PATENT ABSTRACT
A method for utilizing transformer capacity allows multiple transformer users to have ordered access to the same backup transformer. When one of the users requires the use of a transformer, the users in line ahead of this user must exercise their rights to use the transformer or pass on their rights allowing the next user to decide whether or not to use the transformer. The method allows transformer owners to offer extra transformer capacity to those who desire backups while protecting their ownership interest and their need for the use of the backup. The method also provides those who need backup transformers a system to obtain access to the required backup without requiring them to purchase a new transformer or to wait for the transformer to be built.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/142,408 filed May 9, 2002; which claimed priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/290,077 filed May 10, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing electrical transformer capacity among different transformer users. More particularly, the system and method of the invention allows disassociated transformer users to utilize spare transformer capacity while insuring that the transformer owner retains access to the transformer when such access is needed by the owner. The invention provides a system and method for distributing options or rights of refusal to spare transformers among transformer users.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     Electrical power is one of today&#39;s most common power sources. Electrical power is used in essentially every home and business throughout the industrialized world. Electrical power generation facilities or power plants generate essentially all of the electrical power used in the industrialized world. Different types of power plants such as fossil fuel power plants, hydroelectric power plants, and nuclear power plants generate electric power. Regardless of how the electrical power is generated, each power plant must distribute the electrical power to the users of the electrical power. The distribution of electrical power requires the use of transformers.  
         [0006]     Electrical power is distributed from power plants through distribution lines. As power is transmitted through the lines, the lines resist the electrical current and generate heat. The resistance decreases the amount of electrical power transmitted through the lines. Power companies desire to minimize the power lost in the power lines. To minimize power losses, power plants transmit electrical power at high voltages which decreases the amount of current required to distribute the electrical power. Power plants use step-up transformers to increase the voltage of the power generated by their generators. After the power has reached its destination, a step-down transformer is used to reduce the voltage to a usable level. The destination may be a local power grid, an individual company, or a specific device. Each of these destinations may require a different voltage and a specifically-configured transformer.  
         [0007]     In the United States and Canada, there are thousands of electrical power generation facilities that are typically called electric utilities. Over the past hundred years, most electrical utilities have been regulated by a government that prevented the utility from competing against other electrical utilities for customers. As such, each electrical utility could easily pass on all costs to the consumers and each electrical utility could afford to purchase a backup transformer for each transformer in its distribution system.  
         [0008]     Recent utility company deregulation has caused utility companies to review the cost of generating and distributing power to consumers because each utility company is now competing against other utility companies for customers. Deregulated utility companies thus cannot easily pass on a cost of each expenditure directly to the consumer. Electrical utilities are also reviewing their assets to determine how to generate income in addition to the income generated by selling electrical power.  
         [0009]     In the newly deregulated power industry, each electrical utility must have a backup transformer that is immediately available for each key transformer in its distribution system. Immediate access to a backup transformer is essential because a new transformer can take months to be built, delivered, and installed. In the age of deregulation, the electrical utility must purchase power from a competitor if a key transformer goes down. The competitor will sell the electrical power to the crippled electrical utility at the highest possible rate. A single transformer failure can substantially reduce or eliminate a utility&#39;s profit. Backup transformers are thus financially essential. Backup transformers are also required by insurers. In addition to typical backups, some insurers require redundant backup plans.  
         [0010]     Although backup transformers are essential, the actual backups are rarely used because only a small fraction of transformers actually fail from year to year. Furthermore, some transformer failures are immediate and unexpected while others are slow and can be anticipated. A problem in the industry is that no one can accurately forecast if a transformer failure will be immediate or slow. The same warning signs are generated by transformers that fail immediately as transformers that fail slowly. Thus, it is inefficient for an electrical utility to purchase a backup transformer when the backup transformer may sit unused for years while the primary transformer continues to function. On the other hand, the electrical utility cannot wait for the transformer to show signs of failure due to the extraordinary expense incurred if the transformer fails suddenly. The problem of replacing failed transformers is especially unique because there may only be one or two replacement transformers for a particular application in the world and the replacement transformer may have to be specially built by a transformer manufacturer with a long lead time.  
         [0011]     In the past, electrical utilities and other transformer users (such as large manufacturing facilities) have purchased and stored large numbers of transformers for backup. Today&#39;s deregulated electrical utility companies cannot continue using this backup method and desire a new system for backing up their key transformers while allowing the users to derive income from their existing backup transformers.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In view of the foregoing, the invention provides a method for utilizing transformer capacity by allowing multiple transformer users to have ordered access to the same backup transformer. When one of the users requires the use of a transformer, the users in line ahead of this user must exercise their rights to use the transformer or pass on their rights allowing the next user to decide whether or not to use the transformer. The method provides a mechanism for spare transformer owners to offer their extra transformer capacity to those who desire backups. The method allows the transformer owners to offer their extra transformer capacity while protecting their ownership interest and their need for the use of the backup. The method also provides those who need backup transformers a system to obtain access to the required backup without requiring them to purchase a new transformer or to wait for the transformer to be built. The system allows those who need backup transformers to obtain the required backup without paying for an entire transformer. The system and method of the invention thus reduces inefficiencies that presently exist in the marketplace. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the system of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view of the information required when a user wishes to list a transformer with the system.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view of the information required by a user who wishes to obtain rights to a backup transformer. 
     
    
       [0016]     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The system of the present invention is depicted schematically in  FIG. 1  and is indicated generally by the numeral  10 . System  10  may be operated and implemented over a wide area computer network  11  wherein each user may connect with a central computer that is maintained by a system administrator  12 . Of course, system  10  may be implemented without such a network by transmitting various information to all users via mail, phone, or facsimile. However, a network has the advantage that it allows all users  24  hour access to the information and allows users to view updated information instantaneously. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, system  10  uses the Internet to allow the various users of system  10  to communicate with each other. Administrator  12  maintains the information used by system  10  on software that resides on a server computer  14 . The software provides a matrix  16  of information used by the users of system  10 .  
