Bandwidth analytics in a software defined network (SDN) controlled multi-layer network for dynamic estimation of power consumption

A controller, comprising:

• a network interface, a data store, and a processor, each communicatively coupled therebetween;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• monitor bandwidth usage for a plurality of users in a Software Defined Network (SDN) network, wherein the plurality of users correspond to service addresses in a control area of an electric grid system;
• detect abnormal bandwidth usage for a time period for one or more users of the plurality of users on the SDN network, which is a service provider network separate from the electric grid system;
• determine whether the abnormal bandwidth usage for the one or more users indicates a power forecast adjustment is needed for the one or more users, wherein the power forecast adjustment is determined based on a correlation of bandwidth usage behavior for the plurality of users to power usage behavior for the plurality of users and the power forecast adjustment is based thereon;
• notify an operator of the control area of the power forecast adjustment based on the abnormal bandwidth usage such that the operator adjusts power generation based on the notifying, wherein the plurality of users comprises a subset of users in the control area, and wherein the operator utilizes statistical sampling based on the notification for the power forecast adjustment
• characterize bandwidth usage type for the one or more users;
• and
• detect a condition of the one or more users based on the characterized bandwidth, wherein the condition comprises any of home on a work day, home from school on a school day, away from home, and returning to home.

A Software Defined Network (SDN), comprising:

• a plurality of network elements comprising switch hardware providing network access to a plurality of users each uniquely identified by a unique identifier;
• and
• a server operating an SDN application and communicatively coupled to the plurality of network elements;
• wherein the SDN application is configured to:
• monitor bandwidth usage for the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of users correspond to service addresses in a control area of an electric grid system;
• detect abnormal bandwidth usage for a time period for one or more users of the plurality of users on the SDN network, which is a service provider network separate from the electric grid system;
• determine whether the abnormal bandwidth usage for the one or more users indicates a power forecast adjustment is needed for the one or more users, wherein the power forecast adjustment is determined based on a correlation of bandwidth usage behavior for the plurality of users to power usage behavior for the plurality of users and the power forecast adjustment is based thereon;
• notify an operator of the control area of the power forecast adjustment based on the abnormal bandwidth usage such that the operator adjusts power generation based on the notifying, wherein the plurality of users comprises a subset of users in the control area, and wherein the operator utilizes statistical sampling based on the notification for the power forecast adjustment
• characterize bandwidth usage type for the one or more users;
• and
• detect a condition of the one or more users based on the characterized bandwidth, wherein the condition comprises any of home on a work day, home from school on a school day, away from home, and returning to home.