Method and system for protecting against voltage surges

Abstract

The present invention mainly relates to a method for protecting at least one electronic system (2) from voltage surges caused by adverse meteorological events. The protection method is essentially characterized in that the method comprises: a step of collecting and analyzing meteorological data originating from a remote server (18) in order to determine the risk level of meteorological events that may cause voltage surges, and a step of displaying a warning message on a display terminal (5) to notify the user of the terminal of the voltage surge risk when the risk level exceeds a main warning threshold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of protecting electrical facilities against voltage surges that can be caused by meteorological events, such facilities being connected to an electrical supply network.

[0002] The present invention more particularly relates to a method for protecting an electronic system against voltage surges caused during specific meteorological events, in particular voltage surges caused by lightning during a thunderstorm event. Background Art

[0003] It is in fact well known that during a lightning strike on the lines of an electrical grid, there is a risk of voltage surges caused by lightning and of damaging electrical facilities connected to the network by passing through the facilities.

[0004] To avoid damaging electrical facilities in the case of voltage surges, it is well known to integrate passive components, such as varistors or circuit breakers, in the electrical facilities. In the case of a voltage surge, the passive components act by disconnecting the electrical facility from the network (circuit breaker), or by absorbing the additional electrical energy resulting from the voltage surge (varistor). However, such components have the drawback of deteriorating over time and can only absorb a limited amount of energy.

[0005] From document WO2002007283, a device and a method for protecting electrical facilities against lightning are also known. The device in question includes means for monitoring the electromagnetic activity of the atmosphere, and if this electromagnetic activity exceeds a determined warning level, the protection device disconnects the electrical facility from the network.

[0006] However, these variations in the electromagnetic activity of the atmosphere are due to the propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by lightning in the atmosphere. Therefore, the monitoring means of the protection device must wait for the occurrence of lightning so that the device can disconnect the facility from the network. Thus, there is a non-negligible risk of lightning damaging the electrical facility before the protection device disconnects the facility from the network. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to propose a method for protecting an electronic system against voltage surges that is more reliable and provides a high level of security.

[0008] To this end, the present invention proposes a method for protecting at least one electronic system against voltage surges that may be caused by current or upcoming meteorological events, the electronic system being connected to a telecommunications network and including a control integrated circuit, the method successively comprising:

[0009] · a step of connecting the electronic system to a remote server containing meteorological data;

[0010] · a step of retrieving the meteorological data from the remote server;

[0011] ·Steps of analyzing the meteorological data recovered by the control circuit to assign a danger level of a current or upcoming meteorological event to the meteorological data;

[0012] ·Steps of, when the assigned danger level exceeds a main warning threshold recorded in the memory space of the control circuit, commanding the electrical isolation of at least one port of the electronic system by the control circuit.

[0013] Therefore, the method makes it possible to disconnect the electronic system from the power grid based on the analysis of real-time collected meteorological data to protect it from voltage surges in the case of adverse meteorological events such as thunderstorms, and to do so before the detected meteorological event causes a voltage surge (such as a voltage surge caused by lightning generated during the thunderstorm).

[0014] The protection method of the present invention may further include the following optional features considered individually or in all technically possible combinations thereof:

[0015] - After the step of electrical isolation and after a determined time, steps of initiating the electrical reconnecting of the considered port by the timeout module of the control circuit.

[0016] - Before the step of electrical isolation (and when the assigned danger level exceeds the main warning threshold), the method includes steps of sending a warning signal by the control circuit to a display terminal connected to the electronic system.

[0017] - Before the step of electrical isolation (and when the assigned danger level exceeds the main warning threshold), the method includes additional steps of displaying a first warning message on the display terminal according to the information contained in the warning signal, the first warning message warning the user of the display terminal of the risk of voltage surge due to the current or upcoming meteorological event.

[0018] - The method includes additional steps of displaying at least one command button on the display terminal and associating the button with a command for transmitting to the electronic system to control the step of electrical isolation.

