Controlling utility consumption
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring and optimizing utility usage in an entity, comprising the steps of:
- collecting utility usage for one or more utility resources in an entity;
aggregating the utility usage for the entity; and
monitoring utility utilization in the entity and selectively limiting utility usage of the one or more devices to optimize utility usage.
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Abstract
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for monitoring and optimizing utility usage in an entity. Utility usage is collected for one or more utility resources in an entity. The utility usage for the entity is then aggregated. Utility utilization in the entity is monitored and utility usage of the one or more devices is selectively limited to optimize utility usage.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring and optimizing utility usage in an entity, comprising the steps of:
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collecting utility usage for one or more utility resources in an entity;
aggregating the utility usage for the entity; and
monitoring utility utilization in the entity and selectively limiting utility usage of the one or more devices to optimize utility usage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for monitoring and optimizing utility usage in an entity, comprising:
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a code segment that collects utility usage for one or more utility resources in an entity;
a code segment that aggregates the utility usage for the entity; and
a code segment that monitors utility utilization in the entity and selectively limits utility usage of the one or more devices to optimize utility usage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for monitoring and optimizing utility usage in an entity, comprising:
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logic that collects utility usage for one or more utility resources in an entity;
logic that aggregates the utility usage for the entity; and
logic that monitors utility utilization in the entity and selectively limits utility usage of the one or more devices to optimize utility usage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring use of utility resources to optimize utility resource distribution, comprising:
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communicating with a utility device to automatically read actual utility usage data from a remote location by specifying a network address for the utility device and issuing continual requests for actual utility usage data from the utility device, wherein the actual utility usage data represents a time period of utility use and an amount of utility use for a customer;
determining optimal utility usage data representing utility pricing to be offered to the customer, wherein a customer'"'"'s actual utility usage data is analyzed to determine a price for a unit of utility resources, and wherein the price for a unit of utility resources depends on a customer'"'"'s time period of utility use and the amount of utility use for a particular time period;
assisting the customer to dynamically select an optimal utility resource provider, wherein the optimal utility resource provider may change depending on the customer'"'"'s actual utility usage data;
distributing utility resources to the customer based upon the optimal utility usage data, wherein utility resources provided to the customer may be selectively limited based upon the optimal utility usage data; and
providing additional customer services based upon the actual utility usage data and the optimal utility usage data, wherein the additional customer services include automatic initiation and termination of utility resources, quality assurance of utility resources provided to the customer, and security assessment and monitoring for utility resources provided. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for monitoring use of utility resources to optimize utility resource distribution, comprising:
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a code segment that communicates with a utility device to automatically read actual utility usage data from a remote location by specifying a network address for the utility device and issues continual requests for actual utility usage data from the utility device, wherein the actual utility usage data represents a time period of utility use and an amount of utility use for a customer;
a code segment that determines optimal utility usage data representing utility pricing to be offered to the customer, wherein a customer'"'"'s actual utility usage data is analyzed to determine a price for a unit of utility resources, and wherein the price for a unit of utility resources depends on a customer'"'"'s time period of utility use and the amount of utility use for a particular time period;
a code segment that assists the customer to dynamically select an optimal utility resource provider, wherein the optimal utility resource provider may change depending on the customer'"'"'s actual utility usage data;
a code segment that distributes utility resources to the customer based upon the optimal utility usage data, wherein utility resources provided to the customer may be selectively limited based upon the optimal utility usage data; and
a code segment that provides additional customer services based upon the actual utility usage data and the optimal utility usage data, wherein the additional customer services include automatic initiation and termination of utility resources, quality assurance of utility resources provided to the customer, and security assessment and monitoring for utility resources provided.
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27. A system for monitoring use of utility resources to optimize utility resource distribution, comprising:
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logic that communicates with a utility device to automatically read actual utility usage data from a remote location by specifying a network address for the utility device and issues continual requests for actual utility usage data from the utility device, wherein the actual utility usage data represents a time period of utility use and an amount of utility use for a customer;
logic that determines optimal utility usage data representing utility pricing to be offered to the customer, wherein a customer'"'"'s actual utility usage data is analyzed to determine a price for a unit of utility resources, and wherein the price for a unit of utility resources depends on a customer'"'"'s time period of utility use and the amount of utility use for a particular time period;
logic that assists the customer to dynamically select an optimal utility resource provider, wherein the optimal utility resource provider may change depending on the customer'"'"'s actual utility usage data;
logic that distributes utility resources to the customer based upon the optimal utility usage data, wherein utility resources provided to the customer may be selectively limited based upon the optimal utility usage data; and
logic that provides additional customer services based upon the actual utility usage data and the optimal utility usage data, wherein the additional customer services include automatic initiation and termination of utility resources, quality assurance of utility resources provided to the customer, and security assessment and monitoring for utility resources provided.
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Specification