Fuzzy time-of-use metering and consumption monitoring using load profile data from relative time transmit-only devices
First Claim
1. A method of applying a Time-of-Use (TOU) schedule to a relative-time metering device, comprising:
- determining an expected TOU tier in accordance with a TOU tier switch time;
receiving interval data from said relative-time metering device;
assigning said interval data to a current tier associated with said relative-time metering device;
changing said current tier associated with said relative-time metering to said expected TOU tier if said current tier is not equal to said expected TOU tier; and
assigning subsequent interval data in said expected TOU tier.
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Abstract
A system and method provide Time-of-Use (TOU) rate schedules that are bound by windows of time, i.e., a type of fuzzy switch time, which is bounded on both sides, rather than instantaneous switch times. The fuzzy TOU schedule defines the time of a tier switch as the end time of the first completed interval recorded after the start of some window of time. A monitoring system may be included that implements configurable usage filters that allow for the classification of usage in terms of interval data. Usage filters can be defined so that they are applied against individual interval readings, various aggregations of interval readings, and/or the statistical products of interval readings, etc. A filtering algorithm allows for the comparison of incoming and/or historical interval data against defined usage and schedule filters to determine if usage is abnormal and should be investigated further.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of applying a Time-of-Use (TOU) schedule to a relative-time metering device, comprising:
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determining an expected TOU tier in accordance with a TOU tier switch time; receiving interval data from said relative-time metering device; assigning said interval data to a current tier associated with said relative-time metering device; changing said current tier associated with said relative-time metering to said expected TOU tier if said current tier is not equal to said expected TOU tier; and assigning subsequent interval data in said expected TOU tier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of monitoring usage of a commodity, comprising:
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defining usage filters that classify usage of said commodity in terms of interval data; defining schedule filters in accordance with a Time-of-Use (TOU) schedule; filtering interval data received from a relative-time metering device in accordance with said usage filters and said schedule filters; and generating an alert if said interval data meets criteria specified by said usage filters and said schedule filters. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for determining usage of a commodity, comprising:
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a relative-time metering device that measures commodity usage in intervals as interval data; a collector that receives said interval data from said relative-time metering device; and a reading system that receives said interval data from said collector, wherein said system for determining usage of a commodity sets a time-of-use (TOU) schedule and TOU tier switch times are defined as occurring within a window of time separating a first TOU tier and a second TOU tier, and wherein when said interval data associated with said relative-time metering device is received within said window of time, said interval data is assigned to said first TOU tier and a next interval data received from said relative-time metering device is assigned to said second TOU tier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification