Virtual Sub-Unit Energy Storage Control for Grid Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices poses a challenge, as existing technologies fail to effectively manage and track energy flow across different networks, leading to potential unauthorized use and cost inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Divide portable energy storage devices into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units, restrict charging and discharging options to specific modes, and map these sub-units to allowed charging and discharging modes based on user-defined rules and contextual details, ensuring authorized energy usage and minimizing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If portable energy storage devices are used to charge and discharge across different grid networks, then energy flexibility and user convenience are improved, but unauthorized energy movement and cost inefficiencies occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy flexibilityVSAvoidauthorized energy movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the portable energy storage device's total capacity into multiple virtual sub-units (e.g., first virtual sub-unit, second virtual sub-unit), each associated with specific charging/discharging modes. This segmentation enables tracking and control of energy movements across different grid networks, preventing unauthorized usage while maintaining overall flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If energy storage devices allow free charging and discharging across networks, then user convenience is improved, but unauthorized energy movement and cost losses occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidcost inefficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring charging and discharging operations in real-time, comparing actual energy movements against authorized modes, and providing control signals to prevent unauthorized operations. This feedback loop ensures cost efficiency while maintaining user convenience through automated enforcement of energy management policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If traditional energy tracking methods are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but unauthorized energy movement cannot be detected or prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidunauthorized energy movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces virtual sub-units as intermediary constructs that mediate between the physical energy storage device and the control system. These virtual sub-units enable detailed tracking and authorization of energy movements without requiring complex hardware modifications, thus preventing unauthorized energy movement while maintaining relative system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10222774B2Preventing unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer program products for preventing unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units, restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes, restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes, mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of one or more of the distinct charging modes and one or more of the distinct discharging modes, and automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on the mapping and one or more contextual details.