Systems and methods for remote power management using 802.11 wireless protocols
First Claim
1. A method to manage a power load comprising:
- receiving energy rating data at an on-premise processor transmitted by a distribution network from a host processor and storing the energy rating data in a memory, the rating data including a schedule pertaining to time and energy costs;
receiving at the on-premise processor a message communicated using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol from a power load controller requesting energy rating data;
retrieving the energy rating data from the memory and sending a response message including the energy rating data using the 802.11X-based wireless protocol from the on-premise processor to the power load controller; and
determining in the power load controller whether to activate the power load based at least in part on the energy rating data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method to manage a power load comprising:
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receiving energy rating data at an on-premise processor transmitted by a distribution network from a host processor and storing the energy rating data in a memory, the rating data including a schedule pertaining to time and energy costs;
receiving at the on-premise processor a message communicated using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol from a power load controller requesting energy rating data;
retrieving the energy rating data from the memory and sending a response message including the energy rating data using the 802.11X-based wireless protocol from the on-premise processor to the power load controller; and
determining in the power load controller whether to activate the power load based at least in part on the energy rating data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for managing a power load of an appliance, comprising:
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sending an energy rate request message from an appliance using an 802.11X-based protocol;
receiving an energy rate schedule using the 802.11X-based wireless protocol, the energy rate schedule comprising a first time period for a first usage rate and a second time period for a second usage rate; and
determining in the appliance whether to activate a power load based in part on the energy rate schedule and a current time. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method of managing a power load comprising:
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receiving at an on-premise processor a first request message communicated using an 802.11X-based protocol from a power load controller pertaining to energy rating data;
sending from the on-premise processor a second request message over a distribution network to the host processor pertaining to energy rating data;
receiving at the on-premise processor a first rating response message over the distribution network from the host processor, the second request message including energy rating data;
sending from the on-premise processor to the power load controller a second rating response message using an 802.11X-based protocol including the energy rating data; and
determining in the power load controller whether to activate the power load based at least in part on the energy rating data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for managing power loads comprising:
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a management host processor capable of communicating a load reduction request message to at least one of a plurality of on-premise processors;
a database operatively connected to the management host processor, the database containing energy related customer records, the records containing an address associated with at least one of a plurality of on-premise processors and an indication of whether the at least one of a plurality of on-premise processors is able to receive a load reduction request; and
a communications network operatively connected to the management host processor capable of communicating at least one load reduction request to the at least one on-premise processors as identified by the address. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A system for managing power loads, comprising:
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a management host processor storing a plurality of records associated with a plurality of power meters including communication addressing data associated with the plurality of power meters and power-related usage data, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network capable of sending and receiving messages of a first protocol for the purpose of managing activation of a power load;
an on-premise processor operatively connected the distribution network receiving messages of a first protocol from the management host processor, the on-premise processor co-located with at one of the plurality of power meters, the messages of a first protocol for the purpose of managing activation of the power load, the on-premise processor including an 802.11X-based wireless protocol interface for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol to control activation of the power load; and
a power load controller associated with a power load operatively communicating with the on-premise processor using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol to send and receive messages of a second protocol to control activation of the power load, the power load controller controlling activation of the power load. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A system for managing a utility meter, comprising:
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a management host processor storing records associated with a plurality of utility meters including communication address data associated with the plurality of utility meters and measured usage data, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network capable of sending and receiving messages of a first protocol for controlling a specific utility meter; and
an on-premise processor operatively connected the distribution network receiving the messages of the first protocol from the management host processor, the on-premise processor using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol interface for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol to the specific utility meter, the messages of a second protocol including measurement data associated with the specific utility meter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification