US-12621591-B2 - Passive optical network for utility infrastructure resiliency

Abstract

A secure tiered, robust, and deterministic converged communications architecture with the capacity to support a plurality of power distribution automation devices/components with fiber-enabled fail-over protection is described.

Inventors

• Andrew Dickson
• Michael Kuberski
• Steven Offner

Assignees

• COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231206

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method comprising: receiving, by a network node associated with a first communication path comprising a plurality of first network nodes and a second communication path comprising a plurality of second network nodes, an indication to switch network traffic from the first communication path to the second communication path based on a fault detected in the first communication path, wherein the plurality of first network nodes comprise a power distribution automation device, an optical line terminal device, a gigabit switch, a smart grid service, and a utility management device; and based on the indication, transferring a connection from the first communication path to the second communication path.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fault is detected by one or more of the plurality of first network nodes.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the network node, a notification indicative of one or more of a location of the fault, a potential cause of the fault, or an estimated time to repair the fault.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fault is based on one or more signals of a protocol associated with Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fault is based on a continuity check message.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second network nodes comprise a second power distribution automation device, a second optical line terminal device, a second gigabit switch, a second smart grid device, and a second utility management device.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication path comprises the plurality of first network nodes and the network node as an end point.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communication path comprises the plurality of second network nodes and the network node as an end point.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network node is an electrical power recloser.
10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection from the first communication path to the second communication path is transferred in less than or equal to 15 milliseconds.
11. 11 . A system comprising: one or more first network nodes associated with a first communication path, the one or more first network nodes comprising a power distribution automation device, an optical line terminal device, a gigabit switch, a smart grid device, and a utility management device, and wherein the one or more first network nodes are configured to: determine a fault associated with the first communication path; and send an indication to switch network traffic from the first communication path to a second communication path comprising one or more second network nodes; and a network node associated with the first communication path and the second communication path, configured to: receive the indication to switch the network traffic from the first communication path to the second communication path; and transfer, based on the indication, a connection from the first communication path to the second communication path.
12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more first network nodes are further configured to: determine the fault based on one or more signals of a protocol associated with Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation.
13. 13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the network node is further configured to: receive a notification indicative of one or more of a location of the fault, a potential cause of the fault, or an estimated time to repair the fault.
14. 14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more first-second network nodes comprise a second power distribution automation device, a second optical line terminal device, a second gigabit switch, a second smart grid device, and a second utility management device.
15. 15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first communication path comprises the one or more first network nodes and the network node as an end point, wherein the end point is an electrical power recloser.
16. 16 . A method comprising: receiving, by a network node associated with a first communication path comprising a plurality of first network nodes and a second communication path comprising a plurality of second network nodes, an indication to switch network traffic from the first communication path to the second communication path based on a fault detected in the first communication path, wherein the first communication path comprises the plurality of first network nodes and the network node as an end point, and wherein the end point is an electrical power recloser; and based on the indication, transferring a connection from the first communication path to the second communication path.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fault is detected by one or more of the plurality of first network nodes.
18. 18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: receiving, by the network node, a notification indicative of one or more of a location of the fault, a potential cause of the fault, or an estimated time to repair the fault.
19. 19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fault is based on one or more signals of a protocol associated with Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation.
20. 20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fault is based on a continuity check message.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/741,150, filed May 10, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/222,710, filed Apr. 5, 2021, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,356,756, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND Maintaining data integrity and the highest system availability are mission-critical objectives for power distribution systems. For example, substations and associated devices/components require zero recovery time redundancy to achieve uninterrupted power supply to end-users. As traditional infrastructures become outdated, the integrity of power distribution systems becomes compromised. Power distribution systems with advanced sensing, communications, and rapid fail-over protection are required. SUMMARY It is to be understood that both the following general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive. Methods and systems for passive optical network (PON) for utility infrastructure resiliency are described. Described are methods comprising: determining, by at least one optical communication node of a plurality of optical communication nodes in communication with an electrical substation power distribution system, a fault associated with a portion of a plurality of portions of a first fiber optic communication path associated with the power distribution system, wherein each optical communication node of the plurality of optical communication nodes is in communication with at least a portion of the plurality of portions of the first fiber optic communication path and at least one electrical power recloser associated with the at least the portion of the first fiber optic communication path; causing, based on the fault, a connection to the portion of the first fiber optic communication path to switch to a connection to a portion of a plurality of portions of a second fiber optic communication path associated with the power distribution system; causing the at least one electrical power recloser to associate an electric power connection associated with the portion of the first fiber optic communication path with the portion of the second fiber optic communication path; and causing information sent via at least another portion of the plurality of portions of the first fiber optic communication path to be sent via the portion of the second fiber optic communication path. Also are described are methods comprising: determining, by a first optical communication node of a plurality of optical communication nodes in communication with a substation power distribution system, a fault associated with a second optical communication node of the plurality of optical communication nodes, wherein the second optical communication node is associated with a portion of a plurality of portions of a first fiber optic communication path associated with the power distribution system; and causing, based on the fault, information sent to the second optical communication node via the first fiber optic communication path to be sent to the first optical communication node via a second fiber optic communication path associated with the power distribution system. This summary is not intended to identify critical or essential features of the disclosure, but merely to summarize certain features and variations thereof. Other details and features will be described in the sections that follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show examples, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems: FIG. 1 shows an example system; FIG. 2 shows an example system; FIG. 3 shows an example system; FIG. 4 shows an example system; FIG. 5 shows an example system; FIGS. 6A-6B show an example systems; FIG. 7 shows example system testing results; FIG. 8 shows an example method; FIG. 9 shows an example method; and FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a computing device for implementing example systems. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another configuration includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. When values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another configuration. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or ma