Multiple communications protocol routing in advanced metering infrastructure context
First Claim
1. A method of sharing a wide area network (WAN) connection between an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system and a Utility Automation (UA) system, the method comprising:
- receiving an outgoing data packet in a communication device;
using the communication device to determine whether the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system;
if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to the first protocol, then, based on the determination, forwarding the outgoing data packet to a first outward device that is in communication with the AMI system; and
if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is not formatted according to the first protocol, then, based on the determination, forwarding the outgoing data packet to a second outward device that is in communication with the UA system,wherein the first and second outward devices are positioned at system endpoints or between system endpoints and the communication device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for using an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for Utility Automation (UA) purposes in a utility distribution system are disclosed herein. In an AMI system, a metering node often includes a communications option board for connecting to a wide area network (WAN), which can be shared between the AMI system and a UA system. The metering node may be near other devices that can be controlled by a utility company to monitor and control components of the utility distribution system. A data packet is received in a communication device. The communication device determines whether the received data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system. If so, then the data packet is forwarded to a first device in communication with the AMI system. If not, then the data packet is forwarded to a second device in communication with the UA system.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of sharing a wide area network (WAN) connection between an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system and a Utility Automation (UA) system, the method comprising:
-
receiving an outgoing data packet in a communication device; using the communication device to determine whether the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system; if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to the first protocol, then, based on the determination, forwarding the outgoing data packet to a first outward device that is in communication with the AMI system; and if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is not formatted according to the first protocol, then, based on the determination, forwarding the outgoing data packet to a second outward device that is in communication with the UA system, wherein the first and second outward devices are positioned at system endpoints or between system endpoints and the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A communication device comprising:
-
a data input port in communication with a wide area network (WAN) and configured to receive an outgoing data packet from the WAN; a first data output port in communication with a first outward device connected to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system; a second data output port in communication with a second outward device connected to a Utility Automation (UA) system; a processor in communication with the data input port, the first data output port, and the second data output port, the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions to control operation of the communication device; and a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor; to control operation of the communication device to receive the outgoing data packet in the communication device, to determine whether the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system or a second protocol employed by the UA system, based on the determination, to forward the received outgoing data packet to the first data output port if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to the first protocol employed by the AMI system, and based on the determination, to forward the received outgoing data packet to the second data output port if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to the second protocol employed by the UA system, wherein the first and second outward devices are positioned at system endpoints or between system endpoints and the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification