Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

An information processing device, method, and program for maintaining a balance between power supply and demand is provided. [Solution] The information processing device 1 has an acquisition unit 131 that acquires multiple pieces of storage information to identify the storage amount of each of multiple storage batteries provided in each of multiple base stations that are powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by an electric power company or stored storage power, and a base station control unit 132 that controls the multiple base stations by switching the mode of each of the multiple base stations, including a system power mode powered by system power and a storage power mode powered by stored power, so that the storage amount of each of the multiple storage batteries identified by each of the multiple storage information is below a storage threshold that is set to determine whether or not to allow charging of the storage battery by a charging start time that is set as the time to start charging the storage battery using system power.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electricity derived from renewable energy sources such as solar power has been traded. Patent Document 1 discloses a system for managing the trading of electricity derived from renewable energy sources. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072934 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, the increase in the number of power generation facilities using renewable energy has led to a problem of an excess supply of electricity compared to the demand for electricity. Therefore, there is a need to provide a mechanism for maintaining a balance between supply and demand of electricity.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a mechanism for maintaining a balance between the supply and demand of electricity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information for identifying the amount of power stored in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations that are powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by an electric power company or stored storage power, and a base station control unit that controls the plurality of base stations by switching the mode of each of the plurality of base stations, including a system power mode powered by the system power and a storage power mode powered by the stored power, so that the amount of power stored in each of the plurality of storage batteries identified by each piece of power storage information becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold that is set for determining whether to allow charging of the storage battery by a charging start time that is set as the time to start charging the storage battery using the system power.

[0007] If there is a storage battery whose stored power amount becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold before a time a predetermined period before the charging start time, the base station control unit may control the base station equipped with the storage battery so that the time whose stored power amount becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold is between the charging start time and the predetermined period before the charging start time.

[0008] The information processing device may further include a reception unit that receives the time requested by the electric power company as the charging start time, an identification unit that identifies, for each storage battery, the time when the amount of stored power in the storage battery will be below the storage threshold based on the tendency of power consumption by the base station that is equipped with the storage battery, a selection unit that selects, from the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery whose time identified by the identification unit is before the charging start time, and a presentation unit that presents information about the storage battery selected by the selection unit to the electric power company.

[0009] The base station control unit may not switch the mode of the base station that has a storage battery other than the storage battery selected by the selection unit among the plurality of storage batteries, but may switch the mode of the base station that has the storage battery selected by the selection unit among the plurality of storage batteries so that the amount of stored energy becomes less than or equal to the storage threshold by the charging start time.

[0010] The acquisition unit may acquire power generation plan information including trends in the amount of renewable energy power generation expected at a plurality of power generation facilities that generate power using renewable energy, trends in the amount of planned power generation planned by the power utility, and trends in the amount of expected power demand, and the information processing device may further have an identification unit that refers to the power generation plan information and identifies, as the charging start time, the time at which a difference value between the supply amount, which is the sum of the amount of renewable energy power generation and the planned power generation, and the demand amount, is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference threshold, and the base station control unit may switch the mode of each of the plurality of base stations so that the amount of stored power in each of the plurality of storage batteries becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by the charging start time identified by the identification unit.

[0011] The base station control unit may switch the mode of the storage battery whose stored amount is equal to or less than the storage threshold from a non-charging mode in which no charging is performed to a charging mode in which charging is performed using the grid power when the current time has passed the charging start time.

[0012] The information processing device may further have a generation unit that generates, for each base station, a charging schedule including a mode switching time of the base station and a mode switching time of the storage battery provided in the base station, based on a charging period from the charging start time to a charging end time that is set as the time to end charging of the storage battery provided in the base station using the grid power, a period until the storage battery with a stored amount of power equal to or less than the storage threshold is fully charged, and a period until the stored amount of power in the fully charged storage battery becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by supplying the storage power to the base station, and the base station control unit may switch, for each base station, the mode of each of the plurality of base stations and the mode of each of the plurality of storage batteries during the charging period in accordance with the charging schedule corresponding to the base station.

[0013] The information processing device may further have a reception unit that receives the power company's selection of the storage battery from among the plurality of storage batteries, and the base station control unit may switch the mode of each of the plurality of base stations so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the power company becomes less than or equal to the storage threshold by the charging start time.

[0014] The information processing device may further include a reception unit that receives a requested consumption amount, which is the consumption amount of the grid power requested by the power company, and a selection unit that selects, from the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery for which the difference value between the consumption amount of the grid power consumed by charging using the grid power and the requested consumption amount is less than a predetermined difference threshold, and the base station control unit may switch the mode of each of the plurality of base stations so that the stored amount of the storage battery selected by the selection unit becomes less than or equal to the storage threshold by the charging start time.

[0015] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: acquiring, by a computer, a plurality of pieces of storage information for identifying the amount of storage energy in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by an electric power company or stored storage power; and controlling the plurality of base stations by switching the mode of each of the plurality of base stations, including a system power mode powered by the system power and a storage power mode powered by the stored power, so that the amount of storage energy in each of the plurality of storage batteries identified by each of the plurality of storage information becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold determined for determining whether to allow charging of the storage battery by a charging start time determined as the time to start charging the storage battery using the system power.

