Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Electrical power generation or distribution system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-16
2001-07-10
Grant, William (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Electrical power generation or distribution system
C700S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259972
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of power outage management systems and, in particular, to methods and systems for processing and disseminating utility outage information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A power distribution utility strives to provide customers with a reliable power supply and high quality service while maintaining maximum cost efficiency. Disruptions occurring in the power supply due to faults caused by natural hazards or system malfunctions affect the reliability of the system and, consequentially, customer satisfaction.
Distribution systems utilized by electric power utilities generally use a power distribution grid that includes a power source, such as a substation, connected to terminal nodes by power distribution lines. Protective devices, such as fuses or circuit breakers, are strategically placed and designed to operate when a fault in the power distribution grid occurs, in order to minimize the portion of the system that is affected by the resulting power outage. During major storms, utilities track and prioritize power outages, dispatch and coordinate the labor force, and direct system restoration. Information from several different utility information systems is combined and analyzed in order to identify a power outage, determine the location of the fault that caused it, and estimate the number of affected customers. Utilities use automated mapping/facilities management (AM/FM) systems based on geographic information systems (GIS). Integration of GIS-based AM/FM systems with customer information systems (CIS), as well as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, provides an effective environment for an outage management system (OMS).
An OMS is a decision support environment that is used to address complex problems faced by distribution dispatchers and system operators in an emergency situation. In an integrated environment obtained by combining information from GIS-based AM/FM systems, CIS, and SCADA systems, the OMS allows concurrent processing of data from multiple sources. The sources of data include information from customer calls that are received and logged in trouble order tracking (TOT) systems. Automated monitoring sources include power outage monitors or automated meter reading systems that automatically contact a control station after loss of power is identified. An OMS combines the power outage data with data describing distribution network topology and protective device schema derived from GIS coverage maps to determine a probable fault location. Additionally, an OMS processes power outages reported by SCADA alarms or field crew reports called in by radio.
When a power outage is identified, available information is processed to determine the number of customers without power and to determine priorities, in order to help dispatchers optimally dispatch crews. The OMS maintains current information on power outages and provides users with suggestions on the probable causes of the power outages. A geographically referenced full graphic environment acts as an electronic “pin map” to display locations of trouble calls and to determine the causes of power outages. The graphic environment also allows a user to select, query, and update information associated with power outages and trouble calls.
In response to power outage data, the OMS determines the sources and extent gas of faults within the system. A graphic display can illustrate the location of trouble calls, system faults, and the extent of power outages. U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,399, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Power Outage Determination Using Distribution System Information,” by Sumic, describes a method for determining the probable location of a fault causing a power outage in a power distribution system. During power outage situations, it is necessary to disseminate information to numerous parties. Customer call representatives, customer service engineers, dispatchers, system engineers, schedulers, work crews, media services, corporate executives, and end users need or desire access to portions of the information. Each party has particular needs or desires with respect to the amount of information it receives. Additionally, a power utility may desire restrictions on the information that each party is permitted to receive.
It is therefore desirable to have an automated system for disseminating power outage information to various parties. Preferably, such a system will store or determine data specifying the information desired by each party, as well as the restriction requirements pertaining to each party. Preferably, such a system will automatically provide information to each party and will update the information promptly. A preferable system will provide interested parties with a choice of whether updated information is to be automatically displayed on their respective computer monitors, or is to be stored until the party requests updated information. The present invention is directed to providing such a mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, a system and method for processing and disseminating utility outage information is disclosed. New information is received in the form of events and mapped into a geographic information system and a database of information corresponding to power utility distribution. The combined data is used to generate graphic data, which is transmitted to subscribers. Three groups of subscribers are provided for, corresponding to different levels of data access and input. Each subscriber has one or more areas of interest that define the information it receives.
In accordance with other aspects of the invention, data may be pushed to selected subscribers in response to receiving events representing outage information. Data may also be stored and pulled by a subscriber in response to a command from the subscriber computer.
In accordance with still other aspects of the invention, selected data may be transmitted to subscribers in a departmental group including subscribers with high access rights. Preferably, the departmental group is the only group that has the ability to enter new outage information into the system. Selected data may also be transmitted to subscribers in a company group including subscribers with medium access rights. Preferably, the company group has rights to access a broad amount of information, but cannot enter new outage information. Selected data may be transmitted to subscribers in an external group including subscribers that have restricted access to information and cannot enter new outage information.
In accordance with yet still other aspects of the invention, data is transmitted to subscribers in the departmental group using a corporate local or wide area network. Data is transmitted to subscribers in the company group using a local area network, and data is transmitted to external subscribers using a wide area network, such as the Internet.
As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description, a system and method for processing and disseminating utility outage information formed in accordance with the invention provides a way of selectively distributing outage information to interested recipients. Only designated recipients are provided with the ability to update the information. The invention maintains data corresponding to the recipients, so that the amount and type of information is limited for recipients, thereby reducing a problem of excess information. The invention further provides both push and pull delivery mechanisms in order to address each recipient's needs. By improving the delivery mechanisms, the system assists in keeping interested parties informed of current outage information.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5487139 (1996-01-01), Saylor et al.
patent: 5568399 (1996-10-01), Sumic
patent: 5815417 (1998-09-01), Orr et al.
J. Dangermond, “A Few New GIS and Enterprise Technologies,” Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California, pp. 123-127, 5/97.
A.M. DiMarco, “Comparative Methods for Advocating Information Technology In
Callahan David Drake
Nelson Lance J.
Sumic Zarko
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Enghouse Systems USA, Inc.
Garland Steven R.
Grant William
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