Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080235161 | Method, means and a computer program product for managing online charging in a communications network - A method of online charging in a communication network. The method includes receiving a service request from a user, determining whether the service request is an access network session, a media network session or a service network session, determining if a type of charging model the user wants to use to provide the service request is an event based model, a volume based model, a time based model, an event based model or a combination of the models, determining which network element corresponding to the access network session, the media network session and the service network session in the communication network is responsible for providing the service request from the user, and provisioning identification rules for providing the service request to the network element that is determined to be responsible for providing the service request from the user. Further, the step of provisioning the identification rules comprises updating the rules when the access network session, the media network session and the service network session interact with each other in a charging transaction requested in the service request from the user. | 09-25-2008 |
20080262979 | HEATING FACILITY USING TIME-OF-USE ELECTRICITY - A cost-effective method of heating a space in a facility comprises: (a) determining a cost of electricity from an electricity vendor; (b) when the determined cost of electricity is below an electricity pricing setpoint, obtaining sufficient electricity from the vendor to heat a heatable material such as water above a first temperature setpoint; and (c) when the heatable material has a temperature above the first temperature setpoint and a space requires heating, heating the space using at least some of the heat stored in the heatable material. Such method is particularly cost-effective when using electricity charged at a time-of-use basis. | 10-23-2008 |
20080281763 | Device and a Method for Measurement of Energy for Heating Tap Water Separated from the Buildings Heating Energy-Usage - A device, such as a heat meter for measurements of hot tap water energy usage, separated from building heating energy usage, in a district heating substation. The device is connected only to sensors attached to the supply pipe and return pipe of the district heating substation. A device, such as a heat meter, has a detector to detect a deviation in the total power (P) usage in the district heating substation which deviation depends on the use of warm tap water. The device may be used to calculate energy consumption in the heat exchanger related to building heating, and the energy consumption in the second heat exchanger related to tap water heating. The device may be used to calculate energy consumption for tap water heating, which relates to the duration of the deviation. | 11-13-2008 |
20080301066 | ERROR PROPAGATION IN CALCULATION WITH CONDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES - The result of a first calculation may be determined by one of two alternative calculations. Each of the alternative calculations has an error associated therewith (due to factors such as measurement imprecision, rounding, etc.), and these errors propagate to the first calculation. However, there may also be error in the first calculation due to uncertainty about which of the alternative calculations applies. Such error can be taken into account based on the respective probabilities that the first and second calculations will apply, as well as the difference in the results produced by the two calculations. | 12-04-2008 |
20090006279 | Automatic utility usage rate analysis methodology - An automatic method of which days/hours represent good candidates for reducing demand to achieve potential savings and the amount of demand reduction that can be achieved with a tolerable level of disruption to status quo operations. Demand interval data including utility usage rate (UUR) values is received from one or more utility monitoring devices, and are sorted in descending order. A percent difference is calculated for each UUR value relative to the previous one, and a cumulative percent difference accumulates the percent differences from the preceding rows. The average cumulative percent difference is divided by the total number of UUR values in the measured period to produce a ratio. The standard deviation of time is determined, and from those demand data associated with ratios greater than a ratio threshold and standard deviations less than a standard deviation threshold the demand reduction amount and the number of control hours are determined. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012916 | Energy optimization system and method - A energy optimization system and method is disclosed that permits energy consumers to minimize their energy costs by purchasing energy on the “spot market” at times wherein the cost of such energy is minimal (or alternatively, at times wherein the cost of such energy has not spiked to abnormally high levels). The invention utilizes information from a load constraint database in conjunction with information on the anticipated spot market energy price to determine when and how long to activate customer power loads. The present invention anticipates that power line frequency monitoring and/or the use of communication to the power providers will provide the necessary information to anticipate the spot market energy price for the desired cost reduction optimization to occur as desired. The present invention is equally applicable to a variety of energy sources, including but not limited to electricity, natural gas, and/or fuel oil. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012917 | System and Method for Array and String Level Monitoring of a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Power System - A grid-connected photovoltaic electrical power system with both array level and string level remote monitoring and production and efficiency analysis capabilities. The inventive system includes an array level monitoring component, software for recording and analyzing data obtained through the array level monitoring component, and a string level monitoring component. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012918 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT RETAIL ELECTRIC POWER EXCHANGE/ENERGY SERVICE PROVIDER LOAD OPTIMIZATION EXCHANGE AND NETWORK THEREFOR - An electric power exchange network includes a series of computerized exchange nodes that provide communications between suppliers and purchasers or users of electric power. Search engines enable suppliers to obtain information, such as load characteristics, from users in the network to allow the supplier to effectively merge or combine its existing loads with those of certain users, whereby a more efficient trading of electric power among members of the exchange network can be achieved. | 01-08-2009 |
20090024545 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS - A power consumption management system. The system includes a power appliance at a consumer site and a power appliance control point at a LSE site. The power appliance is capable of measuring and controlling power consumption on a plurality of circuits located at the consumer site, as well as controlling end consumer devices. The power appliance control point is capable of receiving power consumption data for each of the plurality of consumer circuits, and is capable of commanding the power appliance to control power consumption on individual circuits. The power appliance is further capable of directing power supplied from individual LSE's to individual circuits at the consumer site, and capable of varying such usage according to more complex schemes, for example, by time of day or environmental conditions. | 01-22-2009 |
20090063369 | AUTOMATICALLY REFRESHING TAILORED PRICING FOR RETAIL ENERGY MARKET - Methods and systems for managing product development processes are provided. A method for providing energy pricing includes receiving a pricing component. The method also includes automatically determining multiple prices for supplying energy. Each price may be determined for a different energy consumer and may be based at least on information about the consumer and the pricing component. The method further includes outputting the plurality of prices for supplying energy. | 03-05-2009 |
20090094173 | Intelligent Power Unit, and Applications Thereof - The present invention provides an intelligent power unit, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the intelligent power unit includes a battery, a power switch, and a control unit. The control unit receives price information and operates the power switch based on the price information to charge the battery during periods of relatively low electrical energy prices. During periods of relatively high electrical energy prices, the control unit cause the energy stored in the battery to be used to power attached loads. The price information provided to the control unit can be actual price information regarding the cost to generate electrical power, estimated price information, or contract price information. It is a feature of the intelligent power unit of the present invention that it can be used to shift a utility's electrical power demand in time. | 04-09-2009 |
20090119233 | Power Optimization Through Datacenter Client and Workflow Resource Migration - Systems and methods for power optimization through datacenter client and workflow resource migration are described. In one aspect, the systems and methods estimate how much power will cost for different and geographically distributed datacenters to handle a specific set of actual and/or anticipated workflow(s), where the workflow(s) are currently being handled by a particular one of the distributed datacenters. These estimated power costs are based on current power prices at each of the datacenters, and prior recorded models of power actually used by each of the datacenters to handle similar types of workflows for specific numbers of client applications. If the systems and methods determine that power costs can be optimized by moving the workflow(s) from the datacenter currently handling the workflows to a different datacenter, service requests from corresponding client applications and any data resources associated with the workflows are migrated to the different datacenter. | 05-07-2009 |
20090157567 | LED LIGHTING SYSTEM - A method for optimizing an LED lighting system cost includes steps of determining LED costs, power source costs, and total costs associated with a plurality of LED quantities, and identifying a lowest total cost as an optimal cost. A LED lighting system includes an LED operated by a constant-current driver at less than its maximum current capacity. A programmable controller including a feedback routine is used to compensate for intensity drift as an LED ages. Other embodiments of LED lighting systems include multiple LEDs producing light having various spectrums to optimize the lighting system efficiency and the effectiveness. A charge controller including an MPPT routine is advantageously employed with a LED lighting system powered by a limited-capacity power source. | 06-18-2009 |
20090164393 | POWER SYSTEM STABILIZATION SYSTEM - In a power system stabilization system for stabilizing a small-scale electric power system to which electric power generated by a rotating power generator is supplied, an electric water heater receives electric power from the electric power system and heats water, a system frequency measuring device measures system frequency of the electric power system, and a hot water controller increases the power consumption of the electric water heater when the system frequency exceeds a reference frequency, and decreases the power consumption of the electric water heater when the system frequency is less than the reference frequency. | 06-25-2009 |
20090171862 | ENERGY CONTROL SYSTEM - A method for adjusting an economic balance point in a dual fuel HVAC system includes a furnace, a heat pump and a control system. The method comprises providing a control device having a preprogrammed algorithm for controlling the HVAC system, providing a communication path between the control device and at least one component of the HVAC system, and accessing current fuel cost data; determining an economic balance point temperature based on the current fuel cost data; and updating the economic balance point temperature in the preprogrammed algorithm to adjust an actual balance point of the HVAC system. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177594 | Method for rewarding water conservation and generating additional revenue for hotels - A method for rewarding hotel guests for conserving water and for generating additional revenue for hotels is disclosed. A water flow control device that regulates the amount of water flowing through a shower head is installed between the shower head and the hot water supply line in each of the guest rooms in the hotel and is connected by a data line to a memory storage device for the hotel. The amount of water used in each guest room is monitored and data relating to water usage is collected and transmitted to the memory storage device. These data are then utilized by the hotel management to create incentives, i.e., perks and rewards, for those guests who have conserved water while showering. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177595 | Bidirectional metering and control of electric energy between the power grid and vehicle power systems - A metering device that allows the two-way exchange of electrical energy between the power grid and electric vehicles by giving customers the option to upload electrical energy from their vehicle's electrical power system to the power grid or to another vehicle, or the option to download electrical energy from the power grid or another vehicle, to charge their vehicle's electric storage system, depending on the current market price of electricity. This allows users to both buy and sell electricity as a commodity to offset their fuel costs and to generate income. The metering device and the associated server may maintain a database of the user's preferences and identification. The metering device may allow customers to upload and sell electricity from their vehicles during peak, high cost, energy consumption periods, download and buy electricity to their vehicles during low energy, low cost, consumption periods, or algorithmically engage in bi-directional transfer depending on the user's preferences and other variables (see [0043]) in order to maximize the customer's monetary returns and minimize the customer's monetary expenses. | 07-09-2009 |
20090210357 | REMOTE POWER USAGE MANAGEMENT FOR PLUG-IN VEHICLES - Methods and systems are provided for controlling the charging of onboard energy storage systems of a plurality of plug-in vehicles using a remote command center. A system for directing the charging of a plurality of remotely located plug-in vehicles is provided. The system includes a communication system configured to transmit charging authorizations to charge each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles and to receive data related to power consumption from each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the communication system and configured to receive the data related to power consumption and to direct the charge authorizations based thereon. A database is also included in the system and is communicatively coupled to the controller, with the database configured to store the data related to power consumption. | 08-20-2009 |
