Energy access control

• US 9,331,525 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Minnoy, Chris, Mesaros, Valentin Aurelian
• Primary Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US13/347,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• 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: 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• 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 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A method of controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising: receiving a power network access rule from a power network, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power network; receiving a device usage rule, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power network; comparing the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and permitting the transfer of energy between the power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising:

receiving, at an energy access point, a power network access rule from a distribution operator via a power grid, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power grid;

receiving, at the energy access point, a device usage rule from the device, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power grid, and the device usage rule being provided to and stored in the device from an energy provider during an initial registration of the device with the energy provider;

comparing, at the energy access point, the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

permitting, at the energy access point, transfer of energy between the power grid and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule,

wherein the distribution operator provides a distribution network for the energy, and

wherein the energy provider buys and sells the energy.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising authenticating, at the energy access point, the device using authentication data from the energy provider.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power network access rule is determined in accordance with a capacity of the power grid.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the power network access rule from the distribution operator via the power grid, the method comprising registering the device with the energy provider, the energy provider providing electricity over the power grid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device usage rule defines conditions for consuming electricity from the power grid.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device usage rule defines conditions for providing electricity to the power grid.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving a user-configured usage rule, the user-configured usage rule defining a condition when the device requires use of the power grid as defined by a user;

comparing the user-configured usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

permitting the transfer of energy between the power grid and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule, and the user-configured usage rule and the power network access rule.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device usage rule includes a predetermined amount of energy consumption of the device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power network access rule includes information regarding a voltage and frequency of the energy.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power network access rule includes information regarding a maximum current of the energy.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

measuring an amount of electricity that is transferred between the power grid and the device;

storing a value indicative of an amount of energy transferred; and

distributing a report over a network,

wherein the report includes the value indicative of the amount of energy transferred.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the network is a home network.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when loaded onto a computer, configure the computer to perform a method according to claim 1.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device receives a registration proof during the initial registration of the device with the energy provider, and wherein the registration proof includes energy account identification, an energy provider identification, a description of the device, a registration date, a registration expiration date, and a priority number corresponding to the device.

15. The method according to claim 1, comprising authenticating, at the energy access point, the device usage rule using authentication data from the energy provider.

16. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving, at the energy access point, a registration proof from the device, wherein the device receives the registration proof during the initial registration of the device with the energy provider;

authenticating, at the energy access point, the device using authentication data from the energy provider and the registration proof;

authenticating, at the energy access point, the device usage rule using the authentication data from the energy provider; and

authenticating, at the energy access point, the power network access rule using authentication data from the distribution operator.

17. An apparatus for controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising:

circuitry configured to;

receive a power network access rule from a distribution operator via a power grid, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power grid;

receive a device usage rule from the device, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power grid, and the device usage rule being provided to and stored in the device from an energy provider during an initial registration of the device with the energy provider;

compare the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

permit transfer of energy between the power grid and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule,

wherein the distribution operator provides a distribution network for the energy, and

wherein the energy provider buys and sells the energy.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to authenticate the device using authentication data from the energy provider.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the power network access rule is determined in accordance with a capacity of the power grid.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule defines conditions for consuming electricity from the power grid.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule defines conditions for providing electricity to the power grid.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive a user-configured usage rule, the user-configured usage rule defining a condition when the device requires use of the power grid as defined by a user;

compare the user-configured usage rule with the received power network access rule; and

permit the transfer of energy between the power grid and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule, and the user-configured usage rule and the power network access rule.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device usage rule includes a predetermined amount of energy consumption of the device.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the power network access rule includes information regarding a voltage and frequency of the energy.

25. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the power network access rule includes information regarding a maximum current of the energy.

26. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

measure an amount of electricity that is transferred between the power grid and the device;

store a value indicative of an amount of energy transferred; and

distribute a report over a network, wherein the report includes the value indicative of the amount of energy transferred.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the network is a home network.

28. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to authenticate the device usage rule using authentication data from the energy provider.

29. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive a registration proof from the device, wherein the device receives the registration proof during the initial registration of the device with the energy provider;

authenticate the device using authentication data from the energy provider and the registration proof;

authenticate the device usage rule using the authentication data from the energy provider; and

authenticate the power network access rule using authentication data from the distribution operator.