Systems and methods for remote power management using IEEE 802 based wireless communication links

• US 7,289,887 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US10/729,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20050065742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/295, 702 61- 62, 307/112, 307/139, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• 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: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.

Claims

1. A method for energy management comprising:

receiving energy rating data at an on-premise processor transmitted by a distribution network from a host processor and storing the energy rating data in a memory, the rating data including a schedule pertaining to time and energy costs;

receiving at the on-premise processor a message from an end device requesting energy rating data, wherein the message is communicated using a wireless communication link, the wireless communication link relaying the message through at least one other end device;

retrieving the energy rating data from the memory and sending a response message including the energy rating data using the wireless communications link from the on-premise processor to the end device;

determining independently in the end device whether to generate an activation signal based at least in part on the energy rating data; and

the end device allowing or reducing power load consumption according to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation signal activates a power load.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation signal activates a power generator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy rating data further comprises a first time period associated with a first usage rate and a second time period associated with a second usage rate.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the end device determines whether to activate the power load based at least in part on the current time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the distribution network transmits the rating data wirelessly.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the distribution network transmits the rating data wirelessly using an 802.15.4-based communications link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications link further comprises an 802.15.4-based wireless communications protocol.

9. A method for energy management, comprising:

sending an energy rate request message from an end device to a host processor, wherein the request message is communicated using a wireless communication link, the wireless communication link relaying the message through at least one other end device;

receiving at the end device an energy rate schedule from the host processor using the wireless communication link, the energy rate schedule comprising a first time period for a first usage rate and a second time period for a second usage rate;

determining independently in the end device whether to activate a power load based in part on the energy rate schedule and a current time; and

the end device allowing or reducing power load consumption according to the determination.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing the energy rate schedule in a memory in the end device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications link further comprises an 802.15.4-based wireless communications protocol.

12. A method for energy management comprising:

receiving at an on-premise processor a first request message from an end device pertaining to energy rating data, wherein the first request message is communicated using a wireless communication link, the wireless communication link relaying the first request message through at least one other end device;

sending from the on-premise processor a second request message over a distribution network from the host processor, the second request message pertaining to energy rating data;

receiving at the on-premise processor a first rating response message over the distribution network from the host processor, the first rating response message including energy rating data;

sending from the on-premise processor to the end device a second rating response message using the wireless communication link, the second rating response message including the energy rating data;

determining independently in the end device whether to generate an activation signal based at least in part on the energy rating data; and

the end device allowing or reducing power load consumption according to the determination.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the activation signal activates a power load.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the activation signal activates a power generator.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the end device further determines whether to activate the power load based on the current time.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the energy rating data comprises a first time period associated with a first usage rate and a second time period associated with a second usage rate.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless communications link further comprises an 802.15.4-based wireless communications protocol.

17. The method of clam 13 wherein the power load activated is one from the group of an air conditioning unit, an induction motor, a compressor, and a heating load.