SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATING DATA STATE CHANGE INFORMATION BETWEEN DEVICES IN AN ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

• US 20140280673A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Dolezilek, David J., Day, Benjamin S., Gammel, Dennis, Bradetich, Ryan, Bennett, Jerry J., Ewing, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0061 concerning transmission of signals transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for managing communication between devices in an electric power generation and delivery system. In certain embodiments, a method for managing communication messages performed by a network device included in an electric power generation and delivery system may include receiving a message including an identifier and data state information via a communications interface. A determination may be made that that the message represents a data state change associated with the identifier. The message may be stored in a message buffer associated with the identifier. Finally, the stored message may be transmitted from the message buffer to an intelligent electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for managing communication messages performed by a network device comprising:

receiving a message including an identifier and data state information via a communications interface;

determining, using a processor included in the network device, that the message represents a data state change associated with the identifier;

storing the message in a message buffer associated with the identifier; and

transmitting the stored message to an intelligent electronic device using the communications interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to storing the message, determining whether the message buffer is full; and

if the message buffer is full, at least partially purging the message buffer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the message represents a data state change associated with the identifier comprises examining a data state change indicator included in the message to determine if the data state change indicator indicates a state change.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the message represents a data state change associated with the identifier comprises comparing the data state information included in the message with data state information included in a prior message associated with the identifier to determine that a data state change has occurred.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a subscription identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an IEC 61850 Generic Object Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE) message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

placing the stored message in an output message queue;

wherein transmitting the stored message further comprises transmitting the stored message from the output message queue.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the stored message is placed in the output message queue based, at least in part, on the order in which the message was received by the network device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the stored message is placed in the output message queue based, at least in part, on priority information associated with the identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless communications interface.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a network device for managing communication messages, cause the processor to:

receive a message including an identifier and data state information via a communications interface;

determine, using a processor included in the network device, that the message represents a data state change associated with the identifier;

store the message in a message buffer associated with the identifier; and

transmit the stored message to an intelligent electronic device using the communications interface.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein determining that the message represents a data state change associated with the identifier comprises examining a data state change indicator bit included in the message to determine if the data state change indicator bit indicates a data state change.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises a subscription identifier.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the message comprises a GOOSE message.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

place the stored message in an output message queue;

wherein transmitting the stored message further comprises transmitting the stored message from the output message queue.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the stored message is placed in the output message queue based, at least in part, on the order in which the message was received by the network device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the stored message is placed in the output message queue based, at least in part, on priority information associated with the identifier.

19. A network device for managing communication messages in a network comprising:

a network interface configured to receive and transmit messages;

a processor configured to determine that a message represents a data state change associated with the identifier; and

a message buffer configured to store the message based on the determination made by the processor.

20. The network device of claim 19, wherein the message comprises a GOOSE message.

21. The network device of claim 19, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit the stored message to an intelligent electronic device communicatively coupled to the network interface.

22. The network device of claim 19, wherein the network interface is a wireless communications interface.