System and method for controlling a connection of a meter to a power line

• US 9,116,013 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corinex Communications Corporation
• Original Assignee: Peter Sobotka, Xiao Ming Shi, Yan Long
• Inventors: Sobotka, Peter, Shi, Xiao Ming, Long, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Daniell L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US13/302,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20120126994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0007 Frequency selective voltage or current level measuring measuring frequency G01R23/00; testing attenuation in line transmission systems H04B3/48; monitoring testing in transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/165 Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a meter for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site. The meter comprises: a communication module to generate communications carried over the system; a request manager module to process messages received from a head end of the system; a meter module connected to a power feed of the system; a connection manager module to evaluate readings and data and to generate connection signals for the meter in view of the readings; and a relay having a first position where the power is connected to the site and a second position where the power is disconnected, the relay being controlled by the connection signals. The connection manager module generates a first signal for the relay to disconnect the power when an over-voltage condition or an over-current condition on the system has been detected.

Claims

1. A meter for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site, the meter comprising:

a communication module to generate communications carried over the power transmission system;

a relay having a first position where power from the power transmission system is connected to the site and a second position where the power is disconnected from the site;

a request manager module to process messages received through the communication module from a head end associated with the power transmission system;

a meter module connected to a power feed associated with the power transmission system to provide readings relating to the power used at the site;

a schedule manager module to generate a control signal to provide a fraction of the power to the site; and

a connection manager module

to evaluate the readings and data relating to past power usage at the site and generate connection signals for the relay for the meter to the power transmission system in view of the readings;

to evaluate the readings and control the schedule manager in generating the control signal; and

to generate a signal for the relay to disconnect the power when a condition in the power transmission system has been detected by or reported to the meter.

2. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the condition is an over-voltage condition over a threshold over a period of time.

3. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the threshold of voltage value is provided to the meter from a message received through the power transmission system.

4. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection manager module generates a second signal for the relay to connect the power to the site when a reset condition has been detected by the meter module.

5. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection manager module also generates a second signal for the relay to connect-the power to the site when a disconnect condition has been detected by the meter module.

6. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an event manager module to evaluate new events queued in a message queue received by the meter.

7. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein the schedule manager module further:

obtains a plurality of readings from the meter module and provides results of the plurality of readings to the connection manager module.

8. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the plurality of readings is made according to a schedule provided by the schedule manager module.

9. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 7, wherein the schedule manager module:

updates a usage rate for readings made by the meter module.

10. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the request manager module processes a broadcast message received from the head end of the power transmission system relating to a cluster command for meters in a subnet that include the meter.

11. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 7, wherein the schedule manager module:

synchronizes a clock of the meter with a system time managed at the head end of the power transmission system.

12. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the condition is detection at least one of opening a case of the meter and disconnection of the meter from the power.

13. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection manager module further:

generates the signal for the relay after receiving a disconnect signal from the head end of the power transmission system.

14. A method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site through a meter, the method comprising:

obtaining and storing readings for a power feed associated with the site;

evaluating the readings and data relating to past power usage at the site;

generating connection signals for the meter to the power transmission system in view of the readings;

controlling a relay having a first position where the power is connected to the site and a second position where the power is disconnected from the site when an over-voltage condition on the power transmission system has been detected by or reported to the meter; and

evaluating the readings and control a schedule manager to generate a control signal to provide a fraction of the power to the site.

15. The method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site through a meter as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

generating a connection signal to connect the power to the site when a reset condition has been detected.

16. The method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site through a meter as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the relay is also set to the second position when at least one of opening a case of the meter and disconnection of the meter from the power is detected.

17. A meter for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site, the meter comprising:

a communication module to generate communications carried over the power transmission system;

a relay having a first position where power from the power transmission system is connected to the site and a second position where the power is disconnected from the site;

a request manager module to process messages received through the communication module from a head end associated with the power transmission system;

a meter module connected to a power feed associated with the power transmission system to provide readings relating to the power used at the site;

a schedule manager module to generate a control signal to provide a fraction of the power to the site; and

a connection manager module

to evaluate the readings and data relating to past power usage at the site and generate connection signals for the relay for the meter to the power transmission system in view of the readings;

to evaluate the readings and control the schedule manager in generating the control signal; and

to generate a signal for the relay to disconnect the power upon detection of when at least one of opening a case of the meter and disconnection of the meter from the power.