Apparatus and method for controlling communications to and from utility service points
First Claim
1. A method for a communication device operating within an active load management system to control transmission of at least one message over a fixed bandwidth communication link, the at least one message providing information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at a service point at which the communication device is located and fixedly positioned, the method comprising:
- receiving at least one control message from a central controller, the at least one control message including transmission time determination parameters, the transmission time determination parameters including (a) an identifier associated with the communication device, (b) a number representing a quantity of communication devices within the active load management system, (c) a number representing a quantity of transmission increments within a reporting period during which messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices, and (d) identification of a transmission increment assigned to a group of communication devices containing the communication device; and
determining a transmission time for the at least one message based on the transmission time determination parameters;
wherein the step of determining a transmission time for the at least one message comprises;
determining a quantity of communication devices within the group containing the communication device based on (a) the number representing the quantity of communication devices within the active load management system and (b) the number representing the quantity of transmission increments within the reporting period;
determining a duration of the transmission increment assigned to the group containing the communication device; and
determining a transmission time for the at least one message based on (a) the identifier associated with the communication device, (b) the quantity of communication devices within the group containing the communication device, and (c) the duration of the transmission increment assigned to the group containing the communication device.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method control transmission of messages over a fixed bandwidth link from fixed position communication devices to a central controller in a load management system. The messages include information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at service points that include the communication devices. In one embodiment, the central controller determines an identifier associated with each communication device, a reporting period during which the messages are to be transmitted by the communication devices, and transmission increments within the reporting period. The controller allocates each transmission increment to a respective group of communication devices. The controller then determines a transmission time for a message from a particular communication device based on the identifier for the particular device, a duration of a transmission increment allocated to a group of communication devices that includes the particular device, and a quantity of communication devices in the particular device'"'"'s group.
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A method for a communication device operating within an active load management system to control transmission of at least one message over a fixed bandwidth communication link, the at least one message providing information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at a service point at which the communication device is located and fixedly positioned, the method comprising:
-
receiving at least one control message from a central controller, the at least one control message including transmission time determination parameters, the transmission time determination parameters including (a) an identifier associated with the communication device, (b) a number representing a quantity of communication devices within the active load management system, (c) a number representing a quantity of transmission increments within a reporting period during which messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices, and (d) identification of a transmission increment assigned to a group of communication devices containing the communication device; and determining a transmission time for the at least one message based on the transmission time determination parameters; wherein the step of determining a transmission time for the at least one message comprises; determining a quantity of communication devices within the group containing the communication device based on (a) the number representing the quantity of communication devices within the active load management system and (b) the number representing the quantity of transmission increments within the reporting period; determining a duration of the transmission increment assigned to the group containing the communication device; and determining a transmission time for the at least one message based on (a) the identifier associated with the communication device, (b) the quantity of communication devices within the group containing the communication device, and (c) the duration of the transmission increment assigned to the group containing the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An active load management system operable to control transmission of messages over a communication link, the messages providing information reporting electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at service points receiving electrical power from a utility, the active load management system comprising:
-
a plurality of active load client devices, each active load client device including; a communications interface operable to receive at least one control message indicating a transmission time for transmitting at least one report message, the at least one report message providing information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at a service point at which the active load client device is located; and a device control manager operably coupled to the communications interface, the device control manager operable to generate the at least one report message and supply the at least one report message to the communications interface for transmission at the transmission time; an active load director that includes; an active load client manager operable to; determine a transmission period during which report messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of active load client devices, determine a plurality of transmission increments within the transmission period, allocate each transmission increment to a respective group of the plurality of active load client devices, determine transmission times for the report messages based on (a) identifiers for the plurality of active load client devices, (b) respective durations of transmission increments allocated to respective groups of the plurality of active load client devices, and (c) a quantity of active load client devices in each group, and generate control messages that include indications of the transmission times; and an active load client interface operably coupled to the active load client manager and the communication link, the active load client interface operable to communicate the control messages to the plurality of active load client devices over the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
Specification