Apparatus and method for seamlessly upgrading the firmware of an intelligent electronic device

• US 20020165677A1
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Lightbody, Simon H., Huber, Benedikt T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/043 of tables, e.g. lookup, substitution or mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3242 involving keyed hash functions, e.g. message authentication codes [MACs], CBC-MAC or HMAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes a power monitoring circuit operative to monitor a parameter of a portion of a power distribution system and generate an analog signal representative thereof. An analog to digital converter couples with the power monitoring circuit and operates to convert the analog signal to a digital signal representative thereof. A processor couples with the analog to digital converter and operates to implement power management functionality and generate power management data. The IED also includes a first non-volatile memory operative to store first program code for execution by the processor. The processor operates to access a second non-volatile memory in the external function module via the interface. The second non-volatile memory includes a second program code and operates to replace the first program code in the first non-volatile memory with the second program code.

Claims

1. An IED comprising:

a power monitoring circuit operative to monitor a parameter of a portion of a power distribution system and generate an analog signal representative thereof;

an analog to digital converter coupled with said power monitoring circuit, said analog to digital converter operative to convert said analog signal to a digital signal representative thereof;

a processor coupled with said analog to digital converter and operative to implement power management functionality and generate power management data;

at least one of a display and a communications interface coupled with said processor and operative to communicate said power management data external to said IED;

an interface coupled with said processor and operative to receive an external function module;

wherein said IED further comprises a first non-volatile memory operative to store first program code for execution by said processor, said processor being operative to access a second non-volatile memory in said external function module via said interface, said second non-volatile memory comprising second program code, said processor further operative to replace said first program code in said first non-volatile memory with said second program code.

2. The IED of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operative to check said second program code for compatibility with said base module prior to replacing said first program code.

3. The IED of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operative to check a version identifier of said second program code and only replace said first program code if said version identifier identifies said second program code as a later version than said first program code.

4. The IED of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operative to select said second program code from a plurality of program code stored in said second non-volatile memory based on compatibility with said base module.

5. The IED of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operative to select a correct version of said second program code from a plurality of program code stored in said second non-volatile memory, each of said plurality of program code characterized by a different version.

6. The IED of claim 1, wherein said first non-volatile memory comprises a flash memory.

7. The IED of claim 1, wherein said second non-volatile memory comprises a flash memory.

8. The IED of claim 1, wherein said interface allows attachment of said external function module without uninstalling said IED.

9. The IED of claim 8, wherein uninstalling includes removing the voltage input connections from the IED.

10. The IED of claim 8, wherein uninstalling includes removing the current input connections from the IED.

11. The IED of claim 8, wherein uninstalling includes removing the IED from a switchgear panel.