System and method for using a network to control a power management system

• US 9,841,799 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Mauk, Richard A., Gross, William Herman, Kroll, Gary Allen, Pierringer, Jayson
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ERDMAN, CHAD G
• Application Number:
  US13/664,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20130159738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 700286, 700297
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a method of using a network to control a power management system. The method includes using the network to access a generator controller that is part of the power management system. The method further includes using the network to exchange communications with the generator controller in order to permit the generator controller to control other electronic components that are part of the power management system.

Claims

1. A method of using a network to control a power generating and management system, the method comprising:

using a server on the network to access a generator controller that is part of the power generating and management system, wherein the generator controller is configured to operate a generator that produces power; and

using the network to exchange communications between the server and the generator controller in order to permit the generator controller to control other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system, wherein the server provides updated programming for the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system to the generator controller, wherein the generator controller provides the updated programming for the other electronic components to the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the other electronic components includes an automatic transfer switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the other electronic components includes a load control module.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the other electronic components includes sensor inputs and power switching outputs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using a server on the network to access a generator controller that is part of the power management system includes connecting to the server with an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein using a server on the network to access a generator controller that is part of the power generating and management system includes maintaining a connection between the server and the generator controller.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein using a server on the network to access the generator controller includes gathering data on the server from the generator controller relating to the operation of the other electronic components in the power generating and management system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein using a server on the network to access the generator controller includes using the generator controller to schedule operations within the power generating and management system based on the data gathered on the server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein using the generator controller to schedule operations within the power generating and management system based on the data gathered on the server includes storing timing parameters within the server relating to operation of the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system and using the generator controller to operate the other electronic components utilizing the timing parameters.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein using the generator controller to schedule operations within the power generating and management system includes activating at least one of the electronic components within the power generating and management system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein using the generator controller to schedule operations within the power generating and management system includes collecting sensor data from at least one of the electronic components within the power generating and management system.

12. A method of using a network to control a power generating and management system, the method comprising:

using a server on the network to access a generator controller that is part of the power generating and management system, wherein the generator controller is configured to operate a generator that produces power;

using the network to update programming on the generator controller that is received from the server; and

using the generator controller to control other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system using the updated programming; and

using an electronic device to exchange data with a server on the network such that the server receives updated programming for the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system from the electronic device, and the server provides the updated programming for the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system to the generator controller, wherein the generator controller provides the updated programming for the other electronic components to the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising using an electronic device to exchange data with a server on the network such that the server receives the updated programming for the generator controller from the electronic device and the server provides the updated programming to the generator controller.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising collecting data with the electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system and providing the data to the generator controller, wherein the updated programming on the generator controller operates the power generating and management system based on the data.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising collecting data with the electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system, wherein the updated programming on the electronic components that was received from the generator controller operates the electronic components based on the data.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the other electronic components include at least one of an automatic transfer switch, a load control module and sensor inputs and power switching outputs.

17. A method of using a network to control a power generating and management system, the method comprising:

using a server on the network to access a generator controller that is part of the power generating and management system, wherein the generator controller is configured to operate a generator that produces power; and

using the network to synchronize a server clock with a generator controller clock; and

using the generator controller clock to synchronize the generator controller clock with a clock in at least some of the other electronic components that are part of the power generating and management system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein synchronizing a server clock with a generator controller clock includes using the network to set the server clock.