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

• US 9,829,343 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corinex Communications Corporation
• Original Assignee: Corinex Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Sobotka, Peter, Shi, Xiao Ming, Long, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US14/806,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20150325114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• 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 transmission system; a relay having a first position connecting power from the transmission system to the site and a second position disconnecting power; a request manager module to process messages from a head end associated with the transmission system; a meter module connected to a power feed associated with the transmission system to provide readings relating to the power used at the site; an event manager module to evaluate new events queued in a message queue received by the meter and after evaluating the new events to send a message to the head end relating to the earliest event in the message queue; a connection manager module managing the power connection to the transmission system.

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;

an event manager module

to evaluate new events queued in a message queue received by the meter; and

after evaluating the new events to generate and to send a message to the head end relating to the earliest event in the message queue;

and

a connection manager module

to evaluate the readings and data relating to past power usage at the site; 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 event manager module further:

sends a second message relating to an earliest event to the head end when a response message is not received from the head end to the message within a timeout period; and

sends a third message relating to a next earliest event in the message queue to the head end when the response message is received from the head end.

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

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

4. 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.

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 3, 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.

12. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

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

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

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

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

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

15. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection manager module evaluates the readings and controls the schedule manager in generating the control signal.

16. 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;

evaluating new events queued in a message queue received by the meter;

after evaluating the new events, generating and sending a message to a head end associated with the power transmission system relating to an earliest event in the message queue; and

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.

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

sending a second message relating to the earliest event to the head end when a response message is not received from the head end to the message within a timeout period; and

sending a third message relating to a next earliest event in the message queue to the head end when the response message is received from the head end.

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

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

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

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

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