Power management in a network of stationary battery powered control, automation, monitoring and protection devices
First Claim
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1. A method operating within a faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network, the faulted circuit indicator comprising a microcontroller and a timer controlled by the microcontroller, the method comprising the steps of:
- i) initializing a transmit power setting, wherein the step of initializing comprises;
evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting;
ii) broadcasting a join network request packet at the transmit power setting to a plurality of network nodes;
iii) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time;
iv) while the timer runs, waiting for reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes;
v) incrementing the transmit power setting when a maximum wait time elapses before receipt of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node of the plurality of network nodes; and
vi) repeating steps ii-v until the join network acknowledgement packet is received by the faulted circuit indicator.
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Abstract
A faulted circuit indicator periodically joins a network to report information and receive commands. The faulted circuit indicator optimizes the transmit power used to join the network so that an acceptable network acquisition time and/or robust routing through multiple nodes are obtained.
47 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method operating within a faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network, the faulted circuit indicator comprising a microcontroller and a timer controlled by the microcontroller, the method comprising the steps of:
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i) initializing a transmit power setting, wherein the step of initializing comprises; evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting; ii) broadcasting a join network request packet at the transmit power setting to a plurality of network nodes; iii) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time; iv) while the timer runs, waiting for reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes; v) incrementing the transmit power setting when a maximum wait time elapses before receipt of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node of the plurality of network nodes; and vi) repeating steps ii-v until the join network acknowledgement packet is received by the faulted circuit indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method operating within a faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network, the faulted circuit indicator comprising a microcontroller and a timer controlled by the microcontroller, the method comprising the steps of:
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i) initializing a transmit power setting, wherein the step of initializing comprises; evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting; ii) broadcasting a join network request packet to a plurality of network nodes; iii) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time; iv) while the timer runs, waiting for a reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes; (1) when a maximum wait time elapses before reception of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node, incrementing the transmit power setting and repeating steps ii-iv; and (2) when the join network acknowledgement packet is received, comparing an elapsed time to a network acquisition time metric; and (a) when the elapsed time satisfies the network acquisition time metric, joining the power monitoring network; and
,(b) when the elapsed time does not satisfy the network acquisition time metric, incrementing the transmit power setting and repeating steps ii-iv. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method operating within a faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network, the faulted circuit indicator comprising a microcontroller and a timer controlled by the microcontroller, the method comprising the steps of:
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i) initializing a transmit power setting, wherein the step of initializing comprises; evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting; ii) broadcasting a join network request packet to a plurality of network nodes; iii) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time; iv) while the timer runs, waiting for a reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes; (1) when a maximum wait time elapses before receipt of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node, incrementing the transmit power setting and repeating steps ii-iv; and (2) when the join network acknowledgement packet is received, comparing a number of communicating nodes to a metric; and (a) when the number of communicating nodes satisfies the metric, joining the power monitoring network;
or(b) when the number of communicating nodes does not satisfy the metric, incrementing the transmit power setting and repeating steps ii-iv. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network comprising:
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i) an antenna; ii) a communication processor coupled to the antenna; iii) a microcontroller coupled to the communication processor; iv) a timer controlled by the microcontroller; and v) wherein the microcontroller is adapted to (1) initialize a transmit power, wherein the step of initializing comprises; evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting; (2) broadcast a join network request packet to a plurality of network nodes, (3) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time, (4) while the timer runs, wait for a reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, (5) increment the transmit power when a maximum wait time elapses before receipt of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node of the plurality of network nodes, and (6) repeat 2-5 until the join network acknowledgement packet is received by the faulted circuit indicator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network comprising:
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i) an antenna; ii) a communication processor coupled to the antenna; iii) a microcontroller coupled to the communication processor; iv) a timer controlled by the microcontroller; and v) wherein the microcontroller is adapted to (1) initialize a transmit power, wherein the step of initializing comprises; evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting; (2) broadcast a join network request packet to a plurality of network nodes, (3) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time, (4) while the timer runs, wait for a reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, and (4.a) when a maximum wait time elapses before reception of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node, increment the transmit power and repeat steps 2-4; and (4.b) when the join network acknowledgement packet is received compare an elapsed time to a network acquisition time metric, and (4.b.1) when the elapsed time satisfies the network acquisition time metric, join the power monitoring network; and (4.b.2) when the elapsed time does not satisfy the network acquisition time metric, increment the transmit power and repeat steps 2-4. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A faulted circuit indicator for use with a power monitoring network comprising:
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i) an antenna; ii) a communication processor coupled to the antenna; iii) a microcontroller coupled to the communication processor; iv) a timer controlled by the microcontroller; and v) wherein the microcontroller is adapted to (1) initialize a transmit power, wherein the step of initializing comprises; evaluating a faulted circuit indicator message packet; and
,when the message packet comprises electric power network fault information, initializing the transmit power setting as the maximum power setting; (2) broadcast a join network request packet to a plurality of network nodes, (3) starting the timer that includes a maximum wait time, (4) while the timer runs, wait for a reception of a join network acknowledgement packet from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, (4.a) when a maximum wait time elapses before reception of the join network acknowledgement packet from the network node, increment the transmit power and repeat steps 2-4; and (4.b) when the join network acknowledgement packet is received compare a number of communicating nodes to a metric, and (4.b.1) when the number of communicating nodes satisfies the metric, join the power monitoring network; and (4.b.2) when the number of communicating nodes does not satisfy the metric, increment the transmit power and repeat steps 2-4. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification