Methods and apparatus for time synchronization and measurement of power distribution systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for time synchronization and measurement of power distribution systems. A method includes receiving a synchronized wireless communication signal, synchronizing to the synchronized wireless communication signal to produce synchronized time, performing one or more power distribution measurements based on the synchronized time to produce synchronized power distribution measurements, and transmitting the synchronized power distribution measurements to a power control center. An apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a synchronized wireless communication signal and to synchronize to the synchronized wireless communication signal to produce synchronized time, a measurement module configured to perform one or more power distribution measurements based on the synchronized time to produce synchronized power distribution measurements, and a transmitter configured to transmit the synchronized power distribution measurements to a power control center.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for time synchronization in a power distribution system, the method comprising:
 receiving a synchronized wireless communication signal from a terrestrial wireless communication system; 
 synchronizing a clock to a synchronized time based on the synchronized wireless communication signal; 
 receiving a first anomaly parameter, the first anomaly parameter identifying an action to be taken in response to detecting a first anomaly; 
 producing a synchronized result based on one or more power distribution measurements and the synchronized time; 
 transmitting the synchronized result; and 
 receiving a second anomaly parameter in response to transmitting the synchronized result, the second anomaly parameter configured to replace a value of the first anomaly parameter. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the terrestrial wireless communication system includes a cellular communication system, 
 the first anomaly parameter identifies a particular action to be taken in response to detecting a power line anomaly that is associated with the cellular communication system, and 
 the particular action includes a phase measurement. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a third anomaly parameter before transmitting the synchronized result, wherein the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and wherein the first anomaly parameter and the third anomaly parameter identify one or more power line anomalies associated with the CDMA system. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clock is synchronized based on transmission frames in the synchronized wireless communication signal, wherein the one or more power distribution measurements are based on the transmission frames, and further comprising:
 identifying power line anomaly conditions based on the one or more power distribution measurements and based on at least the first anomaly parameter; and 
 determining whether one or more additional power distribution measurements are to be performed in response to identifying the power line anomaly conditions. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining a particular power distribution measurement of the one or more additional power distribution measurements based on identifying a particular power line anomaly condition of the power line anomaly conditions; 
 performing the particular power distribution measurement in response to identifying the particular power line anomaly condition to generate measurement results; and 
 transmitting the measurement results to a power control center. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more power distribution measurements are performed by a measurement module, and 
 the first anomaly parameter identifies:
 a threshold for detecting the first anomaly, and 
 a particular action to be taken at the measurement module in response to the measurement module detecting the first anomaly. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving anomaly parameters corresponding to power line anomaly conditions, the anomaly parameters including the first anomaly parameter, wherein the power line anomaly conditions include an excessive power usage, a voltage spike, a current spike, or a combination thereof, and wherein the anomaly parameters include a power threshold, a voltage threshold, a current threshold, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more power distribution measurements are performed by a measurement module, and further comprising:
 identifying a location of the measurement module using advanced forward link trilateration; and 
 transmitting the location to a power control center. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first anomaly parameter includes a threshold, and further comprising identifying an anomaly condition in response to a first power distribution measurement of the one or more power distribution measurements exceeding the threshold. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for time synchronization in a power distribution system, the apparatus comprising:
 means for synchronizing a clock to a synchronized time based on a synchronized wireless communication signal that is received from a terrestrial wireless communication system; 
 means for receiving a first anomaly parameter that identifies an action to be taken in response to detecting a first anomaly; 
 means for producing a synchronized result based on one or more power distribution measurements and the synchronized time; and 
 means for performing transmission of the synchronized result, the means for receiving configured to receive a second anomaly parameter in response to the transmission, the second anomaly parameter configured to replace a value of the first anomaly parameter. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a synchronous communication system, 
 the first anomaly parameter identifies a particular action to be taken in response to detecting a power line anomaly that is associated with the synchronous communication system, and 
 the particular action includes a phase measurement. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive a third anomaly parameter before the transmission, wherein the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and wherein the first anomaly parameter and the third anomaly parameter identify one or more power line anomalies associated with the CDMA system. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the clock is synchronized based on transmission frames in the synchronized wireless communication signal, wherein the one or more power distribution measurements are based on the transmission frames, and further comprising:
 means for identifying power line anomaly conditions based on the one or more power distribution measurements and based on at least the first anomaly parameter; and 
 means for determining whether one or more additional power distribution measurements are to be performed in response to identifying the power line anomaly conditions. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the synchronized result is associated with one or more synchronized primary power line measurements, one or more synchronized secondary power line measurements, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more power distribution measurements include a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for performing transmission is configured to transmit the synchronized result to a power control center using a wireless transmission, a landline transmission, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for synchronizing, the means for receiving, the means for producing, and the means for performing transmission are each coupled to a data bus. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the means for receiving is configured to receive a request for one or more additional measurements; 
 the means for producing is configured to produce one or more additional results based on performance of the one or more additional measurements; and 
 the means for performing transmission is configured to transmit the one or more additional results. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for time synchronization in a power distribution system, the apparatus comprising:
 a data bus; 
 a processor coupled to the data bus and configured to determine a synchronized time based on a synchronized wireless communication signal received from a terrestrial wireless communication system; 
 a receiver coupled to the data bus and configured to receive a first anomaly parameter that identifies an action to be taken in response to detecting a first anomaly; 
 a measurement module coupled to the data bus and configured to perform one or more power distribution measurements based on the synchronized time, the processor further configured to produce a synchronized result based on the one or more power distribution measurements; and 
 a transmitter coupled to the data bus and configured to perform transmission of the synchronized result, the receiver further configured to receive a second anomaly parameter in response to the transmission, the second anomaly parameter configured to replace a value of the first anomaly parameter. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a synchronous communication system, 
 the synchronous communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, 
 the first anomaly parameter identifies a particular action to be taken in response to detecting a power line anomaly that is associated with the CDMA system, and 
 the particular action includes a phase measurement. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the data bus, the processor, the receiver, the measurement module, and the transmitter are included within a common housing. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a clock in the processor is configured to be synchronized based on transmission frames in the synchronized wireless communication signal. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the synchronized result is associated with one or more synchronized primary power line measurements, one or more synchronized secondary power line measurements, or a combination thereof, and wherein the one or more power distribution measurements include a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the measurement module is further configured to:
 identify power line anomaly conditions based on the one or more power distribution measurements and based on at least the first anomaly parameters; and 
 determine whether one or more additional power distribution measurements are to be performed in response to the identified power line anomaly conditions. 
 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission includes a wireless transmission. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission includes a landline transmission. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a request for one or more additional measurements, wherein the measurement module is further configured to perform the one or more additional measurements to produce one or more additional results, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the one or more additional results. 
     
     
       28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
 receive a synchronized wireless communication signal from a terrestrial wireless communication system; 
 synchronize a clock to a synchronized time based on the synchronized wireless communication signal; 
 receive a first anomaly parameter that identifies an action to be taken in response to detecting a first anomaly; 
 produce a synchronized result based on one or more power distribution measurements and the synchronized time; 
 initiate transmission of the synchronized result; and 
 receive a second anomaly parameter in response to the transmission, the second anomaly parameter configured to replace a value of the first anomaly parameter. 
 
     
     
       29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a synchronous communication system, 
 the synchronous communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, 
 the first anomaly parameter identifies a particular action to be taken in response to detecting a power line anomaly that is associated with the CDMA system, and 
 the particular action includes a phase measurement. 
 
     
     
       30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 generate a synchronization signal; and 
 control timing of at least one of the one or more power distribution measurements based on the synchronization signal. 
 
     
     
       31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 initiate performance of the one or more power distribution measurements at a measurement module; 
 identify a location of the measurement module using cell sector identification; and 
 transmit the location to a power control center. 
 
     
     
       32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 initiate performance of the one or more power distribution measurements on a power line; and 
 determine one or more synchronized primary measurements, one or more synchronized secondary measurements, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more power distribution measurements include a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the synchronized result to be transmitted via a wireless transmission. 
     
     
       35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes the synchronized result to be transmitted via a landline transmission. 
     
