Methods, apparatus, media, and signals for managing utility usage
First Claim
1. A method of controlling usage of a utility, the method comprising:
- providing a control system at a consumer site;
receiving in said control system a representation of a utility usage by a utility-consuming device, said representation of utility usage comprising measured values of at least one output of said utility-consuming device as well as measured values of at least one utility input delivered to said utility-consuming device;
receiving and storing in said control system a usage range representation for said utility-consuming device comprising at least one pre-determined value of an expected output of said utility-consuming device and at least one pre-determined expected value of a utility delivered to said utility-consuming device; and
producing a control signal for use by a utility service controller, when said measured at least one output and at least one input values are outside of said usage range representation for said utility-consuming device, said control signal being operable to cause said utility service controller to interrupt or adjust a supply of said utility to said utility-consuming device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, computer readable media, and signals for managing utility usage are disclosed. Generally, each involves receiving a representation of a utility service usage at a load, receiving and storing a usage range representation, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service interrupter, when the usage is outside of the usage range representation. The control signal is operable to cause the utility service interrupter to interrupt a supply of the utility service to the load. Each also involves receiving a control signal indicating that a usage of the utility service at the load is outside of a usage range representation, and interrupting the supply of the utility service to the load in response to the control signal. Systems and methods for monitoring subscriber usage of a utility service and for billing a subscriber for utility service usage are also disclosed.
93 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling usage of a utility, the method comprising:
-
providing a control system at a consumer site;
receiving in said control system a representation of a utility usage by a utility-consuming device, said representation of utility usage comprising measured values of at least one output of said utility-consuming device as well as measured values of at least one utility input delivered to said utility-consuming device;
receiving and storing in said control system a usage range representation for said utility-consuming device comprising at least one pre-determined value of an expected output of said utility-consuming device and at least one pre-determined expected value of a utility delivered to said utility-consuming device; and
producing a control signal for use by a utility service controller, when said measured at least one output and at least one input values are outside of said usage range representation for said utility-consuming device, said control signal being operable to cause said utility service controller to interrupt or adjust a supply of said utility to said utility-consuming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of controlling usage of a utility, the method comprising:
-
providing a control system at a consumer site;
receiving in said control system a representation of usage of a utility by a utility-consuming device, said representation of utility usage comprising a first representation of a quality or a quantity of a utility input to said device and a second representation of a quality or quantity of a product of utilization of said device;
calculating an efficiency of said device by comparing said first and second representations;
receiving and storing in said control system a usage range representation comprising a pre-determined value of expected efficiency of said utility-consuming device; and
producing a control signal for use by a utility service controller for controlling a flow of the utility to the utility-consuming device, when said utility usage is outside of said usage range representation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification