System and method for digital protection and control device for a power distribution network

1. 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.

2. A method for locally operating a digital P&C device for a power distribution network according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a connecting phase, wherein said palmtop computerized device establishes a communication with said computerized control unit;

a configuration phase, wherein said palmtop computerized device exchanges, with said computerized control unit data/information related to the software configuration of said human-machine interface; and

a run-time phase, wherein said palmtop computerized device exchanges, with said computerized control unit, data/information related to the operating status of said P&C device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said connecting phase further comprises:

an interrogation step, in which the software communication platform of said palmtop computerized device checks if the software communication module of said computerized control unit is ready to exchange data/information; and

a response step, in which the software communication module of said computerized control unit communicates its availability to exchange data/information.

4. A method, according to claim 3 , wherein said configuration phase further comprises:

a starting step, in which the software communication platform of said palmtop computerized device sends a start command to the software communication module of said computerized control unit; and

a download step, in which the software communication module of said human-machine interface downloads data/information related to the software configuration of said human-machine interface to the software communication platform of said palmtop computerized device.

5. A method, according to claim 2 , further comprising 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/or

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.

6. A method, according to claim 3 , further comprising 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/or

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.

7. A method, according to claim 4 , further comprising 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/or

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.

8. A digital P&C device, according to claim 1 , wherein said predefined communication channel is a wireless channel.

9. A digital P&C device, according to claim 1 , wherein said predefined communication channel is a wired channel.

10. A digital P&C device, according to claim 8 , wherein the wireless channel is at least one of a radio-frequency, infrared and GSM communication channel.

11. A digital P&C device, according to claim 9 , wherein the wired channel is a RS-232 communication port.