# US 8,032,233 B2 · Method and apparatus for actively managing consumption of electric power supplied by an electric utility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,032,233 B2 - Document ID: US8032233B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/715,195 - Filed: 2010-03-01 - Published: 2010-06-24 - Granted: 2011-10-04 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-28 - Assignees: Consert Inc. - Inventors: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.; Joel L. Webb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8032233B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G01D 4/004: {Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location} - G06Q 10/06393: {Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis} - G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - G01D 2204/14: Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions - 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 70/34: Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings - 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 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/242: Home appliances - Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading - Y04S 50/14: Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. In one embodiment, the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command or instruction to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for a client device to manage a flow of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, the client device being responsive to power control messages issued by a load management server and controlling one or more controllable devices that selectively enable and disable a flow of electric power to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices, the method comprising: receiving a power control message from the load management server, the power control message being responsive to a power reduction request issued by a control center of the electric utility and indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices; and responsive to the power control message, issuing a power management command to a controllable device, the power management command causing the controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device so as to achieve a reduction in consumed rower as requested by the control center of the electric utility. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the power control message is encrypted, the method further comprising: decrypting the power control message responsive to receiving the power control message. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating a report message to the load management server, the report message including an indication of an amount of power consumed by at least one power consuming device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating a status message to the load management server, the status message indicating statuses of the one or more controllable devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating a status message to the load management server, the status message indicating a total amount of power consumed by power consuming devices under control of the one or more controllable devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequent to issuing the power management command, receiving a second power control message from the load management server, the second power control message instructing the client device to enable a flow of electric power to power consuming devices that had a flow of electric power previously disabled. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one smart meter is coupled to the client device, the method further comprising: receiving a control message from the load management server instructing the client device to read the at least one smart meter; responsive to receipt of the control message, issuing a command to the at least one smart meter requesting a power reading; and responsive to receipt of the power reading, communicating the power reading to the load management server. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a status message from the load management server, the status message requesting status information for the one or more controllable devices; polling the one or more controllable devices responsive to the status message; receiving a status response message from each of the one or more controllable devices responsive to the polling, each status response message including operational information for a particular controllable device; and storing each status response message in a memory for reference in connection with power reduction events, wherein the power control message is associated with a power reduction event. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the client device includes a Layer-3 router and wherein at least one Internet-accessible device is coupled to the client device, the method further comprising: receiving, by the Layer-3 router, an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address; determining, by the Layer-3 router, whether the IP message is directed to an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device; and communicating the IP message to the Internet-accessible device responsive to a determination that the IP message is directed to the Internet-accessible device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the IP message is encrypted, the method further comprising: determining, by the Layer-3 router, whether the IP message is directed to the client device instead of the Internet-accessible device; and decrypting the IP message responsive to a determination that the IP message is directed to the client device instead of the Internet-accessible device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is coupled to a host Internet Protocol (IP) network, the method further comprising: dynamically requesting IP addresses for at least one of the client device and the one or more controllable devices from a dynamic host configuration protocol server on the host IP network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the power control message includes a list of controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow electric power to associated power consuming devices and wherein the power management and causes controllable devices identified in the list to disable a flow of electric power to associated power consuming devices so as to achieve the reduction in consumed power as requested by the control center of the electric utility. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the power control message includes Internet Protocol addresses of the controllable devices in the list. ### Claim 14 A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is enabled and disabled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein at least one controllable device operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives power control messages from a remote load management server, and wherein a power control message received from the load management server is responsive to a power reduction request issued by a control center of the electric utility, the client device comprising: at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of power control instructions to the at least one controllable device, the power control instructions causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices; and a device control manager operably coupled to the at least one controllable device interface, the device control manager issuing a power control instruction to the at least one controllable device through the at least one controllable device interface responsive to the received power control message, the power control instruction causing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device so as to achieve a reduction in consumed power as requested by the control center of the electric utility. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The client device of claim 14, wherein the received power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of a controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The client device of claim 14, further comprising: a communications interface facilitating communications between the load management server and the client device, wherein the device control manager communicates at least one power consumption indicator and at least one power management status to the load management server via the communications interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The client device of claim 16, wherein the at least one power consumption indicator includes a power consumption indicator associated with each controllable device and wherein the at least one power management status includes a power management status associated with each controllable device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The client device of claim 16, wherein the communications interface comprises an IP-based interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The client device of claim 18, wherein the IP-based interface is one of a WiMax interface and a High Speed Packet Access interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The client device of claim 14, wherein the received power control message includes Internet Protocol addresses of one or more controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The client device of claim 14, further comprising: a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directed to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device; and an IP device interface, coupled to the Layer-3 router, that receives the IP message from the Layer-3 router when the IP message is directed to an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device and communicates the IP message to the Internet-accessible device. ### Claim 22 A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein at least one controllable device operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives a plurality of power control messages from a remote load management server, the client device comprising: a communications interface that receives the plurality of power control messages from the load management server, a power control message of the plurality of power control messages being responsive to a power reduction request issued by a control center of the electric utility and indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices; at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of power control instructions to the at least one controllable device, the power control instructions causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices; and a device control manager operably coupled to the communications interface and the at least one controllable device interface, the device control manager issuing a power control instruction to the at least one controllable device through the at least one controllable device interface responsive to the power control message, the power control instruction causing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device so as to achieve a reduction in consumed power as requested by the control center of the electric utility. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The client device of claim 22, wherein the power control message includes a list of controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to associated power consuming devices. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The client device of claim 23, wherein the power control message includes Internet Protocol addresses of the controllable devices in the list. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The client device of claim 22, further comprising: a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directs to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device; and an IP device interface, coupled to the Layer-3 router, that receives the IP message from the Layer-3 router when the IP message is directed to an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device and communicates the IP message to the Internet-accessible device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The client device of claim 22, wherein the communications interface comprises an IP-based interface. ### Claim 27 A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is enabled and disabled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein at least one controllable device operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives power control messages from a remote load management server, the client device comprising: at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of power control instructions to the at least one controllable device, the power control instructions causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices; a device control manager operably coupled to the at least one controllable device interface, the device control manager generating the power control instructions responsive to the received power control messages; a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directed to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device, wherein the Internet-accessible device is a device other than the client device and the at least one controllable device; and an IP device interface, coupled to the Layer-3 router, that receives the IP message from the Layer-3 router when the IP message is directed to the Internet-accessible device and communicates the IP message to the Internet-accessible device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The client device of claim 27, wherein a received power control message is responsive to a power reduction request issued by a control center of the electric utility and indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The client device of claim 28, wherein the received power control message includes a list of controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to associated power consuming devices. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The client device of claim 29, wherein the received power control message includes Internet Protocol addresses of the controllable devices in the list. ### Claim 31 A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein one or more of the plurality of controllable devices operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives a plurality of power control messages from a remote load management server, the client device comprising: a communications interface that receives the plurality of power control messages from the load management server, a power control message of the plurality of power control messages indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices; at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of a power control instruction to at least a first controllable device, the power control instruction causing the first controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices; a device control manager operably coupled to the communications interface and the at least one controllable device interface, the device control manager generating the power control instruction responsive to the power control message; a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directed to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device, wherein the Internet-accessible device is a device other than the client device and the at least one controllable device; and an IP device interface, coupled to the Layer-3 router, that receives the IP message from the Layer-3 router when the IP message is directed to the Internet-accessible device and communicates the IP message to the Internet-accessible device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The client device of claim 31, wherein the power control message is responsive to a power reduction request issued by a control center of the electric utility.