POWER MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090240377A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Nordman, Russel C., Fiorenza, John A., Stair, Kenny J., Batzler, Brandon M., Sodemann, Wesley C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

The invention provides a hierarchically accessible monitoring system configured to be used with a standby generator, and a method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system includes an interface unit configured to receive information from the standby generator and to communicate the generator information, and a remote data server in communication with the interface unit. The remote data server receives the generator information from the interface unit, stores the generator information, and controls access to the generator information based upon at least two hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level having different access privileges. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system also includes a user interface configured to display the generator information from the remote data server to at least one user. The user has access privileges to read the generator information based upon the user'"'"'s assigned hierarchical level.

Claims

1. A hierarchically accessible monitoring system configured to be used with a standby generator, comprising:

an interface unit configured to receive information from the standby generator and to communicate the generator information;

a remote data server in communication with the interface unit, wherein the remote data server receives the generator information from the interface unit, stores the generator information, and controls access to the generator information based upon at least two hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level having different access privileges; and

a user interface configured to display the generator information from the remote data server to at least one user, wherein the user has access privileges to read the generator information based upon the user'"'"'s assigned hierarchical level.

2. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the interface unit.

3. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the sensor is selected from the group comprising a temperature sensor, a flood sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a fire sensor and a freeze sensor.

4. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises a modem.

5. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises a telephone dialer.

6. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the telephone dialer is configured to be activated to dial a pre-programmed destination number, and to transmit a pre-programmed message.

7. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises a RF transmitter.

8. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises a microprocessor.

9. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises local memory storage.

10. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is selected from the group comprising a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a facsimile machine, a service center, and a second home phone.

11. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical levels comprises an administrator level and a customer level.

12. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the hierarchical levels further comprises a dealer level.

13. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit comprises a broadband interface unit.

14. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit includes communication with the remote data server via a network.

15. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the network is selected from a publicly accessible network or a privately accessible network.

16. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises a receptacle for accepting a diagnostic tool.

17. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit is configured to wirelessly access and collect information of the generator.

18. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising generator settings, wherein the remote data server is configured for the user to access and adjust the generator settings.

19. A method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator, comprising:

providing an interface unit that is in communication with the generator, wherein the generator is at a first location;

transmitting information about the generator through the interface unit to a remote data center at a second location; and

transmitting the generator information from the remote data center via a user interface to a user.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

associating a hierarchical level with the generator information stored on the data server; and

limiting access to the stored generator information to users having privileges to access the hierarchical level associated with the stored generator information.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting the report of an event of the generator from the interface unit to the remote data center; and

notifying the user of an event by sending a message to the user from the remote data center.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the sent message to the user by e-mail, by phone, by text message or by facsimile.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the event is a fault, a warning, an alarm, or a notification of the generator.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

accessing the stored generator information by the user; and

altering an event notification received by the user by changing a setting of the stored generator information.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

altering a generator parameter by accessing the stored generator information via the user interface.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the user interface is a communication module at a residence, the method further comprising:

accessing the generator information at the communication module;

accessing the generator information at a second location through the remote data center via a network; and

changing the generator information at the second location through the remote data center via the network.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying the generator information on a display of the user interface.

38. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a capability of the system such that the user may alter settings of the generator via the user interface.

28. A method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator, comprising:

providing an interface unit that is in communication with the generator;

transmitting generator information through the interface unit to a remote data center;

controlling access to the generator information based upon at least two protected hierarchical levels; and

transmitting the generator information from the remote data center via a user interface to a user having access privileges based upon the hierarchical level associated with the user.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising authenticating a user as having access privileges to a hierarchical level.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

selectively sending a notification of a generator event to the user, wherein the user is a customer or a dealer.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

dividing the protected hierarchical levels into a first level and a second level;

setting access privileges of the hierarchical level associated with the user;

assigning the first level as an administrator level, wherein the user is an administrator and the administrator has administrator level privileges; and

assigning the second level as a customer level, wherein the user is a customer and the customer has customer level privileges.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

setting a dealer hierarchical level; and

assigning dealer level access privileges to a dealer.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing a capability of the system whereby a user changes a notification of a generator event, wherein the user is the customer; and

setting the sending of the notification, wherein the notification is sent to the user and a dealer.

34. The method claim 31 further comprising

searching the stored generator information by the administrator having administrator level privileges.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the searching step further comprises sorting the information based on geographical area.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the searching step further comprises sorting the information based on dealer name.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the searching step further comprises sorting the information based on a parameter of the generator.