| GridPoint, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110025556 | CONNECTION LOCATOR IN A POWER AGGREGATION SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED ELECTRIC RESOURCES - Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a service establishes individual Internet connections to numerous electric resources intermittently connected to the power grid, such as electric vehicles. The Internet connection may be made over the same wire that connects the resource to the power grid. The service optimizes power flows to suit the needs of each resource and each resource owner, while aggregating flows across numerous resources to suit the needs of the power grid. The service can bring vast numbers of electric vehicle batteries online as a new, dynamically aggregated power resource for the power grid. Electric vehicle owners can participate in an electricity trading economy regardless of where they plug into the power grid. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110016063 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SMART CHARGING TECHNIQUES - A system and methods that enables smart charging techniques. A smart charging method may include periodically updated schedules. In addition, a smart charging method may include schedules with overrides. Further, a smart charging may involve a method for local load management in the presence of uncontrolled loads. A smart charging method for managing electric resources may also provide direct control over prices-to-devices enabled devices. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110015799 | SMART CHARGING VALUE AND GUARANTEE APPLICATION - A system and methods that enables smart charging for electric resources. A smart charging method may include smart charging customer guarantees. The charging behavior guarantee may comprise a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of an electric resource and provides power flow flexibility. In addition, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis. A smart charging benefit may include an impact resulting from the energy management system which is beneficial to an electric resource. A smart charging method may manage the charging behavior of the electric resources on a grid based on the smart charging benefit. Further, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis and smart charging customer guarantees. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110010158 | SOFTWARE MODELING SYSTEMS FOR METERING AND TRANSLATING MEASUREMENTS - Systems and methods are provided for collecting and aggregating a plurality of power flow measurements from a plurality of devices in a power management system. The error bounds of the aggregated power flow measurement are then determined using at least one error model. Systems and methods are also provided for inferring AC power flows from DC power flows. A device having at least one DC power flow sensor is augmented with at least one AC power flow sensor AC and DC power flows through the device are measured using the sensors over a range of operating points. An inference model of AC power flow in the device as a function of DC power flow is then built, wherein the error of the model is bounded. DC power flow through the device and in similar devices can then be then measured and used to infer AC power flow for the device. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110010043 | VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE POWER MANAGEMENT - A system and methods that enables enhanced vehicle communications for electric vehicle power management. In an embodiment, a system provides for communications in a power flow management system utilizing existing hardware including a smart charging module. In another embodiment, a communications module provides communication services to vehicle subsystems including a central processing unit in a vehicle and a CAN-bus transceiver. In yet another embodiment, an interface enables the installation of a charge controller for a control extensibility system including a physical interface to a vehicle's CAN-bus comprising an electrical contact plug. In an embodiment, an interface enables an electric vehicle to communicate with an electric power supply device without specific hardware by modulating the power transfer between the electrical load and an electric power supply. In another embodiment, a system provides for arbitrating a smart chargepoint includes a first smart charging module implemented on equipment located inside a vehicle. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110007824 | SYSTEM COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE POWER MANAGEMENT - A system and method that minimizes network traffic consumption in a power flow management system is described. A minimization system may include a network to communicate device information and power flow information between the power flow management system and the devices. The power flow management system reduces consumption of the traffic traversing the network via a network traffic consumption reduction technique. In addition, this application discloses a system and method for communications protocol translation in a power flow management system that includes networks which connect electric devices and electric power supplies. One network utilizes a communications protocol that is different from the communications protocol utilized by another network. A communications protocol translation device communicates with the networks, and formulates messages from one communications protocol to the other communications protocol. The reformulated messages pass from one network to another network. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110004406 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION DETERMINATION OF DEVICES USING NETWORK FINGERPRINTS FOR POWER MANAGEMENT - A system and methods that enables the determination of the location of a device using a network fingerprint of a known location on the electrical grid. A collection of communication based information is utilized to construct a network fingerprint that is subsequently used to determine whether a device is at a previously known or unknown location. By detecting differences in some or all of this set of information, a system determines whether an electric car has moved from one known location to another or otherwise left a known location. Determining a change in the location of a device, the device or a server take further actions, such as: notifying a user, notifying another server, initiating a configuration process, or operating in different modes. Knowledge about network location assist with assessing the overall load characteristics of a given area of a power grid, and with determining billing related matters. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110004358 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE POWER FLOW MANAGEMENT - A system and methods that enables power flow management at the local level. A power flow manager can coordinate the charging activities of electrical devices, such as electric vehicles. Power flow decisions may based on the site-level information. In addition, power flow management strategies may be optimized. An optimizer can choose a power flow management strategy and electrical devices for implementing a strategy. In the event of a system failure, power spikes may be avoided by using safe failure modes to provide that the charging activities be coordinated in a predictable and non-disruptive manner. The cost of providing power may be reduced using generation stacks of power production. As such, the total daily cost of providing energy generation may be minimized. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110001356 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRID STABILIZATION - A system and methods that enables power flow management using AGC commands to control power resources. Power regulation can be apportioned to the power resources. An AGC command requesting an apportioned amount of the power regulation may be transmitted to a power resource. The power flow manager can determine a power regulation range for a power resource, and transmit an AGC command based on the power regulation range. In addition, a power flow management system can detect a change in an intermittent power flow and implement a power flow strategy in response to the change in the intermittent power flow. The power flow strategy may be a smoothing strategy or a leveling strategy. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20090088907 | MODULAR ELECTRICAL GRID INTERFACE DEVICE - A smart grid gateway which includes a onboard computer programmed to provide load measurement and control of at least one local resource or asset. At least one metrology module is configured to provide metering of the at least one local resource or asset. At least one LAN module is configured to communicate with the at least one local resource or asset. At least one WAN module is configured to communicate with a network operations center. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090077397 | USER INTERFACE FOR DEMAND SIDE ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A user interface is visibly displayed on a display device operatively connected to a first computer. The user interface enables an end user to enter at least one energy management rule for each of a plurality of electrical loads at a location, each rule including a command to be transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule if a condition is met. The energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads are received by a second computer. An energy management profile containing the energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads at the location is created and stored using a second computer. The energy management profile is activated using the second computer. For each of the energy management rules where the condition has been met, the command associated with the rule is transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090024545 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS - A power consumption management system. The system includes a power appliance at a consumer site and a power appliance control point at a LSE site. The power appliance is capable of measuring and controlling power consumption on a plurality of circuits located at the consumer site, as well as controlling end consumer devices. The power appliance control point is capable of receiving power consumption data for each of the plurality of consumer circuits, and is capable of commanding the power appliance to control power consumption on individual circuits. The power appliance is further capable of directing power supplied from individual LSE's to individual circuits at the consumer site, and capable of varying such usage according to more complex schemes, for example, by time of day or environmental conditions. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090024255 | UTILITY INTERACTIVE INVERTER WITH VAR DISPATCH CAPABILITIES - A VAR dispatch system. A central control system connected to a network is configured to receive data reflecting local variations in conditions on a power grid and to transmit system control commands over the network. A plurality of VAR dispatch devices are connected to the network and to the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to detect local variations in conditions on the power grid and to transmit the data reflecting such local variations to the central control system and to receive control commands from the central control system. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to store power and to output stored power to the power grid based on local variations in conditions on the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is further configured to output stored power to the power grid when the VAR dispatch device receives system control commands from the central control system. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20080281663 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING THE DISCHARGE OF DISTRIBUTED POWER STORAGE DEVICES AND FOR LEVELIZING DISPATCH PARTICIPATION - Disclosed is a computerized method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in a discharge event so that the energy stored in individual devices is levelized, or so that an operator request is met. Evaluation of event parameters may be deferred. The method may be utilized to dispatch energy from plug-in electric vehicles. Systems and methods to account for electricity dispatched to or from electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems and methods for incentivizing consumers to participate in a dispatch event or curtail energy use are disclosed. | 11-13-2008 |
