Energy consumption management
First Claim
1. A method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network supplying electrical energy to a plurality of electric devices, wherein each of the electric devices is connectable to the electricity distribution network to consume electrical energy provided therefrom, thereby increasing a net amount of electrical energy consumption, and/or to provide electrical energy to the electricity distribution network, thereby decreasing a net amount of electric energy consumption, the method comprising:
- maintaining a device database comprising profile information, wherein the profile information relates to at least some of the electric devices;
evaluating a plurality of models against one or more energy management criteria, wherein the plurality of models is generated by allocating electric devices based on the profile information;
determining one or more characteristics of a preferred model based on the evaluation;
identifying a time period during which consumption of electrical energy supplied by the electricity distribution network is to be controlled;
selecting, based on at least the determined characteristics, a plurality of groups of the electric devices, each group comprising a plurality of the electric devices;
associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups, the one or more time intervals associated with a given selected group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other selected groups, each said time interval being a time interval of the time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled;
sending one or more requests, for receipt at the electric devices of the selected groups, to control at least one of electrical energy consumption and provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy, during a respective associated time interval.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices for controlling electrical energy consumption in an electricity distribution network, so as to reduce net energy consumption in a given area during a given time period are described. In particular, a method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network is described. The method comprises maintaining a database of information about electric devices, and identifying an area in which, and a time period during which, electrical energy consumption is to be controlled. The method further comprises selecting, based on device information stored in the database, groups of electric devices, and associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups. Requests are sent to the electric devices of the selected groups to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices. This enables a reduction in net consumption of electrical energy in a given area, during a respective time interval.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network supplying electrical energy to a plurality of electric devices, wherein each of the electric devices is connectable to the electricity distribution network to consume electrical energy provided therefrom, thereby increasing a net amount of electrical energy consumption, and/or to provide electrical energy to the electricity distribution network, thereby decreasing a net amount of electric energy consumption, the method comprising:
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maintaining a device database comprising profile information, wherein the profile information relates to at least some of the electric devices; evaluating a plurality of models against one or more energy management criteria, wherein the plurality of models is generated by allocating electric devices based on the profile information; determining one or more characteristics of a preferred model based on the evaluation; identifying a time period during which consumption of electrical energy supplied by the electricity distribution network is to be controlled; selecting, based on at least the determined characteristics, a plurality of groups of the electric devices, each group comprising a plurality of the electric devices; associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups, the one or more time intervals associated with a given selected group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other selected groups, each said time interval being a time interval of the time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled; sending one or more requests, for receipt at the electric devices of the selected groups, to control at least one of electrical energy consumption and provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy, during a respective associated time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A control node for controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network supplying electrical energy to a plurality of electric devices, wherein each of the electric devices is connectable to the electricity distribution network to consume electrical energy provided therefrom, thereby increasing a net amount of electrical energy consumption, and/or to provide electrical energy to the electricity distribution network, thereby decreasing a net amount of electric energy consumption, the control node comprising:
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a communications means, the communications means being for sending requests for receipt at the electric devices, and for communicating with a central node, the central node comprising a device database arranged to store profile information, relating to the electric devices; input means arranged to receive an indication of a time period during which electrical energy consumption in electricity distribution network is to be controlled; and
processing means arranged to;evaluate a plurality of mobles against one or more energy management criteria, wherein the plurality of modles is generated by allocating electric devices based on the profile information; determine one or more characteristics of a preferred model based on the evaluation; select, based on at least the determined characteristic, a plurality of groups of the electric devices, each of the groups comprising a plurality of the electric devices; associate one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups, the one or more time intervals associated with a given selected group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other selected groups, each said time interval being a time interval of the time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled; and send one or more requests, via the communications means, for receipt at the electric devices of the selected groups, to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy, during a respective associated time interval.
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35. A system for controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network supplying electrical energy to a plurality of electric devices, wherein each of the electric devices is connectable to the electricity distribution network to consume electrical energy provided therefrom, thereby increasing a net amount of electrical energy consumption and/or to provide electrical energy to the electricity distribution network, thereby decreasing a net amount of electric energy consumption, the system comprising:
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a plurality of control nodes, wherein each of the plurality of control nodes comprise; a communication means, the communications means being for sending resquest for receipt at the electric devices, and for communication with a central node, the central node comprising a device database arranged to store profile information relating to the electric devices; input means arranged to receive an indication of a time period during which electrical energy consumption in electricity distribution network is to be controlled; and
processing means arranged to;evaluate a plurality of models against one or more energy management criteria, wherein the plurality of models is generated by allocating electric devices based on the profile information; determine one or more characteristics of a preferred model based on the evaluation; select, based on at least the determined characteristic, a plurality of the groups of the electric devices, each of the groups comprising a plurality of the electric devices; associate one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups,the one or more time intervals associated with a given selected group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other selected groups, each said time interval being a time interval of the time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled; and send one or more requsts via the communication means for receipt at the electric devices of the selected group, to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy, during a respective associated time interval; and wherein each of the plurality of control nodes is associated with a different area; and a said central node. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification