MANAGEMENT PLATFORM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR MANAGING SMART METERS

• US 20090222828A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: CLOSSET, Christophe, ANTHEUNISSE, Jacobus, DETERME, Sebastien Roland E., JOHNSON, John Peter Rawdon, GENETTE, Michel, CLOSE, Pierre Joseph Henri Adrien, WHELAN, Martin Dermot, KOPP, Dieter, LEFEVRE, Catherine
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• 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 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a management platform for monitoring and managing one or more smart meters. The management platform comprises means for communicating with smart meters and a workflow handler for executing a workflow. A workflow specifies a process for management of the smart meters.

Claims

1. A management platform for monitoring and managing one or more smart meters, said management platform comprising means for communicating with said smart meters, characterized in that said management platform further comprises a workflow handler for executing a workflow, said workflow specifying a process for management of said smart meters.

2. The management platform according to claim 1, characterized in that said platform further comprises an event scheduler for triggering said workflow handler at one or more time instances.

3. The management platform according to claim 1, characterized in that said platform further comprises means for receiving and processing event notifications from said meters and/or said workflow handler and/or said event scheduler.

4. The management platform according to claim 1, characterized in that said platform further comprises an access interface for controlling said platform.

5. The management platform according to claim 4, characterized in that said access interface is one or more of the following:

a web interface accessible to customers;

a web interface accessible to representatives of an operator or supplier; and

a Service Oriented Architecture Protocol (SOAP) interface accessible to said representatives.

6. The management platform according to claim 3, characterized in that said event notifications comprise information related to one or more of the following:

value reading of said meters;

configuration of said meters;

reset of said meters;

tampering with said meters;

supply status of said meters;

firmware and/or software upgrade of said meters;

an event occurring at said meters;

actions taken upon an event occurring at said meters; and

status of said meters.

7. The management platform according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for communicating are adapted for exchanged information between said platform and said meters based on one or more of the following

the ANSI C12.x protocol;

the TR-069 protocol;

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP);

file transfer; and

Service Oriented Architecture Protocol (SOAP); and

Device Language Message Specification (DLMS).

8. A method for managing smart meters with a management platform, said management platform comprising means for communicating with said smart meters, characterized in that said method comprises executing a workflow by a workflow handler on said management platform, said workflow specifying a process for management of said smart meters.