Preventing unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices

• US 10,222,774 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chandan, Vikas, Dayama, Pankaj, Narayanam, Krishnasuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/603,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20180341239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for preventing unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units, restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes, restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes, mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of one or more of the distinct charging modes and one or more of the distinct discharging modes, and automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on the mapping and one or more contextual details.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising steps of:

dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units;

restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes;

restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes;

mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more of the distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more of the distinct discharging modes; and

automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details;

wherein the steps are carried out by at least one computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the portable energy storage device comprises a battery.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more distinct charging modes comprise an office charging mode and a home charging mode, and wherein the one or more distinct discharging modes comprise a self-discharging mode and a grid feed-in mode.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules comprise one or more user-defined rules.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the one or more user-defined rules comprise one or more user-defined rules for selecting one or more of the multiple virtual energy sub-units for a particular one of the distinct charging modes if multiple options are permissible per said mapping.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the one or more user-defined rules comprise one or more user-defined rules for selecting one or more of the multiple virtual energy sub-units for a particular one of the distinct discharging modes if multiple options are permissible per said mapping.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pre-defined rules comprise one or more rules pertaining to mapping feasibility.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more contextual details comprise one or more energy demand parameters associated with the portable energy storage device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more contextual details comprise one or more energy supply parameters.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more contextual details comprise one or more cost parameters.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising:

tracking energy flow into and out of each of the virtual energy storage sub-units.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a user interface.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user interface enables user access to a current state of one or more of the multiple virtual energy sub-units.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user interface enables user-reconfiguration of said mapping.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user interface enables user-definition of one or more user preferences.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to:

divide a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units;

restrict each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes;

restrict each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes;

map, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more of the distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more of the distinct discharging modes; and

automatically charge and automatically discharge the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details.

17. A system comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor operably coupled to the memory and configured for;

dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units;

restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes;

restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes;

mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more of the distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more of the distinct discharging modes; and

automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details.

18. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising steps of:

compartmentalizing energy stored in a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units, wherein the portable energy storage device is associated with a user;

mapping, based on one or more preferences defined by the user, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more distinct discharging modes;

charging and discharging the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details; and

precluding charging and discharging of the portable energy storage device under conditions that are in conflict with (i) said mapping and (ii) said one or more contextual details;

wherein the steps are carried out by at least one computing device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the portable energy storage device comprises a battery, wherein the one or more distinct charging modes comprise an office charging mode and a home charging mode, and wherein the one or more distinct discharging modes comprise a self-discharging mode and a grid feed-in mode.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, comprising:

generating a user interface, wherein the user interface enables the user to;

monitor a current state of storage capacity in the virtual energy storage sub-units;

re-define one or more of the preferences; and

reconfigure one or more mappings between the multiple virtual energy sub-units, the one or more of the distinct charging modes, and the one or more of the distinct discharging modes.