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Method and apparatus for managing energy through virtualization by grouping terminal controllers

  • US 9,853,828 B2
  • Filed: 09/05/2012
  • Issued: 12/26/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A first terminal control apparatus used to control at least one terminal device that consumes energy in an energy management system, the first terminal control apparatus comprising:

  • a control command receiving unit to receive a control command related to a first terminal device from at least one of a central control apparatus and a second terminal control apparatus included in the energy management system, wherein the control command includes a group identifier (ID) identifying a terminal control group and a terminal identifier (ID) identifying the first terminal device;

    a determination unit to determine whether the first terminal device matches one of a plurality of terminal devices controlled by the first terminal control apparatus;

    a control command transmitting unit to transmit the control command to a third terminal control apparatus, if the determination unit determines that the first terminal device does not match the one of the plurality of terminal devices controlled by the first terminal control apparatus; and

    a terminal device control unit to control the first terminal device, according to the control command, if the determination unit determines that the first terminal device matches the one of the plurality of terminal devices controlled by the first terminal control apparatus,wherein;

    the first terminal control apparatus, the second terminal control apparatus, and the third terminal control apparatus are included in the terminal control group,at least one of the first terminal control apparatus, the second terminal control apparatus, and the third terminal control apparatus controls a plurality of terminal devices,the determination unit determines whether the control command further includes a sub control command related to a second terminal device, and determines whether the second terminal device matches one of a plurality of terminal devices controlled by the first terminal control apparatus when it is determined that the control command includes a sub control command related to the second terminal device,the control command transmitting unit transmits the sub control command to the third terminal control apparatus, if the determination unit determines that the second terminal device does not match the one of the plurality of terminal devices controlled by the first terminal control apparatus, andthe terminal device control unit controls the second terminal device, according to the sub control command, if the determination unit determines that the second terminal device matches the one of the plurality of terminal devices controlled by the first terminal control apparatus.

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