Meter-to-Transformer Connectivity Correction

Abstract

The disclosure describes techniques for providing meter-to-transformer connectivity information and/or correction, using voltage-correlation, distance, and/or address data. In an example, a meter generates a time-series of voltage-changes. Transformers geographically close enough to the meter are assigned a time-series of voltage-changes. Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) values of the meter with respect to individual transformers are determined. A reference PCC value of the meter is set to be an average of a largest and a second largest PCC value from among the PCC values of the meter. Voltage-correlation confidence rating (VCCR) values for the meter with respect to each transformer that is within the threshold distance from the meter are calculated using the PCC. Based at least in part on the VCCR values for the meter with respect to each transformer that is within the threshold distance from that meter, a probability of the meter being connected to each transformer is determined.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining a time-series of voltages or a time-series of voltage-changes of a meter;   assigning a time-series of voltages or a time-series of voltage-changes to respective transformers within a threshold distance of the meter;   determining correlation coefficient values of the meter with respect to individual transformers within the threshold distance of the meter, wherein the correlation coefficient values are based at least in part on the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes of the meter and the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes of respective transformers;   determining, based at least in part on correlation coefficient values of the meter with respect to individual transformers that are within the threshold distance from the meter, respective probabilities of the meter being connected to the individual transformers within the threshold distance of the meter; and   associating the meter to a transformer with which the meter has a highest probability of being connected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining correlation coefficient values comprises:
 determining Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) values.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining respective probabilities of the meter being connected to individual transformers comprises:
 setting a reference correlation value of the meter to be an average of a largest and a second largest correlation coefficient value from among the correlation coefficient values of the meter; and   calculating voltage-correlation confidence rating (VCCR) values for the meter with respect to transformers within the threshold distance from that meter, wherein the calculating is based at least in part on:
 the reference correlation value for the meter; and 
 respective correlation values for the meter with respective transformers from among the transformers; and 
   wherein a probability of the meter being connected to a respective transformer is additionally based at least in part on the VCCR values of the meter with the respective transformer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 calculating voltage-correlation confidence rating (VCCR) values for the meter with respect to transformers within the threshold distance from that meter;   sending the VCCR values of the meter associated with the transformer to a softmax function to set a sum of the VCCR values to 100%; and   utilizing the VCCR values when associating the meter to the transformer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 iterating at least portions of the method until a stable connectivity model is achieved; and   modifying a record associating meters and transformers using the stable connectivity model.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the meter to the transformer additionally comprises using voltage-correlation confidence rating (VCCR) values, wherein the VCCR values are calculated by actions comprising:
 calculating VCCR as a function of a PCC ref  value and a PCC value, wherein the PCC ref  value is a reference PCC value for the meter, and wherein the PCC value is the PCC value of a transformer within the threshold distance of the meter.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the meter to the transformer is additionally based on actions comprising:
 using address information to determine a side of a street of a meter;   wherein associating the meter to the transformer is based at least in part on the side of the street of the meter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the meter to the transformer is additionally based on actions comprising:
 determining respective distance confidence ratings for the meter and the transformers within the threshold distance of the meter, wherein the distance confidence ratings are based at least in part on distances between the meter and the transformers within the threshold distance of the meter;   wherein associating the meter to the transformer is based at least in part on a distance confidence rating of the meter being associated with the transformer.   
     
     
         9 . A device, comprising one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure a computing device to perform a method comprising:
 obtaining a time-series of voltages or a time-series of voltage-changes of a meter;   assigning a time-series of voltages or a time-series of voltage-changes to respective transformers within a threshold distance of the meter;   determining correlation coefficient values of the meter with respect to individual transformers within the threshold distance of the meter, wherein the correlation coefficient values are based at least in part on the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes of the meter and the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes of respective transformers;   determining, based at least in part on correlation coefficient values of the meter with respect to individual transformers that are within the threshold distance from the meter, respective probabilities of the meter being connected to the individual transformers within the threshold distance of the meter; and   associating the meter to a transformer with which the meter has a highest probability of being connected.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the correlation coefficient values comprise Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) values. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein assigning the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes is based at least in part on actions comprising:
 using a statistical measure having a central tendency to operate on time-series of voltages or time-series of voltage-changes of meters indicated to be connected to the transformer by a record.   
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein associating the meter to the transformer is additionally based on actions comprising:
 determining respective distance confidence ratings for the meter and two or more transformers, wherein the distance confidence ratings are based at least in part on distances between the meter and the two or more transformers;   wherein associating the meter to the transformer is based at least in part on a distance confidence rating of the meter being associated with the transformer.   
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 using address information to determine an address matching confidence rating (AMCR) between the meter and transformers less than the threshold distance from the meter;   wherein associating the meter to the transformer is based at least in part on an AMCR value of that meter.   
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 iterating at least portions of the method until a stable connectivity model is achieved.   
     
     
         15 . One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure a computing device to perform acts comprising:
 obtaining a time-series of voltages or a time-series of voltage-changes of a meter;   assigning a time-series of voltages or a time-series of voltage-changes to respective transformers within a threshold distance of the meter;   determining correlation coefficient values of the meter with respect to individual transformers within the threshold distance of the meter, wherein the correlation coefficient values are based at least in part on the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes of the meter and the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes of respective transformers;   determining, based at least in part on correlation coefficient values of the meter with respect to individual transformers that are within the threshold distance from the meter, respective probabilities of the meter being connected to the individual transformers within the threshold distance of the meter; and   associating the meter to a transformer with which the meter has a highest probability of being connected.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein determining correlation coefficient values comprises:
 determining Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) values.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the acts additionally comprise:
 iterating at least portions of the acts until a stable connectivity model is achieved; and   modifying a record associating meters and transformers using the stable connectivity model.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein associating the meter to the transformer is additionally based on actions comprising:
 determining respective distance confidence ratings for the meter and two or more transformers, wherein the distance confidence ratings are based at least in part on distances between the meter and the two or more transformers;   wherein associating the meter to the transformer is based at least in part on a distance confidence rating of the meter being associated with the transformer.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein assigning the time-series of voltages or the time-series of voltage-changes is based at least in part on actions comprising:
 using a statistical measure having a central tendency to operate on time-series of voltages or time-series of voltage-changes of meters indicated to be connected to the transformer by a record.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein associating the meter to the transformer additionally comprises:
 using address information to determine an address matching confidence rating (AMCR) of meters to transformers;   wherein associating the meter to the transformer is based at least in part on the AMCR.