System and Method of Controlling Delivery and/or Usage of a Commodity
First Claim
1. A method for providing a consumption management system for a commodity, wherein the commodity is delivered using a distribution system to a plurality of customer sites each having a plurality of devices that use the commodity, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing an energy management program which may be activated during peak energy demand periods;
defining a subset of the devices, the subset of devices includes devices of a predetermined type in use by the customers;
providing a node associated with one of the devices in the subset of devices at each customer site having a device of the predetermined type, the node having an interface operable by a user; and
,allowing the user, through the interface, to set how the one of the devices in the subset of devices at the customer'"'"'s site will perform when the energy management program is activated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method manage delivery of energy from a distribution network to one or more sites. Each site has at least one device coupled to the distribution network. The at least one device controllably consumes energy. The system includes a node and a control system. The node is coupled to the at least one device for sensing and controlling energy delivered to the device. A control system is coupled to the node and distribution network for delivering to the node at least one characteristic of the distribution network. The node for controls the supply of energy to the device as a function of the at least one characteristic.
316 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing a consumption management system for a commodity, wherein the commodity is delivered using a distribution system to a plurality of customer sites each having a plurality of devices that use the commodity, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing an energy management program which may be activated during peak energy demand periods; defining a subset of the devices, the subset of devices includes devices of a predetermined type in use by the customers; providing a node associated with one of the devices in the subset of devices at each customer site having a device of the predetermined type, the node having an interface operable by a user; and
,allowing the user, through the interface, to set how the one of the devices in the subset of devices at the customer'"'"'s site will perform when the energy management program is activated. - 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)
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25. A method for providing a consumption management system for a commodity, wherein the commodity is delivered using a distribution system to a plurality of customer sites each having a plurality of devices that use the commodity, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing an energy management program which may be activated during peak energy demand periods; defining a subset of the devices, the subset of devices includes devices of a predetermined type in use by the customers; providing a node associated with one of the devices in the subset of devices at each customer site having a device of the predetermined type; allowing a customer, through the node, to set if the one device will participate in the energy management program; and
,allowing a user, through the node, to set how the one device'"'"'s performance will vary from a normal mode of operation.
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Specification