Power control method, power control system and computer program product for supplying power to a plurality of electric apparatuses connected to a power line

• US 6,301,674 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Kamagata, Eiji, Kamatani, Yukio, Takabatake, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoleil, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/456,549
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/321, 713/324, 713/330, 713/340, 713/323, 364/528.3, 364/528.27, 364/528.28, 700/295, 700/293
• US Class Current: 713/340
• 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: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

In supplying power to a plurality of electric apparatuses connected to a power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power, a power consumption of the power line is measured as a first power consumption. When a second power consumption predetermined in each of the electric apparatuses is told, a sum of the second power consumption and the first power consumption of the power line is compared with the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line, and it is determined whether the second power consumption by the electric apparatus is permissible. A result of the determination is told to the electric apparatuses.

Claims

1. A power control method for supplying power through a power line, which has a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to the power line, the method comprising:

receiving a power use request message from one of the electric apparatus via a wireless communication network;

measuring a total amount of power actually used by all of the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

sending a first message to said electric apparatus for granting the power use request, when a sum of the total amount of power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power;

determining an upper limit of permissible power which is lower than the requested power, when the sum of the total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the maximum consumable power; and

sending a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network for granting a use of the upper limit of permissible power.

2. A power control method for supplying power through a plurality of power lines, each power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to one of the power lines, the method comprising:

receiving a power use request message from one of the electric apparatuses via a wireless communication network;

measuring a first total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

sending a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless network for denying the power use request, when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

measuring a second total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to all of the power lines, when a sum of the first total power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line; and

sending a second message to said electric apparatus for granting or denying the power use request, in accordance with a determination of whether a sum of the second total amount of power and the requested power exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of power available for supplying to all of the power lines.

3. A power control method for supplying power through a power line, which has a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses connected to the power line, the method comprising;

receiving identification information from one of the electric apparatuses via a wireless communication network;

searching for attributive information of the electric apparatus in accordance with the identification information; and

performing a control for supplying power to the plural electric apparatuses in accordance with the attributive information, wherein

the step of performing a control comprises;

receiving a power use request message from the electric apparatus via the wireless communication network;

measuring a total amount of power actually used by all of the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

sending a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network for granting the power use request when a sum of the total amount of power and the requested power, whose value is included in the attributive information, does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

determining an upper limit of permissible power which is lower than the requested power, when the sum of the total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the maximum consumable power, and

sending a second message to said electric apparatus via wireless communication network for granting a use of the upper limit of permissible power.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of searching for attributive information comprises accessing a database which holds the attributive information of the electric apparatus, using communication means except for the wireless communication network, to search the attributive information of said electric apparatus.

5. A power control method for supplying power through a plurality of power lines, each power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to one of the power lines, the method comprising:

receiving identification information of said electric apparatus via a wireless communication network,

searching for attributive information of said electric apparatus in accordance with the identification information; and

performing a control for supplying power to the plural electric apparatuses in accordance with the attributive information, wherein

the step of performing a control comprises;

receiving a power use request message from one of the electric apparatus via the wireless communication network;

measuring a first total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

sending a first message for denying the power use request via the wireless communication network, when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

measuring a second total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to all of the power lines when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line; and

sending a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network for granting or denying the power use request, in accordance with a determination of whether a sum of the second total amount of the power and the requested power exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of power available for supplying to all of the power lines.

6. A power control system for supplying power through a power line, which has a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to the power line, the system comprising:

a receiving section configured to receive a power use request message from one of the electric apparatus via a wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

a measuring section which measures a total amount of power actually used by all of the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

a first sending section which sends a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting the power use request, when a sum of the total amount of power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power;

a determination section which determines an upper limit of permissible power which is lower than the requested power, when the sum of the total amount of power and the requested power exceed the maximum consumable power; and

a second sending section which sends a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting a use of the upper limit of permissible power.

7. A power control system for supplying power through a plurality of power lines, each power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to one of the power lines, the system comprising:

a receiving section configured to receive a power use request message from one of the electric apparatuses via a wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

a measuring section configured to measure a first total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

a first sending section configured to send a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for denying the power use request, when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

a measuring section configured to measure a second total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to all of the power lines, when a sum of the first total power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line; and

a second rending section configured to send a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting or denying the power use request, in accordance with a determination of whether a sum of the second total amount of power and the requested power exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of power available for supplying to all of the power lines.

