Local intelligent electronic device (IED) rendering templates over limited bandwidth communication link to manage remote IED

• US 8,578,012 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Bradetich, Ryan, Dearien, Jason A., Grussling, Barry Jakob, Remaley, Gavin
• Primary Examiner(s): Barry, Lance L
• Application Number:
  US13/175,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/223, 709/224, 709227-229, 713182-186
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for remote device management. According to various embodiments, a local intelligent electronic device (IED) may be in communication with a remote IED via a limited bandwidth communication link, such as a serial link. The limited bandwidth communication link may not support traditional remote management interfaces. According to one embodiment, a local IED may present an operator with a management interface for a remote IED by rendering locally stored templates. The local IED may render the locally stored templates using sparse data obtained from the remote IED. According to various embodiments, the management interface may be a web client interface and/or an HTML interface. The bandwidth required to present a remote management interface may be significantly reduced by rendering locally stored templates rather than requesting an entire management interface from the remote IED. According to various embodiments, an IED may comprise an encryption transceiver.

Claims

1. A method for managing a remote intelligent electronic device (IED) using a local IED, comprising:

the local IED receiving a request to manage a remote IED in communication with the local IED via a limited bandwidth communication link;

the local IED receiving login credentials associated with an operator profile on the remote IED;

the local IED transmitting the received login credentials to the remote IED;

the local IED requesting sparse data from the remote IED in order to render a first locally stored template;

the local IED receiving the sparse data from the remote IED; and

the local IED rendering the first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED;

the local IED receiving a request for a settings interface within the management interface for the remote IED;

the local IED determining what additional data is needed from the remote IED to render a second template in order to present the settings interface for the remote IED;

the local IED requesting additional sparse data associated with the settings interface for the remote IED;

the local IED receiving the additional sparse data; and

the local IED rendering the second template using the additional sparse data in order to present a settings interface for the remote IED.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the local IED comprises an encryption transceiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local IED communicates with the remote IED using remote procedure calls via a remote procedure call (RPC) client.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the first locally stored template using the sparse data comprises:

selecting the first locally stored template based on an access level associated with the operator profile; and

rendering the first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present the management interface for the remote IED.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited bandwidth communication link comprises a serial link operating at less than 115200 baud.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the management interface comprises a web client interface.

7. A method for managing a remote intelligent electronic device (IED) using a local IED, comprising:

the local IED receiving a request to manage a remote IED in communication with the local IED via a limited bandwidth communication link;

the local IED receiving login credentials associated with an operator profile on the remote IED;

the local IED transmitting the received login credentials to the remote IED;

the local IED requesting sparse data from the remote IED in order to render a first locally stored template;

the local IED receiving the sparse data from the remote IED;

the local IED rendering the first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED;

the local IED receiving a request to modify a setting within the management interface for the remote IED;

the local IED determining what settings data should be transmitted to the remote IED in order to modify the setting on the remote IED;

the local IED client transmitting the settings data to the remote IED in order to modify the setting;

the local IED receiving a confirmation that the setting has been modified; and

the local IED rendering a second template using the received confirmation in order to present a confirmation interface for the remote IED.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving a request to modify a setting comprises receiving a request to modify a network setting on the remote IED.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving a request to modify a setting comprises receiving a request to modify an operator profile on the remote IED.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the local IED comprises an encryption transceiver.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the local IED communicates with the remote IED using remote procedure calls via a remote procedure call (RPC) client.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein rendering the first locally stored template using the sparse data comprises:

selecting the first locally stored template based on an access level associated with the operator profile; and

rendering the first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the management interface comprises a web client interface.

14. An intelligent electronic device (IED) configured to provide remote device management of a remote IED over a limited bandwidth communication link, comprising:

a processor;

at least one network interface configured to communicatively connect the IED to a remote IED via a limited bandwidth communication link;

a computer readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable storage medium comprising;

an interface module configured to receive a request to manage the remote IED, to receive login credentials associated with an operator profile of the remote IED, to receive a request for a settings interface within the management interface for the remote IED and to determine what additional data is needed from the remote IED for the template rendering module to render a second template in order to present the settings interface for the remote IED;

a remote procedure call (RPC) client module configured to transmit received login credentials to the remote IED, to and request sparse data from the remote IED in order to render a first locally stored template and to request additional sparse data associated with the settings interface for the remote IED; and

a template rendering module configured to render the first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED and render the second template using the additional sparse data in order to present a settings interface for the remote IED.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the IED comprises an encryption transceiver.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the template rendering module is configured to:

select the first locally stored template based on an access level associated with the operator profile; and

render the selected first template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the limited bandwidth communication link comprises a serial link operating at less than 115200 baud.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface module is configured to present the management interface for the remote IED as a web client interface.

19. An intelligent electronic device (IED) configured to provide remote device management of a remote IED over a limited bandwidth communication link, comprising:

a processor;

at least one network interface configured to communicatively connect the IED to a remote IED via a limited bandwidth communication link;

a computer readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable storage medium comprising;

an interface module configured to receive a request to manage the remote IED and to receive login credentials associated with an operator profile of the remote IED;

a remote procedure call (RPC) client module configured to transmit received login credentials to the remote IED and request sparse data from the remote IED in order to render a first locally stored template;

a template rendering module configured to render the first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED;

wherein the interface module is further configured to receive a request to modify a setting within the management interface for the remote IED and determine what settings data should be transmitted to the remote IED in order to modify the setting on the remote IED;

wherein the RPC client module is further configured to transmit the settings data to the remote IED in order to modify the setting and receive a confirmation from the remote IED that the setting has been modified; and

wherein the template rendering module is further configured to render a second template using the received confirmation in order to present a confirmation interface for the remote IED.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a request to modify a setting comprises a request to modify a network setting on the remote IED.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein a request to modify a setting comprises a request to modify an operator profile on the remote IED.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the IED comprises an encryption transceiver.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the local IED communicates with the remote IED using remote procedure calls via a remote procedure call (RPC) client.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the template rendering module is configured to:

select the first locally stored template based on an access level associated with the operator profile; and

render the selected first locally stored template using the sparse data in order to present a management interface for the remote IED.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the interface module is configured to present the management interface for the remote IED as a web client interface.