Generation and Control of Network Events and Conversion to SCADA Protocol Data Types

• US 20090254655A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Weber, Mark, Kidwell, Beau, Morman, Daniel N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,401,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32404 Scada supervisory control and data acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0208 characterized by the configuration of the monitoring system
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0061 concerning transmission of signals transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/18 using switches, relays or circuit breakers, e.g. intelligent electronic devices [IED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for receiving a network event in a network format, mapping the network event into a format expected by a central monitoring system, and communicating the mapped network event to the central monitoring system. The system may employ a variety of communication protocols and physical architectures. The system may include an access controller that may connect a plurality of intelligent electronic devices and may be the primary interface with an information system or central monitoring system. The access controller may include a programmable logic engine in compliance with the IEC-61131-3 standard. The access controller may further be configured to implement rules designed to govern actions taken as a result of network information.

Claims

1. A system for communicating a network event to a central monitoring system comprising:

an access controller configured to receive the network event, the access controller comprising;

a central monitoring system communications interface to communicate with the central monitoring system;

an information system communications interface to communicate with an information system;

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable storage medium comprising;

a network event module executable on the processor and configured to receive the network event, to transmit the network event to the information system, and to transmit the network event to a data mapping module; and

a data mapping module executable on the processor and configured to receive the network event, to create a mapped network event by mapping the network event into a format used by the central monitoring system, and to transmit the mapped network event to the central monitoring system through the central monitoring system communications interface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the access controller further comprises a local human machine interface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the access controller further comprises a common time interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the format used by the central monitoring system is selected from the group consisting of DNP3, MODBUS RTU, MODBUS TCP, IEC 61850 and IEEE C37.118.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer readable storage medium is configured to store the network event.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the computer readable storage medium is accessible by the central monitoring system communications interface.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the computer readable storage medium is accessible by the information system communications interface.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the network event module is further configured to determine if the network event satisfies a condition, and to selectively transmit the network event to the data mapping module if the network event satisfies the condition.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the condition is programmable in compliance with the IEC-61131-3 standard.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the access controller further comprises a rules module executable on the processor and configured to receive the network event, to generate a control instruction based on the network event and a rule, and to transmit the control instruction to an intelligent electronic device in communication with the access controller.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer readable storage medium is configured to store the control instruction.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the rules module is programmable in compliance with the IEC-61131-3 standard.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the rules module is configured to administer a rule governing user access to the access controller.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the rules module is configured to administer a rule governing user access to the intelligent electronic device.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the rules module automatically makes available data specified in a rule based on login information provided by a user.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the rules module is configured as a firewall.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the access controller is a programmable logic controller.

18. An access controller, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive a network event according to a network format;

a second interface configured to communicate monitored system data with a central monitoring system according to a central monitoring system format;

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable storage medium comprising;

a data mapping module executable on the processor and in communication with the first interface and the second interface;

the data mapping module configured to map the network event from the network format into the central monitoring system format and to transmit the mapped network event to the central monitoring system through the second interface.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the format used by the central monitoring system format is selected from the group consisting of DNP3, MODBUS RTU, MODBUS TCP, IEC 61850 and IEEE C37.118.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer readable storage medium is further configured to store the network event.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the access controller further comprises:

a rules module configured

to receive the network event;

to generate a control instruction based on the network event and a rule; and

to transmit the control instruction to an intelligent electronic device in communication with the access controller.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the rules module is programmable in compliance with the IEC-61131-3 standard.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the computer readable storage medium is further configured to store the control instruction.

24. A method for communicating a network event to a central monitoring system comprising:

receiving a network event in a network format;

communicating the network event to an access controller configured to receive the network event;

generating a mapped network event by mapping the network event from the network format to a format used by the central monitoring system; and

communicating the mapped network event to the central monitoring system.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

receiving monitored system data from a monitored equipment; and

storing the network event and the monitored system data using a computer readable storage medium.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

comparing the network event to a condition specified in a rule; and

generating a control instruction if the condition specified in the rule is met.

27. An access controller in communication with an intelligent electronic device and configured to receive a network event, the access controller comprising:

a central monitoring system communications interface to communicate with a central monitoring system;

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable storage medium comprising;

a rules module executable on the processor and configured to receive the network event, to generate a control instruction based on the network event and a rule, and to transmit the control instruction to the intelligent electronic device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the access controller is configured to receive a network event and the computer-readable storage medium further comprises a data mapping module executable on the processor and configured to receive the network event, to create a mapped network event by mapping the network event into a format used by the central monitoring system, and to transmit the mapped network event to the central monitoring system through the central monitoring system communications interface.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the access controller further comprises

an information system communications interface to communicate with an information system;

and

the computer-readable storage medium further comprises a network event module executable on the processor and configured to transmit the network event to the information system through the information system communications interface.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the network event module is further configured to determine if the network event satisfies a condition, and to selectively transmit the network event to the data mapping module if the network event satisfies the condition.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the rules module is programmable in compliance with the IEC-61131-3 standard.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein the rules module is configured to administer a rule governing user access to the access controller.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein the rules module is configured to administer a rule governing user access to the intelligent electronic device.

34. The system of claim 27 where the rules module automatically makes available data specified in a rule based on login information provided by a user.

35. The system of claim 27 wherein the rules module is configured as a firewall.

36. The system of claim 27 wherein the access controller is a programmable logic controller.