Patent Publication Number: US-2011078574-A1

Title: Systems and methods for the configuration and management of intelligent electronic devices

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/245,785, filed Sep. 25, 2009 and titled SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR THE CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT OF INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In some systems, an operator or administrator may need to configure and manage a number of intelligent electronic devices. For example, a power system might include a number of relays, meters, and switches that need to be configured and managed. Each device may be “intelligent” in that that can determine and communicate information about itself (e.g., a serial number, a temperature level, or a hardware revision number). In addition, some types of devices may need to be periodically updated (e.g., when a new hardware revision is released for that particular device). Configuring and managing such devices may require investigation and can be a difficult task, especially when the system includes a relatively large number of devices. 
     Moreover, devices in a system may need to be replaced. For example, a device might need to be replaced after it has been installed or used for a pre-determined period of time (e.g., a recommend lifespan for the device). In other cases, a device might need to be replaced when its efficiency drops below a pre-determined level. Tracking and replacing many different type of devices for different reasons can be a time consuming process. 
     Further, an administrator or operator may need to maintain documents associated with the intelligent electronic device. For example, operating manuals, service bulletins, and product specifications may be released and/or updated by a manufacturer from time to time. Maintaining a complete and current library of documents for a set of intelligent electronic devices can also be relatively difficult task. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to some embodiments, a communication device receives data from a plurality of intelligent electronic devices. A processor is coupled to the communication device, and a storage device is in communication with the processor and stores instructions adapted to be executed by the processor. The processor may then, for each intelligent electronic device, store status information based on the received data. The processor may also display, via a graphical user interface, status information for the plurality of the intelligent electronic devices. According to some embodiments, the processor may transmit the stored status information to a remote central server via a communication network. 
     Other embodiments may include: means for receiving data from a plurality of remote intelligent electronic devices; means for storing into a local database status information based on the received data for each intelligent electronic device; means for displaying, via a graphical user interface, status information for the plurality of the intelligent electronic devices; means for transmitting the stored status information to a remote central server via a communication network; means for automatically monitoring, by a processor, the status information for the plurality of remote intelligent electronic devices; and means for providing to a user a combined indication representing the plurality of remote intelligent electronic devices. 
     Yet other embodiments may be associated with receiving data from a plurality of remote power devices. For each power device, status information may be stored into a local database based oh the received data. Status information may also be displayed to a user and/or be transmitted to a remote central server via a communication network. The status information may be automatically monitored for the plurality of power devices, and a combined indication representing the plurality of power devices may be provided to a user. 
     A technical effect of some embodiments of the invention is an improved and automated ability to configure and manage intelligent electronic devices. With this and other advantages and features that will become hereinafter apparent, a more complete understanding of the nature of the invention can be obtained by referring to the following detailed description and to the drawings appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block level diagram of a system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a method according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a toolset application graphical user interface according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a power configuration and management system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a toolset application apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a tabular view of a portion of a device database in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To address some of the problems described in the background section of this application, a device management toolset application and/or apparatus may be provided. For example,  FIG. 1  is block diagram of a system  100  in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, a device management toolset application  130  may receive information from a first set  110  of intelligent electronic devices  120 . The device management toolset application  130  may also exchange data with a remote central server  150 . As used herein, a device may be “remote” from the device management toolset application  130  in that it is physically located distant from the device management toolset application  130  and/or in that it communicates with the device management toolset application  130  via one or more communication networks. The device management toolset application  130 , intelligent electronic devices  120 , and remote central server  150  may then operate in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein. 
     According to some embodiments, the device management toolset application  130 , intelligent electronic devices  120 , and remote central server  150  facilitate an automated configuration and/or management process. As used herein the term “automated” indicates that at least some part of a step associated with a process or service is performed with little or no human intervention. By way of examples only, the intelligent electronic devices  120  might be associated with a protective relay, a power meter, and/or a switch such as Multilin® devices available from General Electric Corporation®. The device management toolset application  130  might be associated with a Personal Computer (PC), a notebook computer, a workstation, and/or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The central server  150  might be associated with, for example, a server and/or a database. 
     Any of the devices described in connection with the system  100  might, according to some embodiments, exchange information via a communication network. As used herein, devices (including those associated with the device management toolset application  130 , intelligent electronic devices  120 , and remote central server  150 ) may exchange information via any communication network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a proprietary network, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) network, an Ethernet network, a wireless LAN network, and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) network such as the Internet, an intranet, or an extranet. Note that any devices described herein may communicate via one or more such communication networks. 
     The devices of  FIG. 1  might, according to some embodiments, be accessible via a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The GUI might be associated with the device management toolset application and may be used, for example, to dynamically display and receive information in connection with the intelligent electronic devices  120 . 
     Although a single device management toolset application  130  for the first set  110  of intelligent electronic devices  120  (and a single central server  150 ) is shown in  FIG. 1 , any number of such devices may be included. Moreover, various devices described herein might be combined or co-located according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     The device management toolset application  130  may include a communication device (e.g., a port) to receive data from the plurality of intelligent electronic devices  120 . According to some embodiments, the device management toolset application  130  may poll specific address to monitor the intelligent electronic devices  120  (e.g., using the Modbus protocol). 
     The device management toolset application  130  may further include a processor coupled to the communication device and a storage device in communication with the processor storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein. For example, the device management toolset application  130  may, for each intelligent electronic device  120 , store status information based on the received data and display, via a GUI, status information for the plurality of the intelligent electronic devices  120 . The device management toolset application  130  may also transmit some or all of the stored status information to the remote central server  150  via a communication network. 
     Note that the central server  150  may exchange information with a number of different device management toolset applications (each associated with a different set of intelligent electronic devices). For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates a second device management toolset application  132 , associated with a second set  112  of intelligent electronic devices  122 , which may also exchange information with the central server  150 . In this way, the central server  150  may determine devices that should be recalled, upgraded, and/or receive service bulletins in connection with a number of different sets of devices. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one method that might be performed, for example, by the device management toolset application  130  described with respect to  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments. The flow charts described herein do not imply a fixed order to the steps, and embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in any order that is practicable. Note that any of the methods described herein may be performed by hardware, software, or any combination of these approaches. For example, a computer-readable storage medium may store thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in performance according to any of the embodiments described herein. 
     At  202 , data may be received from a plurality of intelligent electronic devices. The devices may be, for example, relays, meters, and/or switches (e.g., having digital signal processors) that are remote or co-located with a toolset application. At  204 , status information may be stored for each intelligent electronic device based on the received data. The status information might, for example, include a serial number, an age of an intelligent electronic device, or a hardware revision identifier. According to some embodiments, the status information is stored into a local database or table. 
     At  206 , status information may be displayed via a GUI for the plurality of the intelligent electronic devices. By way of example only.  FIG. 3  illustrates a toolset application GUI display  300  according to some embodiments. In particular, the display  300  might include a first area  310  where a user may enter or select a particular device identifier (e.g., “device  123 ”). The display  300  might also include a second area  320  where detailed information about the device can be provided to an administrator or operator (e.g., including a current status and a list of documents, such as manuals, that are available for the selected device). 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the stored status information may be transmitted at  208  to a remote central server via a communication network. The transmitting might be associated with, for example, the Internet, a web site, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages, and/or Hypertext Mark-Up Language (HTML) messages. 
     At  210 , a processor may automatically monitor the status information for the plurality of remote intelligent electronic devices. For example, a toolset application might periodically check configuration information, installation methods, and/or the ages of devices in a power management system. At  212 , a combined indication may be provided to a user. The combined indication might represent, for example, the current status of the plurality of remote intelligent electronic devices, an overall system health, and/or a security risk. According to some embodiments, the combined indication provides a representation and feedback showing the health status and security status for a number of different categories (and may be an instant overview of how devices are currently configured to help protect the assets of the system). 
     According to some embodiments, a toolset application may receive additional information from the central server in connection with at least one of the intelligent electronic devices. The additional information might, for example, be associated with a document for a device, a service bulletin, a product advisory, and/or a recommendation associated with an expected lifespan of the intelligent electronic device. According to some embodiments, the additional information comprises a notification that may be pushed through a web link from the central server based on an effectiveness of an intelligent electronic device. Note that the toolset application may further generate other notifications to facilitate the configuration and management of the intelligent electronic devices. Such an approach may help an operator or administrator proactively create a plan to replace outdated equipment and may reduce a number of customer support requests associated with the system. 
     In some cases, a toolset application may further generate one or more reports for a user. For example, a report might include a prioritized list of intelligent electronic devices that should be replaced or upgraded. According to some embodiments, a report might include an estimate of a lifespan based on at least one of: (i) an age of the intelligent electronic device, (ii) a total time installed, (iii) an operating environment, (iv) temperature information, (v) electrical transient levels, and/or (vi) vibration levels 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a power configuration and management system  400  in accordance with some embodiments. In this example, a toolset device  430  may receive information from a protective relay  422 , a power meter  424 , and a switch  426 . The toolset device  430  may also exchange data with a remote central server  450  (not illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). The toolset device  430 , devices  422 ,  424 ,  426 , and remote central server may then operate in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein. 
     For example, according to some embodiments, the toolset device  430 , devices  422 ,  424 ,  426 , and remote central server facilitate an automated configuration and/or management process. The toolset device  430  might be associated with a PC, a notebook computer, or a PDA. 
     The toolset device  430  may further include a processor coupled to the communication device and a storage device in communication with the processor storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein. For example, the toolset device  430  may, for each intelligent electronic device  422 ,  424 ,  426 , store status information into a local database  438  based on the received data. The toolset device  430  may include a status monitoring engine  432  that evaluates the status information in the local database  438  (e.g., to monitor the current status of the devices  422 ,  424 ,  426  and/or the overall health of the system). According to some embodiments, the status monitoring engine  432  may include diagnostic functions to detect faults (e.g., associated with waveform fault analysis, harmonic analysis, and/or phasor diagram viewers) 
     The toolset device  430  might also include a display and report engine  434  to facilitate a presentation of a GUI that dynamically displays and receives information in connection with the devices  422 ,  424 ,  426 . The display and report engine  434  might also facilitate the generation of reports associated with at least one of the devices  422 ,  424 ,  426 . The reports might, for example, include an estimate of a lifespan remaining for at least one of the devices  422 ,  424 ,  426  and may be generated based on an age of the device, a total time installed, an operating environment, temperature information, electrical transient levels, and/or vibration levels. 