20090259603 | MOBILE INTELLIGENT METERING AND CHARGING SYSTEM FOR CHARGING UNIQUELY IDENTIFIABLE CHARGEABLE VEHICLE DESTINATIONS AND METHOD FOR EMPLOYING SAME - The instant invention relates to a mobile intelligent metering and charging system for charging uniquely identifiable chargable vehicle destinations (V) and method for employing the same. The system includes at least a power distribution system limb and a power consumption control and recordation limb. A vehicle system meter and at least one programmable command and control system identify unique vehicles, batteries, user accounts or other predetermined locations for charging and accounting purposes. Both the at least one programmable command and control system and the vehicle system meter are in communication with both the power distribution system limb and the power consumption control and recordation limb, and the at least one programmable command and control system controls the transmission of power through the vehicle system meter according to a predetermined and programmable algorithm, resulting in charging of the uniquely identifiable chargable vehicle destination. | 10-15-2009 |
20090281965 | Method and apparatus for storing and using energy to reduce the end-user cost of energy - The invention relates to an energy storing method and apparatus for use by end-users of energy, such as commercial property owners and operators. The system differs from past systems, insofar as it is not intended to be used by and in connection with energy suppliers, such as large utility and power supply plants and grids. The system preferably relates to the manner in which an end-user of energy can implement energy and costs savings, by using energy storage and time-shifting methods, to control and regulate the consumption of energy in a manner that achieves a cost savings over a period of time. One aspect of the method relates to accurately forecasting and predicting the energy demands and peaks that might occur on a daily basis, by recording and analyzing the prior day's history, as well as the overall energy demand histories, using short and long term forecasts, and then setting up a variable energy storage/use plan or schedule that helps to reduce the peak demands by time-shifting the energy that is used, i.e., reducing consumption during high demand/high cost periods, and using the energy stored during low demand/low cost periods during the high demand/high cost periods. | 11-12-2009 |
20090292654 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CALCULATING USE CHARGES IN A VIRTUALIZED INFRASTRUCTURE - A method for calculating computing resource use charges for a data center consumer entity is disclosed. The data center consumer entity accesses one or more of a plurality of computing resources in a data center. The method includes retrieving usage data of each of the plurality of computing resources. The usage data is retrieved for a selected period of use of each of the plurality of computing resources by the data center consumer entity. Each of the plurality of computing resources includes at least one of a CPU, a disk, a Network Interface Card (NIC), and a memory. The method further includes retrieving a rate plan data for the data center consumer entity and retrieving per unit charge, base rate, and rate factor for each of the plurality of computing resources. Further, a sum of a sum of multiplications of billed units of each of the plurality of computing resources by per unit charge, base rate, and rate factor is calculated. The billed units include one of actual used units or reserved units. The rate plan data includes information whether the actual used units or the reserved units to be used in calculating the sum. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299918 | Wireless delivery of power to a mobile powered device - A system that automatically detects the presence of an automobile that can operate wirelessly to recharge the battery therein, and detects account information associated with that automobile. When the account information is properly detected, the amount of power delivered is metered, and thereafter the power used by a user is Bill to the user at a markup based on that distributed by the distribution company. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299919 | CALCULATING UTILITY CONSUMPTION OF AT LEAST ONE UNIT OF A BUILDING - A method, apparatus and program product provide for calculating the utility consumption of at least one unit of a building having a plurality of units. The method includes determining a square footage of the at least one unit, sensing a temperature of the at least one unit over a predetermined period of time, and calculating utility consumption for the at least one unit based at least in part on the determined square footage of the at least one unit and the sensed temperature of the at least one unit. | 12-03-2009 |
20100010939 | RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM BUSINESS TUNING - A business tuning system collects streams of informational reports from remote renewable energy systems. A database holds the information and associates it with a particular renewable energy business operation. A pre-processor semi-structures the information into failure analyses, sales histories, performance results, regional trends, seasonal trends, and demographics. A data mining processor provides for knowledge discovery and prediction from semi-structured information related to said particular renewable energy business operation. | 01-14-2010 |
20100057641 | ANALYSIS OF ENERGY-RELATED FACTORS FOR SELECTING COMPUTATIONAL JOB LOCATIONS - The selection of an optimal data center location for running a computational workload is based on multiple energy criteria. The location is chosen based on multivariate and predictive analysis of total direct and indirect energy costs, and other user-defined factors. Among the direct and indirect costs are power costs and cooling costs as well as structural and other details of a given data center. Among the other factors to be considered that can have an impact on present and future costs are weather patterns, data and forecasts, availability of energy providers, and energy attributes. A forecaster factors these direct and indirect costs along with extrinsic information such as historical trends and predictive sources into a forecast which is then input to a decision engine along with user defined criteria and with anticipated compute tasks and requirements to select a final location or locations for handling the workload. | 03-04-2010 |
20100070434 | APPLIANCE WITH REAL TIME ENERGY COST DISPLAYED BASED ON USAGE - An appliance includes a display unit for an appliance and a control unit coupled to the display unit. The control unit is configured to detect at least one operating parameter associated with use of the appliance, calculate energy usage and energy costs associated with the at least one operating parameter, and present current energy usage and cost information on the display unit. | 03-18-2010 |
20100100507 | Determining Vehicle Visit Costs To A Geographic Area - Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area to provide more accurate cost and fee estimates associated with a delivery vehicle visit (e.g., a package pickup/delivery) to a location within the geographic area. For example, a geographic area may be defined and information collected that is associated with the geographic area. After defining the geographic area and collecting relevant information, an estimated cost associated with a delivery vehicle visit to a location within the geographic area can be determined, based, for example, at least in part on the information gathered. | 04-22-2010 |
20100114798 | Managing Charging of Electric Vehicles - Managing electrical charging of vehicles with charging devices related to users demand and available power. One system comprises charging points comprising sockets and a communication module, and a mediator server comprising a database, an application and a graphical user interface. The mediator server is connected to the charging points, to the users and to public utilities and electricity providers. Each charging point is arranged to admit vehicles, couple their charging device to the socket and send vehicle data to the mediator server. The mediator server is arranged to process the vehicle data, user data, and data from the public utilities and the electricity providers, and calculate a vehicle priority and a charging allotment in relation to the number of vehicles at the charging point and to the processed data. Vehicles are charged according to the vehicle priority and the charging allotment. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114799 | Optimal dispatch of demand side electricity resources - A load dispatch system operates in response to algorithmic software to generate an optimized load dispatch schedule based on data selected from one or both of rebound effect data or optimized load dispatch schedule opportunity cost data corresponding to dispatching of resources with a contractually limited number of dispatches in a given time period. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114800 | Cartridge battery, management device, battery system, management method, and program - A battery system has: a first device that is operated by electric power, having a first connector arranged at a first location; a second device that is operated by electric power, having a second connector arranged at a second location; a rechargeable battery; and a connection section to be releasably connected to each of the first and second connectors, and includes a plurality of cartridge batteries with approximately the same outer shape and size. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114801 | Rail vehicle or other path-constrained vehicle equipped for providing solar electric power for off-vehicle use, and systems in support thereof - A method by which a path-constrained vehicle (or series of such vehicles), constrained to travel along a rail or guideway of a magnetic levitation system or to follow a catenary, is equipped to provide electric power derived for off-vehicle use derived from solar collectors formed or provided on the surface of the vehicle. The solar electric power is provided to a coupling system distributed proximate to the rail or guideway or catenary and/or provided as part of same. The coupling system then provides the power for possible use by the public electric power grid or other off-vehicle use, and may compensate the vehicle (or train of vehicles) for the electric power. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121788 | GENERATING A UTILIZATION CHARGE FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM - Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that generates a utilization charge for a computer system. First, a set of performance parameters of the computer system are monitored. Next, a power utilization of the computer system is inferred based on the set of performance parameters and a power-utilization model. Then, a utilization charge is generated based on the power utilization of the computer system. | 05-13-2010 |
20100138363 | SMART GRID PRICE RESPONSE SERVICE FOR DYNAMICALLY BALANCING ENERGY SUPPLY AND DEMAND - A “Smart Grid Pricer” enables automated balancing of the supply and demand of energy supply and consumption, such as the generation and consumption of electricity between electricity providers and electricity consumers. The Smart Grid Pricer automatically computes and delivers real-time energy pricing information to consumers on behalf of energy retailers (e.g., electricity utilities) to help drive the balance of demand with supply. In various embodiments, real-time pricing is determined by using various probabilistic models to estimate overall consumer demand as a function of factors such as energy price, time of day, region, weather, etc. to compute a price that will result in an energy demand that is closely balanced to the available supply. On the consumer side, various components of the Smart Grid Pricer automatically respond to such pricing information to optimize energy consumption in accordance with a variety of automated and/or user defined rules and preferences. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145884 | ENERGY SAVINGS AGGREGATION - A power reduction aggregation system includes a central server and a plurality of power reduction devices. The central server of the power reduction aggregation system includes: a network interface configured to transmit and receive information to and from a communication network; a power grid status module coupled to the network interface and configured to transmit a power status message to the network, via the network interface, toward at least two power reduction devices connected to the network; and a power savings compensation module configured to determine an aggregate compensation earned for providing an aggregate energy reduction induced by the at least two power reduction devices in response to receiving the power status message, and further configured to determine individual portions of the aggregate compensation associated with each of the at least two power reduction devices. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145885 | SYSTEM FOR ON-BOARD METERING OF RECHARGING ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICALLY POWERED PROPULSION SYSTEMS - The System For On-Board Metering Of Recharging Power Consumption In Vehicles Equipped With Electrically Powered Propulsion Systems uses a unique identification of the associated Self-Identifying Outlet and the power consumption as metered on the Self-Reporting Vehicle to enable the Self-Reporting Vehicle to report the Self-Reporting Vehicle's power consumption to the utility company to enable the utility company to bill the vehicle owner and credit the account of the Self-Identifying Outlet for the power consumed by the recharging of the vehicular battery banks. | 06-10-2010 |
20100161517 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRICITY METERING FOR VEHICULAR APPLICATIONS - An electricity power meter for use in an electric vehicle is coupled to at least an energy storage device and to a conduit configured to receive electrical charging power from external to the vehicle. Further, the meter is configured to transmit a request for authorization for an electric charging transaction to a vehicle charging station, and receive a response to the request from the vehicle charging station, wherein the response indicates one of an approval and a denial of the request. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161518 | ELECTRICITY STORAGE CONTROLLER WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRICITY METER AND METHODS FOR USING SAME - An electricity storage controller for use with an electric vehicle is provided. The controller is coupled to at least an energy storage device to receive electrical charging power from external to the vehicle. Further, the controller is programmed to transmit a request for authorization for an electric charging transaction to a vehicle charging station and receive a response to the request from the vehicle charging station, wherein the response indicates one of an approval and a denial of the request. | 06-24-2010 |
