Intra-device communications architecture for managing electrical power distribution and consumption

US6961641B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Power Measurement Ltd. · CA

Inventors

• Bradford J. Forth · Victoria, CA
• Peter Cowan · Sidney, CA
• David W. Giles · Burns Lake, CA
• Chuen Shan Simon Ki · Hong Kong, CN
• Jason Sheppard · Victoria, CA
• John C. Van Gorp · Sidney, CA
• Jeffrey W. Yeo · Central Saanich, CA
• Michael E. Teachman · Victoria, CA
• Bryan J. Gilbert · Victoria, CA
• Ronald G. Hart · Victoria, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2005
• Expiry date: Jan 31, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q50/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system. The IED's are linked via a network to back-end servers. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the IED's and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system.