Methods and Systems for Requesting Compliance With a Requirement Over a Network

• US 20130197921A1
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Cellnet Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Shudark, Jeffrey B., Neill, Mark M., Bishop, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,118,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that can be used to broadcast or otherwise send load shed and other requirements over a network to recipients. One exemplary embodiment involves sending a first broadcast message to a first group of recipients. The first broadcast message requests compliance with a requirement but does not require a synchronous reply from the first group of recipients. The first group of recipients are each configured to automatically comply with the requirement in response to receiving the first broadcast message. The exemplary embodiment further involves determining, for example, based on actual load determination, to send a second broadcast message to a second group of recipients different from the first group of recipients and sending the second broadcast message to the second group of recipients, the second broadcast message requesting compliance with the requirement.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a first broadcast message to a first group of recipients, the first broadcast message requesting compliance with a requirement and not requiring a synchronous reply from the first group of recipients, wherein the first group of recipients automatically complies with the requirement in response to receiving the first broadcast message;

determining to send a second broadcast message to a second group of recipients different from the first group of recipients; and

sending the second broadcast message to the second group of recipients, the second broadcast message requesting compliance with the requirement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the requirement requests recipients reduce an amount of electric consumption being consumed wherein the first group automatically complies with the requirement by reducing electric consumption in response to receiving the first broadcast message, wherein determining to send the second broadcast message is based on a measurement of load after expected compliance by the first group with the requirement.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the requirement requests recipients adjust a controllable element of a home area network controlling one or more appliances or devices located in a home.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving asynchronous replies from the first group, wherein each group of the first group asynchronously replies by including a reply in a scheduled information message.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the scheduled information message is a message reporting consumption of electric by each respective recipient.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein determining to send the second broadcast message occurs independent of receiving the replies from the first group, wherein determining to send the second broadcast message is based upon measurements made by devices that are not associated with the first group of recipients.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second group of recipients can individually opt out of complying with the requirement in response to receiving the second broadcast message.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein an incentive is provided to the first group of recipients for agreeing to automatically comply with received requirements, wherein the incentive is not provided to the second group of recipients.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

a first incentive is provided to the first group of recipients for agreeing to automatically comply with received requirements, wherein the first incentive is not provided to the second group of recipients; and

a second incentive is provided to the second group of recipients based upon compliance with individual compliance requests.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining to send a third broadcast message to a second group of recipients different from the first group of recipients and different from the second group of recipients; and

sending the third broadcast message to the third group of recipients, the third broadcast message requesting compliance with the requirement; and

wherein different compliance incentives are provided for compliance to each of the first group, the second group, and the third group.

11. A method comprising:

sending a first broadcast message to a first group of electric consumption recipients, the first broadcast message requesting compliance with a load shed requirement and not requiring a synchronous reply, wherein at least some of the recipients in the first group are configured to automatically comply with the load shed requirement by reducing load in response to receiving the first broadcast message and to not send a synchronous reply to the first broadcast message; and

after waiting for a period of time for expected compliance, measuring load on an electric grid providing electric to the first group of electric consumption recipients to determine whether realized load shed on the electric grid satisfies a load shed target for the electric grid.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining, based on the measuring, to send a second broadcast message to a second group of recipients different from the first group of recipients;

sending the second broadcast message to the second group of recipients, the second broadcast message requesting compliance with the load shed requirement, wherein the second group of recipients can individually opt out of complying with the requirement in response to receiving the second broadcast message.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving asynchronous replies from the first group, wherein each recipient in the first group asynchronously replies by including a reply in a scheduled information message, wherein the scheduled information message is a message reporting consumption of electric by each respective recipient.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein determining to send the second broadcast message occurs independent of receiving the replies from the first group.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein:

a first incentive is provided to the first group of recipients for agreeing to automatically comply with received requirements, wherein the first incentive is not provided to the second group of recipients; and

a second incentive is provided to the second group of recipients based upon compliance with individual compliance requests.

16. A system comprising:

a control system configured to access recipient information, identify load shed events, and initiate sending of broadcast messages to address load shed events, wherein, in response to identifying an occurrence of a load shed event, the control system is configured to;

identify a first group using the recipient information;

initiate sending of a first message to the first group requesting compliance with a load shed requirement; and

determine, based on a measurement of load after expected compliance by the first group with the load shed requirement, whether to send a second message to a second group, the second group different from the first group;

a command center configured to send the broadcast messages via a mesh network; and

recipients connected via the mesh network to the command center, the recipients comprising the first group, wherein recipients of the first group are configured to receive broadcast messages and automatically comply with messages requesting compliance with load shed requirements by reducing electric consumption.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the control system and command center are integrated at a head end device.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the recipient information comprises storage of meter reading data.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the control system is further configured to access historical load information and use historical load information to determine whether to send the second message.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the control system is configured to identify which recipients are in the first group using the recipient information by using recipient class information in the recipient information to identify recipients that previously agreed to automatically comply with requests in exchange for receiving an incentive.