Using a fixed network wireless data collection system to improve utility responsiveness to power outages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for assisting a utility in responding to a power outage, comprising:
- a plurality of metering points;
a collector that communicates with each of the plurality of metering points to form a fixed wireless metering network, wherein said collector periodically communicates with each of said metering points to establish a communication performance rate for each metering point and wherein the collector sets a potential outage indication after a number of successive communication failures occur with a given metering point; and
an outage management system that receives information from the fixed wireless metering network concerning power outage conditions to determine metering points affected by said outage conditions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining service outages and restorations includes an outage management server (OMS) that generates reports of outages and restoration information for metering endpoints. The outages may be caused by faults at various locations in the distribution network. The metering endpoint may include a transmitter having a battery backup that transmits the outage information upon a failure to detect a voltage at the endpoint. The transmission of the information may be filtered based on configurable criteria. The metering endpoints may also inform the OMS when power is restored.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A system for assisting a utility in responding to a power outage, comprising:
-
a plurality of metering points; a collector that communicates with each of the plurality of metering points to form a fixed wireless metering network, wherein said collector periodically communicates with each of said metering points to establish a communication performance rate for each metering point and wherein the collector sets a potential outage indication after a number of successive communication failures occur with a given metering point; and an outage management system that receives information from the fixed wireless metering network concerning power outage conditions to determine metering points affected by said outage conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for use in a fixed wireless metering network for determining power outage conditions in an electrical distribution network, wherein the fixed wireless metering network comprises at least one collector that communicates wirelessly with a plurality of metering points, the method comprising, at said at least one collector:
-
periodically communicating with each of the metering points and establishing a communication performance rate for each metering point; generating an indication of a potential power outage at a given metering point when a rate of success of subsequent communications with the given metering point deviates from the established communication performance rate for that given metering point; and providing the indication to an operator of the electrical distribution network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification