Business management system and method for a deregulated electric power market using online diagnostic services

• US 6,732,019 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: Hasling, William, Spool, Peter R., Soni, Dilip, Masticola, Stephen, Landi, William
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/143,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/22, 340/870.02, 702/61, 702/62, 307/40, 307/38, 361/661
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A business management method for detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective smart electric metering systems, comprises the steps of: the respective smart electric metering system providing an error message to the electric distribution company upon occurrence of an anomaly; electric distribution company performing online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly at a respective customer energy consumer site; the electric distribution company determines whether repairs are required; and upon a determination of a need for repair, electric distribution company schedules a repair visit at the respective customer energy consumer site. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Claims

1. A business management method for detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective smart electric metering systems, said method comprising the steps of:

said respective smart electric metering system providing an error message to said electric distribution company upon occurrence of an anomaly;

electric distribution company performing online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly at a respective customer energy consumer site;

said electric distribution company determines whether repairs are required; and

upon a determination of a need for repair, electric distribution company schedules a repair visit at said respective customer energy consumer site.

2. A business management method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step wherein said electric distribution company schedules a repair visit is performed by email.

3. A business management method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step wherein said electric distribution company schedules a repair visit is performed by a palmtop device.

4. A business management method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step wherein said electric distribution company schedules a repair visit is performed by a desktop computer.

5. A business management method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step wherein said electric distribution company schedules a repair visit is performed by a smart phone.