Method and apparatus for communicating power distribution event and location
First Claim
1. A method of using a device to provide power outage information for a power distribution system that includes a low voltage power line and wherein the device receives power from the low voltage power and experiences a power loss during a local power outage, comprising:
- monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line;
detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period;
storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage; and
transmitting a notification of said detecting to a remote computer system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device.
379 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of using a device to provide power outage information for a power distribution system that includes a low voltage power line and wherein the device receives power from the low voltage power and experiences a power loss during a local power outage, comprising:
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monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line; detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period; storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage; and transmitting a notification of said detecting to a remote computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of using a device to provide information about a power distribution system that includes a power line that carries a nominal voltage and that provides operating power to the device, comprising:
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monitoring a voltage of the power line; detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold value and wherein the voltage reduction drops to substantially zero; determining that the voltage remains below the threshold value for a predetermined time period; and transmitting a first notification if the voltage remains below the threshold value for a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for providing information about a power outage of a power distribution system that includes a plurality of power lines, the device comprising:
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a circuit configured to measure a voltage a power line; a power supply configured to receive power from the power line; a non-volatile memory; a processor in communication with said non-volatile memory and said circuit and configured to receive voltage data based on measurements of the voltage from said circuit; a communication interface in communication with said processor; wherein said processor is configured to process voltage data to detect a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period; wherein said processor is configured to store first information of the voltage reduction in said non-volatile memory; and wherein said processor is configured to cause said communication interface to transmit a notification to a remote computer system in response to detecting a voltage reduction below the threshold voltage for the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification