METHODS, APPARATUS, AND MEDIA FOR CONTROLLING SUPPLY OF A UTILITY SERVICE TO A LOAD

• US 20090177294A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seismotech IP Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smart Disaster Response Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Baraty, Mohammad Reza
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/24 Identification of individual loads, e.g. by analysing current/voltage waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and media for controlling supply of a utility service to a load are disclosed. Generally, the embodiments may involve receiving representation of utility service supply to a load, receiving and storing in a computer data storage device a usage range representation comprising at least one expected value of utility input to the load and/or at least one expected value of output from the load, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service supply controlling device when usage is outside of usage range representation. Control signal can be operable to cause the utility service supply controlling device to restrict or interrupt the supply of the utility service to the load.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a supply of a plurality of utility services to a consumer site having a plurality of load devices, each respective load of there plurality of load devices generating a usage of at least one of the plurality of utility services, the method comprising:

providing a control system at the consumer site, the control system having at least one control device associated with each respective load for each of the utility services used by that load;

providing a computer system having at least one computer processor for accessing computer readable instructions and at least one data storage device for storing computer readable instructions, wherein execution of the instructions causes the control system to perform a variety of operations;

providing a communications system in communication with measurement devices associated with each load, and in communication with the at least one control device associated with each load, and in communication with the computer system, the measurement devices comprising, with respect to each load, at least one of the following;

(i) an input measurement device for measuring the supply of the utility service to that load;

or

(ii) an output measurement device for measuring the output of load;

or

(iii) a by-product measurement device for measuring at least one by-product of the load;

receiving in the computer system, with respect to each load, from a consumer at the consumer site, a usage range representation representing a range of acceptable usage of each utility service used by the load;

receiving in the computer system, with respect to each load, from one of a utility supplier or a government, and or a private, utility service regulating entity, a second usage range representation representing a second range of acceptable usage of each utility service used by the load, wherein the usage may represent the supply of the utility service to the load or the output of the load or a by-product of the load;

generating in the computer system a derived usage range representation representing an acceptable range of usage for each load which comprises an acceptable usage of a utility service by that load which is falls within the acceptable range of at least one of the first and second usage ranges;

measuring the usage of the utility service at the load with the measurement devices;

communicating the measured usage to the communications system and to the computer system;

comparing in the computer system the measured usage with the derived usage range representation;

generating a control signal in the control system based on the comparison;

communicating the control signal to the control device of the load to regulate the supply of the utility to the load.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the usage range representation representing a range of acceptable usage is based on the price or cost of the utility service supplied to the each load.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising querying a status indicator to indicate whether the load may be regulated by the control signal.

3. The method of claim I wherein the second usage range representation is based on the demand for the utility service.

5. A method for controlling the supply of a plurality of utility services in a consumer site, to a plurality of load devices, each respective load of the plurality of load devices generating an acceptable usage of at least one utility service of the plurality of utility services, the method comprising:

providing a control system at the consumer site, the control system having at least one utility supply control device associated with at least each respective load for the first utility service used by that load;

providing at least one measurement device associated with each load, the measurement device configured to measure at least one value of the first utility service supplied to the load and, or, at least one output value generated by the load;

providing a computer system at the consumer site having at least one computer processor for accessing computer readable instructions and at least one data storage device for storing computer readable instructions, wherein execution of the instructions causes the control system to perform a variety of operations;

providing a communications system at the consumer site in communication with the control system, the measurement device associated with each load, and in communication with the control device associated with each load, and in communication with the computer system, and in communication with at least one entity not located at the consumer site, and in communication with the ID chip of each load;

receiving in the computer system, with respect to each load, from a consumer or an ID chip of the load device at the consumer site, a usage range representation representing a range of acceptable at least one value of the first utility service required, or outputted by the load;

receiving in the computer system, with respect to each load, from an entity remote from the consumer site and from a non-consumer not located at the consumer site, a second usage range representation representing an acceptable range of at least one value of the first utility service to be used by the load or an acceptable range of at least one value of an output of the load;

generating and storing in the computer system a derived usage range representation representing an acceptable range of at least one utility value to be used, and, or, at least one value to be output by each load which comprises an acceptable usage of the first utility service by that load that, falls within the acceptable range of both of the first and second usage ranges;

measuring the usage of the utility service at the load with the measurement device;

communicating the measured usage to the communications system and to the computer system;

comparing in the computer system the measured usage with the derived usage range representation;

generating a supply control signal in the control system based on the comparison; and

communicating the supply control signal to the control device of the load to regulate the supply of the utility to the load.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the usage range representation representing a range of acceptable usage is based on the time, price or cost of the utility service supplied to the each load.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the second usage range representation is based on the response to demand for the utility service.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the second usage range representation is based on the output of the load.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing a status indicator to indicate whether the supply of a utility to a load may be regulated by the control device.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the computer system receives a plurality of usage range representation from the consumer,

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the computer system receives a plurality of usage range representation from the ID chip.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the computer system receives a plurality of usage range representations from a remote entity.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the computer system generates a single derived usage range representation from the plurality of usage range representations.

14. A computer readable medium for providing instruction codes executable by a programmable device to:

control the supply of a plurality of utility services in a consumer site, to a plurality of load devices, each respective load of the plurality of load devices generating an acceptable usage of at least one utility service of the plurality of utility services, the consumer site, comprising;

a control system at the consumer site, the control system having at least one utility supply control device associated with at least each respective load for the first utility service used by that load;

at least one measurement device associated with at least each load, the measurement device configured to measure at least one value of the first utility service supplied to the load and, or, at least one output value generated by the load;

a computer system at the consumer site having at least one computer processor for accessing computer readable instructions and at least one data storage device for storing computer readable instructions, wherein execution of the instructions causes the control system to perform a variety of operations; and

a communications system at the consumer site in communication with the control system, the measurement device associated with each load, and in communication with the control device associated with each load, and in communication with the computer system, and in communication with at least one entity not located at the consumer site, and in communication with the ID chip of each load;

receive in the computer system, with respect to each load, from a consumer or an ID chip of the load device at the consumer site, a usage range representation representing a range of acceptable at least one value of the first utility service required or outputted by the load;

receive in the computer system, with respect to each load, from an entity remote from the consumer site and from a non-consumer not located at the consumer site, a second usage range representation representing an acceptable range of at least one value of the first utility service to be used by the load or an acceptable range of at least one value of an output of the load;

generate and store in the computer system a derived usage range representation representing an acceptable range of at least one utility value to be used, and, or, at least one value to be output by each load which comprises an acceptable usage of the first utility service by that load that, falls within the acceptable range of both of the first and second usage ranges;

measure usage of the utility service at the load with the measurement device;

communicate the measured usage to the communications system and to the computer system;

compare in the computer system the measured usage with the derived usage range representation;

generate a supply control signal in the control system based on the comparison; and

outputting the supply control signal to the control device of the load to regulate the supply of the utility to the load.