Power control system

Apparatus for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices during a plurality of time periods, the apparatus comprising:

• means for determining an energy or power deficit for each device during each time period, the determination being based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the time period;
• means for selecting at least one device during each time period in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption;
• and
• means for supplying power to the or each selected device during each time period.

A power controller for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices during a plurality of time periods, comprising:

• a switching unit for switching power to said plurality of devices;
• an instruction memory storing processor implementable instructions;
• and
• a processor operable to process data in accordance with instructions stored in the instruction memory;
• wherein the instructions stored in the instruction memory comprise instructions for controlling the processor to perform a method comprising:
• determining an energy or power deficit during each time period for each device based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the time period;
• selecting at least one device during each time period in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption;
• and
• supplying power to the or each selected device during the time period.

A method of controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices, the method being carried out by a power controller during a plurality of time periods, and the method being carried out during each time period comprising:

• determining an energy or power deficit for each device;
• selecting at least one device, giving priority to devices having the largest energy or power deficit, such that as many devices as possible are selected without causing a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption;
• and
• causing the power controller to supply power to the or each selected device during the time period.

Apparatus for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices during a plurality of time periods, the apparatus comprising:

• means for determining an energy or power deficit for each device during each time period;
• means for selecting at least one device during each time period, giving priority to devices having the largest energy or power deficit, such that as many devices as possible are selected without causing a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption;
• and
• means for controlling the distribution of the power such that power is supplied to the or each selected device during the time period.