10BASE-T1S and-T1L for power monitoring and protection equipment

Abstract

In one embodiment, an IED device is described. The IED apparatus includes (a) a power system device; (b) a first Ethernet port configured to be connected to a monitoring server through one of an optical cable or a multiple twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); (c) a second Ethernet port configured to be connected to a remote sensor device through a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using a 10Base-T1S or-T1L standard; and (d) processing circuitry configured to (1) communicate monitoring data with a monitoring server over the first Ethernet port, and (2) receive sensor information from a remote sensor device over the STPCC via the second Ethernet port using the 10Base-T1S or-T1L standard. Related systems are also described.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Indian Patent Application No. 202314077489, entitled “10BASE-T1S AND-T1L ON POWER MONITORING AND PROTECTION EQUIPMENT” filed on November 14, 2023, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 528,813, entitled “10BASE-T1S ON POWER MONITORING AND PROTECTION EQUIPMENT” filed on July 25, 2023. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 528,813, entitled “10BASE-T1S ON POWER MONITORING AND PROTECTION EQUIPMENT” filed on July 25, 2023. Each of the applications cited above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Background Art

[0003] Power meters are used to monitor and report energy usage and power quality. Protection relays can also monitor energy usage and be configured to trigger circuit breakers in response to detecting certain types of problems. Both power meters and protection relays can include processing circuitry to allow intelligent monitoring of electrical devices; these are collectively referred to as intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). A typical IED includes a network connection to allow reporting of energy usage over the network connection, and one or more serial ports to connect to one or more sensing devices that provide measurements about one or more electrical connections and / or energy usage. These IEDs can then process the received measurements and perform various functions, such as data analysis and feedback, storage, and forwarding measurements or analytical data over a network connection. Summary of the invention

[0004] In one embodiment, an IED device is described. The IED device includes (a) a power system device; (b) a first Ethernet port configured to connect to a monitoring server via a fiber optic cable or a multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); (c) a second Ethernet port configured to connect to a remote sensor device via a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using a 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard; and (d) a processing circuit configured to (1) communicate monitoring data with the monitoring server via the first Ethernet port, and (2) receive sensor information from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port via the STPCC using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

[0005] In one embodiment, a system is described. The system includes (I) a sensor device having a remote Ethernet port and (II) an IED, the IED including (a) a power system device; (b) a first Ethernet port configured to be connected to a monitoring server via a fiber optic cable or a multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); (c) a second Ethernet port connected to the remote Ethernet port of the sensor device via a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using a 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard; and (d) a processing circuit configured to (1) communicate monitoring data with the monitoring server via the first Ethernet port, and (2) receive sensor information from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port via the STPCC using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

[0006] In one embodiment, a method performed by an IED device having a power system device is described. The method includes (1) communicating monitoring data with a monitoring server via a first Ethernet port through a fiber optic cable or one of a multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); and (2) receiving sensor information from a remote sensor device via a second Ethernet port through a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using a 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of specific embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts in different views. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0008] Figure 1A Example systems and apparatus are shown for use in connection with one or more embodiments.

[0009] Figures 1B to 1C Each illustrates an example system and apparatus that can be used in conjunction with one or more other embodiments.

[0010] Figure 2 An example method is shown for use in conjunction with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The examples of the methods and systems discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of the construction and arrangement of components set forth in the description below or shown in the accompanying drawings. These methods and systems can be implemented in other embodiments and can be practiced or performed in various ways. The examples of specific embodiments provided here are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Specifically, the actions, components, elements, and features discussed in conjunction with any one or more examples are not intended to be excluded from similar roles in any other examples.

[0012] In addition, the wording and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be considered as restrictive. Any reference to the example, embodiment, parts, elements or actions of the system and method mentioned in the singular form herein may also cover the embodiment comprising multiple, and any reference to any embodiment, parts, elements or actions mentioned in the plural form herein may also cover the embodiment comprising only the singular. Reference in the singular or plural form is not intended to limit the currently disclosed system or method, their parts, actions or elements. "Including", "comprising", "having", "containing", "involving" and variants thereof used herein are meant to include the project and its equivalent and additional project listed thereafter.

