Communication nodes and sensor devices configured to use power line communication signals, and related methods of operation
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communication node, the method comprising:
- transmitting, using a Mid Voltage (MV) electric distribution network corresponding to voltages between about 4,000 Volts and about 69,000 Volts, a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device;
receiving, using the Mid Voltage (MV) electric distribution network corresponding to voltages between about 4,000 Volts and about 69,000 Volts, from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node;
determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node; and
transmitting, from the communication node to an electric utility head end system, a value representing the distance, via a local area network or a wide area network,wherein the electric utility head end system determines coordinates for the electric grid device by using (i) a GPS measurement of the communication node and (ii) the value representing the distance between the communication node and the electric grid device, andwherein the electric grid device is on a distribution line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communication node, the method comprising:
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transmitting, using a Mid Voltage (MV) electric distribution network corresponding to voltages between about 4,000 Volts and about 69,000 Volts, a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device; receiving, using the Mid Voltage (MV) electric distribution network corresponding to voltages between about 4,000 Volts and about 69,000 Volts, from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node; determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node; and transmitting, from the communication node to an electric utility head end system, a value representing the distance, via a local area network or a wide area network, wherein the electric utility head end system determines coordinates for the electric grid device by using (i) a GPS measurement of the communication node and (ii) the value representing the distance between the communication node and the electric grid device, and wherein the electric grid device is on a distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication node, comprising:
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a power line communications interface configured to; transmit, using a Mid Voltage (MV) electric distribution network corresponding to voltages between about 4,000 Volts and about 69,000 Volts, a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device; and receive, using the Mid Voltage (MV) electric distribution network corresponding to voltages between about 4,000 Volts and about 69,000 Volts, from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal; a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal at the communication node; and a network interface configured to transmit, from the communication node to an electric utility head end system, a value representing the distance, via a local area network or a wide area network, wherein the electric utility head end system determines coordinates for the electric grid device by using (i) a GPS measurement of the communication node and (ii) the value representing the distance between the communication node and the electric grid device, and wherein the electric grid device comprises a field asset on a distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a communication node located in a field of a power grid of an electric utility, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node in the field to a sensor device that is at or adjacent a field asset on a distribution line of the power grid; receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node in the field; determining a distance between the communication node in the field and the field asset that is on the distribution line by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node in the field; and transmitting, from the communication node to an electric utility head end system, a value representing the distance, via a local area network or a wide area network, wherein the electric utility head end system determines coordinates for the field asset by using (i) a GPS measurement of the communication node and (ii) the value representing the distance between the communication node and the field asset.
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Specification