Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100156349 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAY AS YOU GO CHARGING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting electrical charging power to a vehicle for use in charging the vehicle is provided. The vehicle charging station includes a controller configured to receive a request for authorization from the vehicle, and transmit a response to the vehicle, wherein the response indicates either an approval or a denial of the request. The vehicle charging station also includes an electricity power meter configured to receive a quantity of electrical charging power and measurement information from the controller, measure the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the vehicle, and transmit the measurement of the quantity of received electrical charging power to the controller. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161393 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITHIN A PARKING AREA - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes permitting access to a parking area that includes an energy delivery point, delivering energy to the electric vehicle from the energy delivery point, and determining a transaction cost. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161469 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE USING A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LINK - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes receiving, via a wireless connection, a unique identifier of the electric vehicle from a tag within the electric vehicle, determining an account associated with the identifier, delivering an amount of energy to the electric vehicle, and determining a transaction amount related to the amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161479 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPAID ELECTRIC METERING FOR VEHICLES - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle is provided, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account. The method includes identifying the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point, and determining a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount based on a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point. The method also includes delivering energy to the electric vehicle, metering an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle, and determining a transaction amount based on the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161480 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING ENERGY TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH PARKING FEE COLLECTION - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes coupling the electric vehicle to an energy delivery point, delivering energy to the electric vehicle, determining a parking cost, and determining transaction costs based on at least one of an amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle and the parking cost. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND BILLING USING A WIRELESS VEHICLE COMMUNCIATION SERVICE - A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle for use in charging the vehicle is configured to communicatively couple to the electric vehicle via a network connection to a wireless network provider and electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector. Vehicle charging station is further configured to receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle via the network connection, deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector, and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle | 06-24-2010 |
20100161482 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROAMING BILLING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A vehicle charging station for use with a system for transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle is configured to receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle and determine a preferred electrical charging power provider based on the identifier. Vehicle charging station is further configured to determine an account associated with the preferred provider and with the identifier, deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle, and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161483 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE USING BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes coupling the electric vehicle to an energy delivery point via a connector, receiving a unique identifier of the electric vehicle via the connector, determining an account associated with the identifier, delivering an amount of energy to the electric vehicle via the connector, and determining a transaction amount based on the amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle by the energy delivery point. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161517 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRICITY METERING FOR VEHICULAR APPLICATIONS - An electricity power meter for use in an electric vehicle is coupled to at least an energy storage device and to a conduit configured to receive electrical charging power from external to the vehicle. Further, the meter is configured to transmit a request for authorization for an electric charging transaction to a vehicle charging station, and receive a response to the request from the vehicle charging station, wherein the response indicates one of an approval and a denial of the request. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161518 | ELECTRICITY STORAGE CONTROLLER WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRICITY METER AND METHODS FOR USING SAME - An electricity storage controller for use with an electric vehicle is provided. The controller is coupled to at least an energy storage device to receive electrical charging power from external to the vehicle. Further, the controller is programmed to transmit a request for authorization for an electric charging transaction to a vehicle charging station and receive a response to the request from the vehicle charging station, wherein the response indicates one of an approval and a denial of the request. | 06-24-2010 |
20100176966 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF SIMULTANEOUSLY COMMUNICATING UTILITY DATA AND VOICE DATA - A method for communicating utility data includes receiving a voice signal and a data signal via a utility network, combining the voice signal and the data signal to form a communication signal, and transmitting the communication signal to a plurality of utility asset controllers and handheld devices via the utility network. | 07-15-2010 |
20100268595 | ADVERTISING CAPABILITY FOR IN-HOME DISPLAY AND SMART APPLIANCES - A system for broadcasting at least one advertisement is provided. The system includes a database configured to store the at least one advertisement, a server communicatively coupled to the database, wherein the server is configured to schedule the playlist that includes at least one of the at least one advertisement, and an appliance communicatively coupled to the server, wherein the appliance includes a screen, a portion of the screen configured to broadcast the playlist. | 10-21-2010 |
