Intelligent grid system

• US 7,499,762 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digitalogic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digitalogic Incorporated
• Inventors: Khorramshahi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US11/384,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 700 19- 22, 700286-298, 706/10, 706/11, 706/903, 706/904, 706906-909, 709201-203, 709220-226, 709230-237, 709/249, 710/100, 710104-106, 710/305, 710/306, 710311-315, 34087001-87007, 379/106.03, 379/106.04, 379/219, 37922108-22112, 379/900, 379/901
• US Class Current: 700/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 Round trip delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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

Abstract

The future of the utility industry will be defined by how its leaders can transform the grid from a “passive” network of cables, wires, poles, and other hardware to a self-aware and fully controllable grid system—an Intelligent Grid System (IGS). We will discuss a novel set of design guidelines for utilities (and other industries) to build their own Open Intelligent Grid System with the lowest possible risk and cost, while achieving the architectural criteria, technical features and functions required. We will discuss how to avoid the dead ends to which limited design and architecture can lead, and we will lay out the design solutions that will overcome the business and technical challenges posed by an array of technology products and business imperatives. Using IGIN (Intelligent Grid Interface Node), one can integrate or connect hybrid networks for different purposes, such as power electric industry, telecommunication, computer network, and Internet.

Claims

1. A method for the transmission of current, utility commodity, data, and information, said method comprising the following steps:

transmitting current, utility commodity, data, and information through a grid,

wherein said grid comprises one or more intelligent grid interface nodes, and

wherein said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes are located at some points on said grid;

said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes connecting or exchanging data, on a two-way communication basis, among one or more different subsystems with one or more different characteristics, hardware, software, interfaces, connections, applications, communications, and protocols;

wherein said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes are compatible with respect to said one or more different characteristics, hardware, software, interfaces, connections, applications, communications, and protocols;

wherein said grid further comprises one or more devices,

wherein said one or more devices comprise;

a switch, protection relay, meter, sensor, operating means, protecting means, regulating means, distributing means, measuring means, pricing means, tracking means, telecommunication means, computing means, and managing means,

wherein said one or more devices are connected to or associated with said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes;

managing voltage and voltage ampere reactive on said grid by controlling of capacitor banks and regulators and switching of loads;

managing said loads to meet electric energy supply and demand through real-time transfer and dropping of said loads by opening and closing breakers and switches;

remotely reading said meter and remotely connecting and disconnecting of electric services;

detecting an outage and restoring by switching of a distribution system;

providing broadband data communication channels to clients, over power line carrier;

remotely monitoring and managing appliances for load management;

interfacing with components of said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes, said components comprising;

Energy Management system, Geographic Information System, Outage Management System, Distribution Automatic System, and Customer Information System;

performing conversion, encapsulation, and emulation of said protocols;

providing a set of tools to configure and manage said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes and to implement local logic;

providing programming tools, for management of Front End Communications Processor, Remote Terminal Unit, Programmable Logic Control, Intelligent Electronic Device, Capacitor Bank Controller, and Metering; and

said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes automating, speeding up, optimizing, remotely controlling, and streamlining one or more functions performed by said one or more devices.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more functions performed by said one or more devices is meter reading.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes remotely control or automate a meter reading.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid is a utility grid.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid is a telecommunication grid.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid is an information technology grid.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid is an Internet-based grid.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid is an electric power grid.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes comprise an electronic component.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes comprise a software component.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a computer network.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a telecommunication network.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a utility grid.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a computer hardware.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises an operating system.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a suite of applications or programming tools.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more intelligent grid interface nodes are applied between grid field devices and/or grid communication systems.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises wired or wireless media.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a security module or a software-based component.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said grid comprises a hybrid communication network.