POWER LINE COMMUNICATION OVER DISCONNECTED SERVICE LINES

• US 20140172723A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Borisov, Vladimir, Thumaty, Sudhir Prakash Emmanuel
• Granted Patent: US 10,354,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

A network communication device, such as an electricity meter, is configured to communicate with devices on a circuit internal to a site via power line communication (PLC), even when electricity service to the site is disconnected. The network communication device is configured to monitor one or more circuits internal to the site and to receive power line communications from the device(s) coupled to the circuit internal to the site when the site is disconnected from electricity service. A PLC module of the network communication device may include a switch-based or capacitor-based monitor that maintains a PLC coupler electrically connected with the circuit internal to the site even when electricity service to the site is disconnected.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring a circuit internal to a site for power line communications when the site is disconnected from electricity service; and

receiving a power line communication from a device coupled to the circuit internal to the site when the site is disconnected from electricity service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and the receiving are performed by an electricity meter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the monitoring is performed via one or more switches and/or leakage capacitors that connect a power line communication coupler of the electricity meter to the circuit internal to the site when the site is disconnected from electricity service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received power line communication comprises a request from an appliance to connect electricity service to the site.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising connecting the electricity service to the site responsive to receiving the request from the appliance to connect electricity service.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, after connecting electricity service to the site:

collecting metrology data indicating consumption of electricity by the site; and

reporting the metrology data to a central office of a provider of the electricity service.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the appliance comprises an onsite terminal accessible to a person at the site.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the request comprises a payment credential, the method further comprising:

verifying an authenticity of the payment credential; and

connecting the electricity service to the site responsive to verifying the authenticity of the payment credential.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying the authenticity of the payment credential comprises:

forwarding the payment credential to an authentication authority for authentication; and

receiving verification of the authenticity of the payment credential.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the payment credential comprises an identifier associated with a prepaid unit of electricity, an identifier associated with a payment instrument, or an identifier associated with a customer account.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the received power line communication comprises a notification about a potentially hazardous condition at the site.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification comprises an alarm from a smoke detector, an alarm from a security system, an alarm from a moisture detector, an alarm from a carbon monoxide detector, an alarm from a seismic detector, an alarm from a temperature sensor, or an alarm from a radon detector.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the received power line communication comprises a low battery notification.

14. A network communication device comprising:

a service switch configured to selectively connect or disconnect electricity service to a site; and

a power line communication module comprising a monitor configured to monitor a circuit internal to the site when the site is disconnected from electricity service by the service switch.

15. The network communication device of claim 14, wherein the monitor comprises one or more switches and/or leakage capacitors that connect a power line communication coupler of the network communication device to the circuit internal to the site when the site is disconnected from electricity service.

16. The network communication device of claim 14, wherein the network communication device comprises an electricity meter and includes metrology to measure electricity usage at the site.

17. The network communication device of claim 14, further comprising a communication module configured to send and receive communications via a utility communication network.

18. An onsite terminal coupled to a circuit internal to a site, the onsite terminal comprising:

a user interface configured to receive input from a user at the site;

a backup power supply providing power to the onsite terminal when electricity service to the site is disconnected; and

a power line communication module coupling the onsite terminal to the circuit internal to the site and configured to communicate, using power from the backup power supply, with one or more other devices coupled to the circuit via power line communication when electricity service to the site is disconnected.

19. The onsite terminal of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a payment terminal configured to receive payment for electricity service and to communicate the payment, via the power line communication module, to an electricity meter to reconnect service to the site.

20. The onsite terminal of claim 19, wherein the payment terminal comprises a prepaid electricity card reader.