IP Library Granted Patent US 10,055,966
Granted Patent B2
US 10,055,966 · App. 15/257,302 · Granted Aug 21, 2018

System and method for determination and remediation of energy diversion in a smart grid network

Inventors: Scott Foster (Murrieta, CA); Angelo Borrelli (Fairhope, AL); Keith Teichmann (Newton Centre, MA)
Assignee: DELTA ENERGY & COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
G08B21/182G01R21/1333H04L67/10H04L67/12G06F3/14G06Q50/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,055,966
App. No.
15/257,302
Filed
Sep 6, 2016
Granted
Aug 21, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2632
USPC
340/870.02
Abstract

An apparatus, system and method are provided for detecting purposeful energy diversion in a smart grid network. A transformer monitoring device is configured to measure the amount of electricity supplied by a transformer to a plurality of structures and electric meters are configured to measure electricity usage at each of the plurality of structures. The electric meters transmit signaling containing information regarding measured electricity usage to the transformer monitoring device and the transformer monitoring device transmits signaling to a cloud-based server containing information regarding the amount of electricity supplied by the transformer to the plurality of structures and the measured electricity usage. The cloud-based server is configured to determine based on the received signaling if energy diversion is occurring in the smart grid network.

Claims (27)

1. A smart grid network comprising:

a transformer configured to supply electric power to a plurality of structures;

a transformer monitoring device comprising a signal processor and configured to receive signaling containing information about the amount of electricity supplied by the transformer to the plurality of structures;

a plurality of electric meters, each configured to measure electricity usage at one of the plurality of structures and comprising a signal processor configured to transmit signaling containing information regarding measured electricity usage to the transformer monitoring device; and

a cloud-based server comprising a signal processor and memory;

wherein the transformer monitoring device is configured to receive the signaling containing information regarding measured electricity usage from each of the plurality of electric meters and is configured to determine and transmit signaling to the cloud-based server containing information regarding the amount of electricity supplied by the transformer to the plurality of structures and the measured electricity usage; and

wherein the cloud-based server is configured to receive the signaling from the transformer monitoring device and to determine based on the received signaling if energy diversion is occurring in the smart grid network;

wherein if the cloud-based server determines that energy diversion is occurring, the cloud-based server is configured to determine the location of the energy diversion, and

wherein the cloud-based server is further configured to transmit signaling containing information relating to the location of the energy diversion to the transformer monitoring device, and wherein the transformer monitoring device is configured to transmit signaling containing an alert message to a user device in the smart grid network for display on the user device.

2. The smart grid network according to claim 1 , wherein the cloud-based server is configured to determine if energy diversion is occurring in the smart grid network by determining if the difference between the amount of electricity supplied by the transformer, the measured electricity usage and a predetermined line loss value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The smart grid network according to claim 2 , wherein cloud-based server is further configured to transmit signaling containing an alert message to the transformer monitoring device, if the cloud-based server determines energy diversion is occurring.

4. The smart grid network according to claim 1 , wherein the signaling transmitted to the user device includes the information relating to the location of the energy diversion.

5. The smart grid network according to claim 1 , wherein the cloud-based server comprises a database of historical usage data measured by the plurality of electric meters, and is configured to determine the location of energy diversion by comparing the received measured usage data with the historical usage data.

6. The smart grid network according to claim 4 , wherein the user device comprises eyewear to be worn by a user configured to receive the signaling and provide on a real-time visual display on the eyewear information about the energy diversion.

7. The smart grid network according to claim 1 , further comprising a mesh network including the transformer monitoring device, the plurality of electric meters and the cloud-based server.

8. A method for use in a smart grid network comprising:

measuring, by a transformer monitoring device, the amount of electricity supplied by a transformer to a plurality of structures in the smart grid network;

measuring, by a plurality of electric meters, each associated with one of the plurality of structures, electricity usage at each of the plurality of structures;

transmitting, by the plurality of electric meters, signaling containing information regarding measured electricity usage to the transformer monitoring device;

receiving, by the transformer monitoring device, the signaling containing information regarding measured electricity usage;

transmitting, by the transformer monitoring device, signaling containing information regarding the amount of electricity supplied by the transformer to the plurality of structures and the measured electricity usage to a cloud-based server;

determining, by the cloud-based server based on the signaling received from the transformer monitoring device, if energy diversion is occurring in the smart grid network;

determining, by the cloud-based server, if energy diversion is occurring and the location of the energy diversion,

transmitting, by the cloud-based server signaling containing information relating to the location of the energy diversion to the transformer monitoring device, and

transmitting, by the transformer monitoring device, signaling containing an alert message to a user device in the smart grid network for display on the user device.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said determining if energy diversion is occurring comprises determining if the difference between the amount of electricity supplied by the transformer, the measured electricity usage and a predetermined line loss value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the signaling transmitted to the user device includes the information relating to the location of the energy diversion.

Assignments (4)
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2021
From: DELTA ENERGY & COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: BRETT, JAMES FORD
Reel/Frame 056785/0321 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE STATE OF INCORPORATION FROM CALIFORNIA TO DELAWARE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041526 FRAME: 0201. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 19, 2020
From: BORRELLI, ANGELO; FOSTER, SCOTT; TEICHMANN, KEITH
To: DELTA ENERGY & COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054248/0470 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 17, 2019
From: DELTA ENERGY & COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: BRETT, JAMES FORD
Reel/Frame 049205/0938 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2017
From: FOSTER, SCOTT; BORRELLI, ANGELO; TEICHMANN, KEITH
To: DELTA ENERGY & COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041526/0121 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62213815 · Sep 3, 2015
Related Publication 20170132902A1 · May 11, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 12,190,281 US 12,506,359 US 12,664,509