Estimating Loss Rates of Links in Smart Grids

A system for estimating loss rates of links in a smart grid, comprising:

• at least one distinct software module, each distinct software module being embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium;
• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative for:
• identifying end-to-end passage rates from a source to each of multiple receiver and/or load meters in a smart grid;
• and
• estimating a loss in at least one link of the smart grid by identifying the sparsest solution of link loss rates that matches the end-to-end passage rates.

A system for estimating loss rates of links in a smart grid, comprising:

• a memory;
• at least one processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• at least one distinct software module, each distinct software module being embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium, the at least one distinct software module comprising:
• a monitoring module, executing on the processor, for monitoring power flow of multiple receiver and/or load meters in a smart grid;
• a measurement collector module, executing on the processor, for interfacing with the monitoring module to collect measurements to compute end-to-end passage rates from a source to each receiver and/or load meter in the smart grid;
• and
• a processing module, executing on the processor, for estimating a loss in at least one link of the smart grid by identifying the sparsest solution of link loss rates that matches the end-to-end passage rates.