US5805458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for utility demand monitoring and control
Assignee: TECHNOLOGIES FUTURES Inc D/B/A ORION GROUP Inc
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Filing: 1996-03-11
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2016-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for electric power demand monitoring and control includes one or more data distribution networks interconnecting intelligent utility units located at customer homes with a host computer located in the utility company offices. Each intelligent utility unit is associated with a customer home for connecting and disconnecting a power service meter, monitoring customer demand, and controlling power to selected units. A network within the home interconnects each intelligent utility unit with power consuming units for providing data on power usage and power control. A data distribution network interconnects the plurality of intelligent utility units to the host computer as a head end unit, the data distribution network providing downstream communication channels from the host computer to the plurality of intelligent utility units and upstream communication channels from the plurality of intelligent utility units to the host computer. The communication channels are organized as frequency division multiplex channels in a frequency spectrum. A plurality of distribution networks can be provided for a larger utility environment with each distribution network associated with a power substation and customers served by the power substation.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P. McNamara
- 👤 Amar Chand Amar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2823; H04L12/2827; G; G08; G08C; G08C15/00; G08C15/02; H02; H02J; H02J13/00; H02J13/13; H02J13/1321; H02J13/1323; H02J13/14; H02J13/18; H02J13/333; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/10; H02J2105/12; H04L12/2838; H04L12/40; H04L12/407; H04L12/413; H04L2012/2847; H04L2012/285; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for utility demand monitoring and control comprising: a host computer having access to power utility customers for receiving customer utility usage data; a plurality of network interface means, each network interface means associated with a customer's site for relaying customer utility demand as measured by a service meter; a site network connecting each network interface means with a plurality of utility data collection units within said site for providing data on utility usage to the network interface means associated with the site; and a distribution network, coupled to said host computer, interconnecting said plurality of network interface means for transmitting utility usage data from said plurality of network interface means to said host computer, said distribution network being implemented within one or more time slots of a time-division multiplexed data stream carried by a high-speed digital bus, said one or more time slots; carrying data in packet form, all network interface means of said distribution network sharing said one or more slots.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for utility demand monitoring and control comprising: a host computer having access to power utility customers for receiving customer utility usage data; a plurality of network interface means, each network interface means associated with a customer's site for relaying customer utility demand as measured by a service meter; a site network connecting each network interface means with a plurality of utility data collection units within said site for providing data on utility usage to the network interface means associated with the site; and a distribution network, coupled to said host computer, interconnecting said plurality of network interface means for transmitting utility usage data from said plurality of network interface means to said host computer, said distribution network being implemented within one or more time slots of a time-division multiplexed data stream carried by a high-speed digital bus, said one or more time slots; carrying data in packet form, all network interface means of said distribution network sharing said one or more slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said single high speed digital bus include voice and data channels, and video channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a combination of a fiber link, a coaxial link, and a wireless link.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a digital backbone network for coupling said distribution network and said host computer, said digital backbone network including a Frame Relay T1 interface between said distribution network and said digital backbone network and a Frame Relay router to interface between the digital backbone network and said host computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a digital backbone network for coupling said distribution network and said host computer, said digital backbone network including an ATM interface between said distribution network and an ATM interface router to interface between the digital backbone network and said host computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 5 and further including a plurality of distribution networks each connecting to a plurality of customer sites, said digital backbone network including a multiplexer for interfacing with said plurality of distribution networks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 6 and further including a plurality of distribution networks each running from a power substation to a plurality of customer sites, said digital backbone network including a multiplexer for interfacing with said plurality of distribution networks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of data collection units monitors power usage for electrical power consumers within the site.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a fiber optic link.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
14 words
The system of claim l wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a coaxial link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a wireless link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said high-speed digital bus employs Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Carrier Detect collision handling protocol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one or more, time slots of said time-division multiplexed data stream carry voice data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one or more time slots of said time-division multiplexed data stream carry video data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
A distribution network for communicating between a host computer and a plurality of customer sites in an electric power utility demand monitoring and control system, said distribution network comprising: a plurality of network interface means, each associated with a customer site for relaying customer power demand; and a digital high-speed bus interconnecting said plurality of network interface means, said digital high-speed bus providing downstream communication channels from said host computer to said plurality of network interface means and upstream communication channels from said plurality of network interface means to said host computer, wherein said downstream communication channels and said upstream communication channels are frequency multiplexed on said digital high-speed bus, and wherein said upstream communication channels and said downstream communication channels are subdivided into time division multiplexed subchannels, one or more of said subchannels carrying data in packet form within one or more time division slots shared by all of said network interface means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
154 words
A distribution network for communicating between a host computer and a plurality of customer sites in an electric power utility demand monitoring and control system, said distribution network comprising: a plurality of network interface means, each associated with a customer site for relaying customer power demand; and a digital high-speed bus interconnecting said plurality of network interface means, said digital high-speed bus providing downstream communication channels from said host computer to said plurality of network interface means and upstream communication channels from said plurality of network interface means to said host computer, wherein said downstream communication channels and said upstream communication channels are frequency multiplexed on said digital high-speed bus, and wherein said upstream communication channels and said downstream communication channels are subdivided into time division multiplexed subchannels, one or more of said subchannels carrying data in packet form within one or more time division slots shared by all of said network interface means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a coaxial cable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a fiber cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a wireless link.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein said high-speed digital bus comprises a twisted pair.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein said upstream and downstream communications channels employ packet Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Carrier Detect collision handling protocol.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein one or more of said time-division multiplexed subchannels carry voice data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The distribution network of claim 15 wherein one or more of said time-division multiplexed subchannels carry video data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |