Abstract: A system for improving accuracy of an intelligent electronic device operable to monitor electrical energy using metering sensors is disclosed. The metering sensors may be tested to determine characteristic curves by simulating operating conditions. The characteristic curves may be developed and transferred to the intelligent electronic device or may be developed by the intelligent electronic device through self-testing. The intelligent electronic device may apply the characteristic curves during operation of the intelligent electronic device.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system using real time communications. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the IED's and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system.

Abstract: An improved method of upgrading the firmware of an electronic device is disclosed. The method is executed over a communications link. The method includes compression of a portion of the new firmware, but does not require the device to have any pre-existing decompression algorithms built into it. A system and device capable of executing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of specifying built and configured to order intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) is disclosed. A customer interacts with an order processing interface to specify the type and model of IED they wish to purchase, any hardware options they wish installed and custom software to be loaded on the IED prior to shipment. The custom software includes object oriented frameworks which are functional applications custom developed by the customer. Once produced according to the customer's specifications, an IED is delivered to the customer which is capable of being used within the customer's specific application without further configuration by the customer.

Abstract: A system for modifying the functionality of intelligent electronic devices installed and operating in the field is disclosed. Each of the intelligent electronic devices operates with a software configuration to monitor electrical energy. A copy of the software configurations may be maintained in a database. Changes to the operation of one or more of the intelligent electronic devices may be made as a function of modifications to the database.