BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to information and device security, and specifically, to a system and method to secure the flow of information, or a device, by denying electrical power to a device, such as a computer, a laptop, or a mobile device, or any device requiring electrical power to operate.

2. Background

Currently there are a number of solutions for information security. Some of these solutions attempt to keep an information-based device within the physical possession of the owner, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the industry because such devices can be stolen or misplaced by the owner. Other solutions attempt to use passwords, but these solutions are similarly unable to meet the needs of the industry because passwords can be hacked via many nefarious means. Still other solutions seek to encrypt the information, but these solutions also fail to meet industry needs because of cyber-attacks.

Information security has been a challenge since the inception of computing decades ago, where the first attacks were reported in the 1970s. The media regularly publishes incidents of cyber-attacks, hacking, and data breaches. The reported losses are significant, and the trend of such attacks is increasing. For example, it has been reported that the net cost of an information breach far exceeds the cost of the device in question, where the average loss has been reported as high as $49,000, which cannot be sustained by individual users and most businesses. Further, it has been reported that 52% of information-based devices are stolen from office and workplaces and 24% at public events such as industry conferences. The internet and computer networks further provide attack surfaces to the malfeasants. Other media reports suggest that the number of cyber-attacks and data breaches has increased ten-fold during the past 15 years.

Considering the cost of unauthorized access to data and information devices, and the increasing trends in the number of such attacks, it is clear that the current solutions are inadequate and there is a need for improved information security.

It would be desirable to have a system that intercepts information security attacks at the initial point of the attack, which is an attacking device used by the malfeasants. Thus, it would be desirable to disable the attacking devices in the most fundamental manner, which is shutting it down by denying it electrical power. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a system that distinguished between an attacking device and an authorized device. Further, a system that renders a stolen device inoperative, thus reducing the threat of theft. Still further, it would be desirable to have a system that places as little burden on system administrators and users of authorized devices as possible. Therefore, there has been a long-felt need in the industry for a system and associated method that disables attacking devices and yet places very little burden on authorized users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a system and method for secure electric power delivery, which provides a system and method for intercepting an attacking device and disabling it by validating its authenticity and denying it of electrical power if it is not authenticated.

The present invention is a system together with an associated method directed at detecting an unauthorized information-based device and denying it of electrical power on the premises of the user.

The system of the present invention is made up of the following components: at least one secure receptacle each having a site-side modem, an adapter-side modem, a receptacle electric power inlet, a receptacle power outlet, a relay, a receptacle identifier, a receptacle key manager module, a current detector, and a receptacle microcontroller; a site power source having an electric power source, a site electric power inlet, a site electric power outlet, a site microcontroller, a site key manager module, a site remote communication module, a site modem, and a receptacle identifier database; at least one device used by a user; at least one secure adapter, having a key entry module, an adapter electric power inlet, and electric power outlet, and an adapter modem; a powerline, where the powerline transmits both electric power and communication signals; and a central controller having a central key manager module capable of generating a key, a central microcontroller, and a central remote communication module.

These components are connected as follows: the powerline connects the electric power source to the site power source, the secure receptacles, the secure adapters, and the devices via the respective electric power inlets and outlets. At the request of an administrator the central controller generates and communicates a key to the user and to the site controller via the respective remote communication modules. In the present invention, the administrator refers to either an individual, an automated system, or both. The user enters the key into the key entry module of the secure adapter. Each device is connected to the respective secure adapter's adapter electric power outlet. The current detector detects a device connected to the secure receptacle and in coordination with a logic in the receptacle microcontroller a time-out signal is issued if a valid key is not entered within a pre-determined time. Upon receiving the key in a timely manner, the relay is closed, and electrical current is provided to the device; if not, the relay is opened, and the device is denied of electrical power.

