Data communication apparatus, system, and method

Abstract

A data communication apparatus, system, and method are described. The data communication system comprises a transceiver disposed on an entrance port to an enclosure, such as an underground enclosure. The transceiver includes a housing, the housing mountable to the entrance port, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with a network outside of the underground enclosure. The data communication system also includes a monitoring device disposed in the underground enclosure that provides data related to a real-time condition within the underground enclosure. The data communication system also includes a sensor analytics unit to process the data from the monitoring device/sensor and generate a processed data signal and to communicate the processed data signal to the transceiver.

1 . A method of communicating an underground fault condition of an underground asset to an above-ground network, comprising:
 providing a data communication system configured to detect an underground fault condition, the data communication system including a transceiver, a sensor, and an analytics unit,   detecting an underground fault condition, and   communicating data related to the underground fault condition, the data including asset location and time information related to the underground fault to the above-ground network.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a local action to address the underground fault.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data communications system performs at least one of the following operations: Volt,VAR optimization, phasor measurement (synchnophaser), incipient fault detection, load characterization, post mortem event analysis, signature waveform identification and event capture, self-healing and optimization, energy auditing, partial discharge, harmonics/subharmonics analysis, flicker analysis and leakage current analysis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the operations are performed independently of a SCADA.