Apparatus and Method for Controlling Communications to and from Utility Service Points
First Claim
1. A method for controlling transmission of messages over a fixed bandwidth link from a plurality of fixed position communication devices in an active load management system, the messages including information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at service points at which the communication devices are located, the service points receiving electrical power from a utility, the method comprising:
- determining an identifier associated with each communication device;
determining a reporting period during which the messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices;
determining a plurality of transmission increments within the reporting period;
allocating each transmission increment to a respective group of the plurality of communication devices; and
determining a transmission time for at least one message from a particular communication device based on the identifier for the particular communication device, a duration of a transmission increment allocated to a group of communication devices that includes the particular communication device, and a quantity of communication devices in the group.
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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.
280 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling transmission of messages over a fixed bandwidth link from a plurality of fixed position communication devices in an active load management system, the messages including information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at service points at which the communication devices are located, the service points receiving electrical power from a utility, the method comprising:
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determining an identifier associated with each communication device; determining a reporting period during which the messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices; determining a plurality of transmission increments within the reporting period; allocating each transmission increment to a respective group of the plurality of communication devices; and determining a transmission time for at least one message from a particular communication device based on the identifier for the particular communication device, a duration of a transmission increment allocated to a group of communication devices that includes the particular communication device, and a quantity of communication devices in the group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for an immobile 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, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one control message from a central controller, the at least one control message including an identifier associated with the communication device, a quantity of a plurality of immobile communication devices within the active load management system, a quantity of transmission increments within a reporting period during which messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices, and 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 at least one control message. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A central controller operable to control transmission of messages in an active load management system from a plurality of fixed position client devices to the central controller over a fixed bandwidth communication link, the messages including information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at service points at which the client devices are located, the service points receiving electrical power from a utility, the central controller comprising:
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a client device manager operable to establish a reporting period during which the messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of client devices, determine a plurality of transmission increments within the reporting period, allocate each transmission increment to a respective group of the plurality of client devices, determine transmission times for the messages based on identifiers for the plurality of client devices, respective durations of transmission increments allocated to respective groups of the plurality of client devices, and a quantity of client devices in each group, and generate at least one control message that includes indications of the transmission times; and a client device interface operably coupled to the client device manager and the communication link, the client device interface operable to communicate the at least one control message to the plurality of client devices over the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An immobile communication device operable in an active load management system to control transmission of at least one message over a fixed bandwidth communication link, the at least one message including information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at a service point at which the communication device is located, the communication device comprising:
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a communications interface operable to receive at least one control message from a central controller over the communication link, the at least one control message including an identifier associated with the communication device, a quantity of a plurality of immobile communication devices within the active load management system, a quantity of transmission increments within a reporting period during which messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices, and identification of a transmission increment assigned to a group of communication devices containing the communication device; and a device control manager operably coupled to the communications interface, the device control manager operable to determine a transmission time for the at least one message based on the at least one control message. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. 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:
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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 identifiers for the plurality of active load client devices, respective durations of transmission increments allocated to respective groups of the plurality of active load client devices, and 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 (19, 20)
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Specification