Method and system for calculating and distributing utility costs
First Claim
1. A method of calculating the per logging interval cost of a utility, the method comprising:
- a) receiving utility data, rate data and time data, the time data including at least one logging interval;
b) computing at least one cost based on the utility data and rate data, the at least one cost being associated with the at least one logging interval; and
c) outputting the at least one cost.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments comprise a Rate Engine and system and method for the use thereof, which may execute on a computer or other processor and which provides cost analysis with a finer granularity than monthly or billed costs. The Rate Engine receives inputs such as utility data and rate data, and generates cost data on a per logging interval basis. A logging interval is the finest sampling frequency available, which varies depending on the application, such as from microseconds to minutes or hours. The resulting cost breakdown allows the user understand and analyze their energy costs in the same manner that they analyze other costs of business such as labor and goods.
56 Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method of calculating the per logging interval cost of a utility, the method comprising:
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a) receiving utility data, rate data and time data, the time data including at least one logging interval;
b) computing at least one cost based on the utility data and rate data, the at least one cost being associated with the at least one logging interval; and
c) outputting the at least one cost. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A rate engine for use in a utility distribution system, comprising:
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an input module operative to accept utility data, rate data and time data, the time data including at least one logging interval;
a processing module coupled with the input module and operative to compute at least one cost based on the utility data and rate data, the at least one cost being associated with the at least one logging interval; and
an output module coupled with the processing module and operative to output the at least one cost. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A rate engine implemented on a computer, the computer having a processor and a memory coupled with the processor, the rate engine comprising:
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first logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor and operable to receive utility data, rate data and time data, the rate data comprising a plurality of charges, the time data comprising a plurality of logging intervals;
second logic stored in the memory, executable by the processor and coupled with the first logic, and operable to compute a plurality of costs based on the utility data and rate data, each of the plurality of costs being associated with one of the plurality of logging intervals; and
third logic stored in the memory, executable by the processor and coupled with the second logic, and operable to output the plurality of costs.
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81. A system for calculating the per logging interval cost of a utility, comprising:
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means for accepting utility data, rate data and time data from a data source, the rate data comprising a plurality of charges, the time data comprising a plurality of logging intervals;
means for computing a plurality of costs based on the utility data and rate, each of the plurality of costs being associated with one of the plurality of logging intervals; and
means for outputting the plurality of costs.
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82. A system for calculating the per logging interval cost of a utility, the system comprising:
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a rate engine, the rate engine having;
an input module operative to accept utility data, rate data and time data, the rate data comprising a plurality of charges, the time data comprising a plurality of logging intervals;
a processing module coupled with the input module and operative to compute a plurality of costs based on the utility data and rate, each of the plurality of costs being associated with one of the plurality of logging intervals; and
an output module coupled with the processing module and operative to output the plurality of costs. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85)
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Specification