# US 11,029,739 B2 · Continuously available power control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,739 B2 - Document ID: US11029739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/688,110 - Filed: 2019-11-19 - Published: 2020-05-21 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-28 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware; Kanak B. Agarwal; Charles Lefurgy; Guillermo J. Silva; Thomas W. Keller; Karthick Rajamani; Yang Li; Ramakrishnan Rajamony - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029739B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G05B 15/02: electric - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3209: Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections - G06F 1/3215: Monitoring of peripheral devices - G06F 1/3228: Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands - G06F 1/3296: by lowering the supply or operating voltage - G06F 1/32: Means for saving power - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) - Y04S 20/00: Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof - Y04S 40/00: Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them - Y04S 40/12: characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A computer controls power distribution. The computing system determines a power budget for a portion of a topography for a power delivery system. The computing system generates a pool of worker programs for the portion of the topography. The computing system generates a first number of power management tasks to manage power consumption in the portion of the topography based on the power budget. The computing system sends the first number of power management tasks to at least one worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling power distribution, the method comprising: determining, by one or more computer processors, a power budget for a portion of a topography for a power delivery system; generating, by the one or more computer processors, a pool of worker programs for the portion of the topography; generating, by the one or more computer processors, a first number of power management tasks to manage power consumption in the portion of the topography based on the power budget; and sending, by the one or more computer processors, the first number of power management tasks to at least one worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: generating, by the one or more computer processors, a second number of power management tasks to manage power consumption through one or more power elements included in the topography; and sending, by the one or more computer processors, the second number of power management tasks to at least one worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: determining, by the one or more computer processors, a number of worker programs for the pool of worker programs based, at least in part, on the topography. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pool of worker programs includes (i) the number of worker programs and (ii) a number of back-up worker programs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, the method further comprising: responsive to a determination that a given worker program assigned to the power element did not complete one or more power management tasks within a predetermined time period, by (i) removing, by the one or more computer processors, assignment of the power element from the given worker program, and (ii) reassigning, by the one or more computer processors, the power element to a different worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein manager programs monitor one or more of: (i) a state of a given worker program, (ii) progress in completion of a given control task by the given worker program, (iii) one or both of addition and deletion of power elements from the power delivery system, (iv) for non-completion of tasks by the given worker program within a predetermined time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein manager programs control one or both of (i) assignment of new tasks to worker programs and (ii) re-assignment of tasks from one worker program to another worker program. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method comprising: generating, by the one or more processors, a set of worker programs and manager programs for the portion of the topography, wherein respective actions of worker programs and manager programs are coordinated through the use of one or both of highly available locking services and database services. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a given worker program responds to an error condition that persisted for more than a period of time by modifying one or both of a power allocation and a control of a power element, based, at least in part, on one or more safe states that are configured to ensure the power delivery system continues to be managed in accordance with the power budget, and wherein one or both of power allocation and control of the power element is managed by a given worker program through at least one assigned control task. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a parent-worker program responds to a break in a monitoring ability of a given child-worker program for a subset of power elements assigned to the given child-worker program by a control task, by using one or both of (i) an alternate measurement for at least one of power consumption and load, and (ii) a pre-determined safe consumption value for at least one of a power consumption and a load of a given device as a substitute, at least in part, for missing sensor data regarding the subset of power elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: identifying, by the one or more computer processors, a change that has occurred with respect to one or more of (i) an amount of power available to the power delivery system, (ii) the portion of the topography for the power delivery system, and (iii) a group of devices that are power by the power delivery system; determining, by the one or more computer processors, that the change meets a criteria for alteration of a power management policy for at least the portion of the topography of the power delivery system; and based, at least in part, on the change, modifying, by the one or more computer processors, at least one of (ii) an assignment of one or more worker programs of the pool of worker programs and (iii) a processing of one or more tasks by one or more worker programs of the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: responsive to meeting one or more criteria for alteration of a power management policy, initiating, by the one or more computer processors, generation of a new power management task for a given power element of the one or more power elements in the portion of the topography based, at least in part on the change. ### Claim 13 A computer program product for controlling power distribution, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to perform a method comprising: determining, by one or more computer processors, a power budget for a portion of a topography for a power delivery system; generating, by the one or more computer processors, a pool of worker programs for the portion of the topography; generating, by the one or more computer processors, a first number of power management tasks to manage power consumption in the portion of the topography based on the power budget; and sending, by the one or more computer processors, the first number of power management tasks to at least one worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, the method further comprising: generating, by the one or more computer processors, a second number of power management tasks to manage power consumption through one or more power elements included in the topography; and sending, by the one or more computer processors, the second number of power management tasks to at least one worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, the method further comprising: determining, by the one or more computer processors, a number of worker programs for the pool of worker programs based, at least in part, on the topography. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the pool of worker programs includes (i) the number of worker programs and (ii) a number of back-up worker programs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, the method further comprising: responsive to a determination that a given worker program assigned to the power element did not complete one or more power management tasks within a predetermined time period, by (i) removing, by the one or more computer processors, assignment of the power element from the given worker program, and (ii) reassigning, by the one or more computer processors, the power element to a different worker program included in the pool of worker programs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein manager programs monitor one or more of: (i) a state of a given worker program, (ii) progress in completion of a given control task by the given worker program, (iii) one or both of addition and deletion of power elements from the power delivery system, (iv) for non-completion of tasks by the given worker program within a predetermined time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein manager programs control one or both of (i) assignment of new tasks to worker programs and (ii) re-assignment of tasks from one worker program to another worker program. ### Claim 20 A computer system for controlling power distribution, the computer system comprising: one or more computer processors; at least one computer readable storage medium that is not a transitory signal per se; and program instructions stored on the at least one computer readable storage medium, the program instructions being executable by at least one computer processor of the one or more computer processors to cause the at least one computer processor to perform a method comprising: determining, by one or more computer processors, a power budget for a portion of a topography for a power delivery system; generating, by the one or more computer processors, a pool of worker programs for the portion of the topography; generating, by the one or more computer processors, a first number of power management tasks to manage power consumption in the portion of the topography based on the power budget; and sending, by the one or more computer processors, the first number of power management tasks to at least one worker program included in the pool of worker programs.