Outage management algorithm

• US 8,774,975 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avista Corporation (Avistar)
• Original Assignee: Avista Corporation (Avistar)
• Inventors: DiLuciano, Joshua Dominic, Lee, Erik Jon, Cloward, Robert David, Cousins, Allen Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/023,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 700291-293, 340/870.02, 702/65
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00

Abstract

Techniques and systems are described that assist in predicting, diagnosing, and/or managing an incident in a utility service area. A communication system is provided in the service area to communicate with nodes of the service area. In some instances, the communication system is configured to communicate with nodes of the service area according to a hierarchy of the nodes and/or a physical location of the nodes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of processing an incident in a service area, the method comprising:

under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions;

detecting an incident in the service area;

identifying at least a first node associated with the incident;

selecting, by the processor, a preset quantity of nodes of the service area to ping, the selecting based at least in part on one or more of a hierarchy of the nodes or a physical location of the nodes, the preset quantity based at least in part on a communication technology of a node in the service area, the preset quantity being user adjustable;

pinging the preset quantity of nodes;

receiving results of the pinging from at least one of the preset quantity of nodes; and

determining a response to the incident based on the results received.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the service area comprises an electrical power distribution service area.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein at least one node of the preset quantity of nodes comprises an electrical service device configured for electrical power distribution within the service area.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises receiving a notification of the incident from an intelligent map system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises receiving a notification of the incident from at least the first node.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises receiving a notification of the incident from a utility service meter.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising closing the incident when the results include an indication that at least the first node is operating within a preset tolerance.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the initiating comprises annotating an intelligent map system based on the determined response to the incident.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the communication technology comprises power line carrier technology.

9. A computer-implemented method of processing an incident in a service area, the method comprising:

under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions;

detecting the incident in the utility service area;

identifying a first component in the utility service area, associated with the incident;

performing two-way communication with at least the first component; and

selectively polling the utility service area when a failure response is received from the first component, the selectively polling including;

selecting, by the processor, at least one other component of the utility service area for two-way communication based at least in part on an algorithm, the algorithm based on one or more of a hierarchy or a physical location of the at least one other component;

adjusting the selecting based at least in part on communication technologies, communication protocols, or a combination thereof used by the selected at least one other component;

performing two-way communication with the at least one other component; and

initiating a service call associated with a physical location of the first component when a response is received from the at least one other component indicating that the at least one other component is operating within a preset tolerance.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising performing two-way communication with one or more subsequent components of the service area according to the algorithm when a failure response is received from the first component and a failure response is received from the at least one other component.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising performing two-way communication with one or more subsequent components of the service area according to the algorithm when one or more of a quantity of components associated with the hierarchy of the at least one other component or a quantity of components at the physical location of the at least one other component is less than a threshold quantity.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein a failure response includes a failure to respond.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

a detection module stored in the memory and executable at the one or more processors to detect an incident associated with a first meter within an electrical power service area, the first meter associated with a first transformer on an electrical circuit;

a communication module stored in the memory and executable at the one or more processors to communicate with at least one component of the electrical power service area according to an algorithm, the algorithm comprising a first routine directing the system to perform operations comprising;

ping the first meter,

ping a second meter associated with the first transformer when a failure response is received from the first meter, and

declare a service incident at the first meter when a failure response is received from the first meter and a response is received from the second meter indicating that the second meter is operating within a preset tolerance; and

an analysis module stored in the memory and executable at the one or more processors to determine a response to the incident based on the communication with the at least one component of the electrical power service area.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the algorithm comprises a second routine configured to be performed when there are no meters aside from the first meter associated with the first transformer or there is a failure response from the second meter, the second routine directing the system to perform operations comprising:

trace the electrical circuit to an upstream isolating device,

ping at least one meter associated with at least one transformer downstream from the upstream isolating device, and

declare a service incident at the first transformer when a response is received from the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the upstream isolating device indicating that the at least one meter is operating within a preset tolerance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the upstream isolating device and the at least one transformer downstream from the upstream isolating device are upstream of the first transformer.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the algorithm comprises a third routine configured to be performed when there are no meters aside from the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer or there is a failure response from the at least one meter, the third routine directing the system to recursively perform operations comprising:

tag a current isolating device as a target device,

trace the electrical circuit to a subsequent upstream isolating device,

ping at least one meter associated with at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device,

declare a service incident at the target device when a response is received from the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device indicating that the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device is operating within a preset tolerance, and

repeat the operations of the third routine when there are no other meters associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device or there is a failure response from the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one meter associated with the at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device and the at least one transformer downstream from the subsequent upstream isolating device are upstream of the target device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the detection module is configured to receive a notification of the incident from an intelligent map system.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module is configured to automatically initiate a service call based on the response determined from the analysis module.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module is configured to automatically close the incident when a response is received from the first meter indicating that the first meter is operating within a preset tolerance.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the communication module is configured to notify a customer associated with the first meter of the automatic closing of the incident.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the pinging comprises performing two-way communication with one or more of the first meter or the at least second meter.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the failure response includes a failure to respond.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the failure response includes a notification of a power quality event that exceeds a preset threshold.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the power quality event comprises one or more of:

an over voltage, an under voltage, a phase angle deviation, a waveform distortion, a frequency deviation, a power factor deviation, or a transient waveform event.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module is configured to output a communication to an incident notification system as part of declaring the service incident.

27. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module is configured to trigger an intelligent map system to be updated based on the determined response to the incident.