Method and apparatus for minimally invasive network monitoring

• US 7,301,738 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Pearlman, Marc Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MEKY, MOUSTAFA M
• Application Number:
  US10/373,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 714/4, 370/216, 370/229, 340/310.11, 340/853.2, 340/638, 700/2, 700/286, 700/292, 307/52, 361/42, 361/62, 361/64
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/05 Digital input using the sampling of an analogue quantity at regular intervals of time , input from a/d converter or output to d/a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/20 operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition
• 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: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/05 with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements for logic circuits H03K19/003
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/262 involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/263 involving transmissions of measured values comparison of currents or voltages using pilot wires H02H3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/30 Staggered disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00012 using an auxiliary transmission line
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 : involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 : Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 : Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/001 : Methods to deal with contingencies, e.g. abnormalities, faults or failures
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/007 : Arrangements for selectively connecting the load or loads to one or several among a plurality of power lines or power sources for providing uninterruptable power supply H02J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 : for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0658 : Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 : using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 : by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0018 : based on latency requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 : using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 : Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 : Flow control; Congestion control
• 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: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 : Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 : Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring a communication network is provided. The network includes a plurality of node electronics units communicatively coupled to at least one central control processing unit through at least one network wherein each network includes a network switch. The method includes coupling a monitoring domain to the network, and receiving at least one of network traffic transmitted on at least one of the monitored links, and network traffic received on at least one of the monitored links through at least one monitoring link. The apparatus includes a plurality of node electronics units communicatively coupled to at least one central control processing unit through at least one network wherein each network includes a network switch, and wherein the apparatus comprises a monitoring domain.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a communication network that includes a plurality of node electronics units communicatively coupled to at least one central control processing unit through at least one network wherein each network includes a network switch, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

coupling a monitoring domain to the network wherein the monitoring domain includes at least one of a node to be monitored, a monitoring node, and a network coupler wherein the node to be monitored is communicatively coupled to at least one monitored link, and wherein the monitoring node is communicatively coupled to at least one monitoring link; and

receiving at least one of network traffic transmitted on at least one of the monitored links, and network traffic received on at least one of the monitored links through at least one monitoring link, wherein said network traffic comprises a plurality of first signals representative of current and/or voltage that are transmitted to said at least one central control processing unit from said plurality of node electronics units and said network traffic comprises a circuit breaker trip command that is transmitted to said plurality of node electronics units from said at least one central control processing unit in response to said first signals.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the network coupler comprises a network hub, and wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises:

communicatively coupling a network hub to the network; and

communicatively coupling the network hub to the monitored link, and the monitoring links.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises operating the monitored link in a full duplex mode such that a collision domain is not created.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising:

receiving on the receive channel of a first monitoring link the traffic on the transmit channel of the monitored link; and

receiving on the receive channel of a second monitoring link the traffic on the receive channel of the monitored link.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising splitting network traffic signals passively.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising splitting network traffic signals actively.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein monitoring a communication network comprises monitoring a communication network within a centrally-controlled power distribution system.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises communicatively coupling the network coupler to at least one of the network, the monitoring link, and the monitored link.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises communicatively coupling, the network coupler using at least one of electromagnetic coupling, optical coupling, evanescent wave coupling, and contact coupling.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network further comprises disconnecting the node to be monitored from the network.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises coupling a monitoring domain to the network wherein the network coupler includes a switch wherein the switch includes at least one of a service port, and a configurable switching fabric such that incoming traffic from a plurality of other switch ports is repeated to the service port.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises coupling a monitoring domain to the network wherein the monitoring node includes a network coupler.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network further comprises abstaining from transmitting signals on the monitoring link by the monitoring node.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a monitoring domain to the network comprises coupling a monitoring domain to the network wherein the monitoring node includes at least one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a server, a mainframe computer, and a dedicated network monitor computer.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the monitoring node includes a monitoring process, said method further comprises:

identifying network operating conditions; and

responding to identified conditions based on at least one of received traffic, external inputs, and predetermined criteria.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein identifying network operating conditions comprises identifying at least one of anomalous system behavior, normal system behavior, predicted system behavior, system trends, periodic interrupts, and external commands.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said monitoring process comprises at least one of logging received traffic, calculating system statistics, reporting operating conditions, alarming, operating condition prediction, and system diagnosis.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein logging received traffic comprises logging at least one of digital data, and a digital representation of analog data.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein logging received traffic comprises displaying received data graphically through digital oscillography.

20. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said monitoring process comprises reconfiguring the monitoring process.

21. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the monitoring node includes a plurality of service interfaces, and wherein said monitoring process comprises using a service interface for at least one of reconfiguring the monitoring process, displaying data externally, and reporting data externally.

22. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said monitoring process comprises monitoring the network in real-time.

23. An apparatus for monitoring a communication network wherein the communication network includes a plurality of node electronics units communicatively coupled to at least one central control processing unit through at least one network wherein each network includes a network switch, and wherein the apparatus comprises a monitoring domain, said plurality of node electronics units each being in electrical communication with a circuit breaker, the communication network communicating network traffic between the at least one centra control processing unit and the plurality of node electronics units, wherein said network traffic comprises a plurality of first signals representative of current and/or voltage that are transmitted to said at least one central control processing from said plurality of node electronics units and said network traffic comprises a circuit breaker trio command that is transmitted to said plurality of node electronics units from said at least one central control processing unit in response to said first signals.

24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitoring domain comprises:

at least one network coupler communicatively coupled to the network;

at least one monitoring link communicatively coupled to said network coupler and to a respective monitoring node;

at least one monitored link communicatively coupled to said network coupler and to a respective node to be monitored.

25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said network coupler comprises a hub.

26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said network coupler is configured to enable said monitored link to operate in a full duplex mode without creating a collision domain.

27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said network coupler is configured to split network traffic signals passively.

28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said network coupler is configured to split network traffic signals actively.

29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitoring node is configured to operate in a promiscuous mode such that said monitoring node receives all traffic transmitted to and from said node to be monitored.

30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said network coupler is communicatively coupled through at least one of electromagnetic coupling, optical coupling, evanescent wave coupling, and contact coupling.

31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said network coupler comprises a switch that comprises at least one service port, and switching fabric configured to repeat incoming traffic from a plurality of switch ports to said service port.

32. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitoring node is configured to abstain from transmitting on said monitoring links.

33. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitoring node comprises at least one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a server, a mainframe computer, and a dedicated network monitor computer.

34. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitoring node is configured to display received data graphically through digital oscillography.

35. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monitoring node further comprises a plurality of service interfaces, said interfaces configured to reconfigure said monitoring process, display data externally, and generate reports.

36. An apparatus in accordance with claim 35 wherein at least one service interface comprises an interface to at least one local I/O device, and at least one interface comprises an interface to at least one remote network.

37. A method for monitoring a communication network of a power distribution system, comprising:

connecting a splitting device in electrical communication with a node of the power distribution system so that communications between the communication network and said node are simultaneously transmitted through said splitting device to a monitoring node and a central control processing unit; and

controlling said monitoring node to receive said communications but not to transmit said communications wherein said communications comprises a plurality of first signals representative of current and/or voltage that are transmitted to said at least one central control processing unit from said node and said communications comprises a circuit breaker trip command that is transmitted to said node from said node at least one central control processing unit in response to said first signals.

38. The method as in claim 37, wherein said splitting device allows said communications to be simultaneously transmitted to said node and said monitoring node.

39. The method as in claim 38, wherein said splitting device is a network hub or a cable adapter.