[0016] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as: an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information for identifying the amount of power stored in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations that are powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by an electric power company or stored storage power; and a base station control unit that controls the plurality of base stations by switching the mode of each of the plurality of base stations, including a system power mode powered by the system power and a storage power mode powered by the stored power, so that the amount of power stored in each of the plurality of storage batteries identified by each piece of power storage information becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold that is set for determining whether or not to allow charging of the storage battery by a charging start time that is set as the time to start charging the storage battery using the system power. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The present invention has an effect of providing a mechanism for maintaining a balance between the supply and demand of electricity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing service. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of control of a base station. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] [Outline of information processing services] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing service. The information processing service is a service for adjusting the amount of power consumption from grid power. Grid power is power supplied via a power system managed by an electric power company, and includes, for example, power derived from non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels and power derived from renewable energy sources such as solar power. Power generated by supply facility S, which is a supply-side facility, is supplied to demand facility D, which is a demand-side facility, via transmission facility T, which includes power transmission lines.

[0020] The information processing device 1 is a device that manages an information processing service, and is, for example, a server. The information processing device 1 also manages a plurality of base stations. The base stations are facilities for wireless communication with terminals such as smartphones, and are demand facilities D used to adjust the power consumption of grid power. Each of the plurality of base stations is equipped with a storage battery for adjusting the power consumption of grid power, and constantly emits radio waves using either grid power or the stored power stored in the storage battery as power to form a communication area for wireless communication with terminals. The storage batteries equipped in each of the plurality of base stations may be the same type of storage battery (e.g., storage batteries with the same maximum capacity and charging rate) or different types of storage batteries (e.g., storage batteries with different maximum capacities and / or charging rates). Note that each of the plurality of base stations may further be equipped with a storage battery for use in emergencies such as power outages, in addition to the storage battery for adjusting the power consumption of grid power.

[0021] In an information processing service, during a period when an increase in the power consumption of the grid power is required (for example, during a period when the supply of power from renewable energy sources increases), a storage battery (hereinafter simply referred to as a "storage battery") for adjusting the power consumption of the grid power provided in each of a plurality of base stations is charged with grid power, thereby increasing the power consumption of the grid power. In this case, if the storage battery is fully charged or has a certain amount of stored power remaining, the increase in the power consumption of the grid power during the period when an increase in the power consumption of the grid power is required will be small, which can cause a problem in that the power consumption of the grid power cannot be adjusted.

[0022] Therefore, the information processing device 1 controls the plurality of base stations so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery decreases before the period when an increase in the amount of power consumption of the grid power is required. The process executed by the information processing device 1 will be described below.

[0023] First, the information processing device 1 acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information from each of a plurality of base stations ((1) in FIG. 1). The power storage information is information for identifying the amount of power stored (remaining amount) of a storage battery provided in the base station, and is, for example, the remaining amount of the storage battery, SOC (State Of Charge), etc., but is not limited to these, and may be any information that can identify the amount of power stored in the storage battery.

[0024] The information processing device 1 then controls the multiple base stations by switching the mode of each of the multiple base stations so that the amount of stored power in each of the multiple storage batteries specified by each of the acquired multiple pieces of power storage information becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time ((2) in FIG. 1). The charging start time is a time determined to start charging the storage batteries using grid power, and is, for example, the start of a period when an increase in power consumption from the grid power is required. The power storage threshold is a value determined to determine whether or not to allow charging of the storage batteries, and is, for example, 0% or 10% of the SOC.

[0025] The base station modes include a grid power mode and a storage power mode. The grid power mode is a mode in which grid power supplied via a power grid is used to power the base station. The storage power mode is a mode in which stored power stored in a storage battery is used to power the base station.

[0026] The information processing device 1 controls each base station, for example, by switching the mode of each base station from grid power mode to storage power mode or from storage power mode to grid power mode between the current time and the charging start time, so that the amount of stored energy in each base station becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold value by the charging start time.

[0027] In this way, the information processing device 1 can easily reduce the amount of stored power in the storage battery to below the power storage threshold before the charging start time by discharging the storage battery using a base station that constantly consumes power to emit radio waves that form a communication area. This allows the information processing device 1 to reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the storage battery cannot be charged with grid power because a large amount of stored power remains in the storage battery at the charging start time. As a result, the information processing device 1 can provide a mechanism for maintaining a balance between power supply and demand. The functional configuration of the information processing device 1 will be described below.

[0028] [Functional configuration of information processing device 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of information processing device 1. Information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and there may be data flows not shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, each functional block indicates a configuration in functional units, not a configuration in hardware (device) units. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between functional blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0029] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for connecting to a network, and includes a communication controller for receiving data from an external device.

[0030] The storage unit 12 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of a computer that implements the information processing device 1, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a work area for the information processing device 1, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores an OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed. The storage unit 12 stores information about base stations. The information about the base stations includes, for example, a base station ID that is information for identifying the base station, the location of the base station, and storage battery information (for example, the maximum capacity and charging speed of the storage battery) provided in the base station.

[0031] The control unit 13 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or NPU (Neural network Processing Unit) of the information processing device 1, and functions as an acquisition unit 131, a base station control unit 132, a reception unit 133, an identification unit 134, a selection unit 135, a generation unit 136, and a presentation unit 137 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 12.