[0013] References to "or" may be interpreted as inclusive, such that any term described using "or" may mean any of the described terms singly, more than one, and all. Furthermore, in the event of inconsistencies in the usage of terms between this document and documents incorporated herein by reference, the usage of the term in the incorporated features is supplemental to this document; for irreconcilable differences, the usage of the term in this document controls.

[0014] As mentioned above, conventional IEDs may be subject to various limitations. For example, exclusively using serial connections to communicate with sensing devices may be slow and prone to errors. In addition, discovery of serial devices may be difficult.

[0015] To overcome these limitations, the IED can be alternatively configured to communicate with new sensor devices using the 10Base-T1S Ethernet standard (or in some embodiments 10Base-T1L or another STPCC-based standard) over a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC). This standard allows for increased speeds up to 10Mbps, increased reliability, while also providing the ability to perform auto-discovery and configuration. Standard Ethernet using multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC), such as Cat.5, 5e, or 6 cables, is not suitable because such cables take up more space and are more expensive. In addition, T1S Ethernet also provides improved auto-discovery capabilities.

[0016] Figure 1A An example system 30A is depicted for use in conjunction with various embodiments. The system 30 includes an intelligent electronic device (IED) 32, such as an intelligent power meter or an intelligent protective relay. In some embodiments, instead of performing power monitoring, the IED 32 may perform monitoring of water, air, gas, steam, and / or any other measurable facility. The system 30 also includes a monitoring server 36 (e.g., a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) device, a cloud / analysis device, etc.) running power monitoring software 37 and at least one T1S-enabled sensing device 44 (depicted as T1S-enabled sensing device 44 (a)). The server 36 is connected to the IED 32 via an MTPCC 35 using Ethernet (e.g., 100BaseT or faster protocol), and the at least one T1S-enabled sensing device 44 (a) is connected to the IED 32 via an STPCC 43. In some embodiments (not shown), one or more hubs, switches, routers, etc. may be interposed between the server 36 and the IED 32 and / or between the at least one T1S-enabled sensing device 44 (a) and the IED 32. The IED 32 is powered by at least one main power supply 47. In some embodiments (not shown), instead of the server 36 being connected to the IED 32 via the MTPCC 35, the server 36 may be connected to the IED 32 via a coaxial cable or a fiber optic cable or via another connection such as a wireless link. In some embodiments (not shown), multiple servers 36 may be connected to the IED 32 via multiple MTPCCs 35 or other connections.

[0017] The IED 32 includes a multi-twisted pair Ethernet port 34 (or a coaxial or fiber port in an embodiment not depicted), and a set of one or more single twisted pair T1S Ethernet ports 38 (depicted as T1S Ethernet ports 38(a), 38(b)...). The multi-twisted pair Ethernet port 34 (or coaxial or fiber port) is configured to connect to a server 36 using an MTPCC 35 (or a coaxial or fiber cable), and the set of one or more single twisted pair T1S Ethernet ports 38 is configured to connect to one or more T1S enabled sensing devices 44 via an STPCC 43. The IED 32 also includes a network interface control circuit 42, a processing circuit 40, a power system equipment (PSE) 41, and a memory 50. In some embodiments, as Figure 1B , 1C As shown, the IED 32 also includes a serial port 62 and / or a multiplexed serial / T1S port 64 .

[0018] The network interface control circuit 42 controls the network connection through the Ethernet ports 34, 38, 64. The network interface control circuit 42 may include one or more media access control (MAC) blocks (not shown).

[0019] Processing circuitry 40 may include any kind of processor or group of processors configured to perform operations, such as a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a system on a chip (SoC), a collection of electronic circuits, a controller of a similar kind, or any combination of the above. In an example embodiment, processing circuitry 40 may be a ZynQ UltraScale+ (US+) MPSoC, such as the ZynQ US+ZU2CG chip provided by Xilinx / AMD of San Jose, California.