8. A power control system for supplying power through a power line, which has a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses connected to the power line, the system comprising:

a receiving section configured to receive identification information from one of the electric apparatuses via a wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

a searching section configured to search for attributive information of the electric apparatus in accordance with the identification information; and

a control section configured to perform a control for supplying power to the plural electric apparatuses in accordance with the attributive information, wherein said control section comprises;

a receiving section configured to receive a power use request message from the electric apparatus via the wireless communication network;

a measuring, section configured to measure a total amount of power actually used by all of the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

a first sending section configured to send a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network for granting the power use request, when a sum of the total amount of power and the requested power, whose value is included in the attributive information, does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

a determination section configured to determine an upper limit of permissible power which is lower than the requested power, when the sum of the total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the maximum consumable power; and

a second sending section to send a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting a use of the upper limit of permissible power.

9. A power control system for supplying power through a plurality of power lines, each power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to one of the power lines, the system comprising:

a receiving section configured to receive identification information of said electric apparatus via a wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

a searching section configured to search for attributive information of said electric apparatus in accordance with the identification information; and

a control section configured to perform a control for supplying power to the plural electric apparatuses in accordance with the attributive information, wherein said control section comprises;

a receiving section configured to receive a power use request message from one of the electric apparatus via the wireless communication network;

a measuring section configured to measure a first total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

a transmission section configured to send a first message via the wireless communication network, for denying the power use request, when sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

a measuring section which measures a second total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to all of the power lines, when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line; and

a transmission section to send a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting or denying the power use request, in accordance with a determination of whether a sum of the second total amount of the power and the requested power exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of power available for supplying to all of the power lines.

10. A computer program product, in a computer system, for use in a control for supplying power through a power line, which has a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to the power line, the product comprising:

a recording medium;

instruction means, stored in the recording medium, for instructing the computer system to receive a power use request message from one of the electric apparatus via wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to measure a total amount of power actually used by all of the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting the power use request, when a sum of the total amount of power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to determine an upper limit of permissible power which is lower than the requested power, when the sum of the total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the maximum consumable power; and

instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a second message to said electric apparatus for granting a use of the upper limit of permissible power.

11. A computer program product, in a computer system, for use in a control for supplying power through a plurality of power lines, each power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to one of the power lines, the product comprising:

a recording medium;

first instruction means, stored in the recording medium, for instructing the computer system to receive a power use request message from one of the electric apparatuses via a wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

second instruction means for instructing the computer system to measure a first total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

third instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a first message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network for denying the power use request, when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

fourth instruction means for instructing the computer system to measure a second total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to all of the power lines, when a sum of the first total power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line; and

fifth instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network for granting or denying the power use request, in accordance with determination of whether a sum of the second total amount of power and the requested power exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of power available for supplying to all of the power lines.

12. A computer program product, in a computer system, for use in a control for supplying power through a power line, which has a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses connected to the power line, the product comprising:

a recording medium;

first instruction means, stored in the recording medium, for instructing, the computer system to receive identification information from one of the electric apparatuses via a wireless communication network for communication in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

second instruction means for instructing the computer system to search for attributive information of the electric apparatus in accordance with the identification information; and

third instruction means for instructing the computer system to perform a control for supplying power to the plural electric apparatuses in accordance with the attributive information wherein said third instruction means comprises;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to receive a power use request message from the electric apparatus via the wireless communication network;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to measure a total amount of power actually used by all of the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a first message to said electric apparatus for granting the power use request, when a sum of the total amount of power and the requested power, whose value is included in the attributive information does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to determine an upper limit of permissible power which is lower than the requested power, when the sum of the total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the maximum consumable power; and

instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting a use of the upper limit of permissible power.

13. A computer program product, in a computer system, for use in a control for supplying power through a plurality of power lines, each power line having a predetermined maximum consumable power, to a plurality of electric apparatuses which are connected to one of the power lines, the product comprising:

a recording medium;

first instruction means, stored in the recording medium, for instructing the computer system to receive identification information of said electric apparatus via a wireless communication network for communicating in wireless between the power control system and the electric apparatuses;

second instruction means for instructing the computer system to search for attributive information of said electric apparatus in accordance with the identification information; and

third instruction means for instructing the computer system to perform a control for supplying power to the plural electric apparatuses in accordance with the attributive information, wherein said third instruction means comprises;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to receive a power use request message from one of the electric apparatus via the wireless communication network;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to measure a first total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to the power line;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a first message via the wireless communication network, for denying the power use request when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power exceeds the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line;

instruction means for instructing the computer system to measure a second total amount of power actually used by the electric apparatuses connected to all of the power lines, when a sum of the first total amount of power and the requested power does not exceed the predetermined maximum consumable power of the power line; and

instruction means for instructing the computer system to send a second message to said electric apparatus via the wireless communication network, for granting or denying the power use request, in accordance with a determination of whether a sum of the second total amount of the power and the requested power exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of power available for supplying to all of the power lines.