[0032] <Processing Executed by Information Processing Device 1 Before Charging Start Time Elapses> First, a description will be given of a process executed by the information processing device 1 before the charging start time has elapsed. The acquisition unit 131 acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information for identifying the amount of stored power in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by a power company or stored storage power.

[0033] The acquisition unit 131 acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information from each of the plurality of base stations, for example, at predetermined intervals (for example, every hour, every day, every week, etc.) The acquisition unit 131 may acquire a plurality of pieces of power storage information from each of the plurality of base stations when the reception unit 133, which will be described later, receives a predetermined request from the power company.

[0034] The base station control unit 132 controls the multiple base stations by switching the power mode of each of the multiple base stations, including a grid power mode powered by grid power and a storage power mode powered by stored power, so that the amount of stored power in each of the multiple storage batteries identified by each of the multiple pieces of power storage information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold value determined for determining whether to permit charging of the storage batteries by a charging start time determined as the time to start charging the storage batteries using grid power. For example, first, the base station control unit 132 transmits a base station switching request to each of the multiple base stations to switch the power mode from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. Then, upon receiving the base station switching request from the information processing device 1, the multiple base stations switch their power mode from the grid power mode to the storage power mode.

[0035] For example, a daily charging period (e.g., a period during which an increase in power consumption of grid power is required) is set in the information processing device 1, which is a period from a charging start time to a charging end time set as a time when charging of the storage battery using grid power is to end. In this case, when the current time has passed the charging period, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of each of the multiple base stations from the grid power mode to the storage power mode.

[0036] The base station control unit 132 may control the base station so that the timing at which the amount of stored power in the storage battery falls below the power storage threshold is immediately before the charging start time. Specifically, if there is a storage battery among the multiple storage batteries whose time at which the amount of stored power falls below the power storage threshold is before the charging standby period, the base station control unit 132 controls the base station including the storage battery so that the time at which the amount of stored power falls below the threshold for that storage battery falls within the charging standby period. The charging standby period is the period from the charging start time to a time a predetermined period before. The predetermined period is a period determined for determining whether the time at which the amount of stored power falls below the threshold is immediately before the charging start time, and is, for example, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour. The information processing device 1 controls the base station so that the time at which the amount of stored power falls below the threshold is within the charging standby period, for example, by executing the following two steps.

[0037] As a first step, the identification unit 134 identifies, from among the plurality of storage batteries, a base station equipped with a storage battery whose below-threshold time occurs before the charging standby period. For example, the information processing device 1 is set with a power consumption amount per unit time (e.g., 1 minute, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.) when the base station is powered by the stored power of the storage battery. The power consumption amount per unit time may be a common power consumption amount for a plurality of combinations of storage batteries and base stations, or may be a power consumption amount for each combination of storage battery (e.g., type of storage battery, etc.) and base station (e.g., type of storage battery and location of base station, etc.).

[0038] In this case, the identifying unit 134 first calculates, for each storage battery, the required consumption amount that needs to be consumed by subtracting the amount of stored power of the storage battery identified by the power storage information corresponding to that storage battery by the power storage threshold. The identifying unit 134 then divides the calculated required consumption amount by the power consumption per unit time to calculate the consumption period until the amount of stored power of the storage battery becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold. For each storage battery, the identifying unit 134 identifies the time when the consumption period corresponding to that storage battery has elapsed from the current time as the below-threshold time. Then, for each storage battery, the identifying unit 134 determines whether the identified below-threshold time is before the charge standby period, and if it determines that the below-threshold time is before the charge standby period, identifies the base station including that storage battery as a base station to be controlled so that the below-threshold time falls within the charge standby period.

[0039] As a second step, the base station control unit 132 controls the base station identified as a control target by the identification unit 134 so that the time below the threshold falls within the charging standby period. For example, for each base station identified as a control target by the identification unit 134, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of the base station from the grid power mode to the storage power mode at the timing when the current time passes from a time within the charging standby period (for example, the start of the charging standby period or a time in the middle of the charging standby period) to a time before the consumption period corresponding to the storage battery included in the base station.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of control of a base station. In the graph shown in FIG. 3, the vertical axis represents SOC, which indicates the amount of power stored in the storage battery, and the horizontal axis represents time. Time C1 is a time within the charge standby period and before the consumption period corresponding to the storage battery. The period from time C2 to time C3 is the charge standby period, and time C3 is the charging start time. Values ​​R1 and R2 indicate the transition of the amount of power stored in the storage battery. Threshold L indicates the power storage threshold.

[0041] 3, if the mode of the base station is switched from the grid power mode to the storage power mode at the current time, it can be confirmed that the time below the threshold will occur before the charge standby period. Therefore, the base station control unit 132 can make the time below the threshold occur within the charge standby period by switching the mode of the base station from the grid power mode to the storage power mode after time C1.

[0042] If there is a time period between the current time and the charging start time when the electricity rate for grid power is lower, the base station control unit 132 may prioritize that time period between the current time and the charging start time and switch the power mode of the base station from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. Furthermore, if there is a base station among the base stations to be controlled that can be stopped from operating during a specific time period (e.g., at night), the base station control unit 132 may stop the operation of that base station. A base station that can be stopped from operating during a specific time period is, for example, a base station whose communication area overlaps with another communication area and has little communication traffic during the specific time period.

