Fault circuit indicator system using a random phase multiple access system

1. A method of monitoring a circuit, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor, monitor data from a fault circuit indicator;

creating a data stream based upon the monitor data;

spreading the data stream with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code, wherein the common PN code is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point; and

transmitting the spread data stream at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted, wherein the second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code, and wherein the second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sampling a waveform of a current or voltage in the circuit;

comparing the sampled waveform to one or more expected waveforms; and

initiating a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the comparing the sampled waveform to the one or more expected waveforms.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitor data comprises data representing short circuits, earth faults, reactive power, loss of voltage, or loss of current.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining tampering of the fault circuit indicator; and

initiating a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the determination of tampering.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a first command to shutdown the fault circuit indicator; and

sending a second command to the fault circuit indicator to shutdown.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, a monitor read schedule, wherein receiving the monitor data is based upon the received monitor read schedule.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the spread data stream is based upon a transmission schedule.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, a transmission schedule, wherein transmitting the monitor data is based upon the received transmission schedule.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first randomly selected timing offset is between zero and a spreading factor used to spread the data stream minus one.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retransmitting the spread data stream with a third randomly selected timing offset if an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the common PN code comprises a gold code.

12. A fault circuit indicator comprising:

a monitor configured to:

monitor a circuit; and

provide monitor data based upon the monitoring of the circuit; and

a transmit apparatus comprising:

a pseudo-noise (PN) spreader configured to receive a data stream comprising the monitor data and spread the data stream with a common PN code, wherein the common PN code is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point;

a delay module configured to generate a randomly selected timing offset for the spread data stream; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the spread data stream at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted, wherein the second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code, and wherein the second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset.

13. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:

sample a waveform of a current or voltage in the circuit;

compare the sampled waveform to one or more expected waveforms; and

initiate a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the comparing the sampled waveform to the one or more expected waveforms.

14. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , wherein the monitor data comprises data representing short circuits, earth faults, reactive power, loss of voltage, or loss of current.

15. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:

determine tampering of the fault circuit indicator; and

initiate a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the determination of tampering.

16. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:

receive a first command to shutdown the fault circuit indicator; and

send a second command to the fault circuit indicator to shutdown.

17. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive, from the access point, a monitor read schedule, wherein the monitor provides the monitor data based upon the monitor read schedule.

18. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , wherein the first randomly selected timing offset is between zero and a spreading factor used to spread the data stream minus one.

19. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to retransmit the spread data stream with a third randomly selected timing offset provided by the delay module if an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period.

20. The fault circuit indicator of claim 12 , wherein the common PN code comprises a gold code.