Rhett Edward Smith

US Patent:

20140068711, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Aug 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/599927

Inventors:

David E. Whitehead - Pullman WA, US
Mark Weber - Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Kuna ID, US

Assignee:

SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, INC. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

G06F 21/00
H04W 12/08

US Classification:

726 3

Abstract:

The present disclosure provides for selectively enabling a primary communication channel upon receipt of enablement instructions received via a secondary communication channel. In some embodiments, a first intelligent electronic device (IED) may be connected to a second IED via a primary communication channel. In various embodiments, the primary communication channel may be selectively and/or temporarily enabled by transmitting an enablement instruction via a secondary communication channel. The secondary communication channel may be relatively more secure than the primary communication channel. In some embodiments, the secondary communication channel may also connect the first and second IEDs. Accordingly, the first IED may transmit an enablement instruction to the second IED in order to temporarily enable communication via the primary communication channel between the first and second IEDs.

US Patent:

20230061215, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

Sep 1, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/463866

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/24
H04L 12/26
H04L 12/707
H04L 12/721
H04L 12/751
H04L 29/06

Abstract:

This disclosure pertains to systems and methods for identifying and configuring a host in a software defined network (SDN) configured to communicate using a parallel redundancy protocol (PRP). In one embodiment, a system may include a first communication host and a second communication host configured to transmit information through a network. An SDN controller in communication with the network may include a PRP identification subsystem to monitor traffic transmitted by the first communication host to the second communication host, determine that the traffic comprises at least one data packet that conforms to PRP. Upon detection of a host configured to use PRP, a traffic routing subsystem creates a plurality of communication flows between the first communication host and the second communication host to route PRP traffic between the first communication host and the second communication host.

US Patent:

20230061491, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

Sep 1, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/463877

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US
Kylan T. Robinson - Pullman WA, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/703
H04L 12/715
H04L 12/851
H04L 12/931

Abstract:

This disclosure pertains to systems and methods to improve fault tolerance and hardware utilization in a software defined network (SDN) that includes hosts communicating with parallel redundancy protocol (PRP). In one embodiment, a network comprising a plurality of switches and interconnected using a plurality of physical links may connect a first communication host, a second communication host, and an SDN controller. The SDN controller may include a PRP optimization subsystem to identify parallel communication paths between the first communication host and the second communication host that utilize distinct physical communication links. The SDN controller may also include a traffic routing subsystem to create a plurality of communication flows between the first communication host and the second communication host utilizing the distinct physical communication links.

US Patent:

20230066212, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

Sep 1, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/463874

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/707
H04L 12/741
H04L 29/06

Abstract:

This disclosure pertains to identifying and configuring an in-band controller operating on a host in a software defined network (SDN), the host configured to use a parallel redundancy protocol (PRP). In one embodiment, a system may include a network in communication with the host, the network comprising a plurality of switches interconnected with a plurality of physical links. The in-band controller is in communication with the network and includes a PRP identification subsystem to generate a packet configured such that the network forwards the packet back to the in-band controller, to analyze the packet and determine that the packet conforms to PRP, and to identify a first communication host in communication with the network and configured to operate using PRP. A traffic routing subsystem of the in-band controller may create a plurality of PRP communication flows between the in-band controller and the first communication host.

US Patent:

20200412652, Dec 31, 2020

Filed:

Sep 16, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/022738

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/803
H04L 12/825
H04L 12/24
H04L 29/06
H04L 12/721
H04L 12/823
H04L 29/08
H04L 12/733

Abstract:

A software-defined network controller (SDN controller) defines a first network flow to be selectively implemented by a networking device according to a first network operation profile. The SDN controller defines a second network flow to be selectively implemented by the networking device according to a second network operation profile. A memory device of the networking device may store at least first and second network operation profiles for selective implementation during defined event windows. The event window(s) may be defined by start event inputs and stop event inputs. The event inputs may include, without limitation, a combination of parameter-based inputs and/or temporal inputs. In one specific embodiment, the networking device detects a network event and modifies a network operation profile for a preset time period and/or until an interrupt or stop event is detected.

US Patent:

20200329047, Oct 15, 2020

Filed:

Apr 11, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/381592

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US
Robert Meine - Boise ID, US
Dennis Gammel - Pullman WA, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 29/06
H04L 29/12

Abstract:

The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods of handling Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) responses in a software defined network (SDN). In one embodiment, a system may comprise a controller in a control plane to generate an address store comprising information associated with a plurality of devices in communication with the SDN. The controller may also program a plurality of network devices in a data plane based on a plurality of communication flows. The network devices may forward traffic according to the plurality of communication flows received from the controller. The network device may also receive: a request from the first device for information associated with the second device, determine that the first device is authorized to communicate with the second device based on the plurality of communication flows, and generate a response to the request comprising the information associated with the second device based on the address store.

US Patent:

20190273653, Sep 5, 2019

Filed:

Jan 16, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/248959

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/24
H04L 12/26

Abstract:

A software-defined network controller (SDN controller) defines a first network flow to be selectively implemented by a networking device according to a first network operation profile. The SDN controller defines a second network flow to be selectively implemented by the networking device according to a second network operation profile. A memory device of the networking device may store at least first and second network operation profiles for selective implementation based on network packet characteristic matching and/or a “trigger alarm” event. The first network operation profile is implemented when an incoming network packet matches a pre-defined and/or customizable network packet characteristic match template. The second network operation profile is implemented when a “trigger alarm” event is received. A network operation profile may execute a write action to latch, or otherwise trigger, a physical alarm of a networking device or associated device.

US Patent:

20190273686, Sep 5, 2019

Filed:

Jul 23, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/042410

Inventors:

- Pullman WA, US
Rhett Smith - Odessa FL, US

Assignee:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. - Pullman WA

International Classification:

H04L 12/803
H04L 12/825
H04L 12/24
H04L 12/733
H04L 12/721
H04L 12/823
H04L 29/08
H04L 29/06

Abstract:

A software-defined network controller (SDN controller) defines a first network flow to be selectively implemented by a networking device according to a first network operation profile. The SDN controller defines a second network flow to be selectively implemented by the networking device according to a second network operation profile. A memory device of the networking device may store at least first and second network operation profiles for selective implementation during defined event windows. The event window(s) may be defined by start event inputs and stop event inputs. The event inputs may include, without limitation, a combination of parameter-based inputs and/or temporal inputs. In one specific embodiment, the networking device detects a network event and modifies a network operation profile for a preset time period and/or until an interrupt or stop event is detected.