[0019] - The warning signal is configured to turn on the said terminal when the display terminal is turned off.

[0020] - The method includes additional steps of displaying data on the display terminal when the danger level assigned to the recovered meteorological data exceeds an additional warning threshold lower than the main warning threshold, the data notifying the user of the upcoming meteorological event that may cause a voltage surge.

[0021] - The method includes a timeout step before the step of isolating at least one port of the electronic system, and the timeout period can be set by the user of the terminal.

[0022] - The timeout period is included in the warning signal, and the display terminal is isolated from the power grid at the end of the timeout period.

[0023] - The step of connecting the electronic system to the remote server includes the sub-step of sending a request for collecting meteorological data to the remote server, the request including the geolocation information of the electronic system.

[0024] - The step of restoring meteorological data is performed in real time and includes the following sub-steps:

[0025] · Collect and save the meteorological data sent by the remote server;

[0026] · Repeat this sub-step of collecting and saving data according to a determined period whose value is recorded in the memory space of the control circuit.

[0027] - The step of analyzing meteorological data includes at least the following sub-steps:

[0028] · Divide the meteorological data to extract temperature, pressure, humidity level, and wind speed and direction data,

[0029] · Correlate the extracted data to assign a risk level to it according to a rating scale recorded in the memory space of the control circuit.

[0030] - The step of analyzing meteorological data includes at least the following sub-steps:

[0031] · Divide the meteorological data to extract the warning level calculated by the remote server;

[0032] · Analyze the warning level of the remote server to assign a risk level to it according to the rating recorded in the memory space of the control circuit.

[0033] - The method includes the step of generating, by the control circuit, a second warning message intended to be sent to each computer terminal or peripheral device communicating with the electronic system, the second warning message warning of the risk of voltage surges due to current or impending meteorological events.

[0034] The present invention also relates to an electronic system, in particular a decoder, and is essentially characterized in that the electronic system includes a control integrated circuit having a memory space, the electronic system further includes a power supply port to the power grid, at least one network input port for connecting the system to a wide-area computer network, at least one multimedia output port for connecting the electronic system to a display terminal, and the control circuit is adapted to sequentially:

[0035] · Connect the electronic system to a remote server containing meteorological data;

[0036] · Recover and analyze meteorological data originating from a remote server in order to determine and assign a risk level to current or upcoming meteorological events that may generate voltage surges in at least the electronic system;

[0037] · When the assigned risk level exceeds a warning threshold recorded in a memory space, electrically isolate at least one port of the electronic system.

[0038] The electronic system of the present invention may further include the following optional features considered individually or in all technically possible combinations thereof:

[0039] - Before electrical isolation (and when the assigned risk level exceeds a main warning threshold), the control circuit is adapted to send a warning signal to a display terminal, the warning signal including information that makes it possible to display a warning message on the display terminal to warn the user of the display terminal of the risk of voltage surges due to current or upcoming meteorological events.

[0040] - The control circuit is adapted to reconnect the port under consideration after a determined time by means of a timeout module of the electronic system.

[0041] - The control integrated circuit of the electronic system includes a cut-off circuit, the cut-off circuit including an electrically controlled circuit breaker, the circuit breakers being respectively installed in the corresponding power supply lines of the ports under consideration and being driven by the control circuit.

[0042] The present invention also relates to a computer program including instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the steps of the method as described previously.

[0043] The present invention finally relates to a computer-readable storage device on which is recorded a computer program such as, as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] With reference to the accompanying drawings, other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of indication and not limitation, in which:

[0045] - Figure 1 is a diagram showing the integration of the electronic system of the present invention in a network environment,

[0046] - Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the electronic system according to an embodiment, enabling triggering of a circuit breaker for disconnecting at least one port of the electronic system, and

[0047] - Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the main steps of the protection method of the present invention.

[0048] It is first pointed out that in the drawings, the same reference signs denote the same elements, regardless of the figure in which they appear and regardless of the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the drawings, their reference can be easily found by referring to another drawing.

[0049] It is also pointed out that the drawings basically represent one embodiment of the object of the present invention, but there may be other embodiments that meet the definition of the present invention. Detailed description of the specific implementation

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the electronic system 1 includes a control integrated circuit 2 which itself includes at least a memory space, a processor for processing data, a plurality of input ports 21 and output ports 20, 22 for integrating the electronic system 1 in a telecommunications environment, the characteristics of which telecommunications environments will be developed hereinafter. The decoder 1 can of course be connected to the domestic power grid via a power supply port 19 in order to be supplied with electrical energy.

[0051] Furthermore, the control circuit 2 of the electronic system 1 includes an electronic cut-off circuit 3 which is adapted to disconnect the power supply lines of the ports 19-22 of the electronic system 1. This cut-off circuit 3 and its operation will be described in detail hereinafter.

[0052] The electronic system 1 is intended to be integrated in a local area network of the TCP / IP type for example, which forms part of a telecommunications environment. Thus, the electronic system 1 is connected to each peripheral device and / or terminal, each peripheral device and / or terminal being connected to the local area network. As a preferred and non-limiting example, the electronic system 1 is a decoder (also called a "set-top box"). In the remainder of the specification, for greater clarity, the term "decoder" will be used to define the electronic system 1 of the present invention.

[0053] The decoder 1 is connected to a wide area network of the Internet type via a gateway 4, for example according to the TCP / IP protocol, which wide area network forms part of a telecommunications environment. The decoder 1 is also connected to a display terminal 5, such as a television set including at least one input port for a multimedia interface, preferably an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) input port. The decoder 1 thus includes at least one HDMI output port 20 for connecting to the television set 5.

[0054] Furthermore, the decoder 1 includes at least one network input port 21 and an optional network output port 22, of the Ethernet type for example. Thus, the decoder 1 is connected to the gateway 4 via its Ethernet input port 21, which enables it to receive content originating from the wide area network. The decoder is also adapted to be connected to an external peripheral device 6, for example via its Ethernet output port 22, or alternatively by means of an output port of the USB (Universal Serial Bus) type, or simply by means of the gateway 4 to which the external peripheral device 6 is connected.

[0055] In addition, the decoder 1 includes TV input and output ports for receiving and transmitting signals originating from a TV antenna.

[0056] According to the present invention, the control circuit 2 of the decoder 1 is adapted to recover and analyze meteorological data with the aim of defining meteorological events in real time, and thus determining the risk level of these events according to a scale included in a database recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2. For example, the database includes ten levels numbered from one to ten, and each level corresponds to a specific meteorological event. The higher the level, the more adverse the meteorological event, and the greater the risk that the meteorological event will generate a voltage surge in the decoder 1, for example due to lightning generated during the event.

[0057] Table 1 below shows the correspondence between the risk levels and the meteorological events.

[0058] Table 1 Correspondence between the risk levels and the meteorological events

[0059] 1 Sunny, clear 2 Short periods of cloud, mist, brief sunshine 3 Partly cloudy, light rain showers, brief sunshine 4 Cloudy with showers 5 Stratus, light rain 6 Moderate rain, widespread cloudiness 7 Heavy rain 8 Light thunderstorms 9 Moderate thunderstorms 10 Severe thunderstorms

[0060] Therefore, when the level assigned by the control circuit 2 to a current meteorological event (i.e., which has already started) or an upcoming meteorological event (i.e., at the start) exceeds a determined main threshold, the control circuit 2 sends an electrical signal to the cut-off circuit 3 to define a sequence of electrical isolation of the different ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1. The warning and electrical isolation processes, which form part of the protection method of the present invention, will be described in detail below.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 2, the electrical cut-off circuit 3 includes a first input / output connector 7, a second input / output connector 8, and a third input / output connector 9 for general use, commonly referred to as GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output) connectors, and which enable the control circuit 2 to drive the cut-off circuit 3. The GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9 enable the control circuit 2 to drive the circuit breakers 10, 11, 12, 13 of the cut-off circuit 3. The circuit breakers 10 - 13 are respectively installed on the power supply lines of the corresponding ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1. In addition, the corresponding activation of the circuit breakers 10 - 13 is made possible by activating the corresponding transistors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d integrated in the cut-off circuit 3 by the GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9.

