US 5,805,458 A · System for utility demand monitoring and control

Abstract

A system for electric power demand monitoring and control includes one or more data distribution networks interconnecting intelligent utility units located at customer homes with a host computer located in the utility company offices. Each intelligent utility unit is associated with a customer home for connecting and disconnecting a power service meter, monitoring customer demand, and controlling power to selected units. A network within the home interconnects each intelligent utility unit with power consuming units for providing data on power usage and power control. A data distribution network interconnects the plurality of intelligent utility units to the host computer as a head end unit, the data distribution network providing downstream communication channels from the host computer to the plurality of intelligent utility units and upstream communication channels from the plurality of intelligent utility units to the host computer. The communication channels are organized as frequency division multiplex channels in a frequency spectrum. A plurality of distribution networks can be provided for a larger utility environment with each distribution network associated with a power substation and customers served by the power substation.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for utility demand monitoring and control comprising:

a host computer having access to power utility customers for receiving customer utility usage data;
a plurality of network interface means, each network interface means associated with a customer's site for relaying customer utility demand as measured by a service meter;
a site network connecting each network interface means with a plurality of utility data collection units within said site for providing data on utility usage to the network interface means associated with the site;
and
a distribution network, coupled to said host computer, interconnecting said plurality of network interface means for transmitting utility usage data from said plurality of network interface means to said host computer, said distribution network being implemented within one or more time slots of a time-division multiplexed data stream carried by a high-speed digital bus, said one or more time slots;
carrying data in packet form, all network interface means of said distribution network sharing said one or more slots.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for utility demand monitoring and control

Life of this patent

System for utility demand monitoring and control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22