INTERMEDIATE APPARATUS

• US 20140330445A1
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Original Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Inventors: Kawai, Seiji, Kinugasa, Nanae
• Granted Patent: US 9,423,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

An intermediate apparatus manages a plurality of lower-level apparatuses, and includes an individual adjustable amount receiving unit, a memory unit storing lower-level apparatus management information, a total adjustable amount calculation unit, a demand adjustment request receiving unit, an allocation unit, and an individual request unit sending an individual demand adjustment request to the lower-level apparatus. The individual adjustable amount receiving unit receives notification of an individual adjustable amount from each of the lower-level apparatuses. The total adjustable amount calculation unit calculates a total adjustable amount being a total of the individual adjustable amounts of the plurality of lower-level apparatuses. The demand adjustment request receiving unit receives a demand adjustment request from a higher-level apparatus. The allocation unit allocates a demand adjustment amount to the lower-level apparatus according to a prescribed order based on the lower-level apparatus management information, based on the demand adjustment request.

Claims

1. An intermediate apparatus adapted to manage a plurality of lower-level apparatuses which manage one or more pieces of facility equipment, the intermediate apparatus comprising:

an individual adjustable amount receiving unit configured to receive notification of an individual adjustable amount of energy consumption for each prescribed period from each of said lower-level apparatuses;

a memory unit configured to store

said individual adjustable amount of each of said lower-level apparatuses and

lower-level apparatus management information related to each of said lower-level apparatuses;

a total adjustable amount calculation unit configured to calculate a total adjustable amount of said individual adjustable amounts of said plurality of lower-level apparatuses;

a demand adjustment request receiving unit configured to receive a demand adjustment request requesting adjustment of an amount of energy consumption during an adjustment request period from a higher-level apparatus, which is a higher-level energy management apparatus;

an allocation unit configured to allocate, based on said demand adjustment request, a demand adjustment amount to at least one of said plurality of said lower-level apparatuses according to a prescribed order based on said lower-level apparatus management information;

an individual request unit configured to send an individual demand adjustment request requesting adjustment of an amount of energy consumption by an amount of said demand adjustment amount to said lower-level apparatus to which said demand adjustment amount is allocated by said allocation unit; and

a total adjustable amount notification unit configured provide notification of said total adjustable amount to said higher-level apparatus,

said lower-level apparatus management information includes information about a last of said lower-level apparatus in said prescribed order to which said demand adjustment amount was allocated in a preceding time by said allocation unit, and

said allocation unit being further configured to allocate said demand adjustment amount to said lower-level apparatus according to said prescribed order, starting from a next of said lower-level apparatus following said last of said lower-level apparatus.

4. The intermediate apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said prescribed order is an order in which said lower-level apparatus is registered in said lower-level apparatus management information.

5. The intermediate apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said lower-level apparatus management information further includes information related to a priority order associated with each of said lower-level apparatuses; and

said prescribed order is said priority order.

7. The intermediate apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said lower-level apparatus management information further includes information related to a priority order associated with each of said lower-level apparatuses, and information related to a number of times of allocation in which said allocation unit previously allocated said demand adjustment amount to each of said lower-level apparatuses; and

said prescribed order is one of

an order in which said lower-level apparatuses are registered in said lower-level apparatus management information,

said priority order,

an ascending order of said number of times of allocation, and

an order being a combination of any two or more of the above.

2. An intermediate apparatus adapted to manage a plurality of lower-level apparatuses which manage one or more pieces of facility equipment, the intermediate apparatus comprising:

an individual adjustable amount receiving unit configured to receive notification of an individual adjustable amount of energy consumption for each prescribed period from each of said lower-level apparatuses;

a memory unit configured to store

said individual adjustable amount of each of said lower-level apparatuses and

lower-level apparatus management information related to each of said lower-level apparatuses;

a total adjustable amount calculation unit configured to calculate a total adjustable amount of said individual adjustable amounts of said plurality of lower-level apparatuses;

a demand adjustment request receiving unit configured to receive a demand adjustment request requesting adjustment of an amount of energy consumption during an adjustment request period from a higher-level apparatus, which is a higher-level energy management apparatus;

an allocation unit configured to allocate, based on said demand adjustment request, a demand adjustment amount to at least one of said plurality of said lower-level apparatuses according to a prescribed order based on said lower-level apparatus management information;

an individual request unit configured to send an individual demand adjustment request requesting adjustment of an amount of energy consumption by an amount of said demand adjustment amount to said lower-level apparatus to which said demand adjustment amount is allocated by said allocation unit; and

a total adjustable amount notification unit configured to provide notification of said total adjustable amount to said higher-level apparatus,

said lower-level apparatus management information includes information related to a number of times of allocation in which said allocation unit previously allocated said demand adjustment amount to each of said lower-level apparatuses, and

said prescribed order is an ascending order of said number of times of allocation.

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)