[0020] The PSE 41 is a circuit configured to receive and interpret power signals and issue control commands to electronic devices.

[0021] The memory 50 may include any kind of digital system memory, such as a random access memory (RAM). The memory 40 may store an operating system (OS, not shown, such as Linux, UNIX or similar operating systems) and various drivers and other applications and software modules configured to be executed on the processing circuit 40 and various data.

[0022] The IED 32 is configured to act as a gateway between the Ethernet connection to the server 36 and the T1S connections 38 , 64 to the T1S enabled sensing devices 44 .

[0023] The T1S enabled sensing devices 44 are electricity (or water, air, gas, steam and / or any other measurable utility) metering or electrical measuring devices that have a single twisted pair T1S Ethernet port (not shown) that allows them to be connected to the IED 32 or other T1S enabled sensing devices 44 via the STPCC 43. The T1S enabled sensing devices 44 can record digital signals (e.g., pulse counts, input metering, etc.) or analog signals (e.g., flow rate, temperature, pressure, rotation speed, liquid level, current in the 4-20 mA range, etc.). In some arrangements, a T1S enabled sensing device 44 (a) can be connected in a daisy chain arrangement to a second T1S enabled sensing device 44 (b), which itself can be connected to a third T1S enabled sensing device 44 (c), which itself can be connected to a fourth T1S enabled sensing device 44 (d), etc. In some arrangements (not shown), a chain of T1S enabled sensing devices 44 (e.g., T1S enabled sensing devices 44 (a), 44 (b), 44 (c), 44 (d)) may all be connected to the IED 32 via a single multi-drop STPCC 43, with each T1S enabled sensing device 44 accessing the same STPCC 43. In some embodiments, one or more T1S enabled sensing devices 44 (e.g., a second T1S enabled sensing device 44 (b)) may be connected to a serial sensing device 66 via a serial cable 65, allowing the serial sensing device 66 to communicate power / electrical measurements / commands with the IED 32 via the chain of T1S enabled sensing devices 44. In some embodiments, one or more T1S enabled sensing devices 44 (e.g., a third T1S enabled sensing device 44 (c)) may be connected to a backup power supply 49, allowing the T1S enabled sensing device 44 (c) to send backup power to the IED 32 via the chain of STPCC 43 using the 10Base-T1S standard. In some embodiments, the daisy chain or multi-drop bus may include a supplemental power supply 48 also connected through the STPCC 43. This supplemental T1S enabled power supply 48 can be configured to power any T1S enabled sensing device 44 along a daisy chain or multi-drop bus via the STPCC 43 (e.g., using power over data line (PODL) technology). In some embodiments, the IED 32 is capable of providing power to one T1S enabled sensing device 44 through the STPCC 43 using PODL, but if more than one T1S enabled sensing device 44 requires external power, it must obtain that power from the supplemental power supply 48.

[0024] In some embodiments, one or more T1S enabled sensing devices 44 may be configured in a similar manner to IED 32, capable of acting as a gateway. However, compared to IED 32, T1S enabled sensing devices 44 may have a simpler configuration without Ethernet / T1S gateway functionality, possibly with reduced processing power or storage capacity.

[0025] In some embodiments, for example, Figure 1B, 1C , where the IED 32 includes a serial port 62, the IED 32 can be connected to a serial sensing device 66 via a serial cable 65, allowing the serial sensing device 66 to communicate power / electrical measurements / commands with the IED 32 using the serial port 62. In embodiments where the IED 32 includes a multiplex port 64, the multiplex port 64 is configured to attach to the STPCC 43 (e.g., Figure 1B as shown) or serial cable 65 (as Figure 1C ), thereby allowing the IED 32 to be connected to the T1S enabled sensing device 44 (eg, T1S enabled sensing device 44 (b), as shown) via the multiplexing port 64, respectively. Figure 1B ) or a serial sensing device 66 (e.g., a serial sensing device 66 (b), such as Figure 1C shown).