20100174667 | CHARGING CABLE WITH CONTROLLER - A vehicle charging cable is disclosed configured to charge a vehicle battery on a vehicle from a utility power source, the cable comprising: a vehicle connector and a control module. The vehicle connector is connected to a power cable configured to supply power for charging the vehicle battery. The vehicle connector is configured to connect to a charging port on the vehicle. The control module is connected to the power cable. The control module is configured to receive utility data from the utility power source and to receive vehicle data from the vehicle, and to adjust the power supplied to the vehicle battery based on the utility data and the vehicle data. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174668 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES DRYER APPLIANCE - A clothes dryer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the clothes dryer in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes dryer in the energy savings mode. | 07-08-2010 |
20100198751 | PLUG-IN HYBRID RECHARGE POWER SYSTEM - A system for recharging an electric or hybrid electric vehicle includes an interface enabling a user to obtain electrical power for vehicle recharging purposes, authentication apparatus, and a power control unit operative to deliver power from a source of power to the interface but only after the user has been approved by the authentication apparatus. Power consumption circuitry is operative to determine how much electrical power has been provided through the interface, and a data repository is used for storing the amount of power consumed on a per-user basis, and for billing each user for that amount. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198752 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR USER-ASSISTED RESOURCE USAGE DETERMINATION - The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and a method of user-assisted resource usage determination in a domestic setting, the method comprising defining a resource consuming user activity by the user by means of a resource consuming user activity identifier; defining an interval for metering resource usage; determining the resource usage during the defined interval; and storing the determined resource usage, the defined 5 interval and the association thereof with the resource consuming user activity identifier. | 08-05-2010 |
20100217726 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING CONSUMPTION DATA REPRESENTING CONSUMPTION OF A UTILITY BY A UTILITY CONSUMER - Methods and systems for displaying consumption data representing consumption of a utility by a utility consumer are provided. An example method includes maintaining a plurality of time intervals in computer memory. In an example embodiment, at least one estimated usage value and at least one payment value is calculated. A usage status is determined for one or more of the time intervals based at least partly on the estimated usage value(s). A payment status is determined for one or more of the time intervals based at least partly on the estimated payment value(s) and estimated usage value(s). The utility consumer is presented with individual representations of the time intervals, the time intervals represented so that time intervals having the same status are visually similar and time intervals having different statuses are visually distinct. | 08-26-2010 |
20100228687 | Electricity Vending Devices And Associated Methods - Electricity vending devices and methods and software for vending electrical power are disclosed. Payment information may be received by the electricity vending devices by way of a magnetic or electric card reader, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a keypad, a touchscreen, or an RFID detector. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235304 | Electricity use system in electric vehicles - The inventive concept is directed to a method of collecting highway user taxes from the use of an electric vehicle. The invention includes the steps of placing a revenue meter next to a regular meter. The revenue meter only records the amount of wattage being used to charge or recharge the battery in the electric vehicle. This is accomplished by using the revenue meter to relay a current of 110V AC to the vehicle. The vehicle has a computer that will divert the high voltage to a current inverter which inverts the high voltage to a low voltage prevalent in the vehicle. The low voltage is also converted to a DC current which is instrumental in recharging the battery. The computer will also signal to the revenue meter when the respective battery is fully charged. The revenue meter will be read by a meter reading person together with the main meter. The invoice conveyed to the customer will record the regular charges that were incurred through the use of electricity but will also have an added charge indicative of the prevailing highway use taxes. The power company would convey the thus collected taxes to the respective authorities. | 09-16-2010 |
20100262566 | ELECTRIC ENERGY CALCULATION DEVICE, PRICE CALCULATION DEVICE AND PRICE CALCULATION METHOD FOR CALCULATING PRICE FOR CONSUMED ELECTRIC POWER, AND VEHICLE INFORMATION OUTPUT DEVICE AND VEHICLE INFORMATION OUTPUT METHOD - In order to accurately calculate a price for electric power for a vehicle to travel, to be spent for upgrade and maintenance of the social infrastructure necessary for vehicles to travel, an ECU determines whether battery-charging electric energy data is stored in an internal memory (S | 10-14-2010 |
20100299284 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING UTILITY USAGE AND PRICING INFORMATION TO A CUSTOMER - Methods and systems are provided for providing electricity usage information to a customer using a market-based pricing plan. According to various embodiments of the invention, this usage information includes real-time information on the current level of electricity being consumed as well as the current rate and/or cost level of that usage. By providing this and other information to a customer through a single, convenient device that is easy to read, customers of electricity are more likely to change consumption habits based on pricing information FM Radio Broadcast Digital System provides real-time pricing information directly to the consumer via the airwaves | 11-25-2010 |
20110016063 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SMART CHARGING TECHNIQUES - A system and methods that enables smart charging techniques. A smart charging method may include periodically updated schedules. In addition, a smart charging method may include schedules with overrides. Further, a smart charging may involve a method for local load management in the presence of uncontrolled loads. A smart charging method for managing electric resources may also provide direct control over prices-to-devices enabled devices. | 01-20-2011 |
20110029460 | Conservation friendly water & water reclamation utility rate structure - The present invention provides a stepwise method to transform and improve a Water and/or Water Reclamation Utility rate structure. Schedules of charges that customers pay for their water and water reclamation service, called rates structures, impose financial losses in income on a utility when water consumption is decreased. One major factor that decreases water consumption is water conservation although there are others. Because of the financial losses, utilities have a disincentive to encourage conservation. The method of the present invention includes the addition of a customer asset charge to the current fixed and water use charges that eliminates the utilities financial losses in income while enabling the maintenance of comparable total charges to customers. With this method, both the utility and the customers save money with water conservation and the utility has a positive motivation to support water conservation. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029461 | Dynamic Electrical Power Pricing Communication Architecture - A dynamic electrical power pricing communication system is provided. The system comprises at least one computer system, at least one memory, a data analysis application that receives status information from residential consumers and analyzes the status information. The system further comprises an electrical power price generation application that determines dynamic electrical power prices for the residential consumers based on the analysis of the status information, on an area of the residential consumers, wherein the electrical power prices of each area are determined independently. The system further comprises a power price distribution application that transmits the power prices to the residential consumers. The status information comprises one or more of when the last electrical price was received, what the last received electrical power price value was, how much load can be shed by the residential consumer, a control mode of an electrical power controller, and communication network diagnostic information. | 02-03-2011 |
20110035338 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING USER-AUTHENTICATING CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes a user authentication module configured for authenticating authorized users of the IED and preventing an access by non-authorized personnel to a user-selectable portion of operational features of the IED. In exemplary embodiments, the user authentication module includes a database of information authenticating an authorized user and a sensor acquiring user-identifying information (e.g., a biometric sensor, a reader of magnetic, holographic, RFID, or smart ID cards, or a keypad). In one application, these techniques are implemented in IEDs such as electrical power and energy meters and used to control access to reset, configuration, billing, communication, and data acquisition/processing functions of the meters. | 02-10-2011 |
20110047102 | VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery configured to be selectively charged with energy from an off-board energy source. The at least one controller may be configured to receive user input specifying a cost minimization mode of battery charging. The at least one controller may be further configured to, in response to the input, determine a time period available for charging the battery, determine when, during the time period, a cost of energy from the off-board energy source is at a minimum or below a threshold cost, and cause the battery to be charged during at least a portion of the time period when the cost is at the minimum or below the threshold cost to minimize the cost of charging the battery. | 02-24-2011 |
20110055116 | OPERATIONALIZING A POWER USAGE MONITORING SYSTEM - A monitoring system capable of being operationalized. Power consumption is electrical devices is monitored by the use of new and innovative consumption power monitoring device in accordance with the present invention. Power consumption information is collected by an intelligent power hub that is communicatively coupled to a remote server that presents overall power usage displays. A method of operationalizing a power usage monitoring system comprises powering up an energy pump device when the energy pump device is plugged into a first power socket, setting the energy pump device automatically to a SET mode to acquire new monitoring devices, and discovering the presence of a power consumption monitoring device. | 03-03-2011 |
20110071960 | System For Monitoring Optimal Equipment Operating Parameters - A method includes obtaining a present value of a set point for at least one piece of equipment with a remote monitor in communication with a controller that controls the at least one piece of equipment according to the set point. The method also includes determining a first power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The first power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at the present value of the set point. The method also includes determining a second power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The second power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at a predetermined benchmark value of the set point. The method also includes determining a monetary cost associated with a difference between the first power consumption rate and the second power consumption rate, based on a power consumption cost, when the first power consumption rate is greater than the second power consumption rate. The method also includes communicating the monetary cost, with the remote monitor, to a remote user. | 03-24-2011 |
20110078092 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A BATTERY - An apparatus and method for controlling a battery are disclosed to charge the battery by a certain device or discharge the voltage charged in the battery to the certain device based on configuration information and status information of the battery. A system for charging of an electric vehicle battery leveraging smart power grid technology, the system comprising: a wireless communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication session with a wireless device and receive control information relating to battery charge management for an electric vehicle battery; a memory configured to store one or more characteristics of an electric vehicle battery charge station; a detection unit configured to identify battery status information for the electric vehicle battery; and a controller configured to generate a control signal based on at least two of the control information, the battery status information, and the characteristics; wherein the control information includes information that can be used to identify a target capacity for the electric vehicle battery. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078093 | TELEMETRY SYSTEM - Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for transmitting data in a gas AMI network. Data may be transmitted bi-directionally between selected endpoint devices and data collection devices to central or head end equipment. Transmitted data may include parameter updating data for selected endpoint devices, and collected data from selected endpoint devices. Endpoint physical area conditions may be monitored for selected of the endpoint devices including monitoring for and reporting of physical changes in the area surrounding cathodic protection systems. The present concepts may be extended to implementation in conjunction with water and electricity metering environments. | 03-31-2011 |
20110112987 | Self-Organizing Energy Pricing - Techniques for real-time pricing of electrical energy are provided. The techniques include receiving electrical energy data, wherein the electrical energy data comprises one or more energy pricing parameters specified by an energy supplier, measuring power grid frequency, wherein the power grid comprises the current frequency of the power grid, measuring current energy consumption, wherein current energy consumption comprises total energy consumption in a sampling period, retrieving consumption history, wherein consumption history comprises energy consumed by a customer over a time period, computing a unit energy rate as a function of customer type, the one or more pricing parameters, frequency and past history of consumption, and using the computed rate to compute a total charge as a product of the unit energy rate and the total energy consumption. | 05-12-2011 |
