INDE Gateway Core Layer for Smart Grid Interoperability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The management of power grids is inefficient due to complex analytics and communication interactions among multiple systems, which complicates fault management, maintenance, and upgrades, and existing smart grid technologies struggle with interoperability between different systems and formats.

Innovation Solution

The Intelligent Network Data Enterprise (INDE) system architecture, which includes a gateway layer for input and output connector routines and a core layer for core adapters, enables communication between meter data management systems and headend systems, using protocols like FTP, JMS, and HTTP to translate and route commands effectively across different formats and systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple systems (energy management system, outage management system, demand response system, billing system) are deployed to manage different aspects of the power grid, then the functionality and coverage of grid management is improved, but the complexity of communication and coordination between systems increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrid management coverageVSAvoidsystem communication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a standardized communication interface and message routing mechanism as an intermediary layer between multiple power grid management systems. This intermediary standardizes data exchange formats, defines message routing rules, and coordinates communication between energy management, outage management, demand response, and billing systems, thereby reducing communication complexity while maintaining comprehensive grid management functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If smart meters and digital technology are deployed to upgrade the power grid, then the monitoring capability and data collection efficiency are improved, but the interoperability challenges between different systems and communication formats increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidinteroperability complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a universal communication standard that enables different smart meters and digital systems to interchange data through standardized formats and protocols. This universal interface allows various communication formats (FTP, JMS, HTTP) and systems to interoperate seamlessly, maintaining high data collection efficiency while reducing interoperability challenges through standardized message structures and routing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2598845B1Intelligent core engine
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD
  • EP2598845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2598845B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2598845B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A central management authority for a system, such as a power utility system, is disclosed. The central management authority communicates with a plurality of meter data management systems and with a plurality of headend systems, the meter data management systems generating commands and the headend systems communicating with one or more meters (such as one or more smart meters). The central management authority includes a gateway layer and a core layer. The gateway layer includes a plurality of input connector routines to communicate with each of the plurality of source systems and a plurality of output connector routines to communicate with each of the plurality of target systems. The core layer includes a plurality of core adapters, with the core adapters performing a one-to-one translation of communications from the plurality of meter data management systems generating commands to the plurality of the head end systems.