Policy based utility networking

• US 9,282,001 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grid Net
• Original Assignee: Grid Net
• Inventors: Bell, Ray, Bell, Will, DesBrisay, Greg, Street, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): CRUTCHFIELD, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US12/042,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,926 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• 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: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

In various embodiments, a policy-based residential networked meter can be an energy switch router device (ESRD) that provides policy-based advanced metering, load control and shaping, energy services delivery and accounting, and secure web services interfaces and internetworking communications. The ESRD can be integrated and inter-related with advanced policy-based sensory, metrology, monitoring, control, recording, classification, prioritization, security, routing, and switching functions. The ESRD may be used to sense, measure, meter, and control electrical service flows to the utility service point at the customer premise, and may be configured and managed with one or more policy-based networking methods.

Claims

1. A system for distributing a utility, the system comprising:

a utility network operations center;

a utility network comprising a plurality of distribution devices for distributing one or more utilities to one or more locations; and

a plurality of metering devices coupled to the utility network, each metering device comprising;

at least one network interface; and

a logic fabric distributable at a plurality of locations comprising at least one of a distribution feeder and a customer premise, and configured to;

receive information from the utility network operations center, wherein the information is based on a set of policies defining a measure of distribution of the utility over a utility grid, and wherein the set of policies is dynamically updatable, the set of policies comprising a configuration policy for energy switch routing operations, and wherein the configuration policy is deployed from a centralized location to a plurality of distributed energy switch routers,

configure one or more of the distribution devices to distribute a utility based on, at least in part, the received information, and

route communications related to the distribution of the utility via the at least one network interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network operations center is configured to provide web-based configuration of each of the plurality of metering devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network operations center is configured to generate at least a portion of the set of policies that provision each of the plurality of metering devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of metering devices are configured to interface with electrical transmission devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of metering devices are configured to interface with electrical generation devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic fabric is configured to route communications between the metering device and the network operations center via the at least one network interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic fabric is configured to route communications between the metering device and one or more of the plurality of metering devices via the at least one network interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic fabric is configured to route communications between the network operations center and one or more of the plurality of metering devices via the at least one network interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic fabric is configured to route communications to an Internet service provider via a home area network interface configured to enable access to the Internet to one or more devices associated with a customer'"'"'s premises.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one network interface is selected from a group of interfaces consisting of:

a wide area network interface,

a metropolitan area network interface,

a local area network interface,

a home area network interface,

a wireless local area network interface;

a WiMAX interface,

a 3GPP LTE interface,

a WiFi interface, and

a ZigBee interface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network devices are selected from a group of network devices consisting of:

a network device located at a utility transmission substation,

a network device located at a utility transmission feeder,

a network device located at a utility distribution substation,

a network device located at a utility distribution feeder, and

a network device located at a customer premise.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of network devices is provided with a particular policy.

13. A method for providing a utility, the method comprising:

receiving provisioning information at a networked metering device, wherein the information is based on a set of policies defining a measure of distribution of a utility over a utility grid, and wherein the set of policies is dynamically updatable, the set of policies comprising a configuration policy for energy switch routing operations, and wherein the configuration policy is deployed from a centralized location to a plurality of distributed energy switch routers;

configuring a logic fabric at the networked metering device distributable at a plurality of locations comprising at least one of a distribution feeder and a customer premise, based on the provisioning information, configuring the logic fabric comprising;

configuring a sensor engine to perform a metrology function based on the set of policies using information associated with one or more sensor devices; and

routing communications related to the metrology function to a network via at least one network interface.