[0026] The memory 50 stores the monitoring module 52. The monitoring module 52 operates on the processing circuit 40 to obtain the received sensor information 54 (received from the T1S enabled sensing device 44 and the serial sensing device 66 via the operation of the PSE 41, if any), thereby generating monitoring information 56 therefrom, and reporting the generated monitoring information 56 to the server 36 via the MTPCC 35 (or coaxial or optical fiber) connection. In some embodiments, the monitoring module 52 may also record some or all of the monitoring information 56 as recorded monitoring information 58. In some embodiments, the recorded monitoring information 58 is recorded only when the main power supply 47 is offline and the IED 32 is receiving backup power from the backup power supply 49 via one of the T1S enabled sensing devices 44, during which time the monitoring module 52 temporarily suppresses reporting the generated monitoring information 56 to the server 36; in this case, once the main power supply 47 resumes normal power supply, the monitoring module 52 reports the recorded monitoring information 58 to the server 36.

[0027] In some embodiments, Figure 1B As shown, the monitoring module 52 also reports a subset of the monitoring information 56 to one or more T1S-enabled expansion modules 45 (depicted as T1S-enabled expansion modules 45(1), 45(2), ...) connected to the IED 32 via one of the single twisted pair T1S Ethernet ports 38 (e.g., single twisted pair T1S Ethernet port 38(b)). In other embodiments, such as Figure 1CAs shown, the monitoring module 52 also reports a subset of the monitoring information 56 to one or more legacy expansion modules 75 (depicted as legacy expansion modules 75(1), 75(2), ...) connected to the IED 32 via a T1S enabled expansion relay 72 connected to one of the single twisted pair T1S Ethernet ports 38 (e.g., single twisted pair T1S Ethernet port 38(b)). The T1S enabled expansion relay 72 is connected to the legacy expansion modules 75 via a legacy bus 74. In some embodiments, one or more of the expansion modules 45, 75 (e.g., T1S enabled expansion module 45(1)) may include a display screen, which may be any type of display, including, for example, a CRT screen, an LCD screen, an LED screen, etc., allowing the subset of the monitoring information 56 to be displayed on the screen. In some embodiments, the expansion module 45, 75 having a display screen may also include one or more user input devices configured to receive user feedback, such as a keyboard, buttons, trackball, trackpad, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the expansion modules 45, 75 (e.g., T1S enabled expansion module 45(2)) may include an external communication port or wireless communication transceiver configured to forward a subset of the monitoring information 56 to a recipient external to the system 30B, 30C, such as a vendor, customer, or billing system. In some embodiments, one or more of the T1S enabled expansion modules 45 may receive power from a supplemental power source 48.

[0028] The monitoring information 56 may include composite energy-related parameters, such as one or more of peak power, average power, power demand, voltage frequency, peak voltage, average voltage, peak current, average current, current demand, voltage / current harmonics, voltage / current unbalance, voltage sag / swell, voltage / current interruption, etc. In some embodiments, the monitoring information 56 may be generated and reported (or recorded) periodically, such as every 1 second.

[0029] In some embodiments, one or more T1S enabled sensing devices 44 or T1S enabled expansion modules 45 may be used as a signal generator configured to inject a random or semi-random signal between ground and the grid or power grid, and also send the signal back to the IED 32 so that the IED 32 may determine whether the signal has leaked into the grid or power grid by reference to measurements of the grid or power grid made by the IED 32 or another T1S enabled sensing device 44.

[0030] In some embodiments, the memory 50 also stores a time synchronization module 60. The time synchronization module 60 runs on the processing circuit 40 to perform a time synchronization process. The time synchronization process can allow the clock 61 of the IED 32 to maintain very close synchronization with the clock (not shown) on the T1S enabled sensing device 44. In some embodiments, the precision time protocol (IEEE1588-2008 or 1588-2019) or similar protocols can be used to achieve synchronization accurate to within 5 milliseconds (ms). In some embodiments, the synchronization can be further accurate to within 1ms or 100 nanoseconds (ns). In some embodiments, the time synchronization module 60 can time stamp the transitions in the received sensor information 54 (e.g., changes in status signals from other devices, such as whether an external circuit breaker is open or closed) or energy usage data (e.g., energy data transmitted via the energy pulse output of other devices). The time synchronization module 60 can record the exact time of the input transitions and then correlate them in time with power usage data, waveform records, or other measurements performed by the IED 32 for the event record sequence (SER). The time synchronization module 60 may also receive digital pulse information from the T1S enabled sensing device 44 .

