Interface for clustered utility nodes

• US 9,632,672 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Gnezdov, Sergei Aleksandrovich, Smith, Anthony Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLAS, WENDY K
• Application Number:
  US13/928,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 715771, 715772, 34087001, 34087002, 370235, 370328, 370400, 370468, 705412, 709220, 709223, 709224, 709225, 709226, 709229, 709238, 709239, 709240, 709241
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Techniques for navigating a user interface and for selecting a utility node from within a cluster of utility nodes are described herein. The user interface may display an icon representing the cluster of utility nodes. A selection (e.g., made by a user) of the icon may be received and a list of the utility nodes that are represented by the icon may be displayed. Selection of a particular utility node from the list may be received, and an action may be performed on the selected utility node. The action may include displaying utility information associated with the utility node, zooming in on the utility node, and/or receiving information from an individual with which to configure the utility node.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with specific executable instructions,

displaying information of a plurality of utility node categories, the plurality of utility node categories including a first utility node category for endpoints and a second utility node category for data collectors;

receiving a selection of a particular utility node category of the plurality of utility node categories, the particular utility node category comprising the first utility node category or the second utility node category;

displaying, on a utility line distribution map that includes utility lines representing at least one of pipes or channels for gas, water, or electricity, a single icon representing a plurality of utility nodes that are associated with the particular utility node category, the single icon indicating that the plurality of utility nodes are represented by the single icon and indicating that an error has occurred at a utility node of the plurality of utility nodes, the error indicating loss of communication with the utility node over a predetermined time period;

receiving a selection of the single icon at a location on the utility line distribution map where the single icon is displayed;

at least partly in response to receiving the selection of the single icon, displaying a list including the plurality of utility nodes that are associated with the particular utility node category, the list being displayed at substantially the location on the utility line distribution map where the single icon is displayed;

receiving a selection of a particular utility node from the list including the plurality of utility nodes;

at least partly in response to receiving the selection of the particular utility node, displaying an option to configure the particular utility node;

receiving information to configure the particular utility node; and

configuring the particular utility node based at least in part on the received information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of utility nodes are located at a same location for a current zoom level on the utility line distribution map.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the list including the plurality of utility nodes is displayed by overlaying the list on the utility line distribution map.

4. One or more devices comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, storing one or more modules executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

displaying information of a plurality of utility node categories, the plurality of utility node categories including a first utility node category for endpoints and a second utility node category for data collectors;

receiving a selection of a particular utility node category of the plurality of utility node categories, the particular utility node category comprising the first utility node category or the second utility node category;

displaying, on a utility line distribution map that includes utility lines representing at least one of pipes or channels for gas, water, or electricity, a single icon representing a plurality of utility nodes that are associated with the particular utility node category, the single icon indicating loss of communication with a utility node of the plurality of utility nodes over a predetermined time period;

receiving selection of the single icon at a location on the utility line distribution map where the single icon is displayed;

upon receipt of the selection of the single icon, displaying a list including the plurality of utility nodes, the list being displayed at substantially the location on the utility line distribution map where the single icon is displayed;

receiving selection of a particular utility node from the list including the plurality of utility nodes; and

based at least in part on the selection of the particular utility node;

displaying an option to configure the particular utility node;

receiving information to configure the particular utility node; and

configuring the particular utility node based at least in part on the received information.

5. The one or more devices of claim 4, wherein each of the utility nodes of the plurality of utility nodes corresponds to a node in an advanced metering infrastructure configured to receive and/or send resource consumption information.

6. The one or more devices of claim 4, wherein the displaying the single icon associated with the plurality of utility nodes includes displaying the single icon for the plurality of utility nodes which are located at a same location for a current zoom level on the utility line distribution map.

7. The one or more devices of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

upon displaying the list including the plurality of utility nodes, receiving search input from an individual;

searching utility nodes of the plurality of utility nodes of the list based at least in part on the search input; and

displaying a list including a sub-set of the plurality of utility nodes based at least in part on the searching,

wherein the particular utility node that is selected comprises a utility node of the list that includes the sub-set of the plurality of utility nodes.

8. The one or more devices of claim 4, wherein the single icon associated with the plurality of utility nodes is displayed with information indicating that more than one utility node is associated with the single icon.

9. The one or more devices of claim 4, wherein the single icon associated with the plurality of utility nodes indicates whether or not a utility node of the plurality of utility nodes needs attention due to an occurrence of an error.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, instruct one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing a user interface including a utility line distribution map and interface elements to enable selection of any of a plurality of utility node categories, the plurality of utility node categories including a first utility node category for endpoints and a second utility node category for data collectors, the utility line distribution map including utility lines for at least one of gas, water, or electricity;

receiving selection of a particular utility node category of the plurality of utility node categories, the particular utility node category comprising the first utility node category or the second utility node category;

based at least in part on the selection of the particular utility node category, providing a single icon on the map, the single icon being associated with a plurality of utility nodes that are associated with the particular utility node category, the single icon indicating that more than one utility node is associated with the single icon and indicating an error has occurred at a utility node of the plurality of utility nodes, the error indicating loss of communication with the utility node over a predetermined time period;

receiving selection of the single icon at a location on the utility line distribution map where the single icon is displayed;

upon receipt of the selection of the single icon, updating the user interface to include a list of the plurality of utility nodes, the list being displayed next to a location of the single icon on the utility line distribution map;

receiving selection of a particular utility node from the list of the plurality of utility nodes;

at least partly in response to receiving the selection of the particular utility node, displaying an option to configure the particular utility node;

receiving information to configure the particular utility node; and

configuring the particular utility node based at least in part on the received information.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein each of the utility nodes of the plurality of utility nodes corresponds to a node in an advanced metering infrastructure configured to receive and/or send resource consumption information.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise

zooming in on the particular utility node.