# US 11,451,056 B2 · Processing apparatus, processing method, and program for inferring demand response

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- Number: US 11,451,056 B2
- Document ID: US11451056B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/964,311
- Filed: 2018-10-12
- Published: 2021-02-11
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-31
- Assignees: NEC Corporation
- Applicants: NEC Corporation
- Inventors: Hiroki Takeuchi; Hidekazu Kimura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451056B2

## CPC

- H02J 3/17: Demand-responsive operation of AC power transmission or distribution networks
- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- H02J 3/003: {Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand}
- H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading
- G05B 2219/2639: Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
- H02J 2103/30: Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks
- H02J 2105/42: Home appliances
- H02J 2105/52: for limitation of the power consumption in the networks or in one section of the networks, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
- H02J 2105/57: {according to a pre-established time schedule}
- 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 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- 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)
- 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

The present invention provides a processing apparatus (10) including: an acquiring unit (11) which acquires an adjustment request specifying a control time period and a control amount for controlling power demand; a determining unit (12) which, on the basis of the adjustment request, determines a first consumer whose power demand is to be controlled, and a control amount of the first consumer and a time period during which power demand of the first consumer is controlled; and an inference unit (13) which infers whether, if power demand of the first consumer were controlled in accordance with a determination result made by the determining unit (12), power demand of the first consumer before and/or after control would change from power demand of the first consumer if the power demand were not controlled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A processing apparatus comprising:
at least one memory configured to store one or more instructions; and
at least one processor configured to execute the one or more instructions to:
acquire an adjustment request specifying a control time period during which power demand is controlled and a control amount by which the power demand is controlled;
infer, based on the adjustment request, a first power demand of a first consumer during a first time period before the control time period when power demand of the first consumer is controlled in accordance with the adjustment request;
infer, based on the adjustment request, a second power demand of the first consumer during a second time period after the control time period when the power demand is controlled in accordance with the adjustment request;
infer a third power demand of the first consumer during the first time period when the power demand is not controlled;
infer a fourth power demand of the first consumer during the second time period when the power demand is not controlled;
confirm whether the first power demand differs from the third power demand; and
confirm whether the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to infer a time when any of the first power demand differs from the third power demand and the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to:
infer whether a difference between the first power demand and the third power demand is equal to or more than a criterion value; and
infer whether a difference between the second power demand and the fourth power demand is equal to or more than the criterion value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to infer whether any of the first power demand differs from the third power demand and the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand based on at least a power demand prediction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein inferring any of the first power demand, second power demand, third power demand, and fourth power demand is based on one or more actual power demands of the first consumer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to:
determine a piece of electric equipment of the first consumer in an operation of which is to be controlled in order to control the power demand, and
wherein at least one of confirming whether the first power demand differs from the third power demand and whether the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand is based on information on the piece of electric equipment in the operation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to, when it is confirmed that the first power demand differs from the third power demand and that the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand, determine a second consumer power demand based on at least one of a difference between the first power demand and the third power demand and a difference between the second power demand and a fourth power demand, a second control amount of the second consumer, and a period during which the second consumer power demand of the second consumer is controlled.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The processing apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to, implement at least one of:
when it is confirmed that the first power demand differs from the third power demand, determine the second consumer power demand based on the difference between the first power demand and the third power demand, the second control amount of the second consumer, and the period during which the second consumer power demand of the second consumer is controlled, and
when it is confirmed that the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand, determine the second consumer power demand based on the difference between the second power demand and the fourth power demand, the second control amount of the second consumer, and the period during which the second consumer power demand of the second consumer is controlled.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The processing apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to, when at least one of the difference between the first power demand and the third power demand and the difference between the second power demand and the fourth power demand is equal to or more than a criterion value, determine the second consumer, the second control amount of the second consumer, and determine the period during which the second consumer power demand of the second consumer is controlled.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to reply a result to a transmission source of the adjustment request, and
wherein the result is of any of:
confirming whether the first power demand differs from the third power demand, and
confirming whether the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand.

### Claim 11

A processing method executed by a computer, the method comprising:
acquiring an adjustment request specifying a control time period during which power demand is controlled and a control amount by which the power demand is controlled;
infer, based on the adjustment request, a first power demand of a first consumer during a first time period before the control time period when the power demand of the first consumer is controlled in accordance with the adjustment request;
infer, based on the adjustment request, a second power demand of the first consumer during a second time period after the control time period when the power demand is controlled in accordance with the adjustment request;
infer a third power demand of the first consumer during the first time period when the power demand is not controlled;
infer a fourth power demand of the first consumer during the second time period when the power demand is not controlled;
confirm whether the first power demand differs from the third power demand; and
confirm whether the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand.

### Claim 12

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program causing a computer to:
acquire an adjustment request specifying a control time period during which power demand is controlled and a control amount by which the power demand is controlled;
infer, based on the adjustment request, a first power demand of a first consumer during a first time period before the control time period when the power demand of the first consumer is controlled in accordance with the adjustment request;
infer, based on the adjustment request, a second power demand of the first consumer during a second time period after the control time period when the power demand is controlled in accordance with the adjustment request;
infer a third power demand of the first consumer during the first time period when the power demand is not controlled;
infer a fourth power demand of the first consumer during the second time period when the power demand is not controlled;
confirm whether the first power demand differs from the third power demand; and
confirm whether the second power demand differs from the fourth power demand.