Systems and methods for remote power management using 802.11 wireless protocols

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.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention is directed to systems and methods for remote power management using the IEEE 802.11 suite of wireless protocols to effect various power management functions including: power load control, power meter activation and deactivation, and utility meter data gathering for residential and commercial applications. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The growth in energy consumption has outstripped the power generating capabilities in various areas. It is not uncommon in various regions for power utilities to mandate temporary reductions in power usage because of limited power generating capabilities. This is most prevalent in the summertime in conjunction with hot weather, when air conditioning usage peaks. Such air conditioning loads often represents the single largest power consumption loads for many residential and business locations. In other instances, the power supply in the aggregate for a region is able to meet the power demand for the region...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Further, automated approaches may allow flexibility in defining load reduction programs. Users may selectively volunteer to reduce their power consumption if economic incentives are provided to them even, if they have not enlisted into a traditional power load reduction scheme. Thus, users not enlisted in a power load reduction scheme could still be offered an economic incentive via variable rate schedules for power consumption. A normal, or ‘off peak’ usage rate indicates the rate normally used to calculate a bill for power usage while a ‘peak rate’ indicates a higher rate for peak demand. However, communication of a dynamic schedule of peak / off peak rates can be scheduled on a real time basis to hundreds or thousands of users that would not be practical on a manual basis. Therefore, an automated approach for communicating rate schedules would be preferable.

Existing technology has not proven practical in many instances in addressing these problems, partly from a cost perspective. However, the wide scale development of a relatively recent developed wireless LAN standard known as IEEE 802.11 allows the low cost application of wireless technology to address many of the above problems, as well as providing additional benefits.

A technology developed initially for the military radio communications, called ‘spread spectrum’ has been adapted for cellular applications and is now available for use in other applications at very economical costs. This technology has the benefit of minimizing interference from other devices using the same bandwidth. This technology is mandated by the FCC for equipment transmitting in a portion of the unlicensed spectrum, namely frequencies of 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz. The devices in this range typically are allowed to transmit at a maximum of 1 watt, though most transmit at a lower power. This technology allows a variety of users to share the spectrum and minimize interference with each other. Heretofore, the historical approach to minimizing such interference was to license the frequency to a specific entity, which in turn coordinates individual users (typically in the role of a service provider in relation to its subscribers).

The 802.11 protocols are based typically on using TCP / IP protocols, which are well known in the art and adapted from wireline LAN usage. This facilitates interworking of existing infrastructure (e.g., hardware and software) for use with the wireless LAN equipment.

The development of these standards along with industry cooperation to ensure interoperability has lead to equipment which when certified is termed “Wi-Fi” and can provide for wireless data communication heretofore not possible. The large-scale development of specialized semiconductors has lead to economies of scale allowing low cost equipment that heretofore has not been possible for wireless products. Thus, the use of 802.11-based equipment provides a whole new opportunity for communication capabilities for devices heretofore not possible. This allows greater automation and control for applications previously not considered.

Problems solved by technology

The growth in energy consumption has outstripped the power generating capabilities in various areas.

It is not uncommon in various regions for power utilities to mandate temporary reductions in power usage because of limited power generating capabilities.

Such air conditioning loads often represents the single largest power consumption loads for many residential and business locations.

In other instances, the power supply in the aggregate for a region is able to meet the power demand for the region, but limitations in the power distribution and transmission infrastructure result in instability, or unequal availability of power throughout the region.

The blackout in the northeastern United States on Aug. 14, 2003 illustrates that impact of problems in power transmission and distribution can also lead to power outages and load imbalances.

These procedures may result in power blackouts and are undesirable as they indiscriminately remove power to all users located in a service area without warning.

However, the economic costs of such blackouts is significant, and has been estimated by the government to cost the U.S. economy between $119-$188 billion dollars annually.

Under the incentive / disincentive program characteristics, customers typically comply as the alternative typically results in penalties and the ultimate result in a blackout.

The process of manually contacting and deactivating power loads is labor intensive and slow.

Further, once a power utility contacts a customer for load reduction, the power utility has no immediate feedback as to whether the customer did reduce their power consumption and the associated impact.

In addition, the power utility is not readily able to determine the real time power demand reduction by such power load demand activities, except at a very aggregate level.

Further, the power company is not able to tailor the time period for what is required.

Contacting each of the power consumers may take so long so as to render the process moot.

However, communication of a dynamic schedule of peak / off peak rates can be scheduled on a real time basis to hundreds or thousands of users that would not be practical on a manual basis.

Existing technology has not proven practical in many instances in addressing these problems, partly from a cost perspective.

A major impediment to the application of wireless data communication technology is that in many circumstances, radio transmission is limited by regulation by the FCC.

In many instances, the regulatory compliance is complicated, and obtaining a license for using the spectrum can be very difficult and costly.

These devices operate on defined channels in frequency bands and are subject to interference from other devices.

The large-scale development of specialized semiconductors has lead to economies of scale allowing low cost equipment that heretofore has not been possible for wireless products.

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