Grid event detection

• US 8,693,580 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: McHann, Stanley E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Torres, Juan A
• Application Number:
  US13/075,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20120250752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 375/316
• US Class Current: 375/316
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting grid events. In one aspect, a method includes receiving signal characteristic data that specify signal characteristic values for signals that are received over each of a plurality of communications channels of a power line communications network. A determination is made that the signal characteristic values for the signals that are received over at least one of the communications channels are outside of a baseline signal value range. An endpoint that communicates over the at least one communications channel is identified, and a determination is made that a set of the signal characteristic values for the identified endpoint matches one of a plurality a grid event signatures for the identified endpoint. Data that identify the endpoint and a particular grid event that is represented by the matched grid event signature are provided.

Claims

1. A method performed by data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, by a data processing apparatus, signal characteristic data that specify signal characteristic values for signals that are received over each of a plurality of communications channels of a power line communications network;

determining, by the data processing apparatus, that the signal characteristic values for the signals that are received over at least one of the communications channels are outside of a baseline signal value range;

identifying an endpoint that communicates over the at least one communications channel;

determining that a set of the signal characteristic values matches one of a plurality of grid event signatures for the identified endpoint, each of the grid event signatures being indicative of a particular grid event; and

providing data that identify the endpoint and the particular grid event for the grid event signature that is matched by the set of the signal characteristic values,

wherein the plurality of grid event signatures includes a respective grid event signature for each of a set of grid events including a capacitor bank failure, a power outage, and capacitor bank activation, and

wherein determining that the set of the signal characteristic values matches one of a plurality of grid event signatures comprises determining that the set of the signal characteristic values matches a grid event signature for one of a capacitor bank failure, a power outage, or capacitor bank activation.

2. A system comprising:

a plurality of network elements that are implemented in a power line communications network; and

one or more data processing apparatus operable to interact with the network elements, the one or more data processing apparatus being further operable to perform operations including;

receiving, by a data processing apparatus, signal characteristic data that specify signal characteristic values for signals that are received over each of a plurality of communications channels of the power line communications network;

determining, by the data processing apparatus, that the signal characteristic values for the signals that are received over at least one of the communications channels are outside of a baseline signal value range;

identifying an endpoint that communicates over the at least one communications channel;

determining that a set of the signal characteristic values matches one of a plurality of grid event signatures for the identified endpoint, each of the grid event signatures being indicative of a particular grid event; and

providing data that identify the endpoint and the particular grid event for the grid event signature that is matched by the set of the signal characteristic values,

wherein the plurality of grid event signatures includes a respective grid event signature for each of a set of grid events including a capacitor bank failure, a power outage, and capacitor bank activation, and

wherein the one or more data processing apparatus are further operable to perform operations including determining that the set of the signal characteristic values matches a grid event signature for one of a capacitor bank failure, a power outage, or capacitor bank activation.