[0031] In some embodiments, the memory 50 also stores a discovery module 68. The discovery module 68 operates on the processing circuit 40 to execute an automatic discovery and configuration program 70. The automatic discovery and configuration program 70 identifies new T1S enabled sensing devices 44 connected to the IED 32 (either directly to one of the T1S Ethernet ports 38, 64 or indirectly via a daisy chain) and automatically configures them.

[0032] The memory 50 may also store various other data structures used by the OS, monitoring module 52, time synchronization module 60, discovery module 68, and various other applications and drivers. In some embodiments, the memory 50 may also include a permanent storage portion. The permanent storage portion of the memory 50 may be composed of one or more permanent storage devices, such as a disk, a flash drive, a solid-state storage drive, or other types of storage drives. The permanent storage portion of the memory 50 is configured to store programs and data even when the IED 32 is powered off. The OS, monitoring module 52, time synchronization module 60, discovery module 68, and various other applications and drivers are typically stored in this permanent storage portion of the memory 50 so that they can be loaded into the system portion of the memory 50 when the system is restarted or as needed. The OS, monitoring module 52, time synchronization module 60, discovery module 68, and various other applications and drivers, when stored in a non-transitory form in a volatile or permanent portion of the memory 50, each form a computer program product. The processing circuit 40 running one or more applications thus forms a dedicated circuit constructed and arranged to perform the various processes described herein.

[0033] Figure 2 An example method 100 performed by a system 30A, 30B, 30C is shown for performing dynamic monitoring of an electronic device using a T1S enabled sensing device 44 attached to an IED 32. It should be understood that at any time, a software (e.g., an OS, a monitoring module 52, a time synchronization module 60, a discovery module 68, etc.) is described as performing a method, process, step, or function, which means that a computing device (e.g., an IED 32) running the software performs the method, process, step, or function when executing the software on its processing circuit 40. It should be understood that in some embodiments, one or more steps or sub-steps of the method 100 may be omitted. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more steps or sub-steps may be combined together or performed in a different order. Dashed lines indicate that a step or sub-step is optional or represents an alternative embodiment or use case.

[0034] At step 110, in some embodiments, the discovery module 68 performs automatic device discovery via one or more T1S (or T1L) Ethernet ports 38, 64 to detect all T1S enabled sensing devices 44 connected thereto (either directly or indirectly along a T1S daisy chain), automatically configuring connections to the discovered T1S enabled sensing devices 44 via the 10Base-T1S standard (process 70).

[0035] At step 120, the monitoring module 52 receives sensor information 54 (e.g., via PSE 41) from a T1S enabled sensing device via one or more T1S Ethernet ports 38, 64 via STPCC 43 using the 10Base-T1S standard. In some embodiments, step 120 includes generating monitoring information 56 based on the received sensor information 54 (e.g., averaging values ​​over a reporting period, analyzing a subset of the received sensor information 54, etc.).

[0036] In some cases, step 120 may include sub-steps 122, 123, 124. In sub-step 122, the monitoring module 52 (and the time synchronization module 60) receives a power fault report (not shown) from at least two of the T1S enabled sensing devices 44 and / or the PSE 41, the power fault report including the time of the corresponding power fault with an accuracy better than 5 ms. Thus, for example, a power fault report from PSE 41 may be timestamped at time T, while a power fault report from T1S enabled sensing device 44 (d) may be timestamped at time T+5ms, a power fault report from T1S enabled sensing device 44 (c) may be timestamped at time T+13ms, a power fault report from T1S enabled sensing device 44 (b) may be timestamped at time T+15ms, a power fault report from T1S enabled sensing device 44 (a) may be timestamped at time T+19ms, and a power fault report from T1S enabled sensing device 44 (e) may be timestamped at time T+10ms.