20110137826 | SYNCHRONIZING A COST ESTIMATE ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method for synchronizing a cost estimate on an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining an estimated usage by an electronic device. The method also includes obtaining an estimated rate. The method further includes estimating, on the electronic device, a bill for a period-to-date to produce an estimated bill. The method also includes determining, on the electronic device, whether to synchronize. The method further includes synchronizing, on the electronic device, the estimated bill using actual bill information for the period-to-date if it is determined to synchronize. | 06-09-2011 |
20110153525 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING POWER CONSUMPTION USING GEOLOCATION INFORMATION - A method of controlling power consumption comprising defining a boundary region surrounding a power-consuming structure and obtaining geolocations for one or more mobile terminals over a telecommunications network. The method also comprises determining whether or not the one or more mobile terminals are located inside or outside of said boundary region and changing a power mode of the power-consuming structure. The power mode is changed to a low-power consumption mode when the geolocations of each of the mobile terminals are outside of the boundary region. Or, the power mode is changed to a high-power consumption mode when the geolocation of at least one of the mobile terminals is inside the boundary region. | 06-23-2011 |
20110161250 | DISTRIBUTED ENERGY GENERATOR MONITOR AND METHOD OF USE - A computerized method and system for monitoring at least one distributed energy generator, comprising: receiving utility bill information related to an existing utility of a customer, and measured energy information from the distributed energy generator of the customer; and generating a bill for measured energy from the distributed energy generator, the bill taking into account the utility bill information related to the existing utility. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161251 | Method and System for Tracking and Budgeting Energy Usage - An energy tracking and reporting system can receive data inputs from multiple sources regarding one or more properties. A central database receives the information and correlates the information for numerous outputs. Information received by the central database can include, for example, property location, property size, property type and property use. Also, occupancy information, energy sources, utilities servicing the property, weather, ISO, environmental guidelines, and the traded or other standard price for the utilities can be stored. The system can calculate a number of factors from the data and return values to the central database. The system can track data trends and store additional information for budgeting, user reporting and certification compliance reporting. Modules can analyze the market rates, calculate efficiency benchmarks, analyze the data stored on the central database and provide the user with multiple tables and charts analyzing all of the factors that tie into energy usage. | 06-30-2011 |
20110178959 | CHARGE AND DISCHARGE CONTROL DEVICE - A charge and discharge control device for controlling a battery in an electric vehicle to be charged and discharged with electricity, the electricity being transmitted and received through a power line, and being bought and sold, includes a switching unit, a communication unit, a determination unit and a controller. The switching unit switches charge and discharge. The communication unit receives current electricity price. The determination unit determines first and second electricity price thresholds. The first electricity price threshold is determined using difference between current and start times, and difference between current and target amounts of charge. The second electricity price threshold is equal to or larger than the first electricity price threshold. The controller controls the switching unit to charge the battery if the current electricity price is smaller than the first electricity price threshold, and discharge if the current electricity price is larger than the second electricity price threshold. | 07-21-2011 |
20110184888 | SYSTEM TO TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE WIRELESS POWER, TERMINAL DEVICE, MANAGEMENT SERVER, AND WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A system to transmit and receive wireless power, a terminal device, a management server, and a wireless power transmission apparatus may use non-radial wireless energy transmission technology to generate a resonant frequency in resonators and charge a device. The terminal device may receive the wireless power to perform charging by non-contact energy transmission. | 07-28-2011 |
20110191265 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION HOST DEFINABLE PRICING - An electric vehicle charging station network includes multiple electric vehicle charging stations belonging to multiple charging station hosts. Each host controls one or more charging stations. A charging station network server provides an interface that allows each of the hosts to define one or more pricing specifications for charging electric vehicles on one or more of their electric vehicle charging stations belonging to that host. The pricing specifications are applied to the charging stations such that a cost of charging electric vehicles using those charging stations is calculated according to the pricing specifications. | 08-04-2011 |
20110191266 | NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ON PARKING AREA - A vehicle includes a driving motor, a battery for the driving motor, a solar cell, and a control device for controlling charge of the battery using the solar cell and an external charge facility. A search unit searches a parking area near a present position of the vehicle or a destination. An information acquisition unit acquires charge-related information related to each parking area being searched. The charge-related information includes a capability of an external charge facility of each parking area, data of a usage fee of each parking area, and sunshine condition data of each parking area during a scheduled parking. A calculation unit calculates a charge cost for each parking area according to a remaining quantity of the battery, the charge-related information, and a time period of scheduled parking. A display unit indicates the calculated charge cost of each parking area. | 08-04-2011 |
20110191267 | Water Distribution Systems - A method for use in the design of a water distribution by determining whether to locate a pressure reducing valve (PRV) in a given location. | 08-04-2011 |
20110202476 | METHOD FOR RECHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTRIBUTED RECHARGING STATIONS - A method for recharging an electric vehicle in a recharging station of a network of geographically distributed recharging stations. The method includes: communicating availability of a recharging station to a control centre of the network; transmitting a recharge request from an onboard unit of the electric vehicle via communication devices of a road toll system to the control centre; assigning the onboard unit to an available recharging station in the control centre; notifying the onboard unit of the assigned recharging station via the communication devices of the road toll system and notifying the recharging station of the onboard unit; and activating the recharging station to recharge the electric vehicle, when the assigned onboard unit is detected therein. The recharging in the recharging station is monitored and an image of the vehicle is recorded in the recharging station in an event of an interruption, interference or deviation in the recharging process from a given course. | 08-18-2011 |
20110225105 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE FOR TRIP PLANNING - One or more embodiments may include a trip planning system for planning a trip based on the charge of an electric vehicle battery. The trip planning system may include one or more computers located remotely from an electric vehicle which may have one or more battery packs for powering the electric vehicle. The computer(s) may be configured to receive geographic parameters defining a trip and a battery charge status of the one or more electric vehicle battery packs. The computer(s) may be further configured to determine that the trip cannot be completed based on the battery charge status. The computer(s) may additionally be configured to present a battery charge requirement for completing the trip. | 09-15-2011 |
20110231342 | ELECTRICITY USAGE PLANNER - A device for aiding in planning electricity usage in areas that use time of day electricity rates is provided. The device consists of a compact digital electricity cost indicator that displays the current time, day, date, applicable cost structure such as season, weekend, or holiday, and current cost of electricity, and a retractable electricity rate card for quick visualization of electricity rates throughout the day. | 09-22-2011 |
20110264605 | SMART SERVER AND SMART DEVICE - A smart server and smart device are disclosed, by which a new power unit price (hereinafter named a combined power unit price) can be calculated in consideration of an internally generated electricity quantity instead of using an external power unit price as it is. The present invention includes a power demand obtaining unit obtaining a home power demand for at least one electronic appliance including a smart device, a generated quantity detecting unit detecting an internally generated power quantity for at least one home generator, a price information receiving unit receiving power information including external power price information on an external power via a network, and a combined unit price output unit outputting a combined power unit price using an external power demand and the internally generated power quantity and the external power price information, wherein the external power demand is calculated based on the power demand. | 10-27-2011 |
20110270783 | TRIGGER-BASED APPLICATION CONTROL - Trigger-based application control may be provided. A work implement may receive an application trigger comprising a location-based condition. In response to determining that the work implement has entered the work area associated with the location-based condition, an application associated with the work implement may be received and initialized. | 11-03-2011 |
20110282807 | System And Method For Transporting Energy - A method for shifting energy in space and time includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to an energy consumer. A method for providing energy security to an energy consumer includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and when a primary energy source at the second location is unavailable, discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to the energy consumer. A vehicle for wirelessly transmitting electric power from a first location to a second location includes a battery, at least one power converter, a controller, and power coupling electrically coupled to the at least one power converter. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282808 | UTILITY CONSUMPTION RECOMMENDATION - A computer-implemented method is disclosed for generating and presenting personalized recommendations of improving utility consumption efficiency of a dwelling based on an itemized utility consumption profile generated from historical utility consumption data. The computer-implemented method comprises obtaining data indicating historical utility consumption of a dwelling over a time period to produce an itemized utility consumption profile. A list of recommendations for improving utility consumption efficiency is generated based on the itemized utility consumption profile, and a reduction in utility consumption for each recommendation is estimated based on the historical consumption profile. The recommendations may be ranked, modified, or bundled to produce personalized recommendations, which may increase the likelihood of implementation. | 11-17-2011 |
20110289019 | ENERGY CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT - An energy consumption display arrangement, which includes a database in which is stored incident energy consumption data of a number of energy consumption sites stored over a period of time, a graphical user interface operable to retrieve selected consumption data of at least one energy consumption site from the database and to present said selected consumption data to a user, the graphical user interface having a user definable dashboard for displaying any one or more of incident power consumption-, accumulated daily power consumption- and accumulated monthly power consumption of the at least one energy consumption site. | 11-24-2011 |
20110302108 | TRANSFERRING ELECTRIC ENERGY BETWEEN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND A POWER DISTRIBUTION GRID - In order to be able to perform the transfer of electric energy between an electric energy storage device of an electric car and a connection point of an electrical power distribution grid using relatively less effort, particularly with regard to the technical construction of the connection point, the novel method controls the transfer of electric energy between the electric energy storage device of a vehicle and a connection point of an electrical power distribution grid. An electrical connection is produced between the electric energy storage device and the connection point, a communication connection is produced between a communication device associated with the vehicle and a communication service provider, the electric energy is transferred between the electric energy storage device and the connection point during the period of time that the communication connection exists at constant average electrical power, and the transfer of the electric energy and the communication connection are terminated at the same time. | 12-08-2011 |
20110307418 | MULTI-METERING OF ELECTRIC POWER CONSUMPTION - An electric metering system comprising a plurality of metering devices controlled by a metering controller. Each of the metering devices provides the controller with instantaneous measurements of electric current within an associated electric conductor. The metering controller is operative to collect the measurement information, compute consumption information, store the information and retrieve the information for each metering device independently. | 12-15-2011 |
20120005125 | PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISION OF POWER TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES - The present invention provides computer-controlled payment systems for charging a fee for battery charging of an electric vehicle, the system including an electric vehicle including at least one battery, a master charger vehicle including a master battery module, a control system in communication with the at least one electric vehicle and the master charger vehicle to enable the master charger vehicle to reach the electric vehicle, wherein the master battery module is adapted to charge the at least one battery; and a payment system adapted to charge a fee to a user of the electric vehicle. | 01-05-2012 |
