System for managing power loads

• US 8,082,068 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US12/789,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291, 700295-298, 307/38, 307/39, 307/140, 702 60- 62, 703/18, 705/412
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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 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 20/30 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

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a system for managing power loads. In one exemplary embodiment, the system includes a management host processor storing a plurality of records associated with a plurality of power meters, that is operatively connected to a distribution network capable of sending and receiving messages of a first protocol. An on-premise processor is co-located with at least one of the plurality of power meters, and is operatively connected to the distribution network, for receiving messages of the first protocol from the management host processor. The on-premise processor includes an 802.11X-based wireless communications link interface for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol. A power load controller is associated with the power load and operatively communicates with the on-premise processor using 802.11X-based wireless communications to send and receive messages of the second protocol from the on-premise processor.

Claims

1. A system for remotely managing a power load that is associated with a particular power meter, comprising:

a management host processor storing a plurality of records that are associated with a plurality of power meters, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network and operative to send and receive messages of a first protocol over the distribution network for managing activation of a power load;

at least one on-premise processor co-located with at least one of the plurality of power meters, operatively connected to the distribution network and operative to receive messages of the first protocol for managing activation of the power load from the management host processor over the distribution network, the at least one on-premise processor including an 802.11X-based wireless communications link interface operative to send and receive messages of a second protocol for controlling activation of the power load and using 802.11X-based wireless communication over a wireless communications link; and

a power load controller operatively connected to the power load and the wireless communications link, operative to receive the messages of the second protocol from the at least one on-premise processor over the wireless communications link to control activation of the power load.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the distribution network comprises at least one of a paging network, digital cellular network, 802.11X-based wireless network, telephone network, cable based Internet, or power line carrier network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the power load comprises at least one of an induction motor load, a heating load, or an air conditioning load.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the records that are associated with the plurality of power meters include communication address data and measured usage data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one on-premise processor comprises a plurality of on-premise processors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a particular one of the plurality of on-premise processors is operatively connected to the power load controller.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the distribution network is formed by the plurality of on-premise processors and wherein at least one of the plurality of on-premise processors is operatively connected to another one or more of the plurality of on-premise processors.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the management host processor is operative to send a message in the first protocol containing a load reduction request to a particular one of the plurality of on-premise processors, and wherein the particular on-premise processor is operative to send a message in the second protocol to the power load controller corresponding to a command to deactivate the load.

9. A system for managing utility meters, comprising:

a management host processor storing records that are associated with a plurality of utility meters, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network and operative to send and receive messages of a first protocol over the distribution network for controlling a specific utility meter; and

at least one on-premise processor operatively connected to the distribution network and operative to receive the messages of the first protocol for controlling the specific utility meter from the management host processor over the distribution network, the at least one on-premise processor having an 802.11X-based wireless transceiver operative to send and receive messages of a second protocol to and from the specific utility meter using 802-11X-based communication over a wireless communications link, the messages of the second protocol including measurement data associated with the specific utility meter,

wherein the messages controlling the specific utility meter include a command to activate or deactivate the specific utility meter and the at least one on-premise processor is further operative to,

when the specific utility meter has been activated or deactivated according to the command, send an acknowledgement message to the management host processor over the distribution network confirming that the specific utility meter has been activated or deactivated, respectively.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the specific utility meter comprises a water meter, a gas meter, or a power meter.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the records that are associated with the plurality of utility meters include communication address data and measured usage data.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one on-premise processor comprises a plurality of on-premise processors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the distribution network is formed by the plurality of on-premise processors, and wherein at least one of the plurality of on-premise processors is operatively connected to another one or more of the plurality of on-premise processors.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a particular one of the plurality of on-premise processors is operatively connected to a power load controller that is operative to activate or deactivate a power load.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the management host processor is operative to send a message in the first protocol containing a load reduction request to the particular on-premise processor, and wherein the particular on-premise processor is operative to send a message in the second protocol to the power load controller corresponding to a command to deactivate the power load.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the distribution network comprises at least one of a paging network, digital cellular network, 802.11X-based wireless network, telephone network, cable based Internet, or power line carrier network.