Interface bus for utility-grade network communication devices

• US 8,880,765 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Melvin, Charles W. Jr., Seal, Robert Bryan, Warren, Phillip, Howard, Edward Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGLIC, RYAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/899,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20120054397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-302, 713/324, 713300-320, 713/340
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

In one embodiment, a network device having a plurality of hardware interfaces is disclosed. The network device includes a central processing unit and a main circuit board. The main circuit board has expansion slots that receivably connect corresponding secondary circuit boards to the main circuit board. The main circuit board also has sensors for detecting predetermined parameters. A voltage regulator is operative to regulate one or more particular expansion slots, in response to detection of a predetermined parameter associated with respective slots.

Claims

1. A network device having a plurality of interfaces, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a main circuit board having a plurality of expansion slots operatively connected thereto, the plurality of expansion slots operative to receivably connect a corresponding plurality of secondary circuit boards to the main circuit board, the main circuit board further having at least one voltage regulator and at least one sensor for detecting one or more predetermined parameters;

a first secondary circuit board operatively connected to the main circuit board via a first expansion slot, the first secondary circuit board to support communication over a smart grid network via a first wireless communication protocol; and

a second secondary circuit board operatively connected to the main circuit board via a second expansion slot, the second secondary circuit board to support communication over the smart grid network via a second wireless communication protocol,

wherein the CPU is operative, via the voltage regulator, to regulate at least one expansion slot of the plurality of expansion slots in response to at least one predetermined parameter associated with the particular expansion slot.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a management information base (MIB) operative to store and actively maintain a log comprising data associated with internal events.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameters are stored at an accessible management information base (MIB).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameters are modifiable via updating commands to an accessible management information base (MIB).

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the CPU is further operative to actively maintain a table of data comprising data associated with a real-time operative state of the plurality of secondary circuit boards.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the CPU is further operative to execute a software that, when executed monitors operability of all circuitry on the main circuit board and operatively regulates at least one of the plurality of expansion slots according to the at least one predetermined parameter.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined parameter comprises at least one parameter associated with temperature, voltage, state of input power, operational state of the device, mode of operation of the device, door open, network status, and system health.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the smart grid network is operable to monitor and manage electrical energy consumption.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter is a network status defining an availability of communication over the smart grid network via the first and second communication protocols, respectively.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the CPU is operative, via the voltage regulator, to enable the first expansion slot and disable the second expansion slot if the network status indicates that communication over the smart grid network via the first communication protocol is available.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the CPU is operative, via the voltage regulator, to disable the first expansion slot and enable the second expansion slot if the network status indicates that communication over the smart grid network via the first communication protocol is unavailable.

12. A remotely operable system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a main circuit board having a plurality of interfaces, the interfaces comprising one or more sensors operative to sense one or more predetermined parameters;

a first secondary circuit board operatively connected to the main circuit board via a first interface, the first secondary circuit board to support communication over a smart grid network via a first wireless communication protocol; and

a second secondary circuit board operatively connected to the main circuit board via a second interface, the second secondary circuit board to support communication over the smart grid network via a second wireless communication protocol,

wherein the CPU operatively regulates the interfaces according to sensed predetermined parameters.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a management information base (MIB) operative to actively maintain a log comprising data associated with internal events.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined parameters are stored at an accessible management information base (MIB).

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined parameters are modifiable via updating commands to an accessible management information base (MIB).

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the CPU is further operative to actively maintain a table of data comprising data associated with a real-time operative state of the plurality of interfaces.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the CPU is further operative to execute a software operative to monitor operability of all circuitry on the main circuit board and operatively regulate the plurality of interfaces according to the one or more predetermined parameters.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the predetermined parameters is associated with temperature, voltage, state of input power, operational state of the system, mode of operation of the system, door open, network status, and system health.

19. A computer-implemented method for remotely operating a network device, the method comprising:

configuring first and second interfaces on a main circuit board, the the first interface operative to receivably connect a first secondary circuit board to support communication on a smart grid network via a first communication protocol, and the second interface operative to receivably connect a second secondary circuit board to support communication on the smart grid network via a second communication protocol, the main circuit board further comprising a voltage regulator and a sensor; and

selectively enabling or disabling, via the voltage regulator, the first and second interfaces, based on a predetermined parameter measured by the sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the device further comprises a management information base (MIB) operative to maintain a log comprising data associated with internal events.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more predetermined parameters are available at an accessible management information base (MIB).

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined parameters are modifiable via updating commands to an accessible management information base (MIB).

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising a CPU operative to execute a software operative to monitor operability of all circuitry on the main circuit board and to operatively regulate the first and second interfaces, respectively, according to predetermined parameters.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the CPU is further operative to perform real time monitoring of operability of the first and second interfaces, respectively.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising a CPU operative to actively maintain a table of data comprising data associated with a real time operative state of the first and second interfaces, respectively.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more predetermined parameters comprise parameters associated with at least one of temperature, voltage, state of input power, operational state of the device, mode of operation of the device, door open, network status and system health.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the smart grid network is operable to monitor and manage electrical energy consumption.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising determining a network status defining an availability of communication over the smart grid network via the first and second communication protocols, respectively.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first interface is enabled and the second interface is disabled if the network status indicates that communication over the smart grid network via the first communication protocol is available.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first interface is disabled and the second interface is enabled if the network status indicates that communication over the smart grid network via the first communication protocol is unavailable.