SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY REGULATING THE POWER CONSUMPTION OF AN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE

• US 20100114396A1
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory P. Benson
• Original Assignee: Glenbrook Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Wade, Daniel, Benson, Gregory P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A system and method for remotely regulating the power consumption of a device are provided. The method comprises sending a message from a remote location and over a wide area data network to a controller locally attached to a device. The method further comprises adjusting, at the controller, the power supplied to the device based on the message.

Claims

1. A method of remotely regulating the power supplied to a device, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a remote location at a controller locally connected to a device;

retrieving, at the controller, a profile from a memory of the device; and

adjusting, at the controller, the power supplied to the device based on the message and the profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile comprises a priority of the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the power supplied to the device based on the message when the priority of the device is within a priority range specified in the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the power supplied to the device based on the message upon a power vendor having discounted operating terms.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the message from the remote location over a wide area data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an instruction to adjust power supplied for a device to which the instruction has been communicated and having a priority falling in a priority range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is locally in communication with a plurality of devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises switching on-or-off the power supplied to the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the power supplied to the device via a graduated restriction of power.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device generates electricity, and further comprising:

sending, to the remote location, a message from the controller indicating the power generated for sale and a client associated with the device; and

adding, at the remote location, a record to a profile of the client indicating the time and the power generated.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, to the remote location, a supply of power schedule message comprising a command to schedule supply of power for a particular client;

adding, at the remote location, a record to a profile of the client indicating the time and the supply of power action; and

receiving, from the remote location, the command at the controller.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, to the remote location, a message from a client to track the power consumption of the client;

authenticating, at the remote location, the identity of the client; and

presenting, via a wide area data network, the client with menu options to track the power consumption.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the menu options comprise one or more of the following:

edit a schedule for power consumption and generate a power consumption report.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a profile of a client is used in selecting a vendor of the power supplied to the device or a buyer of power generated by the device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an instruction to adjust power supplied for a device to which the instruction has been communicated, having a priority falling in a priority range and having a first device type, wherein the profile further comprises the device type of the device, and wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the power supplied to the device based on the message if the priority of the device is within the priority range specified in the message and the device type of the device is the same as the first device type.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is associated with an electric valve/switch to adjust the power supplied to the device.

17. A system for remotely regulating the power supplied to a device, the system comprising:

a first controller locally connected to a device and that adjusts the power supplied to the device based on a message received from a second controller, the second controller being remote from the device,

wherein the first controller retrieves a profile from a memory of the device, and adjusts the power supplied to the device based on the message and the profile.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the profile comprises a priority of the device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first controller adjusts the power supplied to the device based on the message when the priority of the device is within a priority range specified in the message.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a communication module locally attached to the first controller, wherein the first controller communicates with the second controller via the communication module over a wide area data network.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the message comprises an instruction to adjust power supplied for a device to which the instruction has been communicated and having a priority falling in a priority range.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first controller is associated with an electric valve/switch to adjust the power supplied to the device.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the device generates electricity, and wherein the second controller:

receives a message from the first controller indicating the power generated for sale and a client associated with the device; and

adds a record to a profile of the client indicating the time and the power generated.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the second controller:

receives a supply of power schedule message comprising a command to schedule supply of power for a particular client;

adds a record to a profile of the client indicating the time and the supply of power action; and

transmits the command to the first controller.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the second controller:

receives a message from a client to track the power consumption of the client; and

presents, via a wide area data network, the client with menu options to track the power consumption.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the message comprises a first device type, a priority range, and an instruction to adjust power supplied for a device to which the instruction has been communicated, wherein the profile further comprises the device type of the device, and wherein the first controller adjusts the power supplied to the device based on the message if the priority of the device is within the priority range specified in the message and the device type of the device is the same as the first device type.

27. A system for remotely regulating the power supplied to a device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a message from a remote location at a controller locally connected to a device;

means for retrieving, at the controller, a profile from a memory of the device; and

means for adjusting, at the controller, the power supplied to the device based on the message and the profile.

28. A method of remotely regulating a utility supplied to a device, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a remote location at a controller locally connected to a device;

retrieving, at the controller, a profile from a memory of the device; and

adjusting, at the controller, the utility supplied to the device based on the message and the profile.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the utility is water.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the utility is gas.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the controller is associated with an electro-mechanical valve to adjust the utility supplied to the device.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the utility is distributed from a utility vendor to a plurality of controllers.