[0043] For example, a stoppable list, which is a list of base stations that can be stopped during a specific time period, is stored in the storage unit 12. In this case, the base station control unit 132 refers to the stoppable list, and if there is a base station that can be stopped during a specific time period among the base stations to be controlled, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of that base station from the grid power mode to the storage power mode, and then stops the operation of that base station for a surplus period obtained by subtracting the consumption period from the period from the current time to a time within the charge standby period.

[0044] The base station control unit 132 may control the base station based on people flow data and coverage area information indicating the coverage area that covers each radio frequency band of the base station. The people flow data is data indicating the flow of people for each time period. The people flow data and coverage area information may be information pre-stored in the storage unit 12 or may be information obtained from an external server.

[0045] For example, the identification unit 134 first refers to the people flow data and the cover area information corresponding to the base station and the radio frequency band for each combination of base station and radio frequency band, and identifies an absence time period in which no people are present in the cover area of ​​the base station that covers the radio frequency band. Then, when the identification unit 134 identifies an absence time period, the base station control unit 132 stops or reduces the output of radio waves in the radio frequency band corresponding to the absence time period from the base station corresponding to the absence time period during the absence time period.

[0046] Since lithium ion batteries used as storage batteries deteriorate if they remain empty for a long period of time, the degree of deterioration of the storage battery can be reduced by the information processing device 1 controlling the base station so that the timing at which the amount of stored power in the storage battery falls below the storage threshold is just before the charging start time.In addition, by controlling the base station so that the timing at which the amount of stored power in the storage battery falls below the storage threshold is just before the charging start time, the information processing device 1 can extend the period during which the power stored in the storage battery for adjusting the power consumption of the grid power can be used to power the base station in an emergency.

[0047] The base station control unit 132 may control the plurality of base stations according to a predetermined plan. The information processing device 1 controls the plurality of base stations according to the predetermined plan, for example, by performing the following two steps.

[0048] As a first step, the generation unit 136 generates a discharge schedule for each base station based on the power storage information and the charging start time for that base station. The discharge schedule is information that defines the control content for controlling the base station and the execution time for executing the control of the base station so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery provided in the base station becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold within the charge standby period.

[0049] The generation unit 136 generates a discharge schedule using, for example, a discharge schedule inference model. The discharge schedule inference model is a machine learning model trained to output a discharge schedule in response to inputs of a base station ID, a stored power amount of a storage battery, and a charging standby period, and is trained using the base station ID, the stored power amount of the storage battery corresponding to the base station ID, the charging standby period, a trend in power consumption of the base station indicated by the base station ID, and the discharge schedule as training data. In this case, the generation unit 136 generates a discharge schedule by inputting, for each base station, the base station ID corresponding to the base station, the stored power information corresponding to the base station, and the charging standby period into the discharge schedule inference model and causing the discharge schedule inference model to output a discharge schedule.

[0050] In a second step, the base station control unit 132 controls the multiple base stations according to the discharge schedule generated by the generation unit 136. For example, for each base station, the base station control unit 132 refers to the discharge schedule corresponding to that base station, and when the current time passes the execution time, executes control of the control content associated with the execution time (switching the power mode of the base station). In this way, the information processing device 1 can control the base stations according to the established plan.

[0051] The base station control unit 132 may control the base station in response to a request from the power company. The base station control unit 132 controls the base station based on, for example, the charging start time requested by the power company. The information processing device 1 controls the base station based on the charging start time requested by the power company, for example, by executing the following four steps.

[0052] As a first step, the reception unit 133 receives the time requested by the electric power company as the charging start time. For example, the display screen of the information processing service is provided with an input field for inputting the charging start time. In this case, when the electric power company inputs the time to start charging the storage battery using grid power into the input field on the display screen of the information processing service, the reception unit 133 receives the time input by the electric power company as the charging start time.

[0053] As a second step, the identifying unit 134 identifies, for each storage battery, a time below the threshold at which the amount of stored power of the storage battery identified by the power storage information corresponding to the storage battery becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold. For example, the identifying unit 134 first calculates the required consumption amount that needs to be consumed by subtracting the amount of stored power of the storage battery identified by the power storage information corresponding to the storage battery by the power storage threshold. For each storage battery, the identifying unit 134 divides the calculated required consumption amount by the power consumption per unit time to calculate the consumption period until the amount of stored power of the storage battery becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold. Then, for each storage battery, the identifying unit 134 identifies, as the time below the threshold, the time when the consumption period corresponding to the storage battery has elapsed from the current time.

[0054] The identifying unit 134 may identify, for each storage battery, a time below the threshold when the amount of stored power in the storage battery becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold, based on the tendency of power consumption by the base station including the storage battery. For example, the information processing device 1 has a statistical value (e.g., average, median, mode, etc.) of power consumption by the base station in each time period determined for each combination of a base station and a time period. In this case, the identifying unit 134 first subtracts, for each storage battery, the amount of stored power in the storage battery identified by the power storage information corresponding to the storage battery by a statistical value determined for each time period from the current time for the combination of the time period and the base station including the storage battery, and identifies the end of the time period when the amount of stored power in the storage battery becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold as the time below the threshold.

[0055] In a third step, the selection unit 135 selects a storage battery from among the plurality of storage batteries based on the time below the threshold identified by the identification unit 134. Specifically, the selection unit 135 selects, from among the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery for which the time identified by the identification unit 134 is before the charging start time.

[0056] In a fourth step, the base station control unit 132 controls the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135. Specifically, the base station control unit 132 does not switch the power mode of the base station including any storage battery other than the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from among the multiple storage batteries, but switches the power mode of the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from among the multiple storage batteries so that the amount of stored power becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by the charging start time. For example, when the selection unit 135 selects a storage battery, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from among the multiple storage batteries from grid power mode to storage power mode. The base station control unit 132 may control the base station so that the timing at which the amount of stored power of the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold is immediately before the charging start time. In this way, the information processing device 1 can keep the amount of stored power of the storage battery equal to or less than the storage threshold according to the time requested by the power company.

[0057] The base station control unit 132 may control a base station equipped with a storage battery selected by the power company from among a plurality of storage batteries, as requested by the power company. The information processing device 1 controls the base station equipped with a storage battery selected by the power company from among a plurality of storage batteries, for example, by performing the following two steps.

[0058] As a first step, the reception unit 133 receives a selection of a storage battery by the electric power company from among a plurality of storage batteries. For example, a display screen of the information processing service is provided with a selection item for selecting a storage battery to be used for adjusting power consumption from a list of storage batteries. The list of storage batteries may display various information such as the capacity of each storage battery. The display screen of the information processing service may also display the total capacity of the selected storage batteries. In this case, when the electric power company performs an operation to select a storage battery to be used for adjusting power consumption from the list of storage batteries using a selection item on the display screen of the information processing service, the reception unit 133 receives the storage battery selected by the electric power company.

[0059] In a second step, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of each of the multiple base stations so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the electric power provider becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time. For example, when the reception unit 133 receives the selection of the storage battery by the electric power provider, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of the base station equipped with the storage battery selected by the electric power provider from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. The base station control unit 132 may control the base station so that the timing at which the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the electric power provider becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold occurs immediately before the charging start time. In this way, the information processing device 1 can reduce the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the electric power provider to equal to or less than the power storage threshold.

[0060] The base station control unit 132 may control the base station based on the power consumption of the grid power specified by the power provider as a request from the power provider. The information processing device 1 controls the base station based on the power consumption of the grid power specified by the power provider, for example, by performing the following three steps.

[0061] In a first step, the reception unit 133 receives a requested consumption amount, which is the amount of grid power consumption requested by the power utility. For example, an input field for inputting the requested consumption amount is provided on the display screen of the information processing service. In this case, when the power utility inputs the amount of power consumption in the input field on the display screen of the information processing service, the reception unit 133 receives the amount of power consumption input by the power utility as the requested consumption amount.

[0062] In a second step, the selection unit 135 selects, from among the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery for which the difference between the power consumption of the grid power consumed by charging using the grid power and the required power consumption is less than a predetermined difference threshold. The difference threshold is a value determined as an allowable difference between the power consumption of the grid power and the required power consumption. For example, the selection unit 135 first refers to information about the base station stored in the memory unit 12 for each storage battery, and calculates the power consumption per unit time of the grid power consumed by charging using the grid power based on the charging rate of the storage battery. Then, the selection unit 135 selects a combination of storage batteries for which the difference between the required power amount and the calculated total value of the power consumption per unit time is less than the difference threshold.

[0063] In a third step, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of each of the multiple base stations including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time. For example, when the selection unit 135 selects a storage battery, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. The base station control unit 132 may control the base station so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold just before the charging start time. Note that the base station control unit 132 may also switch the power mode of the base station including a storage battery other than the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. In this way, the information processing device 1 can keep the amount of stored power in the storage battery that consumes the amount of grid power requested by the power company for charging equal to or less than the power storage threshold.

[0064] The information processing device 1 may present information about the storage battery to the power utility. Specifically, the presentation unit 137 presents information about the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 to the power utility. The information about the storage battery is, for example, the discharge start time, the discharge completion time, the amount of power consumed by the selected storage battery for charging, etc. The discharge start time is, for example, the time when the power mode of the base station is switched from grid power mode to storage power mode. The discharge completion time is, for example, the time when the power level falls below a threshold. In this way, the information processing device 1 can make the power utility recognize information about the storage battery controlled in response to a request from the power utility.

[0065] The base station control unit 132 may control the base station based on the estimated power demand and the estimated power supply. The information processing device 1 controls the base station based on the estimated power demand and the estimated power supply by, for example, performing the following three steps.

[0066] As a first step, the acquisition unit 131 acquires power generation plan information. The power generation plan information includes, for example, a trend in the amount of renewable energy power generation expected in a plurality of power generation facilities that generate power using renewable energy, a trend in the amount of planned power generation planned by a power company, and a trend in the amount of expected power demand. The acquisition unit 131 acquires the power generation plan information from, for example, the power company.

