POLICY-BASED UTILITY NETWORKING

• US 20080219239A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Grid Net
• Original Assignee: Grid Net
• Inventors: Bell, Will, Bell, Ray, DesBrisay, Greg, Street, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/042,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219239A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• 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 interrelated 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. An apparatus for policy-based networking of an electric grid architecture, the apparatus comprising:

a wide area network interface configure to communicate with a wide area network;

a metropolitan area network interface configured to communication with a metropolitan area network;

a local area network interface configured to communicate with a local area network;

a home area network interface configured to communicate with one or more devices; and

a logic fabric configured to receive provisioning information and, based on the provisioning information, to interface a set of sensor engines with a set of sensor devices, to switch communications between the set of sensor engines and the set of sensor devices, and to route communications to the wide area network via the wide area network interface, to the metropolitan area network via the metropolitan area network interface, to the local area network via the local area network interface, and to the home area network via the home network area interface.

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

a utility network operations center;

a utility network of distribution devices for distributing the utility to one or more locations; and

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

a wide area network interface;

a local area network interface; and

a logic fabric configured to receive information from the utility network operations center that enables the logic fabric to interface with one or more of the distribution devices, to switch communications between the one or more of the distribution devices, to route communications via the wide area network interface, and to route communications via the local area network interface.

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

receiving provisioning information at a networked metering device;

configuring a logic fabric at the networked metering device based on the provisioning information;

determining information associated with one or more sensor devices using the logic fabric;

switching communications using the logic fabric between a sensor engine and the one or more sensor devices; and

routing communications using the logic fabric to a wide area network via a wide area network interface, to a metropolitan area network via a metropolitan area network interface, to a local area network via a local area network interface, and to a home area network via a home area network interface.