12 results about "Utility company" patented technology

Techniques for smart electricity meter operation and management of open-switch events are described. In an example, a voltage value of a transformer-side of a service site is measured. Power consumption at the service site is measured. Based at least in part on the voltage value being non-zero and the power consumption being zero, it is determined that an open-switch event occurred. That is, because the utility company is supplying typical voltage to the electricity meter, and because the power consumption is zero, a breaker switch may have tripped. Accordingly, a customer of the service site is notified of the open-switch event.

Techniques are provided for managing discharging and recharging a battery. The techniques include (a) receiving, from a utility server, pricing information for provision of power by a utility over a lookahead period; (b) determining, with reference to the pricing information, a highest cost of the power over a subset of the lookahead period and a lowest cost of the power over the subset, the highest cost occurring during a first time slot of the subset; (c) in response to determining that a discharge condition is satisfied, assigning the first time slot as a discharge time slot, including: (1) determining that a battery of a power supply device has a state of charge (SoC) of at least a fullness threshold and (2) determining that a difference between the highest cost and the lowest cost exceeds a threshold value; and (d) during the discharge time slot, operating the power supply device to provide power to connected devices using power drawn from the battery.

The present invention relates to a machine capable of cleaning, storing and dispensing cups in a fully automatic manner, which enables practical, efficient and safe use of reusable cups. The machine optimizes the internal structure to compactly store dirty and clean cups, has high daily cleaning ability, and can serve a large number of people. The application of the machine aims to eliminate the use of disposable cups which can generate serious related environmental influences. To this end, the machine provides significantly better utility and hygiene compared to manual cleaning, making the machine suitable for use in offices, utility companies and other commercial institutions. An automatic glass cleaning machine (7) comprising: an inlet system (1) configured to receive and convey one or more cups at a time to an inlet reservoir (2); an inlet reservoir (2) configured to store a plurality of dirty cups; a cleaning system (3) configured to clean one or more cups at a time on a cleaning platform (31); a conveyor (4) configured to move one or more cups at a time; an outlet reservoir (5) configured to store a plurality of clean cups and to dispense the plurality of clean cups through one or more outlets (50).

The disclosure describes techniques for distributing large amounts of data to networked devices. A utility company server sends data to proxy device(s) (e.g., a plurality of data collecting / distributing devices), each of which sends the data to a number of proxied devices (e.g., smart utility meters). Accordingly, the utility company server utilizes a plurality of proxy devices to lessen device workload and network bandwidth consumption. The proxy devices each “manage” a plurality of proxied devices. Advantageously, the techniques provide end-to-end security of the data, avoid devotion of significant network bandwidth to repetitive transmissions, and in some installations reduce battery power consumption. The systems, devices, and techniques for distributing large amounts of data to networked devices may be configured to include: software defined on central office server(s); a plurality of proxy devices associated with each server; and a plurality of proxied devices (e.g., smart metering devices) associated with each proxy device.

A first energy converter that can consume a first physical energy form of a first energy delivery network can be controlled to produce a second physical energy form of a second energy delivery network and inject the second physical energy form into the second energy delivery network. A second energy converter that can consume the second physical energy form of the second energy delivery system can be controlled to produce the first physical energy form of the first energy delivery network and inject the first physical energy form into the first energy deliver network. The controlling of the first energy converter and the controlling of the second energy converter can be coordinated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

An artificial intelligence system including a machine learning module for assisting in electrical grid maintenance. The machine learning module receiving data sets from UAVs travelling in the proximity of power lines and communicating sensed observations to a data library for training the module to spot markers of potential hazards and calculating a probability of hazards occurring under various conditions. The system communicating hazards of a type or above a predetermined level of probability to a communication center or utility company to remediate or schedule preventative maintenance.

A method and system for new property acquisition process for utilities. The process uses preprogrammed virtual reality headsets to provide property owners with a virtual reality (VR) social platform, such as a metaverse-enabled presentation, showing projects, answering questions, and delivering individualized property rights acquisition proposals. The invention enhances the property owner's presentation and enables significant scaling without significant headcount growth.

An electricity meter and electricity system or grid that is hardened against attack vectors is described, and provided in part by automated multiple-factor authentication over multiple communication networks. In an example, a utility company may control an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network to provide internal communications. Metering devices may utilize customer's Wi-Fi to gain access to the internet, allowing electricity consumption data to be transmitted over the internet. Multiple authentication factors are used to prevent a bad actor from impersonating the metering device or cloud server. In an example, each metering device determines a secret, and sends the secret over the AMI network to a utility company server, and which relays the secret to the cloud server. The cloud server uses the secret to establish trust with metering devices. Additionally, the metering devices and the cloud server have signed certificates, which are used in additional authentication processes.

Techniques for smart electricity meter operation and management of open-switch events are described. In an example, a voltage value of a transformer-side of a service site is measured. Power consumption at the service site is measured. Based at least in part on the voltage value being non-zero and the power consumption being zero, it is determined that an open-switch event occurred. That is, because the utility company is supplying typical voltage to the electricity meter, and because the power consumption is zero, a breaker switch may have tripped. Accordingly, a customer of the service site is notified of the open-switch event.

The disclosure describes techniques for distributing large amounts of data to networked devices. A utility company server sends data to proxy device(s) (e.g., a plurality of data collecting / distributing devices), each of which sends the data to a number of proxied devices (e.g., smart utility meters). Accordingly, the utility company server utilizes a plurality of proxy devices to lessen device workload and network bandwidth consumption. The proxy devices each "manage" a plurality of proxied devices. Advantageously, the techniques provide end-to-end security of the data, avoid devotion of significant network bandwidth to repetitive transmissions, and in some installations reduce battery power consumption. The systems, devices, and techniques for distributing large amounts of data to networked devices may be configured to include: software defined on central office server(s); a plurality of proxy devices associated with each server; and a plurality of proxied devices (e.g., smart metering devices) associated with each proxy device.

Networked utility services handle data-flow in a system to operate electrical vehicle charging stations. In an example, first and second utility companies may operate in first and second respective areas. A user may have a residence in the first area and may have an electric vehicle at a vehicle charging station in the second area. The user may provide identification at the vehicle charging station in the second area, and the user's vehicle may be charged at that location using electricity from the second utility. Data including the user's identification and the electricity consumed in the charging may be sent to the first utility serving the area including the user's residence. The first utility may bill the user for the electricity used to charge the user's vehicle at the remote vehicle charging station. The charging station, both utilities and / or other parties may share in the receipts.