WO2000025531A1

WO2000025531A1 - Wireless communication system for management of an energy supply and method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2000025531A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/021204
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregg Mervin Connary; Kimberly Kaye Nemunaitis; Antonio Sergio Calmon
Original assignee: Motorola Inc.
Priority date: 1998-10-23
Filing date: 1999-09-15
Publication date: 2000-05-04
Also published as: AU6249499A

Abstract

A wireless communication system (10) for management of an energy supply (42) from an energy provider (40) includes a server (14), a transmission source (19) and a plurality of receiver modules. Each wireless module (30), located at an individual customer site (12), regulates energy consumption at that side and changes the usage function (64) it utilizes for that regulation in response to receipt of a message (28) from the transmission source (19).

Description

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF AN ENERGY SUPPLY AND METHOD THEREFOR

Field of the Invention

This invention pertains in general to energy management systems, and in particular to energy management systems, which utilize wireless communication .

Background of the Invention

Historically, utility companies, and specifically energy providers, manually control energy supplies to individual customer sites. All customer sites are treated equivalently when it comes to the distribution of the energy supply, each receiving what they individually require. Disconnecting non- paying customers is accomplished by having a person go to the customer site and manually disconnect the supply line. Reconnecting the energy supply is accomplished in the same manner. This is a costly and time-consuming method for the energy providers; and also results in the customer site being without energy for an extended period of time.

In situations where the available energy supply is limited, such as third world countries, a shortage of energy at a given time results in a total blackout of all customers. Life threatening situations result when the energy provider cannot selectively distribute the energy supply to critical customer sites such as hospitals and law enforcement agencies.

Today, some energy management systems are capable of selective energy distribution using the energy supply line. These systems typically set energy load parameters for an individual customer site, periodically measure the energy load at that site through the energy supply line, and disconnect the energy supply to that customer site if the measured energy load exceeds the set energy load parameters. In some instances, priorities of customer sites can be set, and the energy provider can disconnect or reconnect individual customer sites through the power lines based on the set priorities. One drawback of systems that use the energy supply line is that if a supply line is down, as is typical in the case of a storm causing a power outage, there is no method for controlling individual customer sites. Further, the energy control parameters are pre-set and can only be changed manually. Other energy management systems today control the distribution of power to individual customer sites using alternative communication systems. In these systems, communication of a supply on or supply off is accomplished in a communication line separate from the supply line. These systems operate by comparing pre-set values in receivers at the customer sites with current conditions and modifying accordingly. A drawback of this approach is the inability to reprogram functions in the receiver at the customer site for new conditions.

Thus, what is needed is a system for controlling the energy supply to individual customer sites in which the controlling communication channel is separate and distinct from the energy supply channel, and the functions used to set operation conditions are reprogrammable and customizable. Such systems, which can automatically vary the distribution of the energy supply, based on usage functions allow the energy provider to quickly react to any situation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of a wireless communication system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the energy management operation of the wireless communication system 10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of a wireless module that operates within the wireless communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an alternate operation of the invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical block diagram of a wireless communication system 10 for management of an energy supply to a plurality of customer sites 12 is shown. The wireless communication system 10 comprises a load control program, such as a server 14 connected through a conventional switched telephone network (PSTN) 16 by conventional telephone links 18 to a transmission source 19. The transmission source 19 includes a system controller 20, at least one system transmitter 22, and at least one system receiver 24. The system controller 20 oversees the operation of the system transmitter 22 and, in one embodiment, the system receiver 24, through one or more communication links 26, which typically are twisted pair telephone wires, and additionally can include RF, microwave, or other high quality audio communication links. The system controller 20 encodes and decodes inbound and outbound telephone addresses into formats that are compatible with landline message switch computers. The system controller 20 also functions to digitally encode and schedule outbound messages such as a message 28, for transmission by the system transmitter 22 via the system transmit antenna 36 to a plurality of wireless modules 30, each wireless module 30 located at an individual customer site 12, on at least one outbound radio frequency (RF) channel. The system controller 20 further functions to decode inbound messages such as change notification 32, which includes unsolicited and response messages, received by the system receiver 24 via the system receive antenna 38 from a wireless module 30 at a customer site 12.

It will be appreciated that the wireless communication system 10 may function utilizing any wireless RF channel, for example, a one or two way pager channel, a mobile cellular channel, or a mobile radio channel. In the following description, the wireless communication system 10 refers to any of the wireless communication systems listed above or an equivalent. Each wireless module 30 assigned for use in the wireless communication system 10 has an address assigned thereto which is a unique selective call address in the wireless communication system 10. The address enables the transmission of a message 28 from the system controller 20 only to the addressed wireless module 30, and identifies the messages and responses received at the system controller 20 from the wireless module 30. A list of the assigned addresses for each of the wireless modules 30 is stored in the system controller 20 in the form of a subscriber database.

The server 14 controls a distribution of an energy supply 42 from an energy provider 40 to a plurality of customer sites 12 in response to a multitude of unscheduled and scheduled events by sending wireless messages to the receiver modules at the customer sites.

Unscheduled events include turning off the energy supply 42 to the customer site 12 due to non-payment or general discontinuation of service, disconnecting and reconnecting the energy supply 42 to the customer site 12 during excessive loading of the energy provider 40, and upgrading or downgrading the maximum allowable load of a customer site 12. Scheduled events include changing the distribution of the energy supply 42 to customer site during planned interruption of service by the energy provider 40, regulating the available energy supply 42 to customer sites during peak service hours, and turning on or off service based on the level of service associated with a particular customer site 12. The server 14 can group customer sites 12 such as by a geographic location 44 or by a priority of service. FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the energy management operation of the wireless communication system 10 of FIG. 1. During normal operation, step 48, the energy provider 40 monitors the energy supply 42 by checking either periodically or continuously the total usage of the energy supply 42 over an energy supply line. The energy provider 40 can also record energy usage of an individual customer site 12 or of a particular pre-defined group of customer sites. When an event (step 50), either scheduled or unscheduled, occurs which affects the availability of the energy supply 42, the server 14 is activated either manually or automatically to implement energy management actions. The server 14 first determines if the energy management actions are required only on an individual customer site 12

(step 52). Examples of events that would trigger an individual customer site 12 action include: non-payment by a customer site 12, general discontinuation of service by a customer site 12, disconnect/reconnect when a customer site 12 exceeds subscribed service usage, and a notice to change of service of a customer site 12. If the energy management actions are not for just an individual customer site 12, the server 14, in step 53, next checks for a set of customer sites having the same characteristics such as geographic location, service tier grouping or any other preprogrammed grouping set by the energy provider 40.

Once the customer site to be energy managed is determined by the server 14 for energy control, the server 14, in step 55, sends a signal through the PSTN 16 to the system controller 20. The wireless network then processes the signal, in step 57. In step 59, the wireless module 30 receives and processes the message

28, and in step 61 modifies its energy management operation in response to this receipt. The energy provider 40 then monitors the energy supply 42 until a next event occurs.

The above method of energy management allows the energy provider to rapidly and effectively respond to changes in the energy supply. In locations where there is a shortage of the energy supply, the energy provider has complete control over the usage by all its customers. Utilizing a wireless communication system enables the energy provider to quickly adapt its existing customer base to this new method of energy control with minimal adaptation costs.

FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of the wireless module 30 that operates within the wireless communication system 10 of FIG. 1. The wireless module 30 comprises a first antenna 54 for intercepting RF signals from the wireless communication system 10. The first antenna 54 is coupled to a receiver 56 employing conventional demodulation techniques for receiving the communication signals transmitted by the wireless communication system 10 such as the message 28. Radio frequency signals received by the receiver 56 produce demodulated information, which is coupled to a message processor 58 for processing received messages. To perform the necessary functions of the wireless module 30, the message processor 58 is coupled to a memory 60 including a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). Preferably, the message processor 58 is similar to the MC68328 micro-controller manufactured by Motorola, Inc. It will be appreciated that other similar processors can be utilized for the message processor 58, and that additional processors of the same or alternative type can be added as required to handle the processing requirements of the message processor 58.

