US Patent 6973589 Electronic communications in intelligent electronic devices

An intelligent electronic device (IED) is connected to interact with a power system to provide protection, control, and/or monitoring capabilities for the power system. The device includes a power system interface circuit for communicating with the power system and a processor coupled to the power system interface circuit. The device further includes memory storing software instructions performed by the processor for receiving electronic mail from a remote system through a communication link and for automatically transmitting electronic mail to the remote system through the communication link. The electronic mail may include information relating to operation of the power system or to operation of the intelligent electronic device.