ENERGY ACCESS CONTROL

• US 20120205990A1
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Minnoy, Chris, Mesaros, Valentin Aurelian
• Granted Patent: US 9,331,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• 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 method of controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising: receiving a power network access rule from a power network, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power network; receiving a device usage rule, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power network; comparing the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and permitting the transfer of energy between the power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising:

receiving a power network access rule from a power network, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power network;

receiving a device usage rule, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power network;

comparing the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

permitting the transfer of energy between the power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving the device usage rule from the device.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving the device usage rule from an energy provider.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of authenticating the device with the electrical power network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power network access rule is determined in accordance with the capacity of the power network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the power network access rule from the network, the method comprising registering the device with an energy provider, the energy provider providing electricity over the power network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device usage rule defines the conditions for consuming electricity from the power network.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device usage rule defines the conditions for providing electricity to the power network.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving a user-configured usage rule, the user-configured usage rule defining a condition when the device requires use of the power network as defined by a user;

comparing the user-configured usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

permitting the transfer of energy between the electrical power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule, and the user-configured usage rule and the power network access rule.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device usage rule includes a predetermined amount of energy consumption of the device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power network access rule include information regarding the voltage and frequency of the energy.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power network access rule include information regarding the maximum current of the energy.

13. The method according to claim 1, comprising measuring the amount of electricity that is transferred between the power network and the device;

storing a value indicative of the amount of energy transferred; and

distributing a report over a network, wherein the report includes the value indicative of the amount of energy transferred.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the network is a home network.

15. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions which, when loaded onto a computer, configure the computer to perform a method according to claim 1.

16. A storage medium configured to store the computer program of claim 15 therein or thereon.

17. An apparatus for controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising:

a receiving unit operable to receive a power network access rule from a power network, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power network and to receive a device usage rule, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power network;

a comparator operable to compare the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

a permitting unit operable to permit the transfer of energy between the power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule is received from the device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule is received from an energy provider.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, comprising an authentication unit operable to authenticate the device with the electrical power network.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the power network access rule is determined in accordance with the capacity of the power network.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule defines the conditions for consuming electricity from the power network.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule defines the conditions for providing electricity to the power network.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the receiving unit is operable to receive a user-configured usage rule, the user-configured usage rule defining a condition when the device requires use of the power network as defined by a user;

wherein the comparator is operable to compare the user-configured usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

wherein the permitting unit is operable to permit the transfer of energy between the electrical power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule, and the user-configured usage rule and the power network access rule.

25. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule includes a predetermined amount of energy consumption of the device.

26. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the power network access rule include information regarding the voltage and frequency of the energy.

27. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the power network access rule include information regarding the maximum current of the energy.

28. The apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a measuring unit operable to measure the amount of electricity that is transferred between the power network and the device;

a storage device operable to store a value indicative of the amount of energy transferred; and

an output unit operable to distribute a report over a network, wherein the report includes the value indicative of the amount of energy transferred.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the network is a home network.