Bluetooth-enable intelligent electronic device

• US 20070096765A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EI Electronics LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electro Industries/Gaugetech
• Inventors: Kagan, Erran
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

An intelligent electronic device (IED), e.g., an electrical power meter, having wireless communication capabilities, e.g., Bluetooth connectivity, for transmitting and receiving data without a hardwire connection is provided. A system and method for retrieving revenue metering data from at least one IED, e.g., a revenue meter, are also provided. The system includes at least one intelligent electronic device including a transceiver configured for receiving calculated energy consumption data from a processor and transmitting the calculated energy consumption data via a spread-spectrum frequency hopping technique; and a data collection device configured for receiving the calculated energy consumption data from the at least one intelligent electronic device in response to supplying a pairing passkey to the intelligent electronic device.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic device comprising:

at least one sensor coupled to an electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter;

at least one digital to analog converter coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption data in the electrical circuit; and

a transceiver configured for receiving the calculated energy consumption data from the processor and transmitting the calculated energy consumption data via a spread-spectrum frequency hopping technique.

2. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing at least one protocol stack for enabling the spread-spectrum frequency hopping technique.

3. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one protocol stack is a Bluetooth protocol stack.

4. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the transceiver transmits on a frequency of about 2.45 gigahertz.

5. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the transceiver transmits on a frequency of about 2.402 GHz to about 2.480 GHz.

6. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a cryptographic module configured for encrypting and decrypting the calculated energy consumption data.

7. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the processor initiates transmission of data in response to receiving a passkey.

9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the data is revenue metering data.

8. A method for collecting data from an intelligent electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first request for a communication session with the intelligent electronic device;

receiving a second request from the intelligent electronic device for a passkey previously stored in the intelligent electronic device;

transmitting the passkey to the intelligent electronic device; and

in response to passkey, receiving data from the intelligent electronic device.

10. A system for collecting data from at least one intelligent electronic device, the system comprising:

at least one intelligent electronic device comprising;

at least one sensor coupled to an electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter;

at least one digital to analog converter coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption data in the electrical circuit; and

a transceiver configured for receiving the calculated energy consumption data from the processor and transmitting the calculated energy consumption data via a spread-spectrum frequency hopping technique; and

a data collection device configured for receiving the calculated energy consumption data from the at least one intelligent electronic device in response to supplying a pairing passkey to the intelligent electronic device.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein the at least one intelligent electronic device auto-negotiates with the data collection device.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the data collection device further comprises a billing module configured to store the received calculated energy consumption data.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein the billing module further comprises at least one passkey.

14. The system as in claim 10, wherein the data collection device is further configured to transmit the received calculated energy consumption data to a server.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein the data collection device is a mobile communications terminal.

16. The system as in claim 14, wherein the data collection device transmits the received calculated energy consumption data by e-mail.

17. The system as in claim 10, wherein the at least one intelligent electronic device further comprises a memory for storing at least one protocol stack for enabling the spread-spectrum frequency hopping technique.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein the at least one protocol stack is a Bluetooth protocol stack.

19. The system as in claim 10, wherein the transceiver transmits on a frequency of about 2.402 GHz to about 2.480 GHz.

20. The system as in claim 10, wherein the at least one intelligent electronic device further comprises a cryptographic module configured for encrypting and decrypting the calculated energy consumption data.