Patent ID: 7159054

Claim:
A digital P&C device for a power distribution network comprising: a computerized control unit further comprising; a microprocessor; and a software communication module for supporting communication with devices external to said computerized control unit; and an external computerized apparatus for exchanging data/information with said computerized control unit, said external computerized apparatus further comprising: at least a palmtop computerized device provided with a human-machine interface further comprising: a software communication platform that communicates with said software communication module by means of a predefined communication channel, said software communication platform uploading to and downloading from said software communication module predefined data/information related to the software configuration of said human-machine interface and predefined data/information related to the operating status of said P&C device, said software communication platform communicating with said software communication module according to a master-slave communication procedure, which involves the following subsequent steps; a waiting step, in which said software communication module waits for a command from said software communication platform; a receiving step, in which said software communication module receives a command from said software communication platform; an executing step, in which said software communication module executes the command received from said software communication platform; a response step, in which software communication module communicates the execution of the received command to said software communication platform; said communication procedure being at least one of preceded and followed by at least one of the following phases: a download phase, in which said software communication platform automatically downloads data/information related to the operating status of said P&C device, from said computerized control unit; and an upload phase, in which said software communication platform automatically uploads data/information related to the operating status of said P&C device, into said computerized control unit.