US6259972B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for processing and disseminating utility outage information
Assignee: Enghouse Systems USA Inc
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Filing: 1998-01-16
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Granted: 2001-07-10
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Expires: 2018-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for processing and disseminating utility outage information is disclosed. In response to the receipt of new data in the form of events, the data is mapped into a geographic information system and transmitted to selected recipients, or subscribers. Each subscriber has one or more areas of interest that define the information it receives. Each subscriber also has a security classification that further defines the information it may receive as well as the subscriber's ability to trigger events, or update the outage information. The mechanism of the invention employs multiple ways of disseminating the information. A subscriber may request that updated information be sent to the subscriber in response to a subscriber's request. Alternatively, the subscriber may request that updated information be automatically transmitted to the subscriber when updated information is received.
Inventors
- 👤 Zarko Sumic
- 👤 Lance J. Nelson
- 👤 David Drake Callahan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:04
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H1/00; H02H1/0092; H02H3/00; H02H3/02; H02H3/04; H02H3/042; H02H7/00; H02H7/26; H02H7/261; Y; Y04; Y04S; Y04S10/00; Y04S10/50; Y04S10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of disseminating utility outage information to at least two groups of subscribers, including a first group of subscribers and a second group of subscribers, the method comprising: maintaining a database of information corresponding to power utility distribution; obtaining an event representing utility outage information; determining whether the utility outage information corresponds to at least one subscriber; generating graphic data corresponding to the utility outage information and the power utility distribution information; selectively transmitting a first subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the first group of subscribers; and selectively transmitting a second subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the second group of subscribers; wherein the first subset of the graphic data is different from the second subset of the graphic data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of disseminating utility outage information to at least two groups of subscribers, including a first group of subscribers and a second group of subscribers, the method comprising: maintaining a database of information corresponding to power utility distribution; obtaining an event representing utility outage information; determining whether the utility outage information corresponds to at least one subscriber; generating graphic data corresponding to the utility outage information and the power utility distribution information; selectively transmitting a first subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the first group of subscribers; and selectively transmitting a second subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the second group of subscribers; wherein the first subset of the graphic data is different from the second subset of the graphic data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively transmitting a third subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in a third group of subscribers, wherein the third subset of graphic data is different from at least the first subset of the graphic data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the second group of subscribers over a local area network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein: the second subset of the graphic data is transmitted to at least one subscriber in the second group of subscribers over a local area network; and the third subset of the graphic data is transmitted to at least one subscriber in the third group of subscribers over a wide area network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the first group over a client-server communication medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the first group over a wide area network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the first group over the Internet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is automatically transmitted to at least one subscriber in response to receiving the event representing the utility outage information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is stored and subsequently transmitted to at least a second subscriber in response to receiving a data request from the second subscriber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is stored and subsequently transmitted to at least a second subscriber in response to receiving a data request from the second subscriber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining outage information from at least one subscriber in the first group of subscribers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions operable to perform the steps recited in claim 1 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment for performing the steps recited in claim 1 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is read only.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of disseminating utility outage information to at least two groups of subscribers, including a first group of subscribers and a second group of subscribers, the method comprising: maintaining a database of information corresponding to power utility distribution; obtaining an event representing utility outage information; determining whether the utility outage information corresponds to at least one subscriber; generating graphic data corresponding to the utility outage information and the power utility distribution information; selectively transmitting a first subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the first group of subscribers; and selectively transmitting a second subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the second group of subscribers; wherein the first subset of the graphic data includes graphic data not included in the second subset of the graphic data.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of disseminating utility outage information to at least two groups of subscribers, including a first group of subscribers and a second group of subscribers, the method comprising: maintaining a database of information corresponding to power utility distribution; obtaining an event representing utility outage information; determining whether the utility outage information corresponds to at least one subscriber; generating graphic data corresponding to the utility outage information and the power utility distribution information; selectively transmitting a first subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the first group of subscribers; and selectively transmitting a second subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in the second group of subscribers; wherein the first subset of the graphic data includes graphic data not included in the second subset of the graphic data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising selectively transmitting a third subset of the graphic data to at least one subscriber in a third group of subscribers, wherein the second subset of the graphic data includes graphic data not included in the third subset of the graphic data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein: the second subset of the graphic data is transmitted to at least one subscriber in the second group of subscribers over a local area network; and the third subset of the graphic data is transmitted to at least one subscriber in the third group of subscribers over a wide area network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the second group of subscribers over a local area network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the first group over a client-server communication medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the first group over a wide area network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is transmitted to the subscriber in the first group over the Internet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first subset of the graphic data is automatically transmitted to at least one subscriber in response to receiving the event representing the utility outage information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is stored and subsequently transmitted to at least a second subscriber in response to receiving a data request from the second subscriber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the second subset of the graphic data is stored and subsequently transmitted to at least a second subscriber in response to receiving a data request from the second subscriber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |