System for utility demand monitoring and control using a distribution network
First Claim
1. A system for utility demand monitoring and control comprising:
- a host computer having access to power utility customers for receiving customer utility usage data;
a plurality of intelligent utility units, each intelligent utility unit associated with a customer'"'"'s home for monitoring customer utility demand by employing a service meter;
a home network interconnecting each intelligent utility unit with a plurality of utility data collection units within a home for providing data on utility usage to the intelligent utility unit associated with the home; and
a distribution network, coupled to said host computer, interconnecting said plurality of intelligent utility units for transmitting utility usage data from said plurality of intelligent utility units to said host computer, said distribution network being implemented within one or more time slots of a time-division multiplexed data stream carried by a high-speed digital bus, said one or more time slots carrying data in packet form, all intelligent utility units of said distribution network sharing said one or more slots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for electric power demand monitoring and control includes one or more data distribution networks interconnecting intelligent utility units located at customer homes with a host computer located in the utility company offices. Each intelligent utility unit is associated with a customer home for connecting and disconnecting a power service meter, monitoring customer demand, and controlling power to selected units. A network within the home interconnects each intelligent utility unit with power consuming units for providing data on power usage and power control. A data distribution network interconnects the plurality of intelligent utility units to the host computer as a head end unit, the data distribution network providing downstream communication channels from the host computer to the plurality of intelligent utility units and upstream communication channels from the plurality of intelligent utility units to the host computer. The communication channels are organized as frequency division multiplex channels in a frequency spectrum. A plurality of distribution networks can be provided for a larger utility environment with each distribution network associated with a power substation and customers served by the power substation.
310 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for utility demand monitoring and control comprising:
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a host computer having access to power utility customers for receiving customer utility usage data; a plurality of intelligent utility units, each intelligent utility unit associated with a customer'"'"'s home for monitoring customer utility demand by employing a service meter; a home network interconnecting each intelligent utility unit with a plurality of utility data collection units within a home for providing data on utility usage to the intelligent utility unit associated with the home; and a distribution network, coupled to said host computer, interconnecting said plurality of intelligent utility units for transmitting utility usage data from said plurality of intelligent utility units to said host computer, said distribution network being implemented within one or more time slots of a time-division multiplexed data stream carried by a high-speed digital bus, said one or more time slots carrying data in packet form, all intelligent utility units of said distribution network sharing said one or more slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A distribution network for communicating between a host computer and a plurality of customer homes in an electric power utility demand monitoring and control system, said distribution network comprising:
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a plurality of intelligent utility units, each associated with a customer home for monitoring customer power demand; and a digital high-speed bus interconnecting said plurality of intelligent utility units, said digital high-speed bus providing downstream communication channels from said host computer to said plurality of intelligent utility units and upstream communication channels from said plurality of intelligent utility units to said host computer, wherein said downstream communication channels and said upstream communication channels are frequency multiplexed on said digital high-speed bus, and wherein said upstream communication channels and said downstream communication channels are subdivided into time division multiplexed subchannels, one or more of said subchannels carrying data in packet form within one or more time division slots shared by all of said intelligent utility units. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification