Systems and methods for remote power management using 802.11 wireless protocols

• US 7,349,766 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp; Chad
• Application Number:
  US11/370,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 700/298, 702/60, 702/61, 702/62, 705/412, 307/38, 307/39, 307/140, 307/18
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.

Claims

1. A method to manage a power load comprising:

receiving energy rating data at an on-premise processor transmitted by a distribution network from a host processor and storing the energy rating data in a memory, the rating data including a schedule pertaining to time and energy costs;

receiving at the on-premise processor a message communicated using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol from a power load controller requesting energy rating data;

retrieving the energy rating data from the memory and sending a response message including the energy rating data using the 802.11X-based wireless protocol from the on-premise processor to the power load controller; and

determining independently in the power load controller whether to activate the power load based at least in part on the energy rating data; and

the power load controlled allowing or reducing power load consumption according to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy rating data further comprises a first time period associated with a first usage rate and a second time period associated with a second usage rate.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the power load controller determines whether to activate the power load is based further at least in part on the current time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the distribution network transmits the rating data wirelessly.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the rating data is transmitted wirelessly using an 802.11X-based protocol.

6. A method for managing a power load of an appliance, comprising:

sending an energy rate request message from an appliance using an 802.11X-based protocol;

receiving an energy rate schedule using the 802.11X-based wireless protocol, the energy rate schedule comprising a first time period for a first usage rate and a second time period for a second usage rate; and

determining in the appliance whether to activate a power load based in part on the energy rate schedule and a current time.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

storing the energy rate schedule in a memory in the appliance.

8. A method of managing a power load comprising:

receiving at an on-premise processor a first request message communicated using an 802.11X-based protocol from a power load controller pertaining to energy rating data;

sending from the on-premise processor a second request message over a distribution network to a host processor, the second request message pertaining to energy rating data;

receiving at the on-premise processor a first rating response message over the distribution network from the host processor, the first request message including energy rating data;

sending from the on-premise processor to the power load controller a second rating response message using an 802.11X-based protocol, the second rating response message including the energy rating data;

determining independently in the power load controller whether to activate the power load based at least in part on the energy rating data; and

the power load controller allowing or reducing power load consumption according to the determination.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the power load controller further determines whether to activate the power load based on the current time.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the energy rating data comprises a first time period associated with a first usage rate and a second time period associated with a second usage rate.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the power load activated is one from the group of an air conditioning unit, an induction motor, a compressor, or a heating load.

12. A system for managing power loads comprising:

a management host processor capable of communicating a load reduction request message to at least one of a plurality of on-premise processors, and further capable of communicating energy rating data in response to a request from at least one of the plurality of on-premise processors;

a database operatively connected to the management host processor, the database containing energy related customer records, the records containing an address associated with at least one of a plurality of on-premise processors and an indication of whether the at least one of a plurality of on-premise processors is able to receive a load reduction request; and

a communications network operatively connected to the management host processor capable of communicating at least one load reduction request to the at least one on-premise processors as identified by the address.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the database further comprises:

memory storing input power load data received at the at least one on-premise processor over the communications network, the management host processor comparing the power load data to a predefined threshold value stored in the memory.

14. A system for managing power loads, comprising:

a management host processor storing a plurality of records associated with a plurality of power meters including communication addressing data associated with the plurality of power meters and power-related usage data, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network capable of sending and receiving messages of a first protocol for the purpose of managing activation of a power load;

an on-premise processor operatively connected to the distribution network receiving messages of the first protocol from the management host processor, the on-premise processor co-located with at least one of the plurality of power meters, the messages of the first protocol for the purpose of managing activation of the power load, the on-premise processor including an 802.11X-based wireless protocol interface for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol to control activation of the power load; and

a power load controller associated with a power load operatively communicating with the on-premise processor using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol to send and receive messages of the second protocol to control activation of the power load, the power load controller operable for independently controlling activation of the power load to allow or reduce power load.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the distribution network comprises at least one of a paging network, digital cellular network, 802.11X-based wireless network, telephone network, cable based Internet, and power line carrier network.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the power load comprises at least one of an induction motor load, heating load, or an air conditioning load.

17. A system for managing a utility meter, comprising:

a management host processor storing records associated with a plurality of utility meters including communication address data associated with the plurality of utility meters and measured usage data, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network capable of sending and receiving messages of a first protocol for controlling a specific utility meter; and

an on-premise processor operatively connected to the distribution network receiving the messages of the first protocol from the management host processor, the on-premise processor using an 802.11X-based wireless protocol interface for sending and receiving messages of a second protocol to the specific utility meter, the messages of the second protocol including measurement data associated with the specific utility meters,

wherein the message controlling the specific utility meter activates or deactivates the utility meter.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the specific utility meter comprises a water meter, gas meter, or power meter.