Iterative real-time auction for resource management with user rules
First Claim
1. In a community of a plurality of users, wherein each of said users has a resource-consuming device, wherein said resource-consuming devices of said users consumes a utility resource, a method of managing said utility resource for said community, said method comprising:
- (a) receiving one or more users rules from each of said users of said community, wherein said user rules are established by said users of said community, wherein said user rules of each of said users are related to an operation of said resource-consuming device of the same of said users, and wherein said user rules are related to an incentive directed to said operation of said resource-consuming devices;
(b) establishing a trial value of said incentive;
(c) estimating a demand of said utility resource by said community based on said user rules of some or all of said users of said community and said value of said incentive;
(d) iterating steps (b) and (c) until said estimated demand reaches a desired demand, wherein an offer value of said incentive is established when said desired demand is reached; and
(e) communicating said offer value of said incentive to said users of said community.
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Abstract
Resource management using an iterative real-time auction with user rules is provided. Users of a community, such as a multi-user development, establish user rules including conditions for operating a resource-consuming device based on an incentive. A utility manager receives the user rules and integrates them with respect to an incentive value. The aggregate resource demand of the community can be estimated based on the integration of the user rules and can be compared with a desired demand. By iteratively changing the incentive value and estimating the demand with respect to the incentive value, the utility manager can control resource demand and consumption while taking into account user preferences. In other words, users of the community provide bids for a resource auction based on incentives provided by the utility manager. Resources can include electricity and incentives can include financial incentives, carbon credits, or third party offers.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a community of a plurality of users, wherein each of said users has a resource-consuming device, wherein said resource-consuming devices of said users consumes a utility resource, a method of managing said utility resource for said community, said method comprising:
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(a) receiving one or more users rules from each of said users of said community, wherein said user rules are established by said users of said community, wherein said user rules of each of said users are related to an operation of said resource-consuming device of the same of said users, and wherein said user rules are related to an incentive directed to said operation of said resource-consuming devices; (b) establishing a trial value of said incentive; (c) estimating a demand of said utility resource by said community based on said user rules of some or all of said users of said community and said value of said incentive; (d) iterating steps (b) and (c) until said estimated demand reaches a desired demand, wherein an offer value of said incentive is established when said desired demand is reached; and (e) communicating said offer value of said incentive to said users of said community. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of managing a utility resource for a community of a plurality of users, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a control module for each of said users of said community, wherein said control module controls a resource-consuming device of the same of said users, and wherein said resource-consuming device consumes said utility resource; (b) providing a rules module for allowing each of said users of said community to establish one or more user rules, wherein said user rules comprise one or more conditions for operating said resource-consuming device of the same of said users, and wherein said user rules are related to an incentive associated with a usage of said utility resource; (c) communicating said user rules of each of said users to a utility manager; (d) iteratively establishing a trial value of said incentive and estimating a demand of said utility resource by said community until said estimated demand reaches a desired demand, wherein said estimating comprises aggregating said users rules of some or all of said users of said community with respect to said trial value of said incentive, and wherein an offer value of said incentive is established when said desired demand is reached; and (e) offering said utility resource with said incentive to said community of users, wherein said incentive is offered at said offer value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A utility resource management system, said system comprising:
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(a) a community of a plurality of users, wherein each of said users has at least one resource-consuming device, and wherein said resource-consuming device consumes a utility resource; (b) a rules module for allowing each of said users of said community to establish one or more user rules, wherein said user rules comprise one or more conditions for operating said resource-consuming device of the same of said users, and wherein said user rules are related to an incentive associated with a usage of said utility resource; (c) a utility manager for establishing an offer value of said incentive, wherein said offer value establishing comprises one or more iterations of; (i) establishing a trial value of said incentive; and (ii) estimating a demand of said utility resource by said community of users, wherein said estimating comprises aggregating said user rules of some or all of said users of said community with respect to said trial value of said incentive, wherein said iterations continue until said estimated demand reaches a desired demand, and wherein said offer value of said incentive is established when said desired demand is reached; and (d) a communication network for said users to transmit said user rules to said utility resource manager and for said utility manager to transmit said offer value of said incentive to said users of said community. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification