System and method for inferring schematic and topological properties of an electrical distribution grid

Abstract

A system and method for inferring schematic and topological properties of an electrical distribution grid is provided. The system may include Remote Hubs, Subordinate Remotes, a Substation Receiver, and an associated Computing Platform and Concentrator. At least one intelligent edge transmitter, called a Remote Hub Edge Transmitter, may transmit messages on the electrical distribution grid by injecting a modulated current into a power main that supplies an electric meter. The Subordinate Remotes, Remote Hubs, the Substation Receiver, and the associated Computing Platform and Concentrator may contain processing units which execute stored instructions allowing each node in the network to implement methods for organizing the on-grid network and transmitting and receiving messages on the network. The Substation Receiver, Computing Platform, and Concentrator may detect and infer schematic grid location attributes of the network and publish the detected and inferred attributes to other application systems including geospatial information systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a remote hub comprising a processor device, a frequency band from a candidate spectrum available on an electrical distribution grid to which the remote hub is coupled on a low voltage side of a transformer;   obtaining, by the remote hub, a data payload;   creating a message based on the data payload that includes information in the message to facilitate detection of the message and inference of a grid location of the remote hub; and   transmitting, by the remote hub to a substation receiver coupled to the electrical distribution grid on a high voltage side of the transformer, the message onto the electrical distribution grid via a modulated current signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the message comprises a preamble, the data payload, and a probe transmission configured to establish the grid location of the remote hub. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the preamble comprises the probe transmission. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the probe transmission comprises a sequence of at least one sweeping group comprising at least one tone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the message further comprises identifying, in the message, a newly discovered remote hub that is subordinate to the remote hub, the newly discovered remote hub being coupled to a same phase of the electrical distribution grid as the remote hub. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 receiving, by the remote hub from the newly discovered remote hub, data that quantifies a measurement taken by the newly discovered remote hub; and 
 wherein creating the message further comprises identifying, in the message, the data that quantifies the measurement taken by the newly discovered remote hub. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the message onto the electrical distribution grid via the modulated current signal further comprises transmitting the message onto the electrical distribution grid via the modulated current signal at a zero crossing of a power fundamental of a phase of the electrical distribution grid to which the remote hub is coupled. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the frequency band from the candidate spectrum available on the electrical distribution grid to which the remote hub is coupled further comprises receiving, from a substation transmitter coupled to the electrical distribution grid on the high voltage side of the transformer, information that identifies the frequency band. 
     
     
         9 . A remote hub comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor device coupled to the memory and configured to:
 determine a frequency band from a candidate spectrum available on an electrical distribution grid to which the remote hub is coupled on a low voltage side of a transformer; 
 obtain a data payload; 
 create a message based on the data payload that includes information in the message to facilitate detection of the message and inference of a grid location of the remote hub; and 
 transmit, to a substation receiver coupled to the electrical distribution grid on a high voltage side of the transformer, the message onto the electrical distribution grid via a modulated current signal. 
   
     
     
         10 . The remote hub of  claim 9  wherein the message comprises a preamble, the data payload, and a probe transmission configured to establish the grid location of the remote hub. 
     
     
         11 . The remote hub of  claim 10  wherein the preamble comprises the probe transmission. 
     
     
         12 . The remote hub of  claim 10  wherein the probe transmission comprises a sequence of at least one sweeping group comprising at least one tone. 
     
     
         13 . The remote hub of  claim 9  wherein to create the message the processor device is further configured to identify, in the message, a newly discovered remote hub that is subordinate to the remote hub, the newly discovered remote hub being coupled to a same phase of the electrical distribution grid as the remote hub. 
     
     
         14 . The remote hub of  claim 13  wherein the processor device is further configured to:
 receive, from the newly discovered remote hub, data that quantifies a measurement taken by the newly discovered remote hub; and 
 wherein to create the message the processor device is further configured to identify, in the message, the data that quantifies the measurement taken by the newly discovered remote hub. 
 
     
     
         15 . The remote hub of  claim 9  wherein to transmit the message onto the electrical distribution grid via the modulated current signal the processor device is further configured to transmit the message onto the electrical distribution grid via the modulated current signal at a zero crossing of a power fundamental of a phase of the electrical distribution grid to which the remote hub is coupled. 
     
     
         16 . The remote hub of  claim 9  wherein to determine the frequency band from the candidate spectrum available on the electrical distribution grid to which the remote hub is coupled, the processor device is further configured to receive, from a substation transmitter coupled to the electrical distribution grid on the high voltage side of the transformer, information that identifies the frequency band.