[0067] The acquisition unit 131 may acquire the power generation plan information using a power generation plan inference model. The power generation plan inference model is, for example, a machine learning model trained using trends in the amount of renewable energy power generation, trends in the amount of power supplied by a power utility, trends in the amount of power demand, and trends in weather as training data, and is trained to output power generation plan information corresponding to the weather when information indicating a weather forecast is input. In this case, the acquisition unit 131 first acquires weather information indicating a weather forecast for a predetermined period. Then, the acquisition unit 131 inputs the acquired weather information into the power generation plan inference model, causing the power generation plan inference model to output the power generation plan information, thereby acquiring the power generation plan information.

[0068] In a second step, the identifying unit 134 identifies a charging start time based on the power generation plan information. Specifically, the identifying unit 134 refers to the power generation plan information and identifies, as the charging start time, a time when a difference value between a total supply amount, which is the sum of the renewable energy power generation amount and the planned power generation amount, and a demand amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference threshold. The difference threshold is, for example, a value determined for determining a time when an increase in grid power consumption is required. For example, the identifying unit 134 refers to the power generation plan information and calculates a difference value by subtracting the total supply amount by the demand amount, and identifies, as the charging start time, a time when the calculated difference value is equal to or greater than the difference threshold.

[0069] In a third step, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of each of the multiple base stations so that the amount of stored power in each of the multiple storage batteries becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by the charging start time identified by the identification unit 134. For example, when the identification unit 134 identifies the charging start time, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of the multiple base stations from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. The base station control unit 132 may control the multiple base stations so that the timing at which the amount of stored power in each of the multiple storage batteries becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold occurs immediately before the charging start time. In this way, the information processing device 1 can reduce the amount of stored power in the storage batteries to equal to or less than the storage threshold before the charging start time of the period when an increase in power consumption from the grid power is required.

[0070] Although the above describes an example in which the charging start time is the start of the charging period, this is not limiting. For example, the charging start time may be a time included in the charging period and set for each rechargeable battery. For example, if there is a rechargeable battery among the multiple rechargeable batteries whose time below the threshold is after the start of the charging period and a predetermined period before the end of the charging period, the base station control unit 132 controls the base station including the rechargeable battery so that the time below the threshold is set to a predetermined period before the end of the charging period.

[0071] After switching the power mode of the base station from the grid power mode to the storage power mode, if the amount of stored power in the storage battery provided in the base station becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold, the base station control unit 132 switches the power mode of the base station from the storage power mode to the grid power mode.

[0072] <Processing Executed by Information Processing Device 1 After Charging Start Time Has Elapsed> Next, a description will be given of the process executed by the information processing device 1 when the charging start time has passed. When the current time passes the charging start time, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of the storage battery from a non-charging mode in which charging is not performed to a grid charging mode in which charging is performed using grid power.

[0073] Specifically, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of a storage battery whose stored amount is equal to or less than the storage threshold from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode when the current time passes the charging start time. For example, the base station control unit 132 first transmits a storage battery switching request to each of the multiple base stations to switch the storage battery mode from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode. Then, when the multiple base stations receive the storage battery switching request from the information processing device 1, they switch the storage battery mode from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode.

[0074] For example, when the current time passes the charging start time, the base station control unit 132 does not switch the mode of a storage battery whose stored amount is not less than the storage threshold from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode, but switches the mode of a storage battery whose stored amount is less than the storage threshold from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode. Note that the base station control unit 132 may switch the mode of each of the multiple storage batteries from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode, for example, when the current time passes the charging start time, regardless of whether the stored amount is less than the storage threshold. If the selection unit 135 selects a storage battery, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode when the current time passes the charging start time. In this way, the information processing device 1 can increase the amount of grid power consumed during the charging period.

[0075] After switching the mode of the storage battery from the uncharged mode to the charged mode, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of the storage battery from the charged mode to the uncharged mode at the timing when a charging end time set as the time to end charging of the storage battery has passed. In addition, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of the storage battery that has become fully charged before the charging end time has passed from the charged mode to the uncharged mode.

[0076] In this case, the base station control unit 132 may switch the mode of a base station equipped with a fully charged storage battery from the grid power mode to the storage power mode. In this case, if the amount of stored power in the storage battery switched to the uncharged mode falls below the power storage threshold before a predetermined period from the charging end time, the base station control unit 132 may again switch the mode of the storage battery from the uncharged mode to the grid charging mode. In this way, the information processing device 1 can increase the amount of grid power consumed by repeatedly charging the storage battery during the charging period.

[0077] The information processing device 1 may control the base stations and the storage batteries in accordance with a predetermined plan. The information processing device 1 controls the base stations in accordance with the predetermined plan by, for example, performing the following two steps.

[0078] As a first step, the generation unit 136 generates a charging schedule for each base station based on a charging period from a charging start time to a charging end time set as the time when charging of a storage battery provided in the base station using grid power ends, a first period until the storage battery, whose stored power amount is equal to or less than the storage threshold, is fully charged, and a second period until the stored power amount of the fully charged storage battery becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by supplying stored power to the base station. The charging schedule includes, for example, control content for controlling the base station or the storage battery, a base station mode switching time, and a storage battery mode switching time. For example, the information about the base station includes a statistical value of the period until the storage battery, whose stored power amount is equal to or less than the storage threshold, is fully charged, and a statistical value of the period until the stored power amount of the fully charged storage battery becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by supplying stored power to the base station.

[0079] In this case, the generation unit 136 refers to information about each base station and determines, for each base station, the time when a first period has elapsed since the charging start time as the time to switch the mode of the storage battery from the charging mode to the uncharged mode. Furthermore, if there is a storage battery among the multiple storage batteries for which the time when the first and second periods have elapsed since the charging start time is before a predetermined period from the charging end time, the generation unit 136 determines the time when the first period has elapsed since the charging start time as the time to switch the mode of the storage battery from the charging mode to the uncharged mode and to switch the mode of the base station from the grid power mode to the storage power mode, and determines the time when the first and second periods have elapsed since the charging start time as the time to switch the mode of the storage battery from the uncharged mode to the charging mode and to switch the mode of the base station from the storage power mode to the grid power mode. The generation unit 136 then generates a charging schedule that includes control content for controlling the base station or the storage battery and the determined time (the execution time for executing control of the control content).

[0080] In a second step, the base station control unit 132 switches the mode of each of the plurality of base stations and the mode of each of the plurality of storage batteries during the charging period in accordance with the charging schedule generated by the generation unit 136. For example, the base station control unit 132 refers to the charging schedule corresponding to each base station, and when the current time passes an execution time, executes control of the control content associated with the execution time (switching the mode of the base station or switching the mode of the storage battery). In this way, the information processing device 1 can increase the amount of power consumption of grid power during the charging period in accordance with the established plan.

[0081] The information processing device 1 may present information about the installation of a storage battery to a telecommunications carrier that operates a base station. Specifically, the presentation unit 137 presents the information about the installation of a storage battery to the telecommunications carrier based on information about a power generation device that generates power using renewable energy (e.g., the amount of power generated by the power generation device, the location where the power generation device is installed, etc.) and the trend of power consumption of the base station. The information about the power generation device may be stored in the storage unit 12 or may be acquired by the acquisition unit 131. Furthermore, the information about the base station includes a statistical value of the power consumption of the base station as information indicating the trend of power consumption of the base station.

[0082] In this case, the identifying unit 134 first references information about the power generation device and information about the base stations, and selects one type of storage battery from among multiple types of storage batteries for each base station included in an area that includes the location of the power generation device, based on the statistical value of the power consumption of the base station and the amount of power generated by the power generation device. The type of storage battery is, for example, a type of maximum capacity, such as large, medium, or small. For example, if the amount of power generated by the power generation device exceeds a predetermined power generation threshold, the identifying unit 134 selects a type of storage battery with a relatively small maximum capacity from among the multiple types of storage batteries. For example, if the statistical value of the power consumption of the base station exceeds a predetermined consumption threshold, the identifying unit 134 selects a type of storage battery with a relatively small maximum capacity from among the multiple types of storage batteries. For example, if the statistical value of the power consumption of the base station does not exceed the predetermined consumption threshold, the identifying unit 134 selects a type of storage battery with a relatively large maximum capacity from among the multiple types of storage batteries. In addition, the identification unit 134 selects a type of storage battery with an intermediate maximum capacity from among multiple types of storage batteries, for example, when the power generation amount of the power generation device exceeds a predetermined power generation amount threshold and the statistical value of the power consumption of the base station does not exceed a predetermined consumption amount threshold.

[0083] Then, for each base station included in the area including the location where the power generation device is to be installed, the presenting unit 137 presents to the telecommunications carrier information indicating the base station and the type of storage battery identified by the identifying unit 134 as information related to the installation of the storage battery. In this way, the information processing device 1 can propose the installation of a storage battery in an area where an increase in power consumption of grid power is required.

[0084] [Processing of information processing device 1] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing executed by the information processing device 1. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the information processing device 1. This processing starts when the reception unit 133 receives a charging start time from the electric power company (S1).

[0085] The acquiring unit 131 acquires, from a plurality of base stations, a plurality of pieces of power storage information corresponding to the storage batteries included in each of the base stations (S2). The identifying unit 134 identifies, for each storage battery, a time when the amount of stored power in the storage battery identified by the power storage information corresponding to the storage battery becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold (S3).

[0086] The selection unit 135 selects, from the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery for which the time identified by the identification unit 134 is before the charging start time (S4). Then, the base station control unit 132 controls the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 by switching the mode of the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit 135 from the plurality of storage batteries so that the amount of stored power becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time (S5).

[0087] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 1 controls multiple base stations by switching between the modes of the multiple base stations, including the grid power mode and the storage power mode, so that the amount of stored power in each of the multiple storage batteries falls below the storage threshold by the time the charging starts. In this way, the information processing device 1 can easily reduce the amount of stored power in the storage batteries to below the storage threshold before the charging starts by discharging the storage batteries using base stations that constantly consume power to emit radio waves that form communication areas. This reduces the occurrence of situations in which the storage batteries cannot be charged with grid power because a large amount of stored power remains in the storage batteries at the time the charging starts. As a result, the information processing device 1 can provide a mechanism for maintaining a balance between power supply and demand.

