Patent ID: 8898766

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for controlling a local utility, comprising: at a client computer having a processor and memory storing instructions for execution by the processor: at a local utility: receiving a first request originating from a web browser executed by the client computer, the first request including a first token, wherein the first request and the first token are received by the local utility via a local web server of the local utility and executed by the client; authenticating the first token, including sending the first token to an authentication server remote from the client computer; in response to authenticating the first token, generating a second token at the local utility; sending the second token to the web browser for inclusion in subsequent requests from the web browser to the local utility; receiving a second request from the web browser, wherein the second request includes a third token and one or both of a local utility control command and a local utility status request; determining whether the third token matches the second token; in accordance with a determination that the second and third tokens match, taking one or more actions based on the content of the second request; and in accordance with a determination the second and third tokens do not match, taking no action based on the content of the second request.