Abstract:
A system for geographically locating a component of utility equipment may comprise a geo-location interface (GLI) in communication with and in proximity to the component, the GLI having a navigation system that provides geo-location data, wherein the GLI receives an input relating to an operating state of the component and transmits an output containing the geo-location data and an alert relating to the operating state, and at least one remote station that receives a digital message based on the output from the GLI and generates a display based on the digital message.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present teachings relate to using geo-location information in utility applications, and more particularly to a system and method that uses geo-location to monitor and locate utility equipment. 
         [0003]    2.Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Power outages and other service interruptions have long been a problem in the electric utility industry. In some cases, service problems are caused by problems with system components, such as (but not limited to) circuit breakers, switches, generators, fuses, and uninterruptible power supplies. In other cases, service problems are due to problems in the electrical supply or the load connected to the component, such as (but not limited to) short circuit, voltage variation, electrical arcing, power factor, or phase imbalance. 
         [0005]    During a service interruption, it is important to quickly identify and locate electrical and other utility equipment out in the field since restoring service requires immediate repair of the malfunctioning equipment. However, there is currently no known way to identify the precise location of electrical equipment. Instead, electrical equipment is located by field workers and other service personnel relying on drawings, training, service call patterns, and/or work experience to locate the equipment. This limited information may not be enough to clearly and/or quickly identify the location of the equipment, which can result in wasted time searching for the faulty equipment before service can be restored. Moreover, the information does not identify the exact nature of the fault in the equipment or the power supply to the equipment, which may cause additional delays while the problem is diagnosed. If a worker discovers that fixing the problem requires tools and/or parts that are not immediately accessible, this may further delay service restoration as the tools or parts are obtained. 
         [0006]    There is a desire for a system and method that can quickly pinpoint the geographic location of faulty equipment in a utility, such as electricity, water, gas, cable, etc. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A system for geographically locating a component of utility equipment may comprise a geo-location interface (GLI) in communication with and in proximity to the component. The GLI may have a navigation system that provides geo-location data. The GLI may receive an input relating to an operating state of the component and transmit an output having the geo-location data and an alert relating to the operating state. The system may also include at least one remote station that receives a digital message based on the output from the GLI and generates a display based on the digital message. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a system for geographically locating a component of utility equipment may comprise a GLI in communication with and at generally the same location as the component. The GLI may have a navigation system that provides geo-location data and a logic unit that receives an input relating to the operating state of the component. The logic unit may detect the operating state, generate a digital message based on the operating state, and transmit an output containing the geo-location data and an alert relating to the operating state. The system may further comprising a central station that receives the alert from the GLI and generates a digital message based on the alert. The system may also include a plurality of remote stations that selectively receive the digital message and generate a display based on the digital message. 
         [0009]    An embodiment of a central station for a system for geographically locating a component of utility equipment may comprise a non-volatile memory containing instructions and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive a first message from a geo-location interface (GLI) in communication with a component of utility equipment, to extract a location of the GLI and an operating state of the component from the first message, and to generate a second message to be transmitted to a remote station, the second message including the location of the GLI and the operating state of the component. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a representative block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for improved geo-location of utility equipment; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate examples of possible displays shown in a remote station in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3-5  are flow charts illustrating an embodiment of a method that may be performed by a central station in the system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    An embodiment of a geo-location system  10  is shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1 . Generally, the system  10  allows the location of utility equipment and components, such as electrical components, to be quickly and precisely determined. Although the descriptions and examples herein focus on monitoring, locating, and/or operating electrical components, the teachings can be additionally or alternatively be applied to mechanical, hydraulic, and other components of utility equipment. Furthermore, the present teachings may be applied to utilities such as, but not limited to, electricity, water, gas, and cable. It should be understood that, as used herein, “utility” and “utilities” does not exclude similar types of systems and devices, such as manufacturing systems and devices. 
         [0016]    The system  10  may include a central station  12 , one or more geo-location interfaces (GLIs)  14 , and one or more remote stations  16 . The central station  12 , the GLIs  14 , and the remote stations  16  may communicate with each other via any known means, such as via wireless signals. Each GLI  14  may be associated with one or more pieces or components of utility equipment  18  in the field, such as (but not limited to) electrical components such as circuit breakers, switches, generators, fuses, and/or uninterruptible power supplies. In an embodiment, the remote stations  16  may be mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablet computers, that can be easily and continuously monitored by workers. The central station  12  may update multiple remote stations  16  so that the remote stations  16  display data that is consistent with the current state of the GLI  14  being monitored. In an embodiment, the central station  12  may update two or more remote stations  16  substantially simultaneously. 
         [0017]    The GLI  14  may be connected to the utility equipment  18  via any known connection method or mechanism, such as a bolt-on or plug-in connection, for example. In an embodiment, the GLI  14  may be disposed inside an enclosure or housing  20  of the utility equipment  18 . However, the GLI  14  may alternatively be disposed outside the housing  20  or other structure of the utility equipment  18 , in embodiments. 
         [0018]    The GLI  14  may generally include a logic unit  22  and a satellite navigation sub-system  24  (SAT-NAV) to provide geo-location data and location-based service. The SAT-NAV system  24  may include a SAT-NAV processor  28  in communication with a SAT-NAV antenna  26 . The SAT-NAV processor  28  may be included in the logic unit  22 , in an embodiment. The SAT-NAV processor  28  may operate the SAT-NAV antenna  26  to determine location information. As is known in the art, the SAT-NAV system  24  may be a satellite system that provides autonomous geo-spatial positioning. The SAT-NAV system  24  may include small electronic receivers (e.g., the SAT-NAV antenna  26 ) to determine and indicate the location of the GLI  14  (i.e., longitude, latitude, altitude) to within a few meters via time signals transmitted from satellites via radio along a line of sight of the satellites. In an embodiment, the SAT-NAV antenna  26  may be a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that provides geo-location data to the SAT-NAV processor  28 . Each remote station  16  may also include a GPS receiver (not shown) to provide geo-location data to the central station  12  and/or other remote stations  16 . 
         [0019]    The GLI  14  may be mounted on or near the utility equipment  18  (i.e., inside the utility equipment component housing  20 ) to ensure that the location of the GLI  14  and the location of the utility equipment  18  are identical or substantially identical. The logic unit  22  can acquire the geographic coordinates of the GLI  14  (and, by extension, the geographic coordinates of the utility equipment  18 ) from the SAT-NAV system  24 . Alternatively, the logic unit  22  may be manually pre-programmed with geographic location information if, for example, the logic unit  22  and its associated utility equipment  18  will be used in an area where SAT-NAV communication is unavailable. 
         [0020]    The GLI  14  may also include a wireless transceiver  30  that transmits location and status data to the central station  12  and/or the remote stations  16  to provide service personnel with accurate information reflecting the operational status of the utility equipment component  18  and/or meter readings from the utility equipment  18 , including but not limited to voltage, current, power, temperature, flow rate, and/or equipment fault information. 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the remote stations  16  may include application software  32  for processing the geo-location and status data and re-transmitting the data to stations connected to other data communication networks. For example,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show examples of possible application software displays. In one aspect of the teachings, the remote stations  16  may include one or more communication interfaces (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G LTE, etc.). These interfaces may be used to retransmit data from the GLI  14  over a network that is used to communicate with the GLI  14 . For example, a given remote station  16  may use Bluetooth technology to communicate with the central station  12  and retransmit the same data via Wi-Fi to another network using a different communication protocol. This communication flexibility extends the system  10  beyond local networks to wider area networks. 
         [0022]    The GLI  14  may include a non-volatile memory  34  for storing data that remains relatively unchanged over time, such as a historical record of events and/or equipment faults in the utility equipment  18 , geographic location data (e.g., pre-programmed geographic location coordinates), communication settings and passkeys, and/or specifications and requirements for the utility equipment  18  connected to the GLI  14 . To keep the system  10  design simple, the GLI  14  may obtain power directly from the utility equipment component  18  (e.g., from a power source  36  electrically coupled with the utility equipment  18 ). However, a backup power supply (not shown) may be included to provide power to the GLI  14  if the fault is a power outage affecting an outside power source  36  driving or otherwise electrically coupled with the utility equipment  18 . 
         [0023]    The GLI  14  (via the logic unit  22 ) may monitor one or more input signals sent by the utility equipment  18  to the GLI  14  to determine the utility equipment&#39;s  18  operational state (e.g., normal or abnormal/faulty) and/or the operational state of one or more components of the utility equipment  18 . For example, the GLI  14  may check an operational state of a circuit breaker (e.g., unknown, open, closed, or tripped) by monitoring auxiliary contacts in the breaker. In this example, “open” or “closed” may be considered “normal” operational states while “unknown” or “tripped” may be considered “faulty/abnormal” states. If the input signals indicate a faulty condition in the utility equipment  18 , the GLI  14  may activate the wireless transmitter/receiver  30  to send an alert (e.g., a digital message) to the central station  12  and/or remote stations  16 . The digital message may include the alert and/or additional information generated by the logic unit  22  to expedite location and repair of the utility equipment  18 . Possible additional information may include the geographic location of the GLI  14  (and hence its corresponding utility equipment  18 ), the cause, time and date of the equipment fault, relevant electrical measurements taken at the time the fault occurred (e.g., a fault data record or event record), and other information about the operational status of components in the utility equipment  18 . In one example, the information can also include more specific guidance, such as hazardous location warnings (e.g., dogs, obscure equipment location, electrical arc flash hazard rating, suggested personal protective equipment, etc.) to ensure safe equipment service. The information may also include nearby utility equipment  18  locations in the case of more system-wide and/or cascading equipment faults. 
         [0024]    The GLI  14  may also send one or more output signals or messages to the utility equipment  18 . In an embodiment, the central station  12  or one of the remote stations  16  may instruct the GLI  14  to generate an output signal to the utility equipment  18 , thereby allowing at least some portions or components of the utility equipment  18  to be operated remotely. For example, the remote station  16  may instruct the GLI  14  to send an output signal to reset a tripped circuit breaker in the utility equipment  18 . This output signal may be generated automatically, in an embodiment, or may also be generated by an operator at the central station  12 . 
         [0025]    The remote station  16  may also send one or more signals or messages to, for example, remotely control or operate the utility equipment  18  or a component thereof. Signals or messages sent by the remote station  16  may include a passkey to verify the identity of the remote station  16  or otherwise confirm that the remote station is allowed to remotely operate the utility equipment  18 . Remote station output signals or messages may also include settings of the remote station  16  to ensure proper control of the utility equipment  18  from the remote station  16 . The output signals or messages from the remote station  16  may also include one or more commands for operating the utility equipment  18  or a component thereof. Such commands may include, for example but without limitation, commands to reset a circuit breaker, open or close a switch, or enable or disable a power supply. 
         [0026]    The central station  12  may include a processor  38  for executing one or more functions or instructions described above and below, a non-volatile memory  40  for storing data received from the GLI  14 , data received from the remote stations  16 , instructions for processing, analyzing, and generating data and signals, and a display  42 . The central station  12  may be provided with software applications (e.g., embodied as or accessible through instructions stored in the memory  40 ) for determining and displaying, for example and without limitation, directions to send to a remote station  16  to instruct a worker how to navigate to a faulty GLI  14 , the date and time, and other information. 
         [0027]    The central station  12  may be configured to receive one or more signals or messages from the GLI  14  and the remote stations  16 , as noted above. Once those signals or messages are received, the central station  12  may execute one or more algorithms to process, analyze, store, and transmit signals or messages. Such algorithms may be stored (e.g., as software or instructions) in the central station memory  40  and executed by the processor  38 . An exemplary embodiment of one such algorithm  50  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the central station  12  may receive, for example but without limitation, a digital message, such as a digital message alert from the GLI  52  or a digital message from a remote station  54 . At a first decision step  56 , the central station  12  may determine if the digital message was received from the GLI  14 . If the message was received from the GLI  14 , the central station  12  may proceed to a first processing step  58 . At the first processing step  58 , the central station  12  may extract alert data from the digital message received from the GLI. Extracted data may include, for example, geo-location data respective of the GLI  14  (and thus respective of the utility equipment  18  to which the GLI is coupled or with which the GLI is in communication or is otherwise associated), equipment status, measurement data, manufacturing and service data, and the date and time. At a storage step  60 , the central station  12  may store data extracted in the first processing step  58  in the memory  40 . 
         [0029]    Once the data is stored, the central station  12  can advance to a second processing step  62  to determine how best to address the problem indicated in the digital message from the GLI  52 . The second processing  62  step may include, for example, determining and selecting one or more crews to address the problem, which may include the nearest (e.g., determined according to geo-location data respective of one or more remote stations  16 , as described in conjunction with  FIG. 4  below), best qualified, and/or best equipped work crew, according to received geo-location data and data regarding the problem with the component with which the GLI  14  is associated. The second processing step  62  may include, in an embodiment, displaying information related to the fault and/or one or more service crews on a display  42  of the central station  12 . In addition to selecting one or more crews to address the problem, the second processing step  62  may include determining contact information for the one or more selected crews and determining directions (e.g., driving directions) from the location of the remote station  16  to the GLI  14 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the central station  12  may then proceed to a step  64  of creating one or more new digital messages to send to the one or more selected work crews (i.e., to the remote stations  16  associated with the one or more work crews). The message(s) may include, for example, a map and/or directions to the GLI  14 , a description of the equipment fault, suggested service procedures, lists of the required parts, tools, and personal protective equipment needed to remedy the fault, and other data respective of the GLI  14 . In an embodiment, the message may be or may include the alert message received from the GLI  14  (i.e., the central station may re-transmit the alert message). The central station  12  may then advance to a step  66  of transmitting the one or more digital messages to the remote station(s) associated with the one or more selected work crews. The work crew(s) may then address the problem with the component to which the GLI  14  is coupled. After the faulty utility equipment  16  is serviced, the logic unit  22  in the GLI  14  may detect the change in state and send an alert/digital message to the central station  12  verifying the “normal” state. The central station  12  may then restart the method  50  for the next received message. 
