Power outage notification

• US 8,779,927 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grid Net
• Original Assignee: Grid Net
• Inventors: Bell, Ray, Bell, Will, Street, Stephen, Golla, Ramprasad
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/227,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Determining the scope of power outage includes receiving a message indicating power outage from a device, and probing other devices associated with the device sending the message. The message indicating power outage may include a power outage code, and may be received via a control channel of a communication network. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for detecting power outage, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a device, the message indicating loss of power by the device;

determining a feeder associated with the device;

evaluating messages received from a first plurality of devices connected to the feeder;

probing a second plurality of devices connected to the feeder, wherein a message indicating power loss has not been received from any device in the second plurality of devices;

pausing for a predetermined period of time, prior to the probing, to allow for restoration of communications; and

determining a power outage of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a control message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the control message is a session termination message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a smart meter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a router.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying an outage-management system of power loss by the device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining power loss by one or more of the first plurality of devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining power loss by one or more of the second plurality of devices.

9. A computer-implemented system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory machine readable medium, the medium containing a set of processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor configure the system to;

receive a message from a device, the message indicating power loss by the device;

determine a feeder associated with the device;

evaluate messages received from a first plurality of devices connected to the feeder;

probe a second plurality of devices connected to the feeder, wherein a message indicating power loss has not been received from any device in the second plurality of devices;

pause for a predetermined period of time, prior to the probing, to allow for restoration of communications; and

determine a power outage of the device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the device is a smart meter.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the device is a router.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is further configured to notify an outage-management system of power loss by the device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is further configured to determine power loss by one or more of the first plurality of devices.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is further configured to determine power loss by one or more of the second plurality of devices.