SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTUITIVE MODELING OF COMPLEX NETWORKS IN A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090083019A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EDSA Micro Corporation (PAC Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nasle, Adib
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/06 Power analysis or power optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18

Abstract

A system for modeling a topology of an electrical power system is disclosed. The system can include a processor, a memory, a display device, and an input device. The memory device can be coupled to the processor and configured to maintain a component database, a component control engine, and a power system topology modeling engine. The display device can be coupled to the processor and configured for displaying the topology of the electrical power system. The input device can be coupled to the processor and can be operative to select one of the plurality of power system components stored in the component database as a selected component, position the selected component within a framework, and interface the selected component with other selected components within the framework. The processor can be operative to execute instructions within the component control engine to control the position of the selected components within the framework and execute instructions within the power system topology modeling engine to render the topology of the electrical system after the selected components have been positioned.

Claims

1. A computer system for modeling a topology of an electrical power system, the topology divided into a plurality of power system components, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to maintain a component database, a component control engine, and a power system topology modeling engine;

a display device coupled to the processor and configured for displaying the topology of the electrical power system; and

an input device coupled to the processor;

the input device being operative to;

select one of the plurality of power system components stored in the component database as a selected component,

position the selected component within a framework, and

interface the selected component with other selected components within the framework

the processor being operative to;

execute instructions within the component control engine to control the position of the selected components within the framework, and

execute instructions within the power system topology modeling engine to render the topology of the electrical system after the selected components have been positioned.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further including a component configuration engine configured to allow a user to modify the configuration of each of the plurality of power system component stored in the component database.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the selected component is depicted as a jig-saw puzzle piece.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the selected component includes a male connector.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the selected component with the male connector represents a node type component.

6. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the selected component includes a female connector.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the selected component with the female connector represents a branch type component.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a color scheme is applied to the one or more selected components in the rendered topology.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the color scheme is indicative of a real-time operational status of the selected component.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the color scheme is indicative of a predicted operational status of the selected component.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the power system topology modeling engine is configured to suggest interface options for the selected component.

12. A computer-implemented method for modeling a topology of an electrical power system, the topology divided into a plurality of power system components, comprising:

selecting a one of the plurality of power system components;

positioning the selected one of the plurality of power system components relative to an existing power system component in a framework;

interfacing the selected one of the plurality of power system components with the existing power system component in the framework; and

rendering the interfaced power system components as the electrical power system topology.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further including:

associating configuration information with the selected power system component.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further including:

modifying the configuration information associated with the power system component.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further including:

applying a color scheme to the rendered interfaced power system components, wherein the color is representative of an aspect of one of the interfaced power system components.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the color scheme is indicative of a real-time operational status of the interfaced power system components.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the color scheme is indicative of a predicted operational status of the interfaced power system components.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the one of the plurality of power system components is depicted as puzzle piece.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the depicted puzzle piece includes a female connector.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the depicted puzzle piece with a female connector represents a branch type component.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the depicted puzzle piece includes a male connector.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the depicted puzzle piece with the male connector represents a node type component.