Granted Patent B2

US 12,468,613 · App. 18/165,643 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventors: Harikrishnan Pillai (San Jose, CA); Niels-Peder Mosegard Jensen (Sunnyvale, CA); Jeffrey C. Loo (San Jose, CA); Phong Hoang Ho (Cary, NC)

Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.

G06F11/3058G06F21/86G06F2221/2151

Abstract

Claims (73)

1 . A network element, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the one or more processors and comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the network element to perform operations comprising:

receiving airflow data from an airflow sensor installed inside of a hardware device;

determining an airflow value from the airflow data;

determining that the airflow value exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining a potential tampering event associated with the hardware device;

receiving test airflow data when the hardware device is powered on and when the hardware device is powered off;

analyzing the test airflow data to determine airflow patterns when the hardware device is powered on and when the hardware device is powered off; and

determining the predetermined threshold based on the airflow patterns.

2 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein:

the airflow value is a value above zero; and

the predetermined threshold is a value of zero.

3 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein determining the potential tampering event of the hardware device occurs while the hardware device is powered off, the operations further comprising:

storing information associated with the potential tampering event on a storage unit; and

communicating a notification to a cloud controller when the hardware device is powered on, the notification comprising the information associated with the potential tampering event.

4 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein:

the airflow sensor installed inside of the hardware device is enclosed by a shield; and

the shield is integrated into a cover of the hardware device.

5 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein:

the airflow sensor communicates the airflow data to a microcontroller unit (MCU) located inside of the hardware device;

the MCU communicates information associated with the potential tampering event to a storage unit located inside of the hardware device; and

the MCU, the airflow sensor, and the storage unit are powered by a battery located inside of the hardware device.

6 . The network element of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

determining, at a current time of day, a current timestamp associated with the hardware device, wherein the current timestamp is stored in a storage unit coupled to the airflow sensor;

comparing the current timestamp to the current time of day; and

determining, in response to comparing the current timestamp to the current time of day, whether a potential battery tampering event associated with a battery coupled to the airflow sensor has occurred.

7 . A method, comprising:

receiving airflow data from an airflow sensor installed inside of a hardware device;

determining an airflow value from the airflow data;

determining that the airflow value exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining a potential tampering event associated with the hardware device;

receiving test airflow data when the hardware device is powered on and when the hardware device is powered off;

analyzing the test airflow data to determine airflow patterns when the hardware device is powered on and when the hardware device is powered off; and

determining the predetermined threshold based on the airflow patterns.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the airflow value is a value above zero; and

the predetermined threshold is a value of zero.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the potential tampering event of the hardware device occurs while the hardware device is powered off, further comprising:

storing information associated with the potential tampering event on a storage unit; and

communicating a notification to a cloud controller when the hardware device is powered on, the notification comprising the information associated with the potential tampering event.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the airflow sensor installed inside of the hardware device is enclosed by a shield; and

the shield is integrated into a cover of the hardware device.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the airflow sensor communicates the airflow data to a microcontroller unit (MCU) located inside of the hardware device;

the MCU communicates information associated with the potential tampering event to a storage unit located inside of the hardware device; and

the MCU, the airflow sensor, and the storage unit are powered by a battery located inside of the hardware device.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining, at a current time of day, a current timestamp associated with the hardware device, wherein the current timestamp is stored in a storage unit coupled to the airflow sensor;

comparing the current timestamp to the current time of day; and

determining, in response to comparing the current timestamp to the current time of day, whether a potential battery tampering event associated with a battery coupled to the airflow sensor has occurred.

13 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving airflow data from an airflow sensor installed inside of a hardware device;

determining an airflow value from the airflow data;

determining that the airflow value exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining a potential tampering event associated with the hardware device;

receiving test airflow data when the hardware device is powered on and when the hardware device is powered off;

analyzing the test airflow data to determine airflow patterns when the hardware device is powered on and when the hardware device is powered off; and

determining the predetermined threshold based on the airflow patterns.

14 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 13 , wherein:

the airflow value is a value above zero; and

the predetermined threshold is a value of zero.

15 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 13 , wherein determining the potential tampering event of the hardware device occurs while the hardware device is powered off, the operations further comprising:

storing information associated with the potential tampering event on a storage unit; and

communicating a notification to a cloud controller when the hardware device is powered on, the notification comprising the information associated with the potential tampering event.

16 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 13 , wherein:

the airflow sensor installed inside of the hardware device is enclosed by a shield; and

the shield is integrated into a cover of the hardware device.

17 . The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 13 , wherein:

the airflow sensor communicates the airflow data to a microcontroller unit (MCU) located inside of the hardware device;

the MCU communicates information associated with the potential tampering event to a storage unit located inside of the hardware device; and

the MCU, the airflow sensor, and the storage unit are powered by a battery located inside of the hardware device.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (28)