# US 12,181,904 B2 · Method and apparatus for actively managing electric power supply for an electric power grid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,904 B2 - Document ID: US12181904B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/481,697 - Filed: 2023-10-05 - Published: 2024-02-08 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-14 - Assignees: Causam Enterprises, Inc. - Applicants: Causam Enterprises, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181904B2 ## CPC - G05F 1/66: Regulating electric power - G05B 15/02: electric - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - H02J 3/322: {the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging} - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads} - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - H02J 13/10: characterised by displaying of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition [SCADA] systems - H02J 13/1337: {involving the use of Internet protocols} - H02J 13/14: the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] - H02J 13/333: the equipment forming part of substations - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - H02J 2105/42: Home appliances - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - 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) - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 10/76: Power conversion electric or electronic aspects - Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation - Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations - Y04S 20/12: Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages - Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/242: Home appliances - Y04S 20/248: UPS systems or standby or emergency generators - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - 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 - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - 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 Systems and methods are disclosed for managing power supplied over an electric power grid from at least one power supply source. A coordinator manages communications between at least one server and the at least one power supply source, wherein the server is operable to initiate power commands, wherein the communications comprise an actual amount of power supply available for the electric power grid from the at least one power supply source, and wherein the at least one power supply source is operable to provide power supply to the electric power grid based on the power commands. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for managing power supplied to an electric power grid from a plurality of power supply sources, comprising: a coordinator constructed and configured for network communication with at least one server; wherein the at least one server is operable to initiate power commands; wherein the coordinator is operable to coordinate and manage Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications between the at least one server and the plurality of power supply sources; wherein the IP-based communications comprise an actual amount of power supply available for the electric power grid from the plurality of power supply sources based on revenue grade metrology; wherein the plurality of power supply sources are operable to provide power supply to the electric power grid based on the power commands; wherein the at least one server is operable to prioritize an order in which the plurality of power supply sources supply power based on a profile or characteristics of each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power supply sources includes at least one power storage device, and wherein the at least one power storage device is selected from the group consisting of fuel cells, battery devices, energy potential devices and systems, and any devices for storing energy that is convertible into electric power for introduction to the electric power grid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one power storage device is a battery device, wherein the battery device registers its capacity, amp-hour, discharge rate, voltage, and any relevant manufacturer-specific information that may impact a discharge profile of the battery device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one server is further operable to characterize and monitor voltage and current degradation of the at least one power storage device when the at least one power storage device provides power supply to the electric power grid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power supply sources further comprises at least one renewable energy resource. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is further operable to perform a least cost analysis, and provide for a most cost-effective energy resource to be dispatched and a most reliable balancing to occur autonomously. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the IP-based communications are communicated in real time, near real time, or based on a timing required by a grid operator entity for generating operating reserves for grid stability. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a database for storing information relating to an amount of power supply to be provided to the electric power grid or to be made available for supply to the electric power grid by each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the amount of power supply to be provided to the electric power grid or to be made available for supply to the electric power grid is aggregated to provide at least one Power Trade Block (PTB) unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the information further includes a status of each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the status includes change-in-state or delta messaging. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is operable to generate, manage and communicate an amount of power supply to be provided to the electric power grid or to be made available for supply to the electric power grid by each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actual amount of power supply available for the electric power grid from the plurality of power supply sources is an actual value that includes measurement and verification of power supplied to the electric power grid by the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the power commands includes a power supply command requiring an introduction of an amount of electric power available for supply or to be supplied to the electric power grid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power commands include information about attachment points of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power supply sources includes at least one electric vehicle. ### Claim 17 A method for managing power supplied to an electric power grid from a plurality of power supply sources, comprising: a coordinator coordinating and managing communications between at least one server and the plurality of power supply sources; the at least one server initiating power commands to the coordinator; and the plurality of power supply sources providing power supply to the electric power grid based on the power commands; wherein the communications comprise an actual amount of power supply available for the electric power grid from the plurality of power supply sources; and wherein the at least one server is operable to prioritize an order in which the plurality of power supply sources supply power based on a profile or characteristics of each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the at least one server selecting at least one of the plurality of power supply sources for providing power supply to the electric power grid based on an amount of power supply to be provided to the electric power grid or to be made available for supply to the electric power grid by each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 19 A system for managing power supplied to an electric power grid from a plurality of power supply sources, comprising: a coordinator constructed and configured for network communication with at least one server; wherein the at least one server is operable to initiate power commands; wherein the coordinator is operable to coordinate and manage communications between the at least one server and the plurality of power supply sources; wherein the communications comprise an actual amount of power supply available for the electric power grid from the plurality of power supply sources; wherein the plurality of power supply sources is operable to provide power supply to the electric power grid based on the power commands; and wherein the coordinator is operable to prioritize an order in which the plurality of power supply sources supply power based on a profile or characteristics of each of the plurality of power supply sources. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the actual amount of power supply available for the electric power grid is determined based on revenue grade metrology.