Ensuring the longevity of WirelessHART devices in industrial automation and control systems using distinct native attribute fingerprinting

Distinct native attribute fingerprinting is considered as a means to ensure the longevity of WirelessHART communication devices used in industrial automation and control systems. The aim is for these devices to reach full life expectancy using a technical cradle-to-grave lifecycle protection strategy. The protection addressed here includes pre-deployment near-cradle counterfeit device detection using active fingerprinting and operational mid-life rogue device detection using passive fingerprinting. The counterfeit and rogue device detection rates are estimated for 56 five-class multiple discriminant analysis models. Detection demonstrations include using three non-modeled devices to complete a total of 3 × 5 × 56 = 840 individual rogue and counterfeit device identity (ID) verification demonstrations. The device ID verification process uses binary accept/reject decisions with false positive outcomes used to estimate rogue and counterfeit device detection rates. For device ID verification using active fingerprints, the demonstrated counterfeit detection rate approached 99 % using only 15-of-99 available features—an approximate 85 % dimensional-reduction. Device ID verification using passive fingerprints was more challenging and the rogue detection rate approached 94 % using 120-of-243 available features—an approximate 50 % dimensional-reduction.. Collectively, the dimensionally-reduced implementations support efficiency improvement objectives required for providing near-cradle counterfeit device and mid-life operational rogue device detection in critical industrial automation and control systems.