Power meter having multiple ethernet ports

• US 7,747,733 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EI Electronics LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electro Industries/Gaugetech
• Inventors: Kagan, Erran
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US11/039,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 707/104.1, 710 7- 8, 702/61
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/40 Networks; Topology
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• 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 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A power meter or other electrical device is provided having two independent and communicatively isolated Ethernet ports. The first Ethernet port is addressable by a first unique identifier and is configured for enabling full access to the power meter via an internal LAN. This enables a LAN operator to remotely access the power meter via the internal LAN for performing metering functions, such as full telemetry, control and programming. The second Ethernet port is addressable by a second unique identifier and is configured for being connected to the Internet. Since the second Ethernet port is communicatively isolated from the first Ethernet port, a user can access the power meter via the Internet, but cannot access the internal LAN by connecting to the power meter via the Internet.

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising:

at least one monitoring component configured for monitoring at least one parameter of an electrical distribution system;

at least one processor configured for receiving data from the at least one monitoring component and transmitting at least a portion of the data to at least one of a first and second Ethernet ports;

the first Ethernet port having a first unique MAC address and configured for connecting to a first network, the first network being a Local Area Network (LAN); and

the second Ethernet port having a second unique MAC address and communicatively isolated from said first Ethernet port, said second Ethernet port configured for connecting to a second network, the second network being the Internet,

wherein said electrical device does not allow access to said first network via a connection of said second Ethernet port to said second network, and wherein the electrical device is an electrical power meter.

2. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein said electrical device is configured for receiving programming signals via said first Ethernet port for programming said processor.

3. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein said first Ethernet port is in operative communication with said processor.

4. The electrical device of claim 1, further comprising a storage module configured for storing data, wherein said data is accessible via at least one of said first and second Ethernet ports.

5. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein said data is transmitted within at least one webpage via said second Ethernet port.

6. The electrical device of claim 5, further comprising at least one display in operative communication with said processor, and wherein data displayed by said at least one display is substantially identical to data transmitted within said at least one webpage.

7. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein said first Ethernet port has read/write access to said storage module.

8. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein said second Ethernet port has read-only access to said storage module.

9. A metering device adapted for monitoring at least one parameter of an electrical utility, comprising:

components monitoring the at least one parameter;

a storage module configured to store the at least one parameter;

a first communication port selectively adapted for coupling the metering device to a Local Area Network (LAN), wherein the first communication port is an Ethernet port having a first unique MAC address;

a second communication port selectively adapted for coupling the metering device to the Internet, wherein the second communication port is an Ethernet port having a second unique MAC address; and

at least one processor adapted for administering operation of said components, the storage module, and the first and second communication ports

wherein the second communication port is communicatively isolated from the first communication port and does not allow access to the LAN via a connection to the second communication port over the internet.

10. The metering device of claim 9, wherein:

the first communication port is coupled to the at least one processor and the storage module;

the second communication port is coupled to the storage module; and

the second communication port is communicatively isolated from said components, the at least one processor, and the first communication port.

11. The metering device of claim 9, wherein said device is adapted for providing via the first communication port or the second communication port selective access to information stored in the storage module (FIG. 8).

12. The metering device of claim 11, wherein access to the storage module or the information via the second communication port is available on a read-only basis.

13. The metering device of claim 12, wherein said access is regulated per instructions transmitted via the first communication port.

14. The metering device of claim 11, wherein the information includes at least one of:

an identifier of the device;

instantaneous or historic output data of the device; and

configuration, service, or diagnostic records of the device.

15. The metering device of claim 11, wherein information accessible via the second communication port is presented in a form of web pages viewable using at least one Internet browser.

16. The metering device of claim 15, wherein the web pages are created using HTML or XML programming languages.

17. The metering device of claim 9, wherein said device is adapted for:

providing via the first communication port access to operational functions of the device, said operational functions including programming or re-programming the device; and

blocking access via the second communication port to the operational functions.

18. The metering device of claim 9, wherein said device is adapted for establishing a communication link with a remote terminal or remote computer of the LAN or the Internet upon positive electronic authentication of a user of the terminal or remote computer.

19. The metering device of claim 9, wherein said device further comprises a display adapted for displaying numerical values of the at least one parameter or configuration settings of the device.

20. The metering device of claim 9, wherein said device further comprises a third communication port adapted for providing a master/slave connection between said device and a remote apparatus.

21. The metering device of claim 9, further comprising a firewall configured to isolate the second communication port from said components, the at least one processor, and the first communication port.

22. A system comprising at least one metering device of claim 9.

23. A metering device adapted for monitoring at least one parameter of an electrical utility, comprising:

components monitoring the at least one parameter;

a storage module;

a first means of communication selectively adapted for coupling the metering device to a Local Area Network (LAN), wherein the first means of communications is an Ethernet port having a first unique MAC address;

a second means of communication selectively adapted for coupling the metering device to the Internet, wherein the second means of communications is an Ethernet port having a second unique MAC address; and

at least one processor adapted for administering operation of said components, the storage module, and the first and second means, wherein the second means of communication is communicatively isolated from the first means of communication and does not allow access to the LAN via a connection to the second means of communication over the Internet.

24. The metering device of claim 23, wherein:

the first means is coupled to the at least one processor and the storage module;

the second means is coupled to the storage module; and

the second means is communicatively isolated from said components, the at least one processor, and the first means.

25. The metering device of claim 23, wherein said device is adapted for providing via the first means or the second means selective access to information stored in the storage module.

26. The metering device of claim 25, wherein access to the storage module or information via the second means is available on a read-only basis.

27. The metering device of claim 26, wherein said access is regulated per instructions transmitted via the first means.

28. The metering device of claim 25, wherein the information includes at least one of:

an identifier of the device;

instantaneous or historic output data of the device; and

configuration, service, or diagnostic records of the device.

29. The metering device of claim 25, wherein said device is adapted for (i) presenting information accessible via the second means in a form of web pages viewable using at least one Internet browser and (ii) creating the web pages using HTML or XML programming languages.

30. The metering device of claim 23, wherein said device is adapted for:

providing via the first means access to operational functions of the device, said operational functions including programming or re-programming the device; and

blocking access via the second means to the operational functions.

31. The metering device of claim 23, wherein each of the first means and the second means is selectively provided with a unique address and adapted for establishing a communication link with a remote terminal or remote computer of the LAN or the Internet upon positive electronic authentication of a user of the terminal or remote computer.

32. The metering device of claim 23, wherein said device further comprises at least one of:

a display adapted for displaying numerical values of the at least one parameter or configuration settings of the device; and

third means adapted for providing a master/slave connection between the device and a remote apparatus.

33. The metering device of claim 23, further comprising a firewall configured to isolate the second means of communication from said components, the at least one processor, and the first means of communication.

34. A system comprising at least one metering device of claim 23.