     
       36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions are executable to further cause the processor to:
 receive a request for one or more additional measurements; 
 initiate performance of the one or more additional measurements to produce one or more additional results; and 
 initiate transmission of the one or more additional results. 
 
     
     
       37. A method for time synchronization in a power distribution system, the method comprising:
 receiving time synchronized power distribution measurements from a plurality of measurement devices, wherein each measurement device is time synchronized based on a synchronized wireless communication signal from a terrestrial wireless communication system, and wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements include a first phase offset associated with a first measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices and a second phase offset associated with a second measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices; 
 analyzing the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements to determine one or more power conditions of the power distribution system; and 
 determining an error condition based on a comparison of the first phase offset and the second phase offset. 
 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 associating the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements with one or more geographic locations; and 
 correlating the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements based on the one or more geographic locations to determine a measurement variation. 
 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the first phase offset is a first difference in phase between first power measurement data collected by the first measurement device and second power measurement data collected by a fixed device, and wherein the second phase offset is a second difference in phase between third power measurement data collected by the second measurement device and the second power measurement data. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first phase offset corresponds to a first distance between the first measurement device and the fixed device, and wherein the second phase offset corresponds to a second distance between the second measurement device and the fixed device. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 37 , wherein each of the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements is associated with a power line of the power distribution system, and wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements comprise a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received via a landline transmission. 
     
     
       44. An apparatus for time synchronization in a power distribution system, the apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements from a plurality of measurement devices, wherein each measurement device is time synchronized based on a synchronized wireless communication signal from a terrestrial wireless communication system, and wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements include a first phase offset associated with a first measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices and a second phase offset associated with a second measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices; 
 means for analyzing the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements to determine one or more power conditions of the power distribution system; and 
 means for determining an error condition based on a comparison of the first phase offset and the second phase offset. 
 
     
     
       45. The apparatus of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 means for associating the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements with one or more geographic locations; and 
 means for correlating the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements based on the one or more geographic locations to determine a measurement variation. 
 
     
     
       46. The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received from a server in the terrestrial wireless communication system. 
     
     
       47. The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. 
     
     
       48. The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein each of the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements is associated with a power line of the power distribution system. 
     
     
       49. The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements comprise a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       50. The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received via a landline transmission. 
     
     
       51. An apparatus for time synchronization in a power distribution system, the apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements from a plurality of measurement devices, wherein each measurement device is time synchronized based on a synchronized wireless communication signal from a terrestrial wireless communication system, and wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements include a first phase offset associated with a first measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices and a second phase offset associated with a second measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices; 
 a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
 analyze the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements to determine one or more power conditions of the power distribution system; and 
 determine an error condition based on a comparison of the first phase offset and the second phase offset. 
 
 
     
     
       52. The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 associate the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements with one or more geographic locations; and 
 correlate the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements based on the one or more geographic locations to determine a measurement variation. 
 
     
     
       53. The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received from a server in the terrestrial wireless communication system. 
     
     
       54. The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. 
     
     
       55. The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein each of the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements is associated with a power line of the power distribution system. 
     
     
       56. The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements comprise a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       57. The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received via a landline transmission. 
     
     
       58. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
 receive one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements from a plurality of measurement devices, wherein each measurement device is time synchronized based on a synchronized wireless communication signal from a terrestrial wireless communication system, and wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements include a first phase offset associated with a first measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices and a second phase offset associated with a second measurement device of the plurality of measurement devices; 
 analyze the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements to determine one or more power conditions of a power distribution system; and 
 determine an error condition based on a comparison of the first phase offset and the second phase offset. 
 
     
     
       59. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 58 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 associate the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements with one or more geographic locations; and 
 correlate the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements based on the one or more geographic locations to determine a measurement variation. 
 
     
     
       60. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received from a server in the terrestrial wireless communication system. 
     
     
       61. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 58 , wherein the terrestrial wireless communication system comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. 
     
     
       62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 58 , wherein each of the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements is associated with a power line of the power distribution system. 
     
     
       63. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements comprise a power measurement, a current measurement, a voltage measurement, a phase measurement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more time synchronized power distribution measurements are received via a landline transmission.