Reactive Technologies Limited

Broadcom Europe Limited

Broadcom Innovision Limited

Marc Borrett

Heikki Huomo

Jukka Alakontiola

Mika Ventola

Timo Peltola

Ian Keen

Abhishek Jain

Ville Paju

Methods, computer software and apparatus for use in an electric power grid are described. Measurement data is received intermittently or continuously from a plurality of measurement units, indicating values of at least one measured characteristic at respective measurement locations. The at least one is characteristic is monitored, and it is determined, based on the monitoring, that there has been a change in electric power flow in the electric power grid. Responsive to the determination, component data is accessed relating to characteristics of components of the electric power grid involved in provision and/or consumption of electric power. Based on received measurement data relating to the change and the accessed component data, a power flow characteristic of the grid in a given time period is determined.

Power flow characteristics

Methods, and apparatus for determining a characteristic of an inertial contribution to an electrical power grid are described. A change in inertia in the electrical power grid based on one or more inertia measurements performed in a first time period is determined. On the basis of the determined change in inertia and data indicative of an inertia contribution characteristic of one or more energy production facilities and/or one or more energy consuming devices in the electric power grid, a characteristic of an inertial contribution to the electrical power grid is determined for a second time period different to the first time period.

Determining a characteristic of an inertial contribution to an electric power grid

Methods, systems, and devices for controlling electrical energy consumption in an electricity distribution network, so as to reduce net energy consumption in a given area during a given time period are described. In particular, a method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network is described. The method comprises maintaining a database of information about electric devices, and identifying an area in which, and a time period during which, electrical energy consumption is to be controlled. The method further comprises selecting, based on device information stored in the database, groups of electric devices, and associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups. Requests are sent to the electric devices of the selected groups to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices. This enables a reduction in net consumption of electrical energy in a given area, during a respective time interval.

Energy consumption management

A communications device configured to couple with a near field RF communicator, in near field range, to enable communication of data by modulation of a magnetic field. The communications device also including a secure element, having a plurality of memory areas with differing levels of access, configured to provide secure data storage for transaction data, wherein the levels of access are differentiated by a degree to which the plurality of memory areas are programmable, writable and modifiable. Further, the communications device includes a controller configured to read the transaction data from the at least one secure element, and to cause a modulator to modulate the RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the secure element so as to communicate the read transaction data to the near field RF communicator as proof of the transaction to enable an action related to the transaction to be carried out.

Communications devices comprising NFC communicators

Methods, systems, and devices for controlling electrical energy consumption in an electricity distribution network, so as to reduce net energy consumption in a given area during a given time period, are described. In particular, a method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network is described. The method comprises maintaining a database of information about electric devices, and identifying a time period during which consumption of electrical energy is to be controlled. The method further comprises selecting, based on device profile information stored in the database, groups of electric devices, and associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups. Requests are sent to the electric devices of the selected groups to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices. This enables a reduction in net consumption of electrical energy during a respective time interval.

A communications device has a NFC communicator () having a coupler () to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field, a demodulator () to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler and a modulator () to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator. The device also has at least one secure element () separate from the near field RF communicator () to provide secure data storage for transaction data representing or relating to a transaction. A controller controls operation of the NFC communicator, reads transaction data from the at least one secure element and causes the modulator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the at least one secure element so as to communicate the read transaction data to a near field RF communicator in near field range as proof of the transaction to enable an action related to the transaction to be carried out.

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Poole, United Kingdom

Marc Borrett