[0062] Specifically, the circuit breaker 10 enables the electrical isolation of the power supply port 19 of the decoder 1 connected to the power grid, the circuit breaker 11 enables the isolation of the HDMI output port 20, the circuit breaker 12 enables the isolation of the Ethernet output port 22, and the circuit breaker 13 enables the isolation of the Ethernet input port 21.

[0063] Each GPIO connector 7 - 9 can adopt a specific logic state (0 or 1), which is assigned by the control circuit 2. When the logic state of the GPIO connector is configured to 0, it then acts as an output and thus cannot send a signal to the considered circuit breakers 10 - 13. On the other hand, when the logic state of the GPIO connector is configured to 1, it acts as an input and can send a signal to the considered circuit breakers 10 - 13.

[0064] In the logic state 1, the first GPIO connector 7 activates the first transistor 14 so that the electrical isolation of at least one of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 can be triggered. The second GPIO connector 8 and the third GPIO connector 9 enable the control circuit 2 to drive the circuit breakers 10 - 13 according to a determined sequence to select the power supply lines of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 to be isolated from the power grid. Therefore, the open or closed state of the circuit breakers 10 - 13 depends on the combination of the states of the second GPIO connector 8 and the third GPIO connector 9. These combinations and their effects on the active (1) or inactive (0) states of the circuit breakers 10 - 13 follow the truth table shown in Table 2 below.

[0065] Table 2 Truth table of the logic states of GPIO connectors 7 - 9 and their effects on circuit breakers (C.B.) 10 - 13

[0066]

[0067] The circuit breakers 10 - 13 disconnect the power supply lines of the considered ports 19 - 22 in their active state (1), that is, isolate the said ports from the power grid.

[0068] Thus, by way of example, in order to generate the electrical isolation of the HDMI port 20, that is, in order to close the circuit breaker 11, the control circuit 2 must send an instruction according to the truth table shown in Table 2 above, which will place the first GPIO connector 7 and the third GPIO connector 9 in the logic state 1 and the second GPIO connector 8 in the logic state 0. As shown in Figure 3, before activating at least one of the transistors 16a - 16d specific to the considered circuit breakers 10 - 13, the combination of the states of the second GPIO connector 8 and the third GPIO connector 9 is multiplied by the multiplier 15.

[0069] Therefore, by sequentially sending instructions by the control circuit 2 to control the logic states of the three GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9, the sequential isolation of different ports 19 - 22 will be achieved.

[0070] Finally, the control circuit 2 includes a timeout module 17 which makes it possible to deactivate the circuit breakers 10-13 in order to reconnect the considered ports of the decoder 1 to the electrical grid and to do so after a determined time. For permanent power supply, this timeout module 17 is connected to a battery-type accumulator installed in the decoder 1.

[0071] According to the invention, a computer program is recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2. This program is intended to be executed by the processor of the control circuit 2 to implement a method for protecting the decoder 1 and, if necessary, other peripheral devices 6 and the television set 5 connected to the decoder 1 against voltage surges that may be caused by specific meteorological events (especially thunderstorms).

[0072] The protection method of the invention is described with reference to Figure 3.

[0073] The protection method is initiated by the control circuit 2 of the decoder 1 from the moment the decoder 1 is powered, for example by the user. The control circuit 2 starts a program as a background task 100 which loads all the parameters required for implementing the steps of the method. These parameters are the thresholds for triggering warnings, the sequence of ports 19-22 to be isolated, and the first and second timeout durations.

[0074] The triggering threshold corresponds to the danger level from which the protection method initiates warnings and the isolation process due to the risk of voltage surges. The first timeout period corresponds to the time limit between the generation of a warning and the triggering of the electrical isolation of ports 19-22. The second timeout period corresponds to the time limit between the isolation of the power supply lines of ports 19-22 of the decoder 1 and the reconnecting of these different lines by the timeout module 17.

[0075] The user can also modify these different parameters with respect to the implementation of the method by driving the graphical interface using the remote control of the decoder or, alternatively, by directly driving the graphical interface using the physical buttons in front of the decoder 1. The user-adjustable parameters will be returned hereafter.

[0076] During the first step 101 of the method, the control circuit 2 of the decoder 1 connects the decoder 1 to a remote server 18 (Figure 1) containing meteorological data. This connection is made by sending a request according to the HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS protocol to benefit from a secure connection. This request also includes the geographical coordinates of the decoder 1. If necessary, the decoder 1 can be connected to several remote servers 18.

[0077] If the remote server 18 does not respond to the connection request 102N, an error message 103 is broadcast on the television set 5 and the program stops 104.

[0078] If the remote server responds with 102Y, a connection is established between the decoder 1 and the remote server 18. The control circuit 2 consults 105, retrieves 106 and then prepares 107 the values of the different parameters enabling the steps of the method to be implemented, these values being stored in the memory space of the control circuit 2. More precisely, when the user modifies a parameter via the graphical interface, the control circuit 2 consults 105 and retrieves 106 the value of the parameter via a WebSocket link (a network protocol known to those skilled in the art) between the control circuit 2 and the graphical interface, using the RPC (Remote Procedure Call) protocol. Then the main program starts 109 three algorithms 200, 300, 400 which will respectively be able to collect meteorological data, analyze the collected meteorological data to identify meteorological events, and establish a risk level for the meteorological events.

[0079] During the second step 201 - 203 of the method, the control circuit 2 retrieves 201 meteorological data from the remote server while sending it data corresponding to the geolocation of the decoder. Then, the control circuit 2 formats 202 the received data in text data format, for example, "JavaScript Object Notation" (JSON) or "Extensible Markup Language" (XML) or in binary data format, for example, "MessagePack", and records 301 it in the memory space of the control circuit 2. These meteorological data contain information on the current climate and also contain a climate forecast for future days. Optionally, these meteorological data also include a climate warning level established by the remote server 18. As a non - limiting example, the green, yellow, orange, red and purple weather warnings of the French Meteorological Service can be cited.

[0080] This step of retrieving data is performed 203 periodically according to a determined period. Generally, the collection of data is performed by the control circuit 2 every minute.

[0081] During the third step of the method, the algorithm for analyzing the meteorological data will parse the collected data 302, that is to say, will extract and classify multiple parts of the collected meteorological data. Specifically, the algorithm will extract from the meteorological data the atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind speed and direction, and the humidity level of the air, and if necessary, the climate warning level established by the remote server 18.

[0082] During the fourth steps 303, 304 of the method, the algorithm for analyzing meteorological data will analyze the variation of atmospheric pressure over time 303, and the variation of temperature over time 304. For example, it is known that a decrease in atmospheric pressure from 1 hectopascal to 2 hectopascals per hour is an indicator of thunderstorms and heavy rain. In addition, the algorithm performs a correlation between the variations of atmospheric pressure and temperature to detect the risk of thunderstorms: the algorithm for analyzing meteorological data makes it possible to study the variations of these data on variable time scales. The algorithm then re-creates a set of data representing the derivatives of values on several time scales. For the negative derivative between pressure and time, and for the negative derivative between temperature and time, a critical level is reached on a scale of 1 to 2 hours. The algorithm also defines a correlation between temperature and pressure, which makes it possible to see a sharp drop in the current atmospheric conditions and thus makes it possible to potentially trigger a warning.

[0083] During the fifth steps 305, 306 of the method, the analysis algorithm 300 studies the variations of wind speed and direction to establish a climate environment 305, that is to say, to assign a text hazard level from the database of meteorological events represented in Table 1. Thus, this climate environment represents the current or upcoming meteorological event, and is inferred from the previously analyzed pressure, wind speed and direction, and temperature data.