In an embodiment of the present invention the secure adapter is a distinct device and separate from the secure receptacle and the device. In a different embodiment the secure adapter is integrated within the device. In a yet different embodiment, the secure adapter is integrated within the secure receptacle. Further, in an embodiment the adapter electric power inlet is co-located with the aforementioned secure receptacle components. In the preferred embodiment the adapter electric inlet is located a distance away from the remaining components of the secure receptacle to avoid tampering with the receptacle. Further, in the said preferred embodiment the secure adapter is integrated with the secure receptacle and the key entry component is co-located with the adapter electric inlet, thus accessible to the user where the device is plugged into the secure adapter.

The method of the present invention is made up of the following steps: authorizing a user in a central key manager module and in a site key manager module by an administrator; generating a key in the central key manager module for the user; receiving the key by the user from the central key manager module; connecting a secure adapter by the user; connecting the secure adapter to an electric power outlet of a secure receptacle; entering the key into a key entry module of the secure adapter by the user; modulating the key by an adapter modem into a user key signal, where the user key signal is combined with an electrical power through the secure adapter; receiving the user key signal by an adapter-side modem from the electrical power; demodulating the key from the user key signal by the adapter-side modem; transmitting the key from the adapter-side modem to a receptacle key manager module; receiving a key/receptacle tuple by the site key manager module from the central key manager module; communicating the key/receptacle tuple to a site modem via a site microcontroller and a receptacle controller; modulating the key/receptacle tuple by the site modem into a site key signal, where the site key signal is combined with the electrical power; receiving the site key signal by a site electric power outlet; broadcasting the key signal by the site electric power outlet to each receptacle electric power inlet; demodulating the key/receptacle tuple from the site key signal by a site-side modem; transmitting the key/receptacle tuple from the site-side modem to the receptacle key manager module; validating the authenticity of the key entered into the secure adapter by the user against the combined key/receptacle tuple broadcasted by the site key manager module and a receptacle identifier within a receptacle microcontroller in the secure receptacle; closing a relay in the secure receptacle upon validation of the key received by the secure receptacle within a user time out period; opening the relay in the secure receptacle upon failure to validate the key received by the secure receptacle; and closing the relay in the secure receptacle upon expiration of a continuity time-out period.

The system of the present invention may also have one or more of the following: the secure receptacle's receptacle power outlet is located remotely from the remaining components of the secure receptacle; the site power source has a receptacle controller, a receptacle identifier database, and a power conditioner; the secure adapter is connected to the device via a cable; and the secure adapter is connected to the device via a port; and the secure adapter is integrated within the device.

Similarly, the method associated with the present invention may also include one or more of the following steps: communicating the key validation status to an activity log in a central controller; logging the key validation activities in the activity log by the central controller; and reporting key and secure receptacle usage and anomalies to the administrator.

The present invention device is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the present invention provides: (1) information security via disabling a suspected attacking device by denying it electrical power; (2) a secure receptacle where the electrical power is turned on or off via a relay based on user authentication; and (3) a secure adapter for validating a device. Similarly, the associated method is unique in that it: (1) utilizes a key to enable or disable a device via providing or denying electrical power through a receptacle; and (2) provides breach and hacking analytics to accelerate intrusion detection prior to any hack or breach.

The present invention is unique in that it is structurally different from other known devices or solutions. More specifically, the present invention is unique due to the presence of: (1) a relay in a receptacle; (2) turning power on/off at the receptacle in response to user authentication; and (3) accelerating intrusion detection upon an attempt to connect an attacking device to the facility power and prior to actual hacking or data breach.

Among other things, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for secure electric power delivery that does not suffer from any of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide information security via detecting a potential attacking device upon its connection to a facility's powerline, where a facility is any location where powerlines deliver electric power, such as but not limited to facilities, factories, warehouses, aircrafts, busses, ships, and houses. It is still further an objective of the present invention to disable an attacking device by denying it electrical power. Further still, it is an objective of the present invention to detect an attempted intrusion prior to hacking or data intrusion. Additionally, it is an objective of the present invention to render inoperable any device that requires power without authentication, thus greatly reducing the likelihood of the device being stolen or misused.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