[0088] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0089] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1. Information processing equipment 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control Unit 131 Acquisition Department 132 Base Station Control Unit 133 Reception Department 134 Specific part 135 Selection Section 136 Generation part 137 Presentation section

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information for identifying the amount of power stored in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations that are powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by a power company or stored storage power; a base station control unit that controls the plurality of base stations by switching a mode of each of the plurality of base stations between a grid power mode powered by the grid power and a storage power mode powered by the storage power so that the stored power amount of each of the plurality of storage batteries specified by each of the plurality of pieces of power storage information becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold value that is set for determining whether or not to permit charging of the storage batteries by a charging start time that is set as a time to start charging the storage batteries using the grid power; An information processing device having the above.

2. when there is a storage battery for which the time at which the stored power amount becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold is before a time that is a predetermined period before the charging start time, the base station control unit switches a mode of the base station including the storage battery between the grid power mode and the stored power mode so that the time at which the stored power amount becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold is between the charging start time and the predetermined period before the charging start time; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The information processing device includes: a reception unit that receives the time requested by the electric power company as the charging start time; a specifying unit that specifies, for each storage battery, a time when the amount of stored power in the storage battery will be equal to or less than the power storage threshold value based on a tendency of power consumption by the base station that includes the storage battery; a selection unit that selects, from the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery for which the time identified by the identification unit is before the charging start time; a presentation unit that presents information about the storage battery selected by the selection unit to the electric power company; further comprising The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the base station control unit does not switch a mode of the base station including the storage battery other than the storage battery selected by the selection unit among the plurality of storage batteries, and switches a mode of the base station including the storage battery selected by the selection unit among the plurality of storage batteries between the grid power mode and the storage power mode so that the stored power amount becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. the acquisition unit acquires power generation plan information including a transition in an amount of renewable energy power generation estimated in a plurality of power generation facilities that generate power using renewable energy, a transition in a planned amount of power generation planned by the power company, and a transition in an estimated amount of power demand; the information processing device further includes an identification unit that refers to the power generation plan information and identifies, as the charging start time, a time at which a difference value between the demand amount and a supply amount obtained by summing the renewable energy power generation amount and the planned power generation amount becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined difference threshold; the base station control unit switches a mode of each of the plurality of base stations between the grid power mode and the storage power mode so that the stored power amount of each of the plurality of storage batteries becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by the charging start time identified by the identification unit. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. the base station control unit switches the mode of the storage battery whose stored amount is equal to or less than the storage threshold from a non-charging mode in which charging is not performed to a charging mode in which charging is performed using the grid power, at a timing when the current time has passed the charging start time. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. the information processing device further comprises a generation unit that generates, for each base station, a charging schedule including a switching time for switching a mode of the base station between the grid power mode and the storage power mode and a switching time for a mode of the storage battery included in the base station, based on a charging period from the charging start time to a charging end time that is set as a time to end charging of the storage battery included in the base station using the grid power, a period until the storage battery with a stored amount of power equal to or less than the storage threshold is fully charged, and a period until the stored amount of power in the fully charged storage battery becomes equal to or less than the storage threshold by supplying the stored power to the base station, the base station control unit switches, for each base station, a mode of each of the plurality of base stations between the grid power mode and the storage power mode during the charging period in accordance with the charging schedule corresponding to the base station, and switches a mode of each of the plurality of storage batteries; The information processing device according to claim 6 .

8. the information processing device further includes a reception unit that receives a selection of the storage battery by the electric power company from among the plurality of storage batteries; the base station control unit switches a mode of each of the plurality of base stations between the grid power mode and the storage power mode so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the power company becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. The information processing device includes: a receiving unit that receives a requested consumption amount, which is the consumption amount of the grid power requested by the electric power company; a selector that selects, from the plurality of storage batteries, a storage battery for which a difference value between an amount of the grid power consumed by charging using the grid power and the required consumption amount is less than a predetermined difference threshold; and the base station control unit switches a mode of each of the plurality of base stations between the grid power mode and the storage power mode so that the amount of stored power in the storage battery selected by the selection unit becomes equal to or less than the power storage threshold by the charging start time. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. The computer executes acquiring a plurality of pieces of power storage information for specifying the amount of power stored in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by a power company or stored storage power; controlling the plurality of base stations by switching the mode of each of the plurality of base stations between a grid power mode powered by the grid power and a storage power mode powered by the storage power so that the stored power amount of each of the plurality of storage batteries specified by each of the plurality of pieces of power storage information becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold value that is set for determining whether or not to permit charging of the storage batteries by a charging start time that is set as a time to start charging the storage batteries using the grid power; An information processing method comprising:

11. Computer, an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of power storage information for specifying the amount of power stored in each of a plurality of storage batteries provided in each of a plurality of base stations that are powered by either system power supplied via a power system managed by a power company or stored storage power; a base station control unit that controls the plurality of base stations by switching a mode of each of the plurality of base stations between a grid power mode powered by the grid power and a storage power mode powered by the storage power so that the stored power amount of each of the plurality of storage batteries specified by each of the plurality of pieces of power storage information becomes equal to or less than a storage threshold value that is set for determining whether or not charging of the storage batteries is permitted by a charging start time that is set as a time to start charging of the storage batteries using the grid power; A program to function as a

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