[0037] In sub-step 123, the monitoring module 52 tracks the origin of the power fault event based on the time of the corresponding power fault from sub-step 122. For example, the monitoring module 52 may consider the topology and / or graph of the monitored electronic devices and the topology and / or graph of the connections between the TIS-enabled sensing devices 44 when comparing the timestamps to triangulate the location of the original power fault event. Step 123 may include performing an alarm calibration.

[0038] At sub-step 124 , the monitoring module 52 includes the traced origin of the power failure event in the monitoring information 56 .

[0039] In some embodiments, sub-steps 122 - 124 may be performed by monitoring server 36 .

[0040] In some embodiments, the monitoring module 52 or monitoring server 36 may also monitor (step 130) for a local power failure (ie, a failure of the local main power source 47). If no local power failure is detected, the operation proceeds normally to step 140. Otherwise, the operation proceeds to steps 135-139.

[0041] At step 135, the T1S enabled sensing device 44(X) (e.g., T1S enabled sensing device 44(c)) connected to the backup power source 49 supplies backup power to the IED 32 via the STPCC 43 (the power passively passes through any intervening T1S enabled sensing devices 44, e.g., T1S enabled sensing devices 44(a), 44(b)). At step 136, the IED 32 operates in a low power mode, during which it (i) refrains from transmitting monitoring information 56 to the server 36, and (ii) records the recorded monitoring information 58 based on the sensor information (or in an alternative embodiment, it simply directly records the received sensor information 58). Once the main power is restored at step 137, then at step 138, the IED 32 stops drawing backup power from the T1S enabled sensing device 44(X) connected to the backup power source 49, and at step 139, the monitoring module 52 transmits the recorded monitoring information 58 to the server 36 via the standard Ethernet port 34, and then proceeds to step 140. In embodiments where only received sensor information 58 is recorded at step 136 , the monitoring module 52 first generates monitoring information 56 based on the recorded sensor information.

[0042] At step 140 , the monitoring module 52 transmits the monitoring information 56 to the server 36 via the standard Ethernet port 34 .

[0043] While various embodiments of the present invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

[0044] It should be understood that although the various embodiments have been described as methods, software embodying these methods is also included. Thus, one embodiment includes a tangible computer-readable medium (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk, computer memory, flash memory, etc.) programmed with instructions that, when executed by one or a group of computers, cause one or more of the methods described in the various embodiments to be performed. Another embodiment includes a computer programmed to perform one or more of the methods described in the various embodiments.

[0045] Furthermore, it is to be understood that all embodiments that have been described can be combined with one another in all possible combinations, unless such combinations have been explicitly excluded.

[0046] Finally, nothing in this specification should be construed as any form of admission that even if a technology, method, device, or other concept is specifically labeled as "background" or "conventional," Applicant does not admit that such technology, method, device, or other concept is actually prior art under 35 U.S.C. §102 or 103, a determination that is a legitimate determination that relies on many factors, not all of which are known to Applicant at this time.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic device (IED) device, comprising: Power system equipment; a first Ethernet port configured to connect to a monitoring server via one of a fiber optic cable or a multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); a second Ethernet port configured to connect to a remote sensor device over a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard; and The processing circuit is configured as follows: communicating monitoring data with a monitoring server via a first Ethernet port, and The sensor information is received from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port by the STPCC using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

2. The IED device according to claim 1, further comprising a serial port configured to be connected to another remote sensor device via a serial bus cable, wherein The processing circuit is also configured to receive sensor information from another remote sensor device via the serial port through the serial bus cable.

3. The IED device according to claim 1, wherein: The second Ethernet port is a multiplexed Ethernet / serial port configured to alternately connect to the remote sensor device via a serial bus cable; and The processing circuit is also configured to receive sensor information from a remote sensor device via the multiplexed Ethernet / serial port over a serial bus cable using a serial bus communication standard.