The message processor 58 decodes an address in the demodulated data of the received message 28, compares the decoded address with one or more addresses stored in the memory 60, and when a match is detected, proceeds to process the remaining portion of the message 28. Once the message processor 58 has processed the message 28 , it stores the message 28 in the memory 60.

In a preferred embodiment, the message processor 58 notifies a programmer 62 of the receipt of the message 28. The programmer 62 updates a usage function 64 stored in memory 60 in response to the receipt of the data included in the message 28. For example, the data included in the message 28 may update the usage function 64 associated with an operational schedule for energy supply 42 of FIG. 1 to the customer site 12, or data included in the message 28 may update the usage function 64 associated with an allowable current drain calculation for the energy supply 42 of the customer site 12.

The capability to reprogram usage functions automatically is extremely valuable to an energy provider. The energy provider can manage all its customer sites through the server and modify usage functions based on scheduled and unscheduled events automatically and quickly. This flexibility for customization not only adds to customer satisfaction; it also saves the energy provider time and money as its customers' usage change and the availability of the energy supply changes. Existing systems can turn on and off energy supplies; this invention allows energy providers to remotely modify the functions to determine conditions for turn on and turn off not only for that moment, but also for the future.

In the wireless module 30, a regulator 66 polls the memory 60 for the status of the usage functions 64 and manages the energy supply 42 to the customer site 12 accordingly. The regulator 66 disconnects and reconnects the energy supply 42 to the customer site 12 in accordance with the usage functions 64.

In one embodiment, the regulator 66 is coupled to and receives an input from a real time clock 68. The regulator 66 compares the value of the real time clock 68 to a time-based usage function 78, and disconnects or reconnects the energy supply 42 to the customer site 12 when there is a match.

In another embodiment, the regulator 66 is coupled and receives inputs from a current sensor 70 which is connected to the energy supply 42 and senses the current being drawn on the energy supply 42 by the customer site 12. The regulator 66 compares the value of the current sensor 70 to a current- based usage function 80, and disconnects or reconnects the energy supply 42 to the customer site 12 when there is a match.

In another embodiment, the regulator 66 is coupled to and supplies inputs to a meter tiering device 72. The meter tiering device 72 tiers the level and quality of energy supply service to an individual customer site based on the individual customer's ability to pay. Thus, a customer having the highest tier, or quality, of service, pays a premium charge for that level of service. A customer having a lower tier, perhaps due to inability to pay, may not receive the energy supply service of the higher paying customer. In areas of limited energy supply, this method can be very powerful for the energy provider. The regulator 66 compares the meter tiering value to a meter tiering usage function 82, and modifies the formula used by the meter tiering device 72 accordingly. In a two-way wireless communication system, the wireless module 30 includes a transmitter 74 coupled to the regulator 66 and a second antenna 76. The regulator 66 activates the transmitter 74 to send the change notification 32 via the second antenna 76 to the wireless communication system 10. This change notification 32 allows the usage function to be changed at the individual customer site; and the new usage function synchronized with the system automatically.

The capability for two-way communication enhances the invention by allowing one more level of flexibility to modify and change usage functions. With the two-way communication, not only can the energy provider change the usage functions through the server, the individual customer sites can either automatically or manually change the usage functions as well.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating how the programmer 62 is programmed to operate in accordance with the invention. At step 84, the regulator 66 is operated using a current usage function. Next, in step 86, the system checks for communication of a message. If no message has been communicated, the process returns to the beginning, operating step 84 using the same usage function. If a message has been communicated, a usage function change is performed in step 88. The process then returns to the beginning, operating step 84 using the new usage function.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an alternate operation of the invention, which could be utilized in a two-way communication system. At step 84, the regulator 66 is operated using a current usage function (similar to FIG. 4). Next, in step 90, the system verifies whether or not a change notification 32 has been sent from the wireless module 30 to the transmission source 19. If a change notification 32 has not been sent, the process returns to the beginning, operating step 84 using the same usage function. If a change notification 32 has been sent, the server 14 updates its database for the usage function profile of customer site 12 (step 92). The server 14 then instructs the transmission source 19 to send a message 28 to the wireless module 30 (step 94). Once the message 28 is received by the wireless module 30, the programmer 62, in step 96, updates the usage function stored in memory 60 to the new usage function. The new usage function may be calculated using data contained in the received message or it may be calculated by the programmer 62 using a predetermined algorithm. The process then returns to the beginning, operating step 84 using the new usage function. The capability to reprogram the energy usage function of an individual receiver at a customer site enhances efficiency for the energy provider and for the customer. As scheduled and unscheduled events occur, as operational factors change, and as customer objectives change, this method allows rapid reaction time by both the customer and the energy provider; improving operational effectiveness over existing systems.

Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alterations and modifications be considered as within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for management of an energy supply from an energy provider to a plurality of customer sites, comprising: a server, controlling a distribution of the energy supply; a transmission source, sending a message in response to an input from the server; and a wireless module located at a customer site, regulating an energy consumption at the customer site based on a usage function, the wireless module changing the usage function in response to receiving the message.

2. In a wireless communication system for management of an energy supply from an energy provider to a plurality of customer sites, including a wireless module located at a customer site, the wireless module having a receiver capable of receiving a message sent from a transmission source and a regulator for regulating the energy supply, the regulator operating using a usage function, a method for changing the usage function, comprising: operating the regulator using a first usage function; communicating a message from the transmission source to the wireless module, and responding thereto by the wireless module substituting a second usage function for the first usage function; and operating the regulator using the second usage function.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the usage function is a current drain calculation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the usage function is a time of day calculation.

5. In a wireless module located at a customer site of an energy provider, the wireless module having a receiver capable of receiving a message sent from a transmission source and a regulator which regulates an energy supply using a usage function, a method for updating the usage function, comprising: operating the regulator using a first usage function; substituting a second usage function for the first usage function in response to receiving the message; and operating the regulator using the second usage function.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the usage function is a current drain calculation.

7. In a wireless module located at a customer site of an energy provider, the wireless module having a receiver for receiving a message sent from a transmission source, a transmitter for sending a change notification to the transmission source, and a regulator which regulates an energy supply using a usage function, a method for updating the usage function, comprising: operating the regulator using a first usage function; sending the change notification to the transmission source; substituting a second usage function for the first usage function in response to receiving the message; and operating the regulator using the second usage function.

8. In a wireless communication system for management of an energy supply from an energy provider, a wireless module located at a customer site capable of receiving a message sent from a transmission source, the wireless module comprising: a receiver for receiving the message; a message processor coupled to the receiver for processing the message; a memory coupled to the message processor for storing the message and for storing a usage function; a regulator, coupled to the memory and coupled to an energy supply for the customer site, regulating the energy supply based on the stored usage function; and a programmer, coupled to the message processor, for changing the usage function in response to receiving the message from the transmission source.

9. The wireless module of claim 8, wherein the usage function is a current drain calculation, the wireless module further comprising: a current sensor, coupled to the regulator, sensing a current load value, the regulator receiving the current load value from the current sensor, comparing the current load value to the stored usage function, and adjusting the energy supply to the customer site.

10. The wireless module of claim 8, wherein the usage function is a time of day calculation, the wireless module further comprising: a real time clock, coupled to the energy supply regulator, the energy supply regulator receiving a time value from the real time clock, comparing the time value to the stored usage function, and adjusting the energy supply to the customer site.