Secondary power utilization during peak power times
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. Goodnow, Stephen G. Shuma, Peter A. Twombly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention generally relates to the utilization of electric power, and more particularly to systems and methods for selectively utilizing secondary power sources during peak power times. A method includes receiving a notification of a peak power time, and discontinuing use of a primary power supply and beginning use of a secondary power supply based upon the notification.
Claims27
A system for implementing a greenout, comprising:
- at least one device operable by a primary power supply and a secondary power supply;
- and
- a controller that:
- causes the at least one device to discontinue using the primary power supply and begin using the secondary power supply based upon data from a notification system, the data comprising a date and time of at least one of a plurality of peak power events comprising a brownout and a blackout, of the primary power supply;
- and
- determines and sends to the notification system a time period which the at least one device will use the secondary power supply.
A method for implementing a greenout, comprising:
- receiving a notification of a peak power time of a primary power supply;
- discontinuing use of the primary power supply and beginning use of a secondary power supply based upon the notification, the discontinuing and the beginning being performed at a time and date specified in the notification, and the time and date being of at least one of a plurality of peak power events comprising a brownout and a blackout, of the primary power supply;
- and
- determining and sending to a notification system a time period which at least one device will use the secondary power supply.
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program embodied in the medium, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a device causes the device to:
- receive a notification of a peak power time;
- discontinue use of a primary power supply and begin use of a secondary power supply based upon the notification, the discontinuing and the beginning being performed at a time and date specified in the notification, and the time and date being of at least one of a plurality of peak power events comprising a brownout and a blackout, of the primary power supply;
- and
- determine and send to a notification system a time period which at least one device will use the secondary power supply.
A method for implementing a greenout, comprising:
- determining a peak power event of a primary power supply;
- notifying at least one device that is capable of operating on the primary power supply and a secondary power supply of the peak power event so that the at least one device may elect to discontinue using the primary power supply and begin using the secondary power supply, the discontinuing and the beginning being performed at a time and date of the peak power event comprising one of a plurality of peak power events comprising a brownout and a blackout, of the primary power supply;
- and
- determining and sending to a notification system a time period which the at least one device will use the secondary power supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.