Method of managing electric power on the basis of tariff schedules, in a network within a dwelling or the like
First Claim
1. A method of managing electric power on a basis of tariff schedules in a network within a dwelling comprising the steps of:
- equipping appliances using said electric power within said dwelling with means for two-way communication between appliances and between said appliances and an electric power tariff schedule determining means for determining the electric power tariff schedule in force for that dwelling;
detecting, using said electric power tariff schedule determining means, an occurrence of a tariff change signal;
generating, upon receipt of said tariff change signal, by a manager unit connected to said network, a message containing a code representing the tariff in force and a binary information element indicating whether said tariff can be regarded as economical;
broadcasting, by said manager unit, said message using an addressing scheme limiting a logical range of said broadcasting to appliances in said dwelling connected to said electric power tariff schedule determining means; and
selectively controlling, using said manager unit, an operation of said appliances connected to and compatible with said network based on said electric power tariff schedule in force at a given time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method allowing the management of electric power on the basis of the tariff schedules in force in a network (20) within a dwelling. The method according to the invention is based on communication which is established automatically between domestic appliances (201-205, 207, 210) and a so-called electric power manager unit (211) of which the task is, in particular, to coordinate the management of tariff schedules. The method makes it possible to slave the operation of appliances (201-205, 207, 210) to the tariff status in force which is known to the manager (211) by means of a link with an electricity meter (200) fitted in the network (20).
121 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of managing electric power on a basis of tariff schedules in a network within a dwelling comprising the steps of:
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equipping appliances using said electric power within said dwelling with means for two-way communication between appliances and between said appliances and an electric power tariff schedule determining means for determining the electric power tariff schedule in force for that dwelling; detecting, using said electric power tariff schedule determining means, an occurrence of a tariff change signal; generating, upon receipt of said tariff change signal, by a manager unit connected to said network, a message containing a code representing the tariff in force and a binary information element indicating whether said tariff can be regarded as economical; broadcasting, by said manager unit, said message using an addressing scheme limiting a logical range of said broadcasting to appliances in said dwelling connected to said electric power tariff schedule determining means; and selectively controlling, using said manager unit, an operation of said appliances connected to and compatible with said network based on said electric power tariff schedule in force at a given time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification