Power monitoring system

Abstract

The invention provides a hierarchically accessible monitoring system configured to be used with a standby generator, and a method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system includes an interface unit configured to receive information from the standby generator and to communicate the generator information, and a remote data server in communication with the interface unit. The remote data server receives the generator information from the interface unit, stores the generator information, and controls access to the generator information based upon at least two hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level having different access privileges. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system also includes a user interface configured to display the generator information from the remote data server to at least one user. The user has access privileges to read the generator information based upon the user's assigned hierarchical level.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A power system comprising:
 an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical current for powering one or more loads of an electrical system during utility power interruption;   a communication center in communication with the electrical generator to receive operational characteristics of the electrical generator, the communication center including a broadband interface unit operable to communicate over a wireless communication network; and   a hand-held output device including a software program operable to receive information from the communication center over the wireless communication network and to display the operational characteristics of the electrical generator on the hand-held output device.   
     
     
         40 . The power system of  claim 39  wherein the wireless communication network is the internet. 
     
     
         41 . The power system of  claim 39  wherein the hand-held output device receives information from the broadband interface unit of the communication center. 
     
     
         42 . The power system of  claim 39  further comprising at least one load sensor operable to detect one or more operational characteristics of a load powered by the electric generator, the at least one load sensor being in communication with the communication center. 
     
     
         43 . The power system of  claim 42  wherein the hand-held output device receives the operational characteristics of the load and displays the operational characteristics of the load on the hand-held output device. 
     
     
         44 . The power system of  claim 39  wherein the hand-held output device is a phone. 
     
     
         45 . The power system of  claim 39  wherein the hand-held output device is operable to communicate instructions to the communication center to control operations of the electrical generator. 
     
     
         46 . A communication system for use with an electrical generator comprising:
 a communication center in communication with the electrical generator to receive operational characteristics of the electrical generator, the communication center including a broadband interface unit operable to communicate over a wireless communication network; and   a hand-held output device including a software program operable to receive information from the communication center over the wireless communication network and to display the operational characteristics of the electrical generator on the hand-held output device.   
     
     
         47 . The communication system of  claim 46  wherein the wireless communication network is the internet. 
     
     
         48 . The communication system of  claim 47  wherein the hand-held output device receives information from the broadband interface unit of the communication center. 
     
     
         49 . The communication system of  claim 47  further comprising at least one load sensor operable to detect one or more operational characteristics of a load powered by the electric generator, the at least one load sensor being in communication with the communication center. 
     
     
         50 . The communication system of  claim 49  wherein the hand-held output device receives the operational characteristics of the load and displays the operational characteristics of the load on the hand-held output device. 
     
     
         51 . The communication system of  claim 46  wherein the hand-held output device is a phone. 
     
     
         52 . The communication system of  claim 46  wherein the hand-held output device is operable to communicate instructions to the communication center to control operations of the electrical generator.