Patent ID: 8195337
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for automatically coordinating over a telecommunications network a supply of power from power generator resources that supply power to meet demand of users that consume the power, the method comprising the steps of: for a number of power generators that produce power, determining a Previously unused output capability of the power generators and estimating a plurality of efficiency characteristics for the power generators; transmitting as a telecommunications signal over the telecommunications network a pricing signal in real-time to at least one of the users indicating a price for power generated for power offered by one or more of the power generators; for a number of different types of appliances that consume power, estimating near and long-term expected demand of the users for power for the particular type of appliance based on a duty cycle schedule typical for the particular type of appliance, wherein the duty cycle schedule indicates the power consumed or stored over a period of time including a firing timing, that is those times when the particular type of appliance typically fires or is dormant; wherein, the period of time is predetermined to encompass a duty cycle schedule that forms a basis of prediction for future cycles of the respective appliance; wherein the different types of appliances convert electrical energy to another form of energy selected from the group consisting of thermal, electromagnetic, and mechanical energy; determining at a present time which of the power generators is capable of being put to immediate use to meet power demand needs of the appliances of the users based on the Previously unused output capability of the power generators; calculating using a computer for the present time an aggregate of demand for a number of appliances of the users based on a firing timing of the duty cycle schedule for those appliances; determining at the present time whether usage of at least one user of the number of appliances should be encouraged or discouraged based on a comparison of the aggregate of demand with respect to a number appliances of the users and the Previously unused output capabilities of at least one of the power generator; changing in real-time the pricing signal transmitted over the telecommunications network to the at least one user of the number of appliances to indicate an appropriate price for power with respect to a present pricing scheme sufficient to encourage or discourage use by the at least one user of the number of appliances when usage should be encouraged or discouraged as determined; wherein changing the price to encourage or discourage use delays the spinning-up and bringing online of power generators; and changing the pricing signal transmitted over the telecommunications network to encourage or discourage demand of at least one of the users until such a time when the aggregate demand matches substantially an efficiency of use based on the efficiency characteristics; wherein changing the price delays the spinning-up and bringing online of additional power generators until the such time when an aggregate demand matches substantially the efficiency of use.