Server, user terminal, and program

• US 10,365,623 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kitaji, Mitsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Wathen, Brian W
• Assistant Examiner(s): McMenemy, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/537,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20170343973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 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: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A server comprises a notification unit that sends a power reduction request to a user terminal of a consumer; and a controller that acquires smart meter information sent from the user terminal when the consumer accepts the power reduction request. The smart meter information is information regarding a smart meter of a consumer facility that is a target for power reduction. The controller determines actual reduced power of the consumer facility based on the smart meter information.

Claims

1. A server, which is associated with a service facility, comprising:

a notification unit that sends a power reduction request to a user terminal of a consumer; and

a controller that acquires smart meter information sent from the user terminal when the consumer accepts the power reduction request,

wherein

the smart meter information is information regarding a smart meter of a consumer facility that is a target for power reduction,

the controller determines actual reduced power of the consumer facility based on the smart meter information,

when power usage of the consumer facility is reduced in response to the power reduction request, the controller performs a process of giving an incentive corresponding to the actual reduced power to the consumer, and

when the consumer accepts the power reduction request, the incentive is given to the consumer based on an amount of money used in the service facility or time during which the consumer has stayed in the service facility.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the controller accesses the smart meter to determine the actual reduced power based on the smart meter information.

3. The server according to claim 1, wherein the smart meter information includes at least one of power usage measured by the smart meter and identification information of the smart meter.

4. The server according to claim 1, wherein in a time period in which power reduction is requested by the power reduction request, the controller acquires the smart meter information from the user terminal through a terminal device provided in the service facility.

5. The server according to claim 4, wherein a process of giving the incentive to the consumer through the terminal device is performed.

6. The server according to claim 1, wherein when transmitting the power reduction request to the consumer, the controller includes information regarding a facility that is a target for power reduction.

7. The server according to claim 6, wherein when the consumer accepts power reduction requests from a plurality of servers, including the server, the incentive is distributed among the plurality of servers based on an amount of money used in the service facility by the consumer or a time during which the consumer has stayed in the service facility, and wherein the server is associated with the plurality of servers.

8. A user terminal of a consumer, which communicates with a server associated with a service facility, comprising:

a controller that acquires smart meter information regarding a smart meter of a consumer facility that is a target for power reduction, when the consumer accepts a power reduction request from a server,

wherein

the controller notifies the server of the smart meter information,

when power usage of the consumer facility is reduced in response to the power reduction request, the controller acquires an incentive corresponding to actual reduced power of the consumer facility, and

when the consumer accepts the power reduction request, the incentive is given to the consumer based on an amount of money used in the service facility or time during which the consumer has stayed in the service facility.

9. The user terminal according to claim 8, wherein the smart meter information includes at least one of power usage measured by the smart meter and identification information of the smart meter.

10. The user terminal according to claim 8, wherein in a time period in which power reduction is requested by the power reduction request, the controller notifies the server of the smart meter information through a terminal device provided in the service facility, and acquires the incentive from the server through the terminal device.

11. A program causing a user terminal of a consumer, which communicates with a server associated with a service facility, to execute:

a step of acquiring smart meter information regarding a smart meter of a consumer facility that is a target for power reduction when the consumer accepts a power reduction request from a server;

a step of notifying the server of the smart meter information; and

a step of acquiring an incentive corresponding to actual reduced power of the consumer facility, when power usage of the consumer facility is reduced in response to the power reduction request,

wherein when the consumer accepts the power reduction request, the incentive is given to the consumer based on an amount of money used in the service facility or time during which the consumer has stayed in the service facility.