Methods, apparatus, media and signals for facilitating real-time management of a utility supply
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a utility provider comprising:
- electronically receiving a first utility data related to a first provider;
electronically receiving a second utility data related to second provider;
electronically receiving rule data related to a regulation of usage of a utility;
electronically receiving consumer data related to a consumption of the utility by a consumer;
electronically receiving grid data related to availability or grid capacity from a distribution authority;
automatically processing in real-time the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data to determine a preferred provider selected from at least the first provider and the second provider.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, computer readable data and signals for facilitating the supply of a utility provided to a consumer site by a plurality of providers and/or retailers and differentiation are disclosed. In one embodiment, each provider produces a representation of a utility and the provider that reveals: specification of the provider, quality and quantity standards, live real time price, rules of usage, and reliability of the provider and grade of the product. In one embodiment, each consumer inputs consumer preferences and parameters related to selecting utility providers. In one embodiment, rules for regulating usage of a utility are provided by regulatory authorities. In one embodiment, real time capacity information related to the distribution and transmission of a utility is provided by transmission authorities. In one embodiment, all the consumer preference information and rule information and capacity information is received and processed in real time to automatically select a preferred utility provider.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a utility provider comprising:
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electronically receiving a first utility data related to a first provider;
electronically receiving a second utility data related to second provider;
electronically receiving rule data related to a regulation of usage of a utility;
electronically receiving consumer data related to a consumption of the utility by a consumer;
electronically receiving grid data related to availability or grid capacity from a distribution authority;
automatically processing in real-time the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data to determine a preferred provider selected from at least the first provider and the second provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24)
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21. A system for selecting a utility provider comprising:
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a first module configured to store a first utility data related to a first provider;
a second module configured to store a second utility data related to a second provider;
a third module configured to store rule data related to a regulatory authority;
a fourth module configured to store consumer data related to a utility consumer;
a fifth module configured to receive capacity data related to availability or grid capacity from a distribution authority;
a six module configured to process in real-time the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data and capacity data to determine a preferred provider selected from at least the first provider and the second provider.
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Specification