Intelligent electronic device for providing broadband Internet access

• US 20070114987A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• 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 7,554,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An intelligent electronic device for monitoring and determining an amount of electrical power usage by a consumer, or end user, and for providing broadband Internet access to the consumer. The intelligent electronic device includes 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 in the electrical circuit; and a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic device for providing broadband access to a network 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 in the electrical circuit; and

a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications.

2. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the gateway further comprises a media access control (MAC) device configured for storing a physical and logical network address.

3. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the gateway further comprises a modem configured for demodulating the imposed data transmission.

4. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 3, wherein the gateway further comprises a router for imposing the demodulated data onto a downstream portion of the electrical circuit.

5. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 4, wherein the imposed data transmission is of a first frequency and the imposed demodulated data is of a second frequency.

6. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the gateway is further configured for broadcasting the demodulated data wirelessly.

7. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 6, wherein the broadcasted data is encrypted.

8. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled to the electrical circuit configured for interrupting power delivery to a load, wherein the switch is activated by a command signal imposed on the electrical circuit.

9. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the gateway is further configured to receive power data from the processor and transfer the data upstream to a remote computer.

10. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the gateway is further configured to receive power data from the processor and e-mail the data upstream to a remote computer.

11. A socket based revenue meter for providing broadband access to a network comprising:

bayonet terminals disposed on the meter mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device;

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 in the electrical circuit; and

a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications.

12. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, wherein the gateway further comprises a media access control (MAC) device configured for storing a physical and logical network address.

13. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, wherein the gateway further comprises a modem configured for demodulating the imposed data transmission.

14. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 13, wherein the gateway further comprises a router for imposing the demodulated data onto a downstream portion of the electrical circuit.

15. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 14, wherein the imposed data transmission is of a first frequency and the imposed demodulated data is of a second frequency.

16. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, wherein the gateway is further configured for broadcasting the demodulated data wirelessly.

17. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 16, wherein the broadcasted data is encrypted.

18. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, further comprising a switch coupled to the electrical circuit configured for interrupting power delivery to a load, wherein the switch is activated by a command signal imposed on the electrical circuit.

19. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, wherein the gateway is further configured to receive power data from the processor and transfer the data upstream to a remote server.

20. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, wherein the gateway is further configured to receive power data from the processor and e-mail the data upstream to a remote server.

21. An system for providing broadband Internet access comprising:

a power distribution system for providing power to a plurality of electrical circuits;

at least one intelligent electronic device comprising;

at least one sensor coupled to at least one electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the at least one 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 in the at least one electrical circuit; and

a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the at least one electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications downstream of the at least one intelligent electronic device.

22. The system as in claim 21, wherein the gateway further comprises a modem configured for demodulating the imposed data transmission.

23. The system as in claim 22, wherein the gateway further comprises a router for imposing the demodulated data onto a downstream portion of the electrical circuit.

24. The system as in claim 23, further comprising an adapter coupled to the downstream portion of the electric circuit configured for providing the demodulated data to a network device.

25. The system as in claim 24, wherein the network device is a computer.

26. The system as in claim 24, wherein the network device is a VoIP-enabled phone.

27. The system as in claim 21, wherein the gateway is further configured for broadcasting the demodulated data wirelessly.

28. The system as in claim 27, further comprising a wireless transceiver disposed in a network device, the transceiver configured for receiving the demodulated data and for providing the demodulated data to the network device.

29. The system as in claim 28, wherein the network device is a computer.

30. The system as in claim 28, wherein the network device is a VoIP-enabled phone.

31. The system as in claim 21, further comprising a remote server configured for transmitting updated operating instruction to the at least one intelligent electronic device.