System and method for priority delivery of load management messages on IP-based networks

• US 8,542,685 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Consert, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr., Webb, Joel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Kibrom T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chery, Dady
• Application Number:
  US12/702,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 370/392, 370/393, 370/395.32, 370/229, 370/230, 370/232, 370/233, 370/235, 709/224, 709231-233, 709/236, 709238-241, 700/22, 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/297, 700 60- 62, 323/304, 323/318, 323/299, 702/60, 702/61, 702/62, 702/65, 705/412
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6275 based on priority

Abstract

Methods for prioritizing load management messages on IP-based networks utilizing an Active Load Directory and IP capable two-way gateway. The messages being received from, or sent to, the ISP through the gateway contain a blend of regulated and unregulated data. The regulated data is high-priority utility load management data such as, equipment status and load control instructions. The unregulated data consists of Internet messages such as email and web site data. These methods process all regulatory data before unregulated data within strict time limits, providing the greatest possible load management control and energy savings. The methods emulate dedicated network processor memory in a manner that permits the rules for prioritizing, scheduling, and routing to remain the same across both hardware and software implementations.

Claims

1. A method for priority delivery of messages on a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a client device at a service point, comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management, and a plurality of unregulated data messages at a bidirectional gateway in the client device;

separating the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management, and the plurality of unregulated data messages at the bidirectional gateway into a plurality of data queues based on a priority assigned to and associated with each data message;

processing the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management, at the bidirectional gateway in a plurality of regulated data queues and routing the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management to a regulated data message destination device; and

processing the plurality of unregulated data messages at the bidirectional gateway in a plurality of unregulated data queues and routing the plurality of unregulated data messages to an unregulated data message destination device following the routing of all messages in the plurality of regulated data queues.

2. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 1 wherein the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management comprises a plurality of control data messages and a plurality of administrative data messages.

3. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 2 further comprising separating the plurality of control data messages into a regulated control data queue of the plurality of regulated data queues and separating the plurality of administrative data messages into a regulated administrative data queue of the plurality of regulated data queues.

4. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 3 further comprising processing and routing the plurality of control data messages before the plurality of administrative data messages.

5. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 4 further comprising initiating a control event within at least one controllable, power-consuming device at the service point in response to a control data message originating from the server.

6. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 4 further comprising monitoring and reporting a status of at least one controllable, power-consuming device at the service point in response to an administrative data message originating from the server.

7. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 4 further comprising communicating the plurality of control data messages between a power management application in the client device and a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) connected devices at the service point.

8. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 1 further comprising communicating the plurality of unregulated data messages between a broadband application in the client device and an Internet application at the service point.

9. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 1 further comprising communicating the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management between a network interface at the gateway and the server for transmission to the electric utility.

10. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 1 further comprising communicating the plurality of unregulated data messages between a network interface at the gateway and an Internet service provider.

11. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 1 further comprising separating the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management and the plurality of unregulated data messages at the bidirectional gateway by a network interface component.

12. The method for priority delivery of messages of claim 1 further comprising processing the plurality of regulated data queues and the plurality of unregulated data queues by both priority and a first-in, first-out sequence.

13. A system for priority delivery of messages on a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) connected devices at a service point, comprising:

a network interface component including a plurality of data queues arranged based on a priority associated with each type of data message;

a processor configured for priority delivery of data messages by;

receiving a plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management, and a plurality of unregulated data messages;

separating the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management, and the plurality of unregulated data messages, into the plurality of data queues based on the priority assigned to and associated with each data message;

processing the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management, in a plurality of regulated data queues of the plurality of data queues and routing the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management to a regulated data message destination device; and

processing the plurality of unregulated data messages in a plurality of unregulated data queues of the plurality of data queues and routing the plurality of unregulated data messages to an unregulated data message destination device following the routing of all messages in the plurality of regulated data queues.

14. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management include a plurality of control data messages and a plurality of administrative data messages, the processor being further configured for separating the plurality of control data messages into a regulated control data queue of the plurality of regulated data queues and separating the plurality of administrative data messages into a regulated administrative data queue of the plurality of regulated data queues.

15. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured for processing and routing the plurality of control data messages before the plurality of administrative data messages.

16. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured for initiating a control event within at least one controllable, power-consuming device at the service point in response to a control data message received from the server.

17. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured for monitoring and reporting a status of at least one controllable, power-consuming device at the service point in response to an administrative data message received from the server.

18. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 14 further comprising a power management application operable on the processor for communicating the plurality of control data messages from the server to the plurality of IP connected devices at the service point.

19. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 further comprising a broadband application operable on the processor for communicating the plurality of unregulated data messages between an Internet application at the service point and an Internet service provider.

20. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the network interface component is further operable to communicate the plurality of regulated data messages between the service point and the server for transmission to the electric utility.

21. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the network interface component is further operable to communicate the plurality of unregulated data messages between the service point and an Internet service provider.

22. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured for processing the plurality of regulated data queues and the plurality of unregulated data queues by both priority and a first-in, first-out sequence.

23. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the network interface component comprises a memory for implementing the plurality of data queues and a plurality of priority drivers, responsive to the processor, for processing and handling the plurality of data queues based on priority.

24. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the network interface component comprises a plurality of custom drivers, responsive to the processor, for processing the plurality of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management and the plurality of unregulated data messages and managing the plurality of data queues.

25. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 21 wherein the plurality of custom drivers are embedded in a Linux kernel instance.

26. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 24 further comprising an inbound buffer for receiving regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management and unregulated data messages from an IP network provider and an outbound buffer for transmitting regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management and unregulated data messages to the IP network provider.

27. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 26 further comprising a mirror inbound buffer for copying regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management and unregulated data messages received from the IP network provider from the inbound buffer and wherein the plurality of custom drivers separates and moves the copied data messages to the plurality of data queues.

28. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 26 wherein the plurality of custom drivers moves regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management and unregulated data messages from the plurality of data queues to the outbound buffer for transmission to the IP network provider.

29. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the network interface component comprises a regulated data virtual operating system that monitors a buffer for regulated data, separates the regulated data into control data messages and administrative data messages, and provides the regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management to a power management application;

and an unregulated data virtual operating system for monitoring unregulated data messages and providing unregulated data messages to a broadband application.

30. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 29 wherein the network interface component further comprises a router operating system for generating the regulated data virtual operating system and the unregulated data virtual operating system.

31. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the network interface component further comprises a regulated data chip having a dedicated connection to the server;

and an unregulated data chip having a dedicated connection to an Internet service provider, the regulated data chip and the unregulated data chips providing a dual path transmission option of transmitting over wireless broadband or a wired connection.

32. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 31 wherein the dual path transmission option facilitates wireless broadband transmission of both regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management using the regulated data chip and unregulated data messages using the unregulated data chip.

33. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 32 wherein the dual path transmission option facilitates emergency transmission of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management via a wired connection using the regulated data chip.

34. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 32 wherein the dual path transmission option facilitates emergency transmission of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management via a wireless connection using the regulated data chip.

35. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 31 wherein the dual path transmission option facilitates transmission of regulated data messages for electric utility priority load management over a wired connection using the regulated data chip and facilitates transmission of unregulated data messages over wireless broadband using the unregulated data chip.

36. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 31 wherein a communications protocol for the wireless broadband comprises any one of High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access Evolution-Data-Optimized (CDMA EVDO), ZigBee, ultra wideband, Z-Wave, and 6LoWPAN.

37. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 31 wherein a communications protocol for the wired connection comprises Broadband over Power Lines.

38. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the priority associated with each type of data message is determined by setting a bit in a header of each regulated data message for electric utility priority load management and each unregulated data message.

39. The system for priority delivery of messages of claim 13 wherein the priority associated with each type of data message is determined based on an originating source of each regulated data message for electric utility priority load management and each unregulated data message.