Consert Inc.

Other

Zenph Sound Innovations, Inc.

Joel L Webb

Joseph W Forbes, Jr

John O F Long

Roy Moore

Joseph W Forbes

Peter James Schwaller

John Quillian Walker, Ii

David Shaw

John Of Long

An apparatus and method control transmission of messages over a fixed bandwidth communication link from fixed position client or communication devices to a central controller. In one exemplary embodiment, the central controller determines an identifier associated with each communication device, a reporting period during which messages are to be transmitted by the communication devices, and transmission increments within the reporting period. The central controller allocates each transmission increment to a respective group of multiple communication devices. The central controller then determines transmission times for messages from the communication devices, such that a transmission time for any particular communication device is based on (a) the identifier for the particular communication device, (b) a duration of a transmission increment allocated to a group of communication devices that includes the particular communication device, and (c) a quantity of communication devices in the group of communication devices that includes the particular communication device.

Apparatus and method for controlling communications to and from fixed position communication devices over a fixed bandwidth communication link

A utility employs a method for estimating available operating reserve. Electric power consumption by at least one device serviced by the utility is determined during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data. The power consumption data is stored in a repository. A determination is made that a control event is to occur during which power is to be reduced to one or more devices. Prior to the control event and under an assumption that it is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the device(s) is estimated for a time period during which the control event is expected to occur based on the stored power consumption data. Additionally, prior to the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event are determined based on the devices' estimated power consumption behavior. An amount of available operating reserve is determined based on the projected energy savings.

System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

An apparatus and method control transmission of messages over a fixed bandwidth link from fixed position communication devices to a central controller in a load management system. The messages include information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at service points that include the communication devices. In one embodiment, the central controller determines an identifier associated with each communication device, a reporting period during which the messages are to be transmitted by the communication devices, and transmission increments within the reporting period. The controller allocates each transmission increment to a respective group of communication devices. The controller then determines a transmission time for a message from a particular communication device based on the identifier for the particular device, a duration of a transmission increment allocated to a group of communication devices that includes the particular device, and a quantity of communication devices in the particular device's group.

Apparatus and method for controlling communications to and from utility service points

Methods for prioritizing load management messages on IP-based networks utilizing an Active Load Directory and IP capable two-way gateway. The messages being received from, or sent to, the ISP through the gateway contain a blend of regulated and unregulated data. The regulated data is high-priority utility load management data such as, equipment status and load control instructions. The unregulated data consists of Internet messages such as email and web site data. These methods process all regulatory data before unregulated data within strict time limits, providing the greatest possible load management control and energy savings. The methods emulate dedicated network processor memory in a manner that permits the rules for prioritizing, scheduling, and routing to remain the same across both hardware and software implementations.

System and method for priority delivery of load management messages on IP-based networks

An active load management system (ALMS) controllably restarts electrical service to service points in a utility service area after a power outage. The ALMS includes client devices installed at the service points and a central controller. In one embodiment, the controller associates numbers with the service points and stores the associations. Each service point may be associated with a unique number or a group of service points may share a number. After receiving notification that power is available, the controller determines a number and communicates the number to one or more of the client devices. Where the number was determined randomly, the client devices associated with the number may restart electrical service upon receipt of the number. Where the number was determined sequentially, a client device may determine its own random number and compare it to the received number. If a match occurs, electrical service can be restarted.

Method and apparatus for effecting controlled restart of electrical servcie with a utility service area

A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to one or more power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is controlled by one or more controllable devices, which are controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message, such as from a remote system controller. The power control message may have been issued in furtherance of a power reduction event initiated by the electric utility. The power control message indicates an amount of electric power to be reduced and/or identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, a flow of electric power is disabled or otherwise reduced to at least one power consuming device based on the contents of the power control message.

Method and apparatus for actively managing consumption of electric power supplied by an electric utility

A system, which includes a system controller and client devices, manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Electric power flow to the consuming devices is controlled by controllable devices, which are controlled by the client devices. The controller includes an event manager, a database, and a client device manager. The event manager generates event instructions, including instructions requiring a reduction of consumed electric power. The database stores, on a per client device basis and/or a per electric utility basis, information relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. The client device manager selects, based on the database information and responsive to a power reduction event instruction, at least one client device to which to communicate a message indicating a power reduction amount and/or identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable power flow to associated consuming devices.

Method and apparatus for actively managing consumption of electric power supplied by one or more electric utilities

A system and method for selective disconnection of electrical service to a customer via commands transmitted on a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a client device at a customer service point. A customer profile is generated including at least connection information for a plurality of controllable devices within the service point. A request is received from the electric utility to generate a selective disconnect event at the service point based on the customer profile. The selective disconnect event is communicated to the client device at the service point. The selective disconnect event is sent to at least one controllable device at the service point.

System and method for selective disconnection of electrical service to end customers

A control system and method to create an Internet Protocol (IP) enabled automatic gain control loop for encasing a desired cost value in a utility derived consumer controlled pricing envelope. A customer uses a web browser to view billing estimates for the current month as well as related months. The customer can set limits on the actual billing amount for the upcoming month and make adjustments to this amount if it seems unrealistic in the coming month. Control event actions are carried out to limit power usage within preferences set by the customer.

System and method for manipulating controlled energy using devices to manage customer bills

A system and method for creating and making use of customer profiles, including energy consumption patterns. Devices within a service point, using the active load director, may be subject to control events, often based on customer preferences. These control events cause the service point to use less power. Data associated with these control events, as well as related environment data, are used to create an energy consumption profile for each service point. This can be used by the utility to determine which service points are the best targets for energy consumption. In addition, an intelligent load rotation algorithm determines how to prevent the same service points from being picked first each time the utility wants to conserve power.

System and method for determining and utilizing customer energy profiles for load control for individual structures, devices, and aggregation of same

Methods for generating a new recording of a past musical performance of a musician from a recording of the past musical performance include obtaining a high-resolution data record representing actions of the musician while playing the past musical performance that is generated based on the recording of the past musical performance and positioning an automated musical instrument in a selected acoustic context and a sound detection device at a selected sound detection location in the selected acoustic context. The high-resolution data record is provided to the musical instrument to cause the musical instrument to re-produce the actions of the musician while playing the past performance. Sound waves generated by the musical instrument are recorded while the actions of the musician are being re-produced to generate the new recording of the past musical performance.

Methods, systems and computer program products for regenerating audio performances

A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. In one embodiment, the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command or instruction to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device.

A server manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the consuming devices is enabled and disabled by controllable devices controlled by one or more client devices. The server includes a command processor, event manager, database, and client device manager. The command processor receives commands from the utility and issues event messages responsive thereto. The event manager maintains a power management status for each client device and issues event instructions responsive to event messages. The database stores information relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. The client device manager selects from the database, responsive to receipt of a power reduction event instruction, at least one client device to which to issue a message indicating a power reduction amount and/or identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable power flow to associated consuming devices.

A system for managing consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to power consuming devices includes at least one client device and a server. Each client device operates at least partially responsive to control messages received from the server and controls operation of one or more controllable devices. Each controllable device selectively enables and disables a flow of power to one or more of the consuming devices. The server stores information, on a per client device basis, relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. When a power reduction is requested by the utility, the server selects, based on client device information stored in the database, at least one client device to which to issue a power reduction message that indicates at least one of an amount of power to be reduced and an identification of a controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of power.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Joel L Webb