[0084] In addition, in order to avoid false detection of adverse meteorological events, the algorithm 300 can analyze other meteorological parameters extracted from the collected data, such as humidity level, the position of low, medium and high altitude clouds, and the George index or K index, which is an air stability index and represents the potential for thunderstorms. Then, the climate environment record 306 representing the complete analysis of meteorological data is stored in the memory space of the control circuit 2.

[0085] Alternatively, when the climate warning level established by the remote server 18 is included in the meteorological data, the fourth and fifth steps of the above method are replaced by a single analysis step of the climate warning level established by the remote server 18. This step results in the climate environment record 306 representing this climate warning level being stored in the memory space of the control circuit 2.

[0086] During the sixth steps 401, 402 of the method, the climate environment is sent 401 to the algorithm 400 for establishing the hazard level of the climate event. The algorithm 400 then uses the database represented in Table 1 to assign a hazard level 402 to the previously determined meteorological event. Thus, the assigned level is between 1 and 10 and represents the hazard level of the meteorological event resulting from the climate environment.

[0087] During the seventh step 403 of the method, the algorithm 400 evaluates whether the danger level has reached or exceeded the main warning trigger threshold. As described above, the threshold is determined and recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2. It can also be parameterized by the user by driving an appropriate graphical interface using the remote control of the decoder 1. For example, the user can choose to set the threshold to 8, which means a light rainstorm.

[0088] If the danger level is below the main warning threshold, the newly collected and analyzed meteorological data is executed by the algorithms 200, 300, 400. As described above, the collection and analysis of this meteorological data are performed regularly as long as the warning has not been triggered.

[0089] During the eighth step of the method, if the danger level is higher than or equal to the main warning threshold, the control circuit activates the warning algorithm 500, which initiates the process of electrical isolation of at least one power supply line of ports 19 - 22 of the warning decoder 1. concomitantly, the control circuit 2 drives the stop of the periodic recovery of meteorological data.

[0090] The control circuit 2 starts a countdown before the activation of the cut-off circuit 3, which can be parameterized by the user via the graphical interface of the menu of the decoder 1 to set the first timeout period. The control circuit 2 also generates 501 a first signal for the television set 5. This first transmission signal is preferably an HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) signal and makes it possible to warn the electronic board of the television set 5 of the risk of a climate warning and a voltage surge. This first signal makes it possible to turn on the television set 5 in the case where it is turned off. The signal further includes information for displaying a warning message on the screen of the television set 5 in order to warn the user of the television set 5 of the risk of a voltage surge. Thus, the user is informed in advance of the risk of a voltage surge and the impending electrical isolation, which enables the user to take actions such as manually isolating other devices.

[0091] The display is actually another graphical interface that describes the current warning. Command buttons are further advantageously displayed on the screen of the television set 5, each button being associated with a command for transmitting different parameters for controlling the warning and electrical isolation process to the control circuit 2. Specifically, the user can choose to ignore the remaining part of the isolation process or trigger it before the end of the first timeout period, or choose which power supply line of ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 he wishes to isolate.

[0092] In parallel, the control circuit 2 generates a text or binary data message 502, for example in JSON format, which contains a warning and an indication of a first timeout period before the electrical isolation of at least one of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 initiated by the control circuit 2. Next, using a UDP - type protocol, the message 503 is sent over the local area network to the peripheral device 6 connected to the network and thus to the decoder 1 in order to broadcast the message to all communication devices on the TCP / IP network. Thus, if the peripheral devices of interest have the functionality to receive and decode JSON messages, they will also be able to disconnect from the power grid at the end of the first timeout period.

[0093] Similarly, the first timeout period is included in the HDMI CEC signal sent to the television 5, with the result that the electronic board of the television 5 will drive the shutdown and isolation of the power grid of the television 5 at the end of the first timeout period.

[0094] In accompaniment with steps 501 and 502, the control circuit 2 sends an electrical signal 504 to the GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9 of the cutoff circuit 3. As described above, this signal assigns a logical state to each GPIO connector 7, 8, 9 according to a sequence such that at least one of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 can be electrically and sequentially isolated 505 by activating the considered circuit breakers 10 - 13. It should be noted that the circuit breakers 10 - 13 make it possible, if necessary, to release the residual electrical energy in the case of a voltage surge.

[0095] By default, if the user does not modify the parameters of the isolation process, the HDMI and Ethernet ports 20, 21, 22 are sequentially disconnected from the power grid and then finally the power supply port 19 is disconnected to shut down the decoder 1.

[0096] The electrical signal sent to the cutoff circuit 3 is also received 506 by the timeout module 17, which starts a second timeout period before re - initiation: at the end of the second timeout period recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2, the re - initiator of the timeout module 17 (powered by a battery) reconnects 507 the power supply port 19 and the Ethernet input port 21 electrically to reconnect the decoder 1 to the wide - area network. Then the control circuit 2 performs the collection and analysis of new meteorological data to determine a new hazard level.

[0097] If this new hazard level is still higher than the main warning threshold, the control circuit 2 drives the stop of the decoder again. If the new level is lower than the main threshold, the control circuit 2 sends an electrical signal to the GPIO connectors to command the re - connection of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 that have been isolated to the power grid by de - activating the considered circuit breakers 10 - 13 (which makes it possible to close the power supply lines of the considered ports 19 - 22).

[0098] A second timeout period, for example having a duration between one minute and forty-eight hours, can be parameterized by the user via the graphical interface of the decoder 1. In addition, this second timeout period is also integrated in the JSON message sent by the control circuit 2 to the peripheral device and in the HDMI CEC signal sent to the television set 5. At the end of the second timeout period, the corresponding electronic boards of the television set 5 and the peripheral device can then drive the turning on of the television set 5 and the peripheral device, if they have such functionality at their disposal.

[0099] Optionally, an additional warning threshold lower than the main warning threshold is recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2. Thus, when the danger level of the climatic event is lower than the main threshold but higher than or equal to the additional threshold parameterizable by the user via the graphical interface of the decoder 1, the method includes the step (not shown) of displaying data on the screen of the television set 5 that notifies the user of the impending or possible arrival of a meteorological event that may cause a voltage surge. It should be clearly understood that in this particular case, the warning and isolation process is not initiated. For example, this additional threshold can be set to 7, that is to say corresponding to heavy rain.

[0100] Based on the detection of an adverse climatic environment, that is to say a risk of causing a voltage surge, the electronic system 2 and the protection method according to the invention act in a preventive manner. In fact, before a lightning strike has occurred due to an adverse meteorological event, the electronic system 2 itself and the different terminals and peripheral devices connected thereto are isolated. Thus, the electronic system 2 of the invention implements a more reliable protection method of the invention and provides a high level of security.

[0101] The above-described embodiments are in no way restrictive and can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the control circuit 2 including the cut-off circuit 3 and having a program in the memory implementing the steps of the protection method according to the invention can be directly integrated in the gateway 4 connected to the wide area network, or integrated in an independent electronic package connected to the decoder 1 and connected to the wide area network.

Claims

1. A method for protecting at least one electronic system (1) from voltage surges that may be caused by current or upcoming meteorological events, the electronic system (1) being connected to a telecommunications network and including a control circuit (2), the method successively comprising: - a step of connecting (101, 102Y) the electronic system (1) to a remote server (18) containing meteorological data; - a step of retrieving (201-203) meteorological data from the remote server (18); - a step of analyzing (301-306) the retrieved meteorological data by the control circuit (2) in order to assign (402) a risk level of the current or upcoming meteorological event to the meteorological data; and, when the assigned risk level exceeds a main warning threshold recorded in a memory space of the control circuit: - a step of sending (501) a warning signal by the control circuit (2) to a display terminal (5) connected to the electronic system (1), the warning signal being configured to turn on the display terminal when the display terminal (5) is turned off; - a step of displaying a first warning message on the display terminal (5) according to information contained in the warning signal, the first warning message warning a user of the display terminal (5) of the risk of voltage surges due to the current or upcoming meteorological event; and - a step of commanding the control circuit (2) to electrically isolate (504, 505) at least one port (19, 20, 21, 22) of the electronic system (1).