     The toolset device  430  may also, according to some embodiments, include a notification engine  436 . The notification engine  436  might, for example, transmit an email or other type of alert based on the current status of the system  400  and/or based on information received from the central server (e.g., indicating that a newly revised manual is available for one of the devices  422 ,  424 ,  426 ). As other examples, notifications might be transmitted when drawings, application notes, firmware updates, and/or brochures are issued for support documents and software tools. As another approach, some or all of this information might be automatically downloaded from the central server to the toolset device when it becomes available. In this way, all necessary documents, setup programs, and software tools may be automatically up to date and represent a complete reference library for the devices  422 ,  424 ,  426 . 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a toolset application apparatus  500  in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The apparatus  500  might, for example, comprise a platform or engine similar to the central litigation management system server  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  500  comprises a processor  510 , such as one or more INTEL® Pentium® processors, coupled to a communication device  520  configured to communicate via a communication network (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). The communication device  520  may be used to exchange information with intelligent electronic devices and/or a central server. 
     The processor  510  is also in communication with an input device  540 . The input device  540  may comprise, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or computer media reader. Such an input device  540  may be used, for example, to enter configuration and/or management information about intelligent electronic devices. The processor  510  is also in communication with an output device  550 . The output device  550  may comprise, for example, a display screen or printer. Such an output device  550  may be used, for example, to provide reports and/or display information associated with intelligent electronic devices. 
     The processor  510  is also in communication with a storage device  530 . The storage device  530  may comprise any appropriate information storage device, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives), optical storage devices, and/or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devices and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices. The storage device  530  stores a program  515  for controlling the processor  510 . The processor  510  performs instructions of the program  515 , and thereby operates in accordance any embodiments of the present invention described herein. For example, the processor  510  may receive data from a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (e.g., such as a set of protective relays). For each intelligent electronic device, the processor  510  may store status information into a device database  600  based on the received data. Moreover, the processor  510  may facilitate a display of the status information via a GUI and/or arrange for the status information to be transmitted to a remote central server (e.g., via the communication device  520 ). 
     As used herein, information may be “received” by or “transmitted” to, for example: (i) the toolset application apparatus  500  from other devices; or (ii) a software application or module within the toolset application apparatus  500  from another software application, module, or any other source. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the storage device  530  also stores the device database  600 . One example of such a database  600  that may be used in connection with the toolset application apparatus  500  will now be described in detail with respect to  FIG. 6 . The illustration and accompanying descriptions of the database presented herein are exemplary, and any number of other database arrangements could be employed besides those suggested by the figures. For example, different databases associated with different types of intelligent electronic devices might be stored at the apparatus  500 . 
       FIG. 6  is a tabular view of a portion of the device database  600  in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The table includes entries associated with intelligent electronic devices. The table also defines fields  602 ,  604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610 ,  612  for each of the entries. The fields specify: a device identifier  602 , device details  604 , installation information  606 , a current status  608 , documentation  610 , and notifications  612 . The information in the database  600  may be periodically created and updated based on information received from intelligent electronic devices and/or a central server. 
     The device identifier  602  might be, for example, an alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies an intelligent electronic device, such as a power relay, meter, or switch. The device details  604  may store additional information about the device (e.g., associated with the devices function, serial number, or current hardware revision number). The installation information  606  might indicate when the device was installed (e.g., to help estimate when the device needs to be replaced) and the current status  608  might indicate an actual or estimated health of the device. 
     The documentation  610  might store documents, or pointers to documents, associated with the device (e.g., including manuals, specifications, and/or operating instructions for the device). The notifications  612  might store email or other types of notifications that need to be (or already have been) transmitted to an operator or administrator of a power system. 
     As a result of the embodiments described herein, the efficiency and accuracy associated with configuring and/or managing intelligent electronic devices may be improved for a system operator or administrator. 
     The following illustrates various additional embodiments of the invention. These do not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments, and those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is applicable to many other embodiments. Further, although the following embodiments are briefly described for clarity, those skilled in the art will understand how to make any changes, if necessary, to the above-described apparatus and methods to accommodate these and other embodiments and applications. 
     Although specific hardware and data configurations have been described herein, note that any number of other configurations may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention (e.g., some of the information associated with the databases and engines described herein may be split, combined, and/or handled by external systems). 
     Applicants have discovered that embodiments described herein may be particularly useful in connection with power systems, although embodiments may be used in connection other types of systems that include multiple intelligent electronic devices. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of several embodiments solely for the purpose of illustration. Persons skilled in the art will recognize from this description that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be practiced with modifications and alterations limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.