Method and apparatus for monitoring power consumption on power distribution circuits for centralized analysis
First Claim
1. A method for providing a power monitoring service, comprising:
- providing a monitoring unit at a power consumer site with connections to probes on individual power distribution circuits emanating from a power distribution and control panel of the consumer site;
providing an identification of at least one electrical load on each power distribution circuit in a circuit description table;
measuring a power consumption of each of the power distribution circuits using the corresponding probes;
communicating power consumption data related to the respective power distribution circuits to a power monitoring server that collects the power consumption data; and
analyzing the power consumption data to provide useful information to interested parties.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and system for providing a power monitoring service to an electric power consumer at a power consumer site involves providing a monitoring unit at the power consumer site with connections to probes on individual power distribution circuits emanating from a power distribution and control panel of the consumer site. The monitoring unit measures a power consumption of each of the power distribution circuits using the probes, and communicates power consumption data related to the respective power distribution circuits to a power monitoring server that collects and analyzes the power consumption data. The power monitoring server has a circuit description table that identifies each of the power distribution circuits to permit detailed billing to the power consumer. The monitoring server also uses per-circuit information relating to many power consumers to compute at least one aggregate power consumption profile.
143 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing a power monitoring service, comprising:
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providing a monitoring unit at a power consumer site with connections to probes on individual power distribution circuits emanating from a power distribution and control panel of the consumer site;
providing an identification of at least one electrical load on each power distribution circuit in a circuit description table;
measuring a power consumption of each of the power distribution circuits using the corresponding probes;
communicating power consumption data related to the respective power distribution circuits to a power monitoring server that collects the power consumption data; and
analyzing the power consumption data to provide useful information to interested parties. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for monitoring power consumption information relating to individual power distribution circuits of a consumer site, comprising:
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a plurality of probes connected to respective ones of the power distribution circuits, each power distribution circuit being associated with a corresponding circuit description table that identifies at least one electrical load on the power distribution circuit;
a monitoring unit connected to the probes, the monitoring unit including at least one processor for receiving power consumption information measured by the probes, a memory for storing the power consumption information, and a communications link for transmitting the power consumption information to a communications network; and
monitoring service equipment connected to the communications network for receiving the power consumption information, analyzing the power consumption information and making the analyzed power consumption information available to interested parties. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for monitoring power consumption information relating to individual power distribution circuits of a power consumer site, comprising:
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a plurality of probes connected to respective ones of the power distribution circuits, each power distribution circuit being associated with a corresponding circuit description table that identifies at least one electrical load on the power distribution circuit;
a monitoring unit connected to the probes, the monitoring unit including at least one processor for receiving power consumption parameter values measured by the probes, a memory for storing the samples, and a communications link for communicating power consumption information to a remote centralized monitoring service; and
a monitoring service server adapted to receive and store the power consumption information, and analyze the power consumption information to compute a power consumption profile of the individual power distribution circuits. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification