Electrical power metering system

• US 20040083066A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hudson Bay Wireless, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hudson Bay Wireless, LLC
• Inventors: Hayes, Paul V., Morella, Daniel T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,058,524 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: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

A wireless electrical power metering system is provided. A processor having a multichannel power line transceiver, a wireless transceiver, and a power meter attached thereto measures power consumption information on a power line inductively coupled with the power meter. The processor converts the power consumption information into IP-based data, and transmits same over the wireless transceiver. The information can be wirelessly received by a remote monitoring station or transmitted across the Internet for storage, analysis, and billing. The processor generates appliance control signals and generates same across the multichannel power line transceiver to remotely control appliances in response to power consumption trends. The processor provides firewall capabilities, and relays information between a wired or wireless network and a power line network, thereby expanding the size of existing household networks. Further, the processor allows multiple dwellings to be networked using power lines, and households to be connected to the Internet via a power line network.

Claims

1. An electrical power metering system comprising:

a power meter for measuring power consumption data from a power line;

a processor connected to the power meter for converting the power consumption data measured by the power meter into Internet Protocol (IP) data; and

a network interface connected to the processor for transmitting and receiving IP data between the processor and a network.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver connected between the processor and the power line for transmitting and receiving data between the processor and the power line.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transceiver transmits and receives IP data across the power line.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the transceiver transmits and receives X-10 data and control signals across the power line.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface comprises a HomePlug power line interface for transmitting and receiving IP traffic between the processor and the network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface comprises a wireless interface for transmitting and receiving IP data between the processor and the network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power meter further comprises a split-core transformer inductively coupled with the power line.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor routes data between the network interface and the power line.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor filters and routes data between an external source and the power line.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor converts X-10 data into IP data for transmission across an IP network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor converts IP data into X-10 data and control signals for transmission across a power line.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for filtering data signals on the power line.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for filtering filters external data from the power line.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote monitoring station for remotely monitoring the power consumption information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote monitoring station further comprises a second wireless interface for transmitting data to and receiving data from the power metering system.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the power metering system transmits and receives information directly across the Internet.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wired network interface for connecting the power metering system to a wired network.

20. A method of measuring power consumption information on a power line comprising:

measuring current fluctuations in the power line;

calculating power consumption information from the current fluctuations in a processor;

converting the power consumption information into IP-based power consumption information in the processor; and

transmitting the IP-based power consumption information from the processor to a destination.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving the IP-based power consumption information at the destination; and

calculating a utility bill using the IP-based power consumption information.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting the IP-based power consumption information over an IP-based network.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting the IP-based power consumption information over a power line network.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the IP-based power consumption information from the processor to the destination.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating a control signal in the processor in response to the power consumption information;

transmitting the control signal to an appliance; and

controlling the appliance with the control signal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of controlling the appliance comprises turning the appliance off in response to increased power consumption.