Multiple Communications Protocol Routing In Advanced Metering Infrastructure Context

• US 20100278187A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: LaPlace, Carl J., Hart, David G., Beroset, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• 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 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Techniques for using an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for Utility Automation (UA) purposes in a utility distribution system are disclosed herein. In an AMI system, a metering node often includes a communications option board for connecting to a wide area network (WAN), which can be shared between the AMI system and a UA system. The metering node may be near other devices that can be controlled by a utility company to monitor and control components of the utility distribution system. A data packet is received in a communication device. The communication device determines whether the received data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system. If so, then the data packet is forwarded to a first device in communication with the AMI system. If not, then the data packet is forwarded to a second device in communication with the UA system.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a wide area network (WAN) connection between an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system and a Utility Automation (UA) system, the method comprising:

receiving a data packet in a communication device;

using the communication device to determine whether the received data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system;

if the received data packet is formatted according to the first protocol, then forwarding the data packet to a first device that is in communication with the AMI system; and

if the received data packet is not formatted according to the first protocol, then forwarding the data packet to a second device that is in communication with the UA system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is the ANSI C12.22 protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to format outgoing data packets only according to the first protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein using the communication device to determine whether the received data packet is formatted according to the first protocol comprises examining at least one initial byte of the received data packet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the communication device to determine whether the received data packet is formatted according to at least one of a DNP 3.0 protocol, a Modbus protocol, and an IEC 61850 protocol and, if so, to forward the data packet to the second device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein forwarding the data packet to the second device comprises:

examining a length byte of the data packet to determine a length of the data packet; and

forwarding to the second device a portion of the data packet, the portion having a length indicated by the length byte.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the data packet comprises using a port identifier to address a selected serial port of one of the first device and the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a meter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises an intelligent electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of a GPRS modem, a PSTN modem, an Ethernet adapter, and a wireless modem.

11. A method of operating a communication device to share a wide area network (WAN) connection between an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system and a Utility Automation (UA) system, the method comprising:

receiving a data packet in the communication device;

forwarding a first copy of the data packet to a meter that is in communication with the AMI system; and

forwarding a second copy of the data packet to a device that is in communication with the DA system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the device that is in communication with the UA system comprises an intelligent electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of a GPRS modem, a PSTN modem, an Ethernet adapter, and a wireless modem.

14. A communication device comprising:

a data input port in communication with a wide area network (WAN) and configured to receive a data packet from the WAN;

a first data output port in communication with a first device connected to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system;

a second data output port in communication with a second device connected to a Utility Automation (UA) system;

a processor in communication with the data input port, the first data output port, and the second data output port, the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions to control operation of the communication device; and

a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control operation of the communication device to receive a data packet in the communication device and to forward the data packet to the first data output port if the received data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the first protocol is the ANSI C12.22 protocol.

16. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory stores processor-executable instructions for formatting outgoing data packets only according to the first protocol.

17. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory stores further processor-executable instructions for determining whether the received data packet is formatted according to the first protocol by examining at least one initial byte of the received data packet.

18. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory stores further processor-executable instructions for determining whether the received data packet is formatted according to a DNP 3.0 protocol and, if so, for forwarding the data packet to the second data output port.

19. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory stores further processor-executable instructions for using a port identifier to address a selected serial port of one of the first device and the second device.

20. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory stores further processor-executable instructions for controlling operation of the communication device to forward a first copy of the data packet to the first data output port, and to forward a second copy of the data packet to the second data output port.