20120005126 | CHARGING/DISCHARGING APPARATUS AND CHARGING/DISCHARGING METHOD - Disclosed is a charging/discharging apparatus and charging/discharging method. According to the present disclosure, a user can suitably control a battery charging/discharging under a price changing system in which electricity price varies depending on time of day. To do this, after the user input a charging reference price and a discharging reference price, the battery is charged when electricity price supplied from a power company is equal to or less than the charging reference price and discharged when the electricity price is equal to or higher than the discharging reference price. A charging/discharging schedule of the battery can be determined using various charging/discharging conditions, other than the charging reference price and discharging reference price, and especially the charging/discharging schedule can be controlled such that the user can make the most profit. | 01-05-2012 |
20120036091 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED, RANGE-BASED IRRIGATION - A centralized irrigation system provides non-decision-making controllers in combination with a client server architecture that employs irrigation algorithms for monitoring and control. Live feedback means send information back to a server for use with sophisticated modeling capabilities to monitor exceptions to a planned control scheme, adjust control parameters, and provide a real-time update to system performance. This feedback is instantaneously routed from the server to monitoring and feedback client software connected to the server through a network and enables volume-based cycles and soaks of irrigation. Range-based control strategies determine a total volumetric water-holding capacity for a volume of soil and a range of desirable soil moisture. The system permits a shared-savings business model where the vendor provides a system and the customer only pays the vendor a portion of the savings obtained by using the system. It further permits rapidly deploying improved control systems to save water for a community. | 02-09-2012 |
20120059775 | ENERGY METERING SYSTEM, ENERGY METERING METHOD AND WATT HOUR METER OF SUPPORTING DYNAMIC TIME-VARYING ENERGY PRICING - The present disclosure is disclosed to record in detail and manage information on energy use history of a user under various energy pricing systems where energy prices are changed in time. To this end, an energy meter receives time-based energy price information from a remote server, and time-sequentially records a record including time information of relevant unit time for each unit time, energy price information applied to relevant unit time and energy consumption information at the relevant unit time, whereby the information on how much, when and at what price the user has used the energy can be accurately and quite obviously managed. The energy use history can be used in various fields as data for promoting reasonable energy use, and as a base for calculating energy use charge. | 03-08-2012 |
20120066154 | WIND-POWERED TRANSPORTATION AND ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A wind-powered system and method provides for simultaneous electrical generation and transportation of persons or cargo. A set of cables are strung between a plurality of rigid, upright supports, and a transportation vessel including one or more sails rides along the cables through wind power. The vessel is coupled to the cables through one or more motor-generator units, each motor-generator units being operative to generate electricity as the vessel is pushed by the wind or power the vessel in the absence of wind. | 03-15-2012 |
20120078818 | APPLIANCE COOPERATION OPERATION DEVICE - An appliance cooperation operation device in which a facility database stores an introduction cost of a power storage shared among a plurality of customers, and a rated life of the power storage; a facility deteriorating influence calculator calculates deteriorating influence on the power storage by using at least one parameter selected from a discharge rate of the power storage in a first period, depth of discharge at the end of the first period, and environmental temperature in the first period; a customer electric energy collector collects, from each of the customers, data of electric energy consumption in the first period; and a customer's burden cost calculator calculates a burden cost of each customer in the first period by multiplying: a ratio of energy consumption of each customer to total customer energy consumption; the introduction cost; a ratio of the first period to the rated life; and the deteriorating influence. | 03-29-2012 |
20120130924 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING ENERGY USE - Analyzing energy use comprises determining a location identifier associated with a site. Weather data associated with the site is determined according to the location identifier. Energy usage information associated with the site is determined. An energy metric for the site is calculated based on the weather data and the energy usage information. The energy metric comprises a selected one of a forecasted energy cost and a computed energy setting. | 05-24-2012 |
20120173459 | NETWORK SYSTEM - A network system is provided. The network system includes: a plurality of components for transmitting or receiving information. At least one component among the plurality of components recognizes at least energy-related information and performs an energy-related response. When a first component in the plurality of components recognizes a course related to an operation of a second component, the first component recognizes a predicted energy usage charge on the basis of a predicted power consumption amount of the second component corresponding to the inputted course. | 07-05-2012 |
20120179631 | METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR RESPONSIVE LOAD MANAGEMENT USING FREQUENCY REGULATION CREDITS - A method, device and system for responsive load management using frequency regulation credits. The method includes using an AC frequency measuring device, measuring a current AC frequency on an AC power line; using a power consumption measuring device, measuring a current power consumption on the AC power line over a period of time equal to a sampling interval; calculating a power consumption moving average of a last N power current power consumptions measured, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; generating credits or debits based on the current power consumption, the current AC frequency and the power consumption moving average; adding the credits or debits to a frequency regulation credit; and for each next sampling interval repeating measuring the current AC frequency, measuring current power consumption, calculating the power consumption moving average, generating the credits or debits, and adding the credits or debits to the frequency regulation credit. | 07-12-2012 |
20120215725 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An energy management system includes a controller located at a site and configured to establish at least one network capable of communicating with at least one of a smart meter and at least one device disposed at the site. The controller is also configured to receive energy information of the site from the smart meter and receive energy information of the at least one device from the at least one network. The controller is also configured to communicate the energy information of the site and the at least one device to a display device associated with the site. | 08-23-2012 |
20120221491 | ELECTRIC POWER INTERCHANGE SYSTEM - In a power interchange system, an electric power generated by a power generation device is interchanged between power consuming dwellings in a multi-family house. Each power consuming dwelling generates the power by using the power generation device and receives a commercial AC power supply via a shared power supply wiring. The amount of electric power supplied to each power consuming dwelling is managed by a power management device. The power management device manages a surplus power amount of one power consuming dwelling and a required electric power amount of another power consuming dwelling and supplies the surplus power from the former power consuming dwelling to the latter power consuming dwelling via the power supply wiring. | 08-30-2012 |
20120226635 | POWER METADATA TRANSFER OVER POWER LINES - The transfer and usage of a modulated carrier signal within a power signal on a power line communication system is described. The modulated signal comprises metadata which is transmitted at a different frequency than the transmitted power. The metadata, including such elements as energy costs, providers, renewable source status and originating location, may be used by consumers to make subsequent purchasing decisions. Additionally, the energy costs of any given computer node commonly distributed in a grid architecture may be collected by a workload dispatcher in order to make more accurate cost and energy source based dispatch decisions. The consumer may be able to communicate directly back to the power provider. The use of computer-readable medium and product containing instructions that are implemented on a computer is also covered. Finally, the invention may be deployed on behalf of the consumer by a third party service provider. | 09-06-2012 |
20120233094 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND POWER FEED CONTROL DEVICE - An energy management system for managing electric power generated by an electric power generation apparatus for generating the electric power by using natural energy and electric power to be supplied to an electric appliance as a load, the energy management system includes a controller for determining one of destinations to which surplus electric power of the generated electric power is supplied; and a storage unit storing one or more rules regarding use of electric power that is set with a priority order of candidates of the destinations to which the surplus electric power is supplied. The controller determines the destination based on the rules stored in the storage unit, and information about a price of electric power to be sold. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239594 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DEMAND RESPONSE INFORMATION - A method for providing demand response information to a user of an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving demand response data. A plurality of energy prices based on the demand response data is then generated by a processor, wherein each energy price is associated with a time range. The plurality of energy prices are then presented to a user of the electric vehicle. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239595 | CONTROL DEVICE, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD - A smart controller ( | 09-20-2012 |
20120290506 | VEHICULAR NAVIGATION APPARATUS - A vehicular navigation apparatus includes a control unit that sets a reachable area that is reachable by a vehicle, such that a remaining charge amount of a battery of the vehicle has a remaining charge amount above a quick charge threshold at the reachable area. The quick charge threshold is provided as a charge level of the battery that is required for a quick charge operation of the battery. The control unit further searches for a battery charge spot in the reachable area, and provides guidance to the battery charge spot. The control unit may further redefine the reachable area where a charge operation is scheduled, based on preferences provided by a user. | 11-15-2012 |
20120303553 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ENERGY PRICES - A computing device for use with a charging station is provided. The computing device includes an interface that is configured to receive demand response data for the charging station. Moreover, the computing device includes a processor that is coupled to the interface and that is programmed to generate a plurality of energy prices based on the demand response data, wherein each energy price is associated with a time range. The computing device also includes a presentation interface that is coupled to the processor for use in presenting the plurality of energy prices to a user of the charging station. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303554 | Energy Monitoring System and Method - A portable energy monitoring point includes at least one power plug receptacle, each power plug receptacle operably coupled to a separate integral power sensor circuit. Each integral power sensor circuit is configured to determine an electrical current drawn by an electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle. An integral digital communications circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit to a remote device a power consumption for each of the at least one power plug receptacles. The power consumption is derived from the electrical current drawn by the electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle. | 11-29-2012 |
20120310860 | Cloud-Based Demand Response - Methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing cloud-based demand response are provided. Cloud-based demand response may be performed by publishing a demand response request at a communications node, the published demand response request including at least a load reduction request and an incentive price; initiating a load reduction bidding process in response to the published demand response request, the load reduction bidding process being accessible to customer nodes; and determining an updated incentive price based on at least one load reduction bid received from the customer nodes. The updated incentive price may be determined by a bisection function, and the at least one load reduction bid may be autonomously generated based on a customer cost function. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310861 | UTILITY CALCULATION AND PRICING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of controlling usage of a commodity. The method includes monitoring, by an electronic device, a usage of the commodity, communicating, by the electronic device, the usage of the commodity to a fully-loaded cost engine at a remote location, determining, by the fully-loaded cost engine, a fully-loaded price for a commodity, communicating the fully-loaded price to a device, and operating a commodity-using device based on the fully-loaded cost and a commodity-consumption strategy. | 12-06-2012 |
20130018821 | REAL-TIME PEAK UTILITY USAGE CHARGE ASSESSMENT METHODS - Some embodiments are systems which calculate the amount of electric power that a peak mitigation system provides in real time and translate that information into a real-time estimate of a peak utility usage charge that appears on the utility bill of the customer. These systems may facilitate a determination of the monetary value of demand charges saved by peak mitigation and load leveling and a notification to a customer of the savings realized. Some systems described herein provide a method of billing a customer based on the electricity usage savings accumulated through demand charge reduction procedures. One embodiment monitors the mitigation of peak loads as they occur, detects and measures incremental changes in demand charge-producing peaks and updates a projection when incremental demand charge changes occur. The demand charge projection may be presented to the customer, aggregated with demand charge projections of other sites, and displayed to increase awareness. | 01-17-2013 |