         [0031]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , at the first decision step  56 , if the central station  12  determines that digital message was not received from the GLI  14 , the central station  12  can advance to a second decision step  68  and query if the digital message was received from a remote station  16 . If the digital message was not received from a remote station  16 , then the digital message was received in error or is otherwise not of concern to the central station  12 , and the central station  12  can restart the method  50  for the next received message. 
         [0032]    If, at the second decision step  68 , the central station determines that the message was received from a remote station  16 , the central station  12  may proceed to a number of steps for processing, storing, and transmitting based on the received message. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the central station  12  may proceed to a processing step  70  (i.e., a third processing step  70  in the method  50 ). At the third processing step  70 , the central station  12  may extract data from the received message. Extracted data may include, for example and without limitation, geo-location data respective of the remote station  16 , an output signal from the remote station  16 , and a date and time. The output signal may include, for example and without limitation, a command involved in the remote operation of the utility equipment  18  with which the GLI  14  is associated, a passkey for verifying that the remote station  16  is permitted to operate the utility equipment  18 , and settings of the remote station  16  and/or GLI  14 . 
         [0033]    Once data is extracted from the received signal, the central station  12  may advance to a step  72  of storing extracted data, and then to another processing step  74  (i.e., a fourth processing step  74  in the method  50 ). At the fourth processing step  74 , the central station  12  may correlate extracted data with information in a database containing data pertaining to equipment and work crews (e.g., maintained in the central station memory  40 ). For example, the passkey may be cross-referenced with a passkey associated with the GLI  14  or with the remote station  16  to ensure that the remote station  16  or crew operating the remote station  16  is permitted to operate the utility equipment  18  to which the GLI  14  is associated. If the crew and/or remote station  16  passes verification, the central station  12  may proceed to a step  76  of creating one or more new digital messages to be transmitted to the GLI  14 . The digital message may include, for example and without limitation, a command for operating the utility equipment  18 . The central station  12  may then proceed to a step  78  of transmitting the digital message(s) to the GLI  14 , The central station  12  may then restart the method  50  for the next received message. 
         [0034]    Although the method  50  is generally described above with reference to a single digital message at a time, the central station  12  may execute one or more steps of the method  50  for multiple received messages in parallel, in an embodiment. Furthermore, although the system  10  and method  50  are described above in terms of routing signals between the GLI  14  and the remote stations  16  via the central station  12 , the system  10  can be designed (and the method  50  can be implemented) so that the GLI  14  and the remote stations  16  can communicate directly with each other as well if desired. The central station  12  may act as a signal hub that monitors the GLIs  14  and alerts one or more remote stations  16  if a GLI  14  requires service. However, if the system  10  is designed without a central station  12  signal hub, the remote stations  16  can communicate directly with the GLIs  14  to obtain similar data. Using the central station  12  has the advantage of allowing the remote stations  16  to be activated only when a GLI  14  event occurs (if desired), conserving the remote station  16  batteries by not running the application on the remote station  16  until it is needed. If the system  10  has the central station  12 , and the utility equipment  18  is reliable, the remote stations  16  may not need to be operated often, lengthening the battery life of the remote stations  16 . 
         [0035]    The central station  12  has the advantage of obtaining information from all of the GLIs  14  and analyzing it with respect to additional data stored at the central station  12  to provide the most effective and efficient service. Additional functions that could be carried out in the central station  12  include, but are not limited to, prioritizing service calls, keeping customer service logs, estimating repair time, and/or analyzing outage patterns when multiple GLIs  14  report utility equipment  18  failures. Those of skill in the art will recognize that other functions not named here can be implemented in the central station  12  and/or the remote stations  16  via software. 
         [0036]    Note that the functions described above can be carried out via, for example, one or more smartphone software applications  32 . Thus, the system  10  and method  50  can easily take advantage of existing wireless communication infrastructures to carry out its functions. 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated that the above teachings are merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present teachings, their application or uses. While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present teachings as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the teachings of the present disclosure, but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.