4. The IED device according to claim 1, wherein: The processing circuit is further configured to perform automatic device discovery via the second Ethernet port to detect the remote sensor device and automatically configure a connection via the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

5. The IED device according to claim 1, wherein: The IED is configured to draw backup power from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port through the STPCC in response to a local power failure of the IED device.

6. The IED device according to claim 5, wherein: The IED is configured to operate in a low power mode while drawing backup power from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port through the STPCC, and the processing circuit is configured to: inhibiting communication of monitoring data with a monitoring server via the first Ethernet port; and The recorded monitoring data is recorded based on the received sensor information.

7. The IED device according to claim 6, wherein: The processing circuit is configured to, upon restoration of local power after operating in the low power mode: ceasing to draw backup power from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port through the STPCC; and The recorded monitoring data is transmitted to the monitoring server through the first Ethernet port.

8. The IED device according to claim 1, wherein: The processing circuit is configured to synchronize time with the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port through the STPCC to an accuracy of better than 5 milliseconds.

9. A system comprising: A sensor device with a remote Ethernet port; and Intelligent electronic device (IED), the IED includes: Power system equipment; a first Ethernet port configured to connect to a monitoring server via one of a fiber optic cable or a multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); a second Ethernet port configured to connect to a remote Ethernet port of a sensor device over a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard; and The processing circuit is configured as follows: communicating monitoring data with a monitoring server via a first Ethernet port, and The sensor information is received from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port by the STPCC using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein: The system also includes a set of one or more additional sensor devices connected to the sensor device in a daisy-chain or multi-drop manner via one or more additional STPCC cables using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein: The processing circuitry of the IED is further configured to perform automatic device discovery via the second Ethernet port to detect additional sensor devices in the group and automatically configure connections via the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein: At least one of the sensor device or the additional sensor device is connected to a backup power source and is configured to provide backup power to the IED via the STPCC in response to a local power failure of the IED device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein: The IED is configured to operate in a low power mode while drawing backup power from the at least one sensor device through the STPCC, and the processing circuit is configured to: inhibiting communication of monitoring data with a monitoring server via the first Ethernet port; and The recorded monitoring data is recorded based on the received sensor information.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein: The processing circuit is further configured to, upon restoration of local power after operating in the low power mode: ceasing to draw backup power from the at least one sensor device via the STPCC; and The recorded monitoring data is transmitted to the monitoring server through the first Ethernet port.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein: At least one of the sensor device or the additional sensor device comprises a serial port configured to connect to another sensor device via a serial bus cable, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive sensor information from the other sensor device via the STPCC and the serial bus cable.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein: The processing circuit is configured to synchronize time with the sensor device and the additional sensor device via the second Ethernet port through the STPCC to an accuracy of better than 5 milliseconds.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: The processing circuit is configured as follows: receiving a power fault report from at least two of the sensor device and the additional sensor device, the power fault report including a time of a corresponding power fault with an accuracy better than 5 milliseconds; Tracking the origin of power failure events based on the time of the corresponding power failure with an accuracy of better than 5 milliseconds; as well as Included is tracing origin of power fault events within monitoring data communicated to the monitoring server.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein: The system also includes a supplemental power supply connected to the set of one or more additional sensor devices via an additional STPCC cable using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard, the supplemental power supply being configured to provide power to the remote sensor device and at least one of the set of one or more additional sensor devices.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein: The system also includes an expansion module; The IED further comprises a third Ethernet port connected to an expansion module via another STPCC using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard; and The processing circuit is further configured to communicate a subset of the monitoring data with an expansion module via a third Ethernet port.

20. A method performed by an intelligent electronic device (IED) device having a power system device, the method comprising: communicating monitoring data with a monitoring server via a first Ethernet port through one of a fiber optic cable or a multi-twisted pair copper cable (MTPCC); as well as The sensor information is received from the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port over a single twisted pair copper cable (STPCC) using the 10Base-T1S or -T1L standard.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein: The method also includes synchronizing time with the remote sensor device via the second Ethernet port by the STPCC to an accuracy of better than 5 milliseconds.

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