20130031029 | GEOFENCE-BASED TAX ESTIMATES - Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for estimating taxes. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that the vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofenced area, telematics data can be collected and used to estimate taxes, such as road use taxes and fuel use taxes. | 01-31-2013 |
20130041850 | ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES AND METHODS FOR USE IN CHARGING AN ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLE - Electrically powered vehicle and methods for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle are disclosed. One example electrically powered vehicle includes an in-vehicle user interface including at least one input device configured to receive at least one input from a user and a vehicle controller coupled in communication with the in-vehicle user interface. The vehicle controller is configured to receive at least one user input from the in-vehicle user interface and communicate at least one charging parameter to a vehicle charging station in response to the at least one user input. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041851 | IMPLEMENTING DIRECT ENERGY METERING, AUTHENTICATION AND USER BILLING - A method, computer program product, and an intelligent circuit breaker are provided for implementing authentication, direct energy metering, and user billing for an electric vehicle owner. The intelligent circuit breaker is configured to be received within a conventional circuit breaker power panel without requiring infrastructure modification of the power panel. The intelligent circuit breaker communicates with an electric vehicle and a billing service, establishing user authentication, enables charging, performs direct electrical energy metering, and sends billing information to the billing service. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041852 | CUSTOMIZABLE DYNAMIC RESOURCE REGULATING DEVICES AND METHODS - Devices and methods for regulating resource usage are described herein. In some aspects, devices and methods for customizable dynamic regulation of resource usage policies are provided. Techniques for identification and reconciliation of resource provider usage policies and custom usage policies for resource consuming devices are generally described. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041853 | VALUATING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - A method including receiving data from an energy-consuming device; determining an amount of energy consumed by the device during a time interval; calculating an actual energy cost based on the determined amount of energy consumed by the device during the time interval; predicting an amount of energy that would have been consumed by the at least one device during the time interval if the at least one device were not associated with the energy management system; calculating a predicted energy cost based on the predicted amount of energy that would have been consumed by the at least one device during the time interval if the at least one device were not associated with the energy management system; and calculating a valuation of the energy management system for the at least one energy consuming device over the time interval by comparing the actual energy cost and the predicted energy cost. | 02-14-2013 |
20130041854 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE USING BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes coupling the electric vehicle to an energy delivery point via a connector, receiving a unique identifier of the electric vehicle via the connector, determining an account associated with the identifier, delivering an amount of energy to the electric vehicle via the connector, and determining a transaction amount based on the amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle by the energy delivery point. | 02-14-2013 |
20130054493 | ROUTING TRAFFIC AFTER POWER FAILURE - A device, of a first data center, detects a power failure associated with the first data center when the first data center stops receiving power. The device further identifies a second data center for traffic to be processed by the first data center. The device also receives the traffic and routes the traffic to the second data center. | 02-28-2013 |
20130060719 | LOAD PROFILE MANAGEMENT AND COST SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS - A system, computer-implemented method, and a computer program product are provided for load profile management and cost sensitivity analysis. A baseline load profile is input via a user interface, wherein the baseline load profile is based on a set of equipment load profiles. A target load profile is generated based on a selected modification of the baseline load profile. The target load profile is compared with the baseline load profile. The comparison of the target load profile and the baseline load profile is output via the user interface. | 03-07-2013 |
20130060720 | ESTIMATING AND OPTIMIZING COST SAVINGS FOR LARGE SCALE DEPLOYMENTS USING LOAD PROFILE OPTIMIZATION - A system, computer-implemented method, and a computer program product are provided for estimating and optimizing cost savings for large scale deployments using load profile optimization. Selections are received, via a user interface, of a primary load profile and multiple secondary load profiles. The primary load profile is input from a first external source and the multiple secondary load profiles are input from a second external source. The primary load profile is compared with the multiple secondary load profiles. The comparisons of the primary load profile and the multiple secondary load profiles are output via the user interface. | 03-07-2013 |
20130073483 | Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Protecting Power Transformers - Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for protecting power transformers. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for protecting a power transformer from overload. The method can include receiving transformer power rating information; receiving load information from individual meters supplied by the power transformer; summing the received load information; comparing the summed load information to the received transformer power rating information; and determining spare load capacity associated with the power transformer based at least in part on the comparison. | 03-21-2013 |
20130080356 | APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A SERVICE, AND A NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM THEREOF - According to one embodiment, an environment provider storage stores a plurality of account methods corresponding to environment providers providing service execution environments. Each account method is a method for calculating a usage fee for each service execution environment. A resource consumption storage stores a plurality of resource consumptions corresponding to run modes. Each run mode is an operation pattern for each service execution environment to execute the service. Each resource consumption is a consumption of resources of the service execution environment while executing the service in each run mode. A calculation unit calculates usage fees based on combinations of one of the account methods corresponding to the environment providers and one of the resource consumptions corresponding to the run modes. An integrated operation unit selects at least one combination of a selected environment provider and a selected run mode, based on the usage fees calculated by the calculation unit. | 03-28-2013 |
20130132307 | MANAGING THE USE OF SECURE COMPARTMENTS IN CHARGING STATIONS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments provide a charging station for portable electronic devices. During operation, the charging station obtains input from a user to the charging station. If the input matches an ongoing transaction associated with charging of the portable electronic device by the charging station, the charging station uses the input to identify a first secure compartment of the charging station containing the portable electronic device, wherein power is supplied to the portable electronic device within the first secure compartment. Next, the charging station releases a first door of the first secure compartment. Finally, upon detecting a presence of the portable electronic device in the first secure compartment after the first door is subsequently closed, the charging station secures the first door and continues to supply power to the portable electronic device without requiring additional input from the user. | 05-23-2013 |
20130166479 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING ENERGY REVENUES OF ELECTRIC POWER DEVICES BASED ON REAL TIME PRICING - A method and apparatus for calculating energy revenues of electric power devices based on real time pricing is provided. The energy revenue calculating apparatus may synchronize time between the energy revenue calculating apparatus and at least one of a real time energy pricing information providing server and a time information providing server, based on time information received from at least one of the real time energy pricing information providing server and the time information providing server, synchronize an energy sale price stored in the energy revenue calculating apparatus with an energy sale price, based on energy sale price information received from the real time energy pricing information providing server, and calculate energy revenues for a predetermined time period, based on the received energy sale price information and information about an amount of energy that flows into and out of the plurality of electric power devices. | 06-27-2013 |
20130173500 | ELECTRONIC POWER METER AND METHOD FOR STORING DATA THEREOF - The present disclosure relates to an electronic power meter and a method for storing data thereof. The electronic power meter includes a communication unit that receives a critical peak pricing rate data, a memory that stores first metering data corresponding to the critical peak pricing rate data received via the communication unit, and second metering data corresponding to a predetermined varying pricing rate data, the memory storing the first metering data and the second metering data into different storage areas respectively, and a controller that calculates metering data by applying a corresponding rate for each time slot according to the varying pricing rate or the critical peak pricing rate. | 07-04-2013 |
20130179373 | Systems and Methods for Estimating HVAC Operation Cost - A method of estimating a cost of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes receiving HVAC system information, generating at least one of an HVAC system energy consumption estimate and an HVAC system operation cost estimate as a function of the HVAC system information and a thermodynamic model of at least a portion of the HVAC system, and presenting at least one of the HVAC system energy consumption estimate and the HVAC system operation cost estimate. | 07-11-2013 |
20130246313 | INTEGRATED ENERGY SAVINGS AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN DATA CENTERS - A computer-controlled method of determining costs of power consumption in a data center includes monitoring power consumption for a customer, determine a cost of the power consumption for the customer, adjusting a cost of operation for the customer to include the cost of power consumption to produce an adjusted cost of operation for the customer, and comparing the adjusted cost of operation for the customer to a price for the customer. | 09-19-2013 |
20130282624 | Restaurant Equipment Monitoring and Control System and Method - An integrated system and method are provided for energy, state and operation monitoring and control of restaurant kitchen and non-kitchen/building equipment. The system includes sensors and other data transmitting equipment communicatively connected to a local server and a computing device via a router. The data transmission equipment and server preferably utilize power-line data transmission as well as wireless data transmission. A dashboard application of the system provides a user interface guiding user responses to energy, state, and operational/service alerts and enabling user-input scheduled control settings. The system may also provide automatic feedback control of restaurant equipment. | 10-24-2013 |
20130311404 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING VEHICLE ENERGY, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAME - The present invention relates to a method for managing vehicle energy, and particularly relates to a system for managing vehicle energy, and a method and apparatus for same, which can calculate the amount of electric power needed for operating a vehicle, can sell a surplus amount of electric power that is the current amount of battery power less the calculated amount of electric power, or adjust a number of received location information signals according to the current battery power. | 11-21-2013 |
20130346345 | RESOURCE COST OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Apparatus and method use a Markov decision process (MDP) to reduce the cost of variations in electric power usage. The user notifies a power company of a predicted value for a period. The period is divided into subsections. For each subsection, on the basis of a MDP including a state that depends on an electric power usage amount error, charge amount, and set target, the amount of charging and discharging of a storage battery as an action at any given time is optimally decided depending on the electric power usage amount error, charge amount, time, and set target at that time. A predetermined time in a subsection is a target setting time, at which a future target is further set as the action. The action includes deciding the charging and discharging amount in that subsection and deciding a future target in a subsection whose target should be set. | 12-26-2013 |
20140006314 | Method and System for Unusual Usage Reporting | 01-02-2014 |
20140019384 | UTILITY METER SYSTEM - A system includes a utility head end and a utility meter. The utility meter is configured to communicatively couple to the utility head end. The utility meter includes a metrology processor and a head end communications module. The metrology processor is configured to read a measurement. The head end communications module is configured to communicate with the utility head end to transmit the measurement to the utility head end. | 01-16-2014 |
20140046873 | FACILITATING THE OWNERSHIP OF SOLAR-POWERED ELECTRICITY-GENERATING SYSTEMS - Methods of facilitating a party's purchase of an electricity-generating solar power system are disclosed. The methods may comprise entering into, by the lender, an agreement with the party whereby, in exchange for a payment amount paid by the lender to a seller of the solar power system, the lender owns and is to sell up to 100% of the electricity generated by the party's solar power system after installation for a contract time period defined by the agreement. The methods may also comprise paying, by the lender, the payment amount to the seller for the solar power system. The contract time period may extend, for example, until sales of the electricity by the lender after installation generate an aggregate payment amount that meets or exceeds a specified level. The contract time period or unit quantity might also be fixed. The lender may also receive environmental attributes from the party. | 02-13-2014 |
