Systems and Methods For Remote Power Management Using 802.11 Wireless Protocols

• US 20090055032A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

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.

Claims

1. A method of reducing power consumption, comprising:

determining in a load management host a need to reduce power consumption;

accessing a database comprising power consumption related data associated with a plurality of power consumers;

selecting a specific power consumer, the specific power consumer identified in the database as participating in a load reduction program;

communicating from the load management host a load reduction request to an on-premise processor associated with the specific power consumer;

recording a load reduction notification indication in the power consumption related data associated with the specific power consumer; and

determining whether a load threshold has been reached.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of whether the on-premise processor is able to reduce power consumption; and

recording a load reduction value associated with the specific power consumer in the database.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

determining whether the load reduction value indicator exceeds a threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein a bill of the specific power consumer is determined in part by the load reduction value in the database.

5. The method of claim 1 where the load reduction request comprises a specified time duration.

6. A system for managing power loads comprising:

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 the plurality of on-premise processors and an indication of whether the at least one of the 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 of the plurality of on-premise processors as identified by the address.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the database further comprises:

memory storing input power load data received at the at least one of the plurality of on-premise processors over the communications network, the management host processor comparing the power load data to a predefined threshold value stored in the memory.

8. A system for managing power loads, comprising:

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 managing activation of a power load;

an on-premise processor operatively connected to the distribution network for receiving messages of the first protocol from the management host processor, the on-premise processor co-located with at least one of the plurality of power meters, the messages of the first protocol for managing activation of the power load, the on-premise processor including an 802.11X-based wireless communications link interface for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol; and

a power load controller associated with the power load operatively communicating with the on-premise processor using 802.11X-based wireless communications to send and receive messages of the second protocol from the on-premise processor to control activation of the power load.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the distribution network comprises at least one of a paging network, digital cellular network, 802.11X-based wireless network, telephone network, cable based Internet, or power line carrier network.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the power load comprises at least one of an induction motor load, a heating load, or an air conditioning load.

11. A system for managing utility meters, comprising:

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 to the distribution network for receiving the messages of the first protocol from the management host processor, the on-premise processor using an 802.11.X-based wireless transceiver for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol to and from the specific utility meter, the messages of the second protocol including measurement data associated with the specific utility meter.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the specific utility meter comprises a water meter, a gas meter, or a power meter.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the message controlling the specific utility meter activates or deactivates the specific utility meter.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the on-premise processor returns a status indication of the specific utility meter to the management host processor.