Remote DC plant monitoring system

• US 7,020,585 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: James, C. Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
• Application Number:
  US10/735,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20050142415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/57, 702 60- 65, 702/108
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user

Abstract

A remote DC plant monitoring system is provided that includes graphical user interface logic and connection logic. The graphical user interface logic provides a user with periodically updated data points associated with a DC plant. The connection logic connects to a monitoring server and receives the periodically updated data points associated with the DC plant, the monitoring server being coupled to a number of DC plants via a network. Methods and other systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A remote plant monitoring system, comprising:

graphical user interface logic operable to provide a user with a plurality of periodically undated data points associated with a DC plant;

connection logic coupled to the graphical user interface logic, operable to connect to a monitoring server and receive the plurality of periodically updated data points associated with the DC plant, the monitoring server being coupled to a plurality of DC plants via a network; and

a data gathering unit operable to gather a voltage and a current reading from any of at least one rectifier associated with to DC plant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is operable to query the data gathering unit, and provide the connection logic with the voltage and the current reading.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to provide a user with a plurality of periodically updated data points associated with a fuel monitor coupled to an AC plant.

4. A remote plant monitoring system, comprising:

graphical user interface logic operable to provide a user with a plurality of periodically updated data points associated with a DC plant, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to provide a user with a plurality of periodically updated data points associated with an AC plant;

connection logic coupled to the graphical user interface logic, operable to connect to a monitoring server and receive the plurality of periodically updated data points associated with the DC plant, the monitoring server being coupled to a plurality of DC plants via a network; and

testing logic operable to receive feedback from the user and simulate a commercial power failure at a site associated with the AC and DC plants.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a house service panel coupled to a commercial power source, the AC plant and the DC plant, the house service panel being operable to sense a commercial power failure, turn on the AC plant, and power at least one rectifier associated with the DC plant using the AC plant.

6. A remote DC plant monitoring system, comprising:

graphical user interface logic operable to provide a user with a plurality of periodically updated datapoints associated with a DC plant;

connection logic coupled to the graphical user interface logic, operable to connect to a monitoring server and receive the plurality of periodically updated data points associated with the DC plant, the monitoring server being coupled to a plurality of DC plants via a network;

storage logic operable to store a plurality of acceptable data points associated with the plurality of DC plants, and report the acceptable data points to the user via the graphical user interface; and

alarm logic operable to notify a user via the graphical user interface logic responsive to the plurality of periodically updated data points associated with any of the plurality of DC plants being outside the plurality of acceptable data points,

wherein the alarm logic is operable to signal a minor alarm responsive to a portion of the periodically updated information being outside initial acceptable data points, and operable to signal a major alarm responsive to a portion of the periodically updated information being outside final acceptable data points.

7. A remote DC plant monitoring system, comprising:

monitoring logic operable monitor at least one DC plant and receive a plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant;

storage logic operable to store at least one boundary parameter associated with said at least one DC plant; and

communication logic operable to receive the plurality of data signals and said at least one boundary parameter and provide the plurality of data signals and said at least one boundary parameter to a remote computer; and

simulation logic operable to simulate a power failure at a site associated with said at least one DC plant.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the monitoring logic is further operable to monitor at least one fuel monitor associated with an AC plant, and receive a plurality of data signals associated with said at least one fuel monitor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the storage logic is further operable to store at least one boundary parameter associated with said at least one fuel monitor.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

alarm logic operable to notify at least one remote computer associated with the system responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with said at least one fuel monitor being outside said at least one boundary parameter associated with said at least one fuel monitor.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

alarm logic operable to notify at least one remote computer associated with the system responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with said at least one DC plant being outside said at least one boundary parameter associated with said at least one DC plant.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication logic is operable to periodically request a plurality of updated data signals from the DC plant.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the monitoring logic is further operable to monitor at least one AC plant and receive a plurality of data signals associated with said at least one AC plant.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the storage logic is further operable to store at least one boundary parameter associated with said at least one AC plant.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

alarm logic operable to notify at least one remote computer associated with the system responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with said at least one AC plant being outside said at least one boundary parameter associated with said at least one AC plant.

16. A method for remotely monitoring a DC plant, comprising:

requesting a plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant from a data gathering unit associated with the DC plant;

receiving the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant from the data gathering unit;

providing the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant to a remote computer for display to a user

simulating a power failure at a site associated with the DC plant; and

monitoring the DC plant for operating conditions during the power failure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

comparing each of the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant to a corresponding plurality of boundary parameters associated with the DC plant; and

notifying the remote computer responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant being outside the corresponding boundary parameter.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

requesting a plurality of data signals associated with a fuel monitor coupled to an AC plant;

receiving the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor; and

providing the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor to a remote computer for display to a user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing each of the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor to a corresponding plurality of boundary parameters associated with the fuel monitor; and

notifying the remote computer responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor being outside the corresponding boundary parameter.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

requesting a plurality of data signals associated with an AC plant;

receiving the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant; and

providing the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant to a remote computer for display to a user.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

comparing each of the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant to a corresponding plurality of boundary parameters associated with the AC plant; and

notifying the remote computer responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant being outside the corresponding boundary parameter.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant on the remote computer.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

updating the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant.

24. A computer readable medium having a program for remotely monitoring a plant, the program comprising the steps of:

requesting a plurality of data signals associated with a DC plant from a data gathering unit associated with the DC plant;

receiving the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant from the data gathering unit;

providing the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant to a remote computer for display to a user; and

simulating a power failure at a site associated with the DC plant.

25. The program of claim 24, further comprising:

comparing each of the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant to a corresponding plurality of boundary parameters associated with the DC plant; and

notifying the remote computer responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant being outside the corresponding boundary parameter.

26. The program of claim 24, further comprising:

requesting a plurality of data signals associated with a fuel monitor coupled to an AC plant;

receiving the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor; and

providing the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor to a remote computer for display to a user.

27. The program of claim 26, further comprising:

comparing each of the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor to a corresponding plurality of boundary parameters associated with the fuel monitor; and

notifying the remote computer responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with the fuel monitor being outside the corresponding boundary parameter.

28. The program of claim 24, further comprising:

requesting a plurality of data signals associated with an AC plant;

receiving the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant; and

providing the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant to a remote computer for display to a user.

29. The program of claim 28, further comprising:

comparing each of the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant to a corresponding plurality of boundary parameters associated with the AC plant; and

notifying the remote computer responsive to any of the plurality of data signals associated with the AC plant being outside the corresponding boundary parameter.

30. The program of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying the plurality of data signals associated with the DC plant on the remote computer.