20140095410 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEMAND RESPONSE MANAGEMENT - A method for demand response management includes determining a number of available demand response events and a number of opportunities available to issue the available demand response events. A priority for each demand response event is provided and a threshold value for each demand response vent is determined. A highest priority demand response event among the available demand response events whose threshold value is lower than an observed value of a selected demand response trigger is selected and control signals to utilize the selected demand response event for a current opportunity are transmitted to customer sites. | 04-03-2014 |
20140136448 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC POWER PRICE LIST, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND DISPLAY DEVICE - An electric power price information acquisition unit ( | 05-15-2014 |
20140143179 | ENERGY-SAVING EVALUATION DEVICE, ENERGY-SAVING EVALUATION METHOD, SERVER DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - Breakdown estimation unit obtains, by first processing portion, component ratio, by application, of energy usage amount in year using model case, and prorates, by second processing portion, record value of energy usage amount in year, by application, with component ratio obtained by first processing portion. Breakdown estimation unit prorates, by month, by third processing portion, energy usage amounts obtained by the second processing portion, excluding energy usage amount of one application, with component ratio, by month, of energy usage amount of the corresponding application in model case. Breakdown estimation unit estimates, by fourth processing portion, for each month, residual amount obtained by subtracting energy usage amounts prorated by third processing portion from record value of energy usage amount as the energy usage amount of the one application in month. | 05-22-2014 |
20140164294 | Energy Monitoring System and Method - A portable energy monitoring point includes at least one power plug receptacle, each power plug receptacle operably coupled to a separate integral power sensor circuit. Each integral power sensor circuit is configured to determine an electrical current drawn by an electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle. An integral digital communications circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit to a remote device a power consumption for each of the at least one power plug receptacles. The power consumption is derived from the electrical current drawn by the electrical load connected to the corresponding at least one power plug receptacle. | 06-12-2014 |
20140180968 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN A HOME NETWORK SYSTEM - Provided is a method and apparatus for managing energy consumption in a home network system including multiple home devices. The method includes collecting measurement results of power consumptions of the respective multiple home devices, generating power consumption information of the multiple home devices by analyzing the collected measurement results, and transmitting the generated power consumption information to a user device if receiving a request for transmitting the power consumption information from the user device, in which the power consumption information comprises in-home room-specific power consumption information. | 06-26-2014 |
20140201109 | Energy distribution system and related methods, devices, and systems - Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected. | 07-17-2014 |
20140201110 | SERVER DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - A terminal device that is an electronic apparatus communicates with a server device that communicates with a communication device located at one premises. The terminal device receives, based on obtaining the electricity usage quantity by the one premises from a wireless router, information representing the total quantity of electricity usage quantity and the total figure of the electricity rate by the one premises, and the total quantity of electricity usage quantity and the total figure of the electricity rate by another premises over a predetermined term. The terminal device provides a display based on the received total quantity of electricity usage quantity and the total figure of the electricity rate. Accordingly, the user can readily determine whether electricity is used economically as compared to another premises. | 07-17-2014 |
20140207707 | SMART HOME SYSTEM USING PORTABLE DEVICE - A smart home system using a portable device in which a gateway function is installed in the portable device to provide a smart home service using a multiplex gateway, and a control method thereof is provided. The smart home system includes one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances located in a home, each of the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances having a gateway, a home network to interconnect the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances, and a master device selected from among the one or more portable devices or the one or more home appliances, the master device activating the gateway thereof to connect the home network with an external communication network, wherein the master device transfers a home appliance control command to a corresponding one of the one or more home appliances. | 07-24-2014 |
20140207708 | UTILITY CONSUMPTION DISAGGREGATION - A computer-implemented method for itemizing energy consumption to generate and present a utility consumption profile based on disaggregated historical utility consumption data is presented. The computer-implemented method comprises obtaining data indicating historical utility consumption of a dwelling over a time period. A non-seasonal portion of the historical utility consumption data is then determined by first computing an average utility consumption based on one or more predetermined intervals within the time period, and then computing the non-seasonal portion by applying the average to the time period. The non-seasonal portion is then subtracted from the historical utility consumption data to obtain a seasonal portion of the historical utility consumption data. The seasonal and/or non-seasonal portion may be further disaggregated by end-use methods, and presented to the user in the utility consumption profile. | 07-24-2014 |
20140214728 | Performing Demand Reset in a Secure Mobile Network Environment - Techniques are discussed for performing a demand reset in a wireless meter reading environment, in a manner such that demand data may not be lost. In response to receiving a command from a mobile device of a requester, a meter may store demand value(s) in a log, reset register(s) that store the demand value(s) and wirelessly provide the demand value(s) to the mobile device of the requester. Due to the lack of reliability associated with wireless communications between the meter and a requestor, the requestor may not actually receive the demand value(s). Upon receiving a subsequent command for the demand value(s), the meter may determine that the command is a replay, and provide the demand value(s) without resetting the register(s). Techniques are also discussed for generating the commands, securing the commands, and providing the commands to mobile devices in route packages. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214729 | MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SMART METER, SERVER, OPERATION METHOD AND MANAGEMENT METHOD - A management system, a smart meter, a server, an operation method and a management method are provided. The management system includes a remote server and at least one smart meter. The smart meter is coupled to the remote server via a communication network. The smart meter measures electrical energy of at least one power line to obtain at least one batch of electricity data. The smart meter detects whether the loading event occurs. If the loading event occurs, the smart meter performs data compression on the electricity data obtained during an event period corresponding to the loading event to obtain compressed data, and uploads the compressed data to the remote server. The remote server performs data decompression on the compressed data to obtain decompressed data. The remote server performs load identification according to the decompressed data. | 07-31-2014 |
20140236868 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED, RANGE-BASED IRRIGATION - A centralized irrigation system provides decision-making or non-decision-making controllers in combination with a client server architecture that employs range-based irrigation algorithms for monitoring and control. Range-based control strategies determine a total volumetric water holding capacity for a volume of soil and a range of desirable soil moisture in a root zone, and compare a calculated root zone soil moisture to that range in order to determine the volume of water to be applied during an irrigation event. The system permits a shared-savings business model where the vendor provides a system and the customer only pays the vendor a portion of the savings obtained by using the system. | 08-21-2014 |
20140279711 | VISUALIZING ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND COST TRENDS USING VIRTUAL BILLING CYCLE CALCULATIONS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - A utility consumption information system establishes a virtual billing cycle to enable a user to calculate a bill-to-date cost of utility service related to a certain site without waiting for a utility bill sent from an associated utility service provider. The utility consumption information system provides utility consumption information to a user in an informative user interface and enables the user to monitor utility consumption associated with the site. Moreover, the utility consumption information system allows the user to compare the utility consumption of the site with one or more references, and thus assists the user to determine whether a change in the utility consumption is due to an external factor or an internal factor. | 09-18-2014 |
20140279712 | UTILITY MONITORING AND BILLING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Methods and systems using the method of calculating and charging for utility usage are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of, on a processing unit, obtaining a utility bill from a utility company for a multi-unit property, obtaining a reading from at least one submeter monitoring the usage of the utility for each unit of the multi-unit property, totaling the submetered usage, calculating a percent usage of the utility for each unit, calculating a charge for each unit based on the percentage usage for each unit, and billing each unit for the charge calculated for that unit. | 09-18-2014 |
20140297567 | POWER DEMAND PLAN ADJUSTING DEVICE, POWER DEMAND PLAN ADJUSTING METHOD AND PROGRAM - The economical load distribution adjusting device | 10-02-2014 |
20140317025 | Utility Equipment Monitoring and Reporting Systems and Methods - The present disclosure is an utility equipment monitoring and reporting system, that has a property comprising at least one utility and a third party data source coupled to the at least one utility that receives measurement data indicative of utility consumption. The system further has a data retrieval computing device that retrieves measurement data from the third party data source and transmits the measurement data to a server computing device via a network. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324737 | Switching Input Power Sources for Mobile Telecom Sites According to Time-Varying Electricity Prices - An input-power switcher for a telecom site includes a sourcing unit for configuring two or more alternative energy sources as available at the telecom site. The switcher includes a pricing unit for storing time-varying price references from one or more different suppliers for at least one of the two or more alternative energy sources. The switcher includes a processing unit for selecting one amongst the two or more alternative energy sources for powering the telecom site The selection is made on the basis of the alternative energy sources available at the telecom site and the time-varying price references in the pricing unit The processing unit is in communication with the sourcing unit and the pricing unit. The switcher includes an actuator unit for switching to the selected, alternative energy source for powering the telecom site. The actuator unit in communication with the processing unit. A method of using an input-power switcher for a telecom site. | 10-30-2014 |
20140337253 | TRANSMITTING CHARGE EVENT INFORMATION TO ELECTRICAL UTILITY THROUGH TELEMATICS COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE - Implementations of the present invention contemplate using the communicative connections between a telematics unit in a vehicle and a telematics service provider (TSP) to transmit information pertaining to a vehicle charging event from the vehicle to the TSP and ultimately to electrical power utility companies that provide the electrical power used to charge the vehicle. Specifically, implementations of the present invention contemplate provisioning electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) by linking the EVSE to a particular energy user metering device (EUMD). Implementations of the invention further contemplate a telematics unit in an electric vehicle that acquires a unique identifier of the EVSE when the vehicle uses the EVSE to recharge its battery and that transmits the unique identifier to a TSP for subsequent transmission to the electrical power utility. | 11-13-2014 |
20140344189 | ELECTRICITY RATE MANAGING SYSTEM - An electricity rate managing system includes a memory that stores a general electricity distributing fee unit price, and a renewable energy buying fee unit price, and a fee unit price calculator that calculates various fee unit prices. The fee unit price calculator adjusts a supplied electricity fee unit price so as to exceed the general electricity distributing fee unit price, and adjusts a renewable energy power generation fee unit price so as to exceed the renewable energy buying fee unit price. | 11-20-2014 |
20140365402 | DATA CENTER SYSTEM THAT ACCOMMODATES EPISODIC COMPUTATION - A data center system is described which includes multiple data centers powered by multiple power sources, including any combination of renewable power sources and on-grid utility power sources. The data center system also includes a management system for managing execution of computational tasks by moving data components associated with the computational tasks within the data center system, in lieu of, or in addition to, moving power itself. The movement of data components can involve performing pre-computation or delayed computation on data components within any data center, as well as moving data components between data centers. The management system also includes a price determination module for determining prices for performing the computational tasks based on different pricing models. The data center system also includes a “stripped down” architecture to complement its use in the above-summarized data-centric environment. | 12-11-2014 |