2. The method according to claim 1, which includes an additional step of displaying at least one command button on the display terminal (5) and associating the button with a command for transmitting to the electronic system (1) a command for controlling the electrical isolation (504, 505) step.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, which includes an additional step of displaying data on the display terminal (5) when the risk level assigned to the retrieved meteorological data exceeds an additional warning threshold lower than the main warning threshold, the data informing the user that a meteorological event that may cause a voltage surge is upcoming.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, before the step of isolating (504, 505) at least one port (19, 20, 21, 22) of the electronic system (1), a timeout step is provided, and the timeout period can be set by the user of the terminal (5).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the timeout period is included in the warning signal, and wherein the display terminal (5) is isolated from the power grid at the end of the timeout period.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the step of connecting (101, 102Y) the electronic system (1) to the remote server (18) includes a sub-step of sending (101) a request for collecting meteorological data to the remote server (18), the request including geolocation information of the electronic system (1).

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The steps for restoring (201 - 203) meteorological data are performed in real time and include the following sub - steps: - Collect (201) and save (202) the meteorological data sent by the remote server; - Repeat (203) this sub - step of collecting (201) and saving (202) data according to a determined period whose value is recorded in the memory space of the control circuit (2).

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The step of analyzing (301 - 306) the meteorological data includes at least the following sub - steps: - Divide (302) the meteorological data to extract temperature (304), pressure (303), humidity level, and wind speed and direction data; - Associate (305) the extracted data to assign a danger level to it according to a rating scale recorded in the memory space of the control circuit (2).

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The step of analyzing (301 - 306) meteorological data includes at least the following sub - steps: - Divide (302) the meteorological data to extract the warning level calculated by the remote server (18); - Analyze the warning level of the remote server (18) to assign a danger level to it according to a rating scale recorded in the memory space of the control circuit (2).

10. The method according to claim 1 or 2, which includes the step of generating, by the control circuit (2), a second warning message (502) intended to be sent (503) to each computer terminal or peripheral device (6) communicating with the electronic system (1), the second warning message providing a warning of the risk of voltage surges due to the current or impending meteorological event.

11. An electronic system (1), which includes a control circuit (2) having a memory space, the electronic system (1) further includes a power supply port (19) to the power grid, at least one network input port (21) for connecting the system to a wide - area computer network, at least one multimedia output port (20) for connecting the electronic system (1) to a display terminal (5), and the control circuit (2) is adapted to sequentially: - Connect the electronic system (1) to a remote server (18) containing meteorological data; - Restore and analyze the meteorological data originating from the remote server in order to determine and assign a danger level to a current or impending meteorological event that may cause a voltage surge at least in the electronic system (1); and, when the assigned danger level exceeds a warning threshold recorded in the memory space: - Send a warning signal to the display terminal (5), the warning signal including the possibility of displaying a warning message on the display terminal (5) to warn the user of the display terminal (5) of the risk of voltage surges due to the current or impending meteorological event; - Electrically isolate at least one of the ports (19 - 22) of the electronic system (1).

12. The electronic system according to claim 11, wherein, The control circuit (2) includes a cut-off circuit (3), and the cut-off circuit (3) includes an electrically controlled circuit breaker (10, 11, 12, 13). The circuit breakers are respectively installed in the corresponding power supply lines of the considered ports (19-22) and are driven by the control circuit (2).

13. The electronic system according to claim 11, wherein the electronic system is a decoder.

14. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

15. A computer-readable storage device having recorded thereon the computer program according to claim 14.

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