20120123604 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR DEMAND RESPONSE OF BATTERY-POWERED DEVICES - A power management device for use with an electrical device configured to receive electrical power from at least one of a power grid and a battery, wherein the power management device includes a switch configured to selectively connect the electrical device to the power grid and the battery, and a processor coupled to the switch and configured to detect a demand event while the electrical device is connected to the power grid, cause the switch to disconnect the electrical device from the power grid and enable the electrical device to receive electrical power the battery, and cause the switch to reconnect the electrical device to the power grid. | 05-17-2012 |
20120245749 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING AN ENERGY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK - A system includes a first computer including an energy distribution network model. The first computer identifies a plurality of energy consumers associated with an energy distribution constraint within the energy distribution network. The system also includes a second computer configured to receive data from the first computer. The second computer is also configured to identify a plurality of customers subscribed to a demand response program and identify a subset of the plurality of energy consumers that are associated with the plurality of customers. The second computer is further configured to identify a device associated with each energy consumer of the subset of energy consumers and cause a demand response request to be transmitted to at least one identified device. | 09-27-2012 |
20120246040 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A BILL - A system includes a meter for monitoring energy consumed by an energy consumer and a first computer coupled to the meter. The first computer receives a plurality of measurements representative of energy consumed during a billing period. The system also includes a second computer that generates a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event, and a third computer coupled to the first computer and to the second computer. The third computer calculates a first consumption amount representative of energy consumed during the critical peak pricing event, calculates a second consumption amount representative of energy consumed other than during the critical peak pricing event, and generates a bill including a variable pricing rate for the second consumption amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the first consumption amount. | 09-27-2012 |
20120246041 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A BILL - A system includes a first computer configured to transmit a load control request to a device associated with an energy consumer. The system also includes a second computer configured to receive a notification representative of an override of the load control request, and determine a penalty to be imposed upon the customer based on the notification received. | 09-27-2012 |
20120246042 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A UTILITY BILL - A system includes a meter for monitoring energy consumed by an energy consumer and a first computer coupled to the meter. The first computer receives from the meter a plurality of measurements representative of energy consumed during a billing period. The system also includes a second computer that generates a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event, and a third computer coupled to the first computer and to the second computer. The third computer calculates a first consumption amount representative of energy consumed during the critical peak pricing event, calculates a second consumption amount representative of energy consumed other than during the critical peak pricing event, and generates a bill including a flat pricing rate for the second consumption amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the first consumption amount. | 09-27-2012 |
20120310433 | CHARGING DEVICE AND METHODS OF AUTHORIZING A CHARGING REQUEST - A charging device includes a power delivery system configured to supply power to at least one load coupled to the charging device. The charging device also includes a processor coupled to the power delivery system, and the processor is programmed to transmit a charging request to a remote device. The charging request includes an amount of power requested to be supplied to the at least one load. The processor is programmed to receive data related to a loading of a power distribution device, wherein the power distribution device is configured to supply power to the charging device. The processor is further programmed to selectively activate the power delivery system to supply power to the at least one load based on the data received. | 12-06-2012 |
20120323388 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A power distribution system includes a plurality of node devices and a computer communicatively coupled to the node devices. The computer includes a memory area configured to store at least one operating parameter of each of the node devices, and a processor that is programmed to determine a desired operating limitation of the power distribution system to be optimized, calculate an effect on the operating limitation based on a modification of the operating parameter of at least one of the node devices, and transmit a command to the node device to cause the node device to modify the operating parameter. | 12-20-2012 |
20120330671 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING CONGESTION PRICING IN A POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK - A system for implementing congestion pricing in a power distribution network includes a monitoring and control engine configured to receive an actual power consumption value for a node in the power distribution network and a congestion engine coupled to the monitoring and control engine configured to determine that a power consumption value exceeds a capacity related set point of the node. The system further includes a pricing calculator that establishes a congestion price for power to be applied while the actual power consumption value exceeds the set point of the node and a credit calculator that provides credits to consumers coupled to the node that consume power at a rate below a threshold while the actual power consumption value exceeds the set point of the node. | 12-27-2012 |
20130041854 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE USING BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle includes coupling the electric vehicle to an energy delivery point via a connector, receiving a unique identifier of the electric vehicle via the connector, determining an account associated with the identifier, delivering an amount of energy to the electric vehicle via the connector, and determining a transaction amount based on the amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle by the energy delivery point. | 02-14-2013 |