20150032666 | POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A power management system includes following components. A detector detects one or more devices which are located within an area. A demand estimation unit estimates an electric power demand in the area, based on the detected devices. A distribution unit distributes an area power-saving target value to the area, based on the estimated electric power demand and an overall power-saving target value. In response to a change in a state of the devices in the area to which the area power-saving target value has been distributed, the demand estimation unit estimates an updated electric power demand, based on the state of the devices that has changed. The distribution unit updates the area power-saving target value, based on the estimated updated electric power demand, and distributes the updated area power-saving target value to the area. | 01-29-2015 |
20150058261 | POWER AND COST SAVINGS METER FOR POWER MANAGEMENT - A power monitoring system and method for computing power cost savings of power management operations in a cluster of host computers uses power usage information from the host computers in the cluster with power sensing capabilities and power management information from a power management module, which includes times when at least one of the host computers was powered down, to compute the power cost savings attributable to the power management operations executed by the power management module. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066812 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - There is provided a system including a reference consumption calculator and a load shift determining unit. The calculator calculates a reference consumption being a statistic for an energy consumption based on a history of the energy consumption of a demander. The determining unit determines whether or not load shift was performed based on and the reference consumption and a target energy consumption being the energy consumption in a period including a target time period in the history of the energy consumption, the load shift including at least one of a first operation and a second operation by the demander. The first operation is to charge energy in an energy accumulating device. The second operation is to shift an energy consumption operation to be made in a time period other than the target time period so as to be made in the target time period. | 03-05-2015 |
20150095266 | VEHICLE OPERATIONAL COST DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle operational cost display system includes a user interface adapted for entry of cost of fuel for operation of a vehicle; a central processing unit interfacing with the user interface, the central processing unit having a calculator function adapted to calculate total operational cost of the vehicle based on the cost of fuel for operation of the vehicle and distance traveled; and a display interfacing with the central processing unit, the display adapted to display the total operational cost of the vehicle. A vehicle operational cost display method is also disclosed. | 04-02-2015 |
20150134570 | SYNTHETIC PRICING FOR DEVICES IN AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Techniques for providing a synthetic price are described herein. The techniques may include a method of synthetic price provisioning including identifying a device operating in a consumption entity, wherein the device operates at least partially based on a pricing signal provided by an energy provider. Optimal operation is determined based on the device and other devices in the consumption entity. The method includes providing a synthetic pricing signal to replace the pricing signal provided by the energy provider such that the devices operate according to the optimization model. | 05-14-2015 |
20150149389 | ELECTRICITY LOAD MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND ELECTRICITY LOAD MANAGEMENT METHOD THEREOF - An electricity load management device and an electricity load management method thereof are provided. The electricity load management device is connected to a plurality of data centers via a network. Each of the data centers comprises at least one server. For each data center, the electricity load management device allocates a plurality of data allocation percents of a plurality of service requests sequentially according to a schedule so as to receive a piece of electricity consumption information from each data center. The electricity load management device creates a cost profile of each data center according to the electricity consumption information of each data center, and determines an electricity load allocation percent of each data center according to the cost profiles and the electricity charge information. Finally, the electricity load management device allocates the subsequent service requests to the data centers according to the electricity load allocation percents. | 05-28-2015 |
20150310461 | OPERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS OF SMART SYSTEM FOR POWER CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION - The present disclosure relates to a sensor network, Machine Type Communication (MTC), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, and technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the above technologies, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. A method for operating a server in a smart system and a server are provided. The method may include: determining an electricity rate system for an electronic device based on at least one of rate information according to power use of the electronic device and power usage information of the electronic device; and transmitting information of the electricity rate system to a user device. | 10-29-2015 |
20150379594 | LIGHTING AUDIT AND LED LAMP RETROFIT - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and techniques for analyzing an existing light fixture in its installed environment and, based on the sensed location of the light and its environmental illumination pattern, identifying at least one LED retrofit fixture that may be used to replace the existing light fixture. | 12-31-2015 |
20160012553 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ENERGY ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT | 01-14-2016 |
20160035049 | Apparatus for Power Theft Detection on an Electrical Power Grid - An apparatus reducing power theft on a micro power grid includes a server connected to the micro power grid, the server including a processor, data repository and software executing on the processor from a non-transitory medium the software enabling collection over time of bi-directional current data from smart distribution nodes connected to identified segments of the micro power grid and from smart meters distributed to one or more client demarcation points on the identified segments, processing of the bi-directional current data to determine power theft event frequency and power theft current information, assigning of a class to the individual ones of identified segments according to results of processing, and resetting of the number of packet transmission hop counts between the smart distribution nodes on identified segments and resetting the time period interval between subsequent power theft check routines for each identified segment based upon the classification data. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035050 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVICE MANAGEMENT BASED ON DEVICE POWER INFORMATION AND PRICING SCHEMES - A device management method of a server and an apparatus for managing a device based on power information and pricing schemes are provided. The method includes receiving information used for creating device power control information that is used for changing a power mode between alternating current (AC) power and direct current (DC) power to incur a minimum price, calculating a plurality of times a device is capable of operating with DC power, based on a plurality of operating rates of at least one component of the device obtained from the received information, creating first device power control information based on a battery available time selected from the calculated plurality of times by a predetermined policy, and controlling the device according to the created first device power control information. | 02-04-2016 |
20160086292 | PRICE SETTING DEVICE AND POWER REGULATION DEVICE - A price setting device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a collection of forecast information; a price setting unit that determines unit prices of electricity during a target period; and a period setting unit that determines the target period. Each of the collection of forecast information is related to an area of areas (A | 03-24-2016 |
20160092978 | COORDINATION OF THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED LOADS - Apparatus and methods for a market-based control framework to coordinate a group of autonomous thermostatically controlled loads (TCL) to achieve system-level objectives with pricing incentives is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method of providing power to a load via a power grid by submitting bids to a coordinator includes determining an energy response relating price data for one or more energy prices to quantity data for power to be consumed by the load, sending a bid for power for a finite time period based on the energy response to the coordinator, and receiving a clearing price based on: the bid, on bids received from a plurality of additional loads, and a feeder power constraint. In some examples, the energy response is based at least in part on an equivalent thermal parameter model and a control policy indicating one or more power states for the load. | 03-31-2016 |
20160093001 | INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AN ITEM OF EQUIPMENT AND A FLUID METERING SYSTEM - A device for communication between at least one item of equipment of an installation and a fluid meter for metering a quantity of fluid consumed by said at least one item of equipment, said meter and said at least one item of equipment being linked to the fluid network of the installation, said device comprising: a first communication interface configured so as to communicate by power-line carrier with the meter and possibly with a concentrator and, through the intermediary thereof, with a metering information system, and a second communication interface configured so as to communicate wirelessly with said at least one item of equipment, each of the first and second interfaces being configured for a bidirectional communication. | 03-31-2016 |
20160093002 | Optimal Battery Pricing and Energy Management for Localized Energy Resources - A method and system are provided for managing local energy resources of an energy system. The method includes determining, offline by a processor, an offline optimal resource allocation of the local energy resources using a Pontryagin Maximum Principle that involves a continuous, unbounded state. The method further includes determining, in real-time by the processor, a real-time optimal resource allocation of the local energy resources using offline-determined energy storage shadow pricing. The method also includes managing, by the processor, an allocation of the local energy resources in accordance with the offline optimal resource allocation and the real-time optimal resource allocation. | 03-31-2016 |
20160098768 | MEASURING AND ASSESSING POWER GENERATED BY A RENEWABLE POWER SYSTEM - Systems and methods are provided for using a power measuring component to monitor a renewable power system and measure actual power generated, and assessing the actual power generated and/or the renewable power system itself based in part on the measured actual power and a total expected power output. | 04-07-2016 |
20160117784 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING BASIC ELECTRICITY CHARGES FOR PARTITIONED OWNERS IN AGGREGATE BUILDING - The present invention related to an apparatus and a method for calculating basic electricity charges, being capable of periodically collecting electricity usage information for each household by using a smart meter provided in an aggregate building in which power reception equipment is installed, calculating the monthly or yearly maximum demand power for each household using the collected electricity usage information, and then, automatically calculating the basic electricity charges for each household with respect to the basic electricity charges of an entire aggregate building in consideration of the calculated maximum demand power for each household obtained and a ratio of ownership shares for each household based on the ownership shares for each resident household. | 04-28-2016 |
20160125485 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FORECAST ENERGY DEMAND FROM PAYMENT DATA SUMMARY - A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium to forecast energy demand from payment data. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129802 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING RECHARGING POWER AND FEE - A method of calculating and displaying recharging power and fee for main battery recharging of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is provided. The method uses power consumption information of a registered location received from a grid server via a global positioning system (GPS) and a wireless communication device. Additionally, current recharging power is measured in response to a process recharging being started, a real-time base price of a current registered location is received via a wireless communication device from an external server. A current recharging fee is then calculated using the measured current recharging power and the received real-time base price of the current registered location and the calculated current recharging fee is output. | 05-12-2016 |
20160253768 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING INTEGRATED NETWORK LOSS RATE IN UHV AC CROSS-REGIONAL ELECTRICITY TRADING | 09-01-2016 |
20160379319 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING AND VERIFYING ENERGY USAGE IN A BUILDING - A system for measuring and verifying energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building includes one or more energy meters and a controller. The energy meters are configured to measure an actual amount of building energy usage The controller is configured to determine an actual amount of energy savings resulting from the energy conservation measures during the measurement and verification period and to calculate a least amount of energy savings resulting from the energy conservation measures. The least amount of energy savings is a lower confidence bound on the actual amount of energy savings. The controller is configured to cause a building management system for the building to stop performing a measurement and verification process before a normal end of the measurement and verification period in response to the least amount being greater than a target amount of energy savings to be achieved by the energy conservation measures. | 12-29-2016 |