first sensor, user authentication information;
• verifying, via a control module, the user authentication information, wherein the control module includes a decision circuit configured to compare the user authentication information to the user credential;
• transmitting a dynamically generated password to an external device via a processing module using the preferred means of communication if the user authentication information and the user credential match;
• receiving, via a second sensor, a user-entered password;
• verifying, via the control module, the user-entered password, wherein the decision circuit is configured to compare the user-entered password to the dynamically generated password and generate a signal if the user-entered password and the dynamically generated password match;
• transmitting the signal to a processing module that is configured to administer operational features of the IED;
• wherein the signal enables an input device for a predetermined period of time, the input device is configured to receive an input to grant the authorized user access to the portion of the operational features of the IED for the predetermined period of time.