Methods, apparatus, media and signals for facilitating real-time management of a utility supply
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a utility provider, the method comprising:
- electronically receiving first utility data from a first provider, the utility data comprising at least the price of the utility or the available quantity of the utility;
electronically receiving second utility data from a second provider, the utility data comprising at least the price of the utility or the available quantity of the utility;
electronically receiving rule data related to a regulation of usage of a utility;
electronically receiving consumer data related to a consumption of the utility by a consumer;
electronically receiving grid availability or grid capacity data from a distribution authority;
determining a priority ranking of the first utility data and the second utility data based on the consumer data;
automatically processing in real-time the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data to determine a preferred provider selected from a group of providers comprising the first provider and the second provider, the preferred provider selection based on the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data; and
outputting the preferred provider.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, computer readable data and signals for facilitating the supply of a utility provided to a consumer site by a plurality of providers and/or retailers and differentiation are disclosed. In one embodiment, each provider produces a representation of a utility and the provider that reveals: specification of the provider, quality and quantity standards, live real time price, rules of usage, and reliability of the provider and grade of the product. In one embodiment, each consumer inputs consumer preferences and parameters related to selecting utility providers. In one embodiment, rules for regulating usage of a utility are provided by regulatory authorities. In one embodiment, real time capacity information related to the distribution and transmission of a utility is provided by transmission authorities. In one embodiment, all the consumer preference information and rule information and capacity information is received and processed in real time to automatically select a preferred utility provider.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a utility provider, the method comprising:
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electronically receiving first utility data from a first provider, the utility data comprising at least the price of the utility or the available quantity of the utility; electronically receiving second utility data from a second provider, the utility data comprising at least the price of the utility or the available quantity of the utility; electronically receiving rule data related to a regulation of usage of a utility; electronically receiving consumer data related to a consumption of the utility by a consumer; electronically receiving grid availability or grid capacity data from a distribution authority; determining a priority ranking of the first utility data and the second utility data based on the consumer data; automatically processing in real-time the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data to determine a preferred provider selected from a group of providers comprising the first provider and the second provider, the preferred provider selection based on the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data; and outputting the preferred provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for selecting a utility provider, the system comprising:
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a first database configured to store a first utility data from a first provider, the utility data comprising at least one of;
a utility specification for the first provider;
price of utility from the first provider; and
available quantity of utility from the first provider;a second database configured to store a second utility data from a second provider, the utility data comprising at least one of;
a utility specification for the second provider;
price of utility from the second provider; and
available quantity of utility from the second provider;a third database configured to store a rule data related to a regulatory authority; a fourth database configured to store consumer data related to a utility consumer; a fifth database configured to store grid capacity or grid availability data from a distribution authority; a server configured to process the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data and the grid capacity or grid availability data to determine a preferred provider selected from a group of providers comprising at least the first provider and the second provider, the preferred provider selection based on the first utility data, the second utility data, the rule data, the consumer data, and the grid data; and wherein the server is configured to output the preferred provider. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification