Abstract:
A method of displaying a representation of a power distribution network and a representation of a parameter of the power distribution network on a display device includes displaying the representation of a power distribution network on the display device as an expandable tree structure in a first region, the expandable tree structure having branches that can be expanded and collapsed; displaying the representation of the parameter on the display device during a time period that the representation of the power distribution network is displayed; and collapsing or expanding a portion of the of the representation of the parameter when a branch is expanded or collapsed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to supplying power and, in particular, to providing graphical representations of portions of a power distribution network. 
         [0002]    Many manners of power production exist. After the power has been produced, it needs to be distributed. A typical distribution network includes a production facility (feeder) and one or more branches. Each branch may include further branches. 
         [0003]    In some instances, an operator of a power distribution network is provided with computer-generated representations (maps) of the power distribution network. These maps provide a graphical representation of some or all of the distribution network. In some of these maps, the user is allowed to select a branch of the network. After the branch is selected, analysis software can generate a graph representing power factor or voltage along that branch. Typically, a new graph is recreated if the user decides to view voltages or power factors along a different branch, and users can only view one specific branch per graph. 
         [0004]    Utilizing multiple graphs destroys visualization continuity. Furthermore, utilizing graphs such as heat/temperature maps makes it more difficult to the human eye to distinguish small variations of a power distribution network parameter. In addition, it makes it difficult to locate ramifications of feeder changes in the individual branches. Further, the different displays often have different scales making interpretation harder. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one aspect of the invention, a system for displaying a parameter of a power distribution network is disclosed. The system of this aspect includes a computing device that receives information related to the parameter; and a display coupled to the computing device and displaying information to a user. The display presents a first region and second region and the first region includes a representation of the power distribution network and has branches that can be expanded and collapsed and the second region includes a representation of the parameter that expands when the representation of the power distribution network is expanded. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of displaying a representation of a power distribution network and a representation of a parameter of the power distribution network on a display device is disclosed. The method of this aspect includes: displaying the representation of the power distribution network on the display device as an expandable tree structure in a first region, the expandable tree structure having branches that can be expanded and collapsed; displaying the representation of the parameter in a second region of a power distribution network on the display device during a time period that the representation of the power distribution network is displayed; and collapsing a portion of the representation of the distribution network and the parameter when a branch is collapsed. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of displaying a representation of a power distribution network and a representation of a parameter of the power distribution network on a display device is disclosed. The method of this aspect includes: displaying the representation of a power distribution network on the display device as an expandable tree structure in a first region, the expandable tree structure having branches that can be expanded and collapsed; displaying the representation of the parameter in a second region on the display device during a time period that the representation of the power distribution network is displayed; and expanding a portion of the representation of the distribution network and the parameter when a branch is expanded. 
         [0008]    These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a computing device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a display according to one embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows an example of the display of  FIG. 3  with a collapse area illustrated on it; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows an example of the display shown in  FIG. 5  after the collapse area has been collapsed. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, an interactive display that represents a power distribution system is provided in a first display region. In a second display region, a parameter (e.g. voltage or power factor) of the distribution system is shown. The scale of the first and second display regions are the same and aligned on at least one axis. In one embodiment, the two regions are presented in a fixed relationship relative to one another on a display apparatus. According to one embodiment, a user can expand or collapse branches of the representation of the power distribution system displayed in the first region and this causes the corresponding data in the second region to likewise expand or collapse. By showing and hiding branches that are irrelevant, users can compare the behavior of branches with respect to the feeder. Specifically, transitions between common portions and branches are easier to compare. Also, users can quickly locate the ramifications of any feeder operational change. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a system  100  according to one embodiment. The system  100  includes a feeder  102 . The feeder  102  can be any facility that provides power. For example, the feeder  102  may be a power production facility, a grid substation, a bulk supply, or a primary substation, to name a few. 
         [0018]    The feeder  102  provides power to a distribution network  104 . The distribution network delivers power received from the feeder to one or more endpoints  106   a  . . .  106   n . The endpoints  106  can be any location that uses power. For example, the endpoints  106  can be homes, businesses, schools or any other location that consumes power. In one embodiment, each of the end points  106  includes a power measurement device  108  such as a power meter. The power measurement device  108  is capable of measuring one or more parameters of the power provided to the endpoint  106  where it is located. For example, the power measurement device  108  may be able to measure one or more of: real power, voltage, current, apparent power, reactive power, power factor, or the like. 
         [0019]    The distribution network  104  illustrated in  FIG. 1  also includes a plurality of branch locations  110 . Each branch location  110  is a location where the distribution network  104  splits. The branch locations can be, for example, a grid substation, a bulk supply, or a primary substation, for example. Some or all of the branch locations  110  also include power measurement devices  108 . 
         [0020]    The power measurement devices  108  are configured to provide information they record/determine to another location. In one embodiment, this information is provided to the feeder  102 . In particular, the information may be provided to a computing device  112  in or in communication with the feeder  102 . The computing device  112  is configured, in one embodiment, to display the information in manner as hereinafter described. For example, the computing device  112  may include specific hardware, software or a combination thereof that allow it simultaneously present two different but related graphs to each other. One of the graphs illustrates the distribution network along a first axis with a first scale. The other graph corresponds to the first graph and has an axis that also has the first scale and displays a parameter of the distribution network. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a computing device  112  on which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. In this embodiment, the device has one or more central processing units (processors)  201   a ,  201   b ,  201   c , etc. (collectively or generically referred to as processor(s)  201 ). In one embodiment, each processor  201  may include a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) microprocessor. Processors  201  are coupled to system memory  214  and various other components via a system bus  213 . Read only memory (ROM)  202  is coupled to the system bus  213  and may include a basic input/output system (BIOS), which controls certain basic functions of computing device  112 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  further depicts an input/output (I/O) adapter  207  and a network adapter  206  coupled to the system bus  213 . I/O adapter  207  may be a small computer system interface (SCSI) adapter that communicates with a hard disk  203  and/or tape storage drive  205  or any other similar component. I/O adapter  207 , hard disk  203 , and tape storage device  205  are collectively referred to herein as mass storage  204 . A network adapter  206  interconnects bus  213  with an outside network  216  enabling data computing device  212  to communicate with other such systems. A screen (e.g., a display monitor)  215  is connected to system bus  213  by display adaptor  212 , which may include a graphics adapter to improve the performance of graphics intensive applications and a video controller. In one embodiment, adapters  207 ,  206 , and  212  may be connected to one or more I/O busses that are connected to system bus  213  via an intermediate bus bridge (not shown). Suitable I/O buses for connecting peripheral devices such as hard disk controllers, network adapters, and graphics adapters typically include common protocols, such as the Peripheral Components Interface (PCI). Additional input/output devices are shown as connected to system bus  213  via user interface adapter  208  and display adapter  212 . A keyboard  209 , mouse  210 , and speaker  211  are all interconnected to bus  213  via user interface adapter  208 , which may include, for example, an I/O chip integrating multiple device adapters into a single integrated circuit. 
         [0023]    Thus, as configured in  FIG. 1 , the computing device  112  includes processing means in the form of processors  201 , storage means including system memory  214  and mass storage  204 , input means such as keyboard  209  and mouse  210 , and output means including speaker  211  and display  215 . In one embodiment, a portion of system memory  214  and mass storage  204  collectively store an operating system to coordinate the functions of the various components shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated that the computing device  112  can be any suitable computer or computing platform, and may include a terminal, wireless device, information appliance, device, workstation, mini-computer, mainframe computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other computing device. It shall be understood that the computing device  112  may include multiple computing devices linked together by a communication network. For example, there may exist a client-server relationship between two systems and processing may be split between the two. 
         [0025]    Examples of operating systems that may be supported by the system  100  include Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows CE, Windows Vista, Mac OS, Java, AIX, LINUX, and UNIX, or any other suitable operating system. As stated above, the computing device  112  also includes a network interface  206  for communicating over a network  216 . The network  216  can be a local-area network (LAN), a metro-area network (MAN), or wide-area network (WAN), such as the Internet or World Wide Web. 
         [0026]    Users of the computing device  112  can connect to the network  216  through any suitable network interface  116  connection, such as standard telephone lines, digital subscriber line, LAN or WAN links (e.g., T 1 , T 3 ), broadband connections (Frame Relay, ATM), and wireless connections (e.g., 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g)). 
         [0027]    As disclosed herein, the computing device includes machine-readable instructions stored on machine readable media (for example, the hard disk  104 ) for capture and interactive display of information shown on the screen  215  of a user. In one non-limiting embodiment, machine (computer) readable media is non-transitory. As discussed herein, the instructions are referred to as “software”  220 . The software  220  may be produced using software development tools as are known in the art. The software  220  may include various tools and features for providing user interaction capabilities as are known in the art. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the software  220  is provided as an overlay to another program. For example, the software  220  may be provided as an “add-in” to an application (or operating system). In one embodiment, the add-in is provided to a distribution network simulation system. In such an embodiment, the display according to the present invention displays simulated rather than actual data. Note that the term “add-in” generally refers to supplemental program code as is known in the art. In such embodiments, the software  220  may replace structures or objects of the application or operating system with which it cooperates. 
         [0029]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
         [0030]    Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a display  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The display  300  is provided on, for example, display  215  shown in  FIG. 2  in one embodiment. 
         [0032]    The display illustrated in  FIG. 3  includes a first region  302  and a second region  304 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first region  302  includes a representation  306  of a distribution network. The representation  306  includes representations of the branches  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , the branch representations are labeled with reference numeral  110  for consistency. In one embodiment, the representation  306  is a tree view representation where each branch is uniquely identifiable by a reference number, code, name, and so on. 
         [0033]    The representation  306  is arranged to extend along the x-axis in the illustrated embodiment. Of course, the representation could extend along the y-axis in an alternative embodiment. 
         [0034]    The representation includes various levels  310 ,  312 ,  314 . In one embodiment, the distance from a location increases as one progresses from left to right along the x-axis within a particular level. For example, in level  312 , branch  110   f  is further from branch  110   d  than branch  110   e  is. In  FIG. 3  an “expanded” branch (i.e., on that can be contracted) is indicated with a “−” symbol and a collapsed branch (i.e., one that can be expanded) is indicated with a “+” symbol. Of course, other symbols could be used for such indications. In operation, branch  110  can be expanded or contracted by selecting the “+” or “−”, respectively, displayed therein. The second region includes a trace  320  that shows the value of a parameter (e.g. voltage or power factor) at a certain location of the distribution network that the representation  306  illustrates. For example, and as illustrated by dashed line  322 , the value of the parameter at branch  110   b  is found by following dashed line  322  from branch  110   b  to trace  320 . For the value to be accurate, the scale along the x-axis of the first region  302  and the scale of along the x-axis of the second region  304  are the same and aligned with one another. Of course, as will be seen by one of skill in the art, the scale may vary along the x-axis depending on whether a branch has been expanded or not. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates the screen  300  shown in  FIG. 4  with a collapse area  400  superimposed over it.  FIG. 5  represents the screen  300  shown in  FIG. 4  after branch  110   b  has been contracted. Reference will now be had to both  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0036]    The collapse area  400  shows the x-axis extent  402  that will be collapsed if branch  110   b  is contracted. In the first region  302  the representation  306  intersects the collapse area  400  at points  404  and  406 . As such, when collapsed, points  404  and  406  are brought together and the portions of the representation  306  between them are hidden as shown in  FIG. 5 . Similarly, points  408  and  410  in the second region  304  are brought together. This illustrates one embodiment of the present invention where a change of view in the first region  302  causes a change of view in the second region  304 . In one embodiment, a change of scale in an extent of the first region  302  causes the same change of scale in a corresponding extent in the second region  304 . In this manner, the first region  302  and the second region  304  are always aligned with one another. 
         [0037]    Referring again to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the portion of the trace  320  between points  408  and  410  is not shown in  FIG. 5 . Of course, if branch  110   b  was expanded, the screen shown in  FIG. 5  would become the screen shown in  FIG. 4 . That is, expansion of along the x-axis of the representation  306  causes an expansion of the same extent in the trace  320 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  also both include a reference point  412  that illustrates how the trace  320  is contracted/expanded and the representation  306  is expanded or contracted. 
         [0038]    It shall be understood the values displayed in the second region  304  shown in  FIGS. 3-5  may be received from actual locations such as, for example, endpoints  106  shown in  FIG. 1 . Of course, in one embodiment, the values are simulated values. In such an embodiment, simulation results may be displayed as described above. 
         [0039]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.