         [0018]     Administrator  12  who is responsible for running server computer  14 , updating the matrix  16  listing available transformers and various options, and for distributing the transformers to the users of system  10 . Administrator  12  also may be responsible for the bookkeeping of system  10 . In one embodiment of the invention, administrator  12  may be responsible for delivering or for arranging the delivery of a transformer to the user who needs the transformer. Administrator  12  may also determine the prices of the rights and the fees for using system  10 .  
         [0019]     In one embodiment of the invention, system users are limited by membership to system  10 . In order to become a member and have access to system  10 , a user must pay a membership fee to administrator  12 . The membership fee would be periodic (such as yearly or monthly) and would require the user to supply information about the user to administrator  12  so that administrator  12  could at least perform proper bookkeeping activities. In other embodiments of the invention, system  10  is made available to the public. In this situation, a discount may be given to members. In another embodiment, the members of system  10  may review new listings before new listings are made available to the public.  
         [0020]     System  10  includes a matrix  16  that lists a variety of different transformers (transformer A, transformer B, transformer C, transformer D, etc.) that are available for sale, lease, and options. Matrix  16  includes an overall list of general information about each transformer. Detailed information  17  may be linked to each listing so that a user may determine the exact specifics of a transformer listed on matrix  16 . Matrix  16  may also list which user currently owns the transformer and which rights  18  are available to other users. Rights  18  may include such information as the costs of subsequent options as well as the particular rights associated with each current option holder for a specific transformer. In another embodiment, matrix  16  only lists the transformers and the users must contact administrator  12  to determine what rights are available. Additionally, a purchase system is in place to allow for the transfer of funds and in one embodiment the funds are transferred directly to administrator  12  and in another system a portion of each option fund is removed and transferred to administrator  12  with the remaining funds being transferred into a held escrow account so that funds are guaranteed to be returned from the escrow account should a earlier option holder exercise their option and subsequent exercise holders moneys are returned.  
         [0021]     System  10  can only function when transformer owners list their transformers with system  10 . A first type of owner is a typical transformer user  20  who owns idle backup transformers. Another type of transformer owner  22  is one who purchases commonly-used transformers and lists them with system  10  in order to profit from the ownership of the transformers. Traditional owner  20  will only list his backup transformer with system  10  if he retains his right to use the backup transformer when he needs it—otherwise, owner  20  would not risk losing his backup. System  10  allows owner  20  to protect his backup while generating income by selling options in the idle backup time of the transformer. With respect to owner  22 , he does not need to protect a backup and does not need to retain any rights in the transformer.  
         [0022]     System  10  is initiated when a transformer owner  20  or  22  lists at least one transformer on matrix  16 . For the purposes of providing an example, owner  20  lists Transformer A and owner  22  lists Transformer B. An owner lists the transformer by contacting administrator  12  and providing information such as the information depicted in  FIG. 2 . Once this information is provided, the transformer will appear on matrix  16  for the users of system  10 .  
         [0023]     We first examine how system  10  functions with Transformer A listed by owner  20 . Owner  20  may list Transformer A for sale or for lease. Owner  20  retains the first right of refusal when owner  20  lists the Transformer A. The first right of refusal gives owner  20  the option of keeping Transformer A if another system user wishes to purchase or lease Transformer A. The right of first refusal may also allow owner  20  to force the return of Transformer A when another user is leasing Transformer A. Such a right protects owner  20 &#39;s backup requirements and gives him an incentive to list Transformer A.  
         [0024]     In this situation, other users  24  interested in Transformer A will purchase ordered rights of refusal (second, third, fourth, etc.). Users  24  may request information about the transformers available on matrix  16  by submitting the information depicted in  FIG. 3 . If a transformer is not already listed, administrator  12  may obtain the requested transformer for system  10 . Each user pays administrator  12  a monthly fee for owning the right of refusal. The fee for the second right may be higher than the third right and the fee for the third right may be higher then the fourth right, etc. Administrator  12  holds a portion of the money in an interest-bearing account until one of the users exercises an option on Transformer A. Another portion of the money is paid to owner  20  for listing Transformer A. This payment provides the main incentive for owner  20  to list Transformer A with system  10 . As discussed above, Transformer A would be a backup transformer that may never be placed into service or may not be placed into service for years. System  10  thus provides a method that allows owner  20  to generate income from an otherwise idle asset.  
         [0025]     If the owner of the third right of refusal indicates that he wishes to purchase or lease Transformer A, the owner of the first right of refusal must decide whether to keep Transformer A or pass on his right. If the first right of refusal is exercised, the money paid by the users for the second, third, fourth, etc. rights of refusal is returned without interest and less an administrative fee. The fee and the interest is retained by administrator  12 . A percentage of the money paid to owner  20  for the options must also be returned.  
         [0026]     If the owner of the first right does not exercise his option, the holder of the second right of refusal is given the opportunity to exercise his right to purchase or lease Transformer A (depending on the type of option he purchased). If the owner of the second right exercises the right, the lower right holders (third, fourth etc.) may get their payments back. If the second right owner passes, he loses his fees and Transformer A is controlled by the third right holder who initiated the process. All right holders behind the third holder then receive their money back.  
         [0027]     In the case of a sale, owner  20  will lose his right to Transformer A if he does not exercise his right of refusal. In the case of a lease, the first right of refusal may be designed to allow owner  20  to lease Transformer A to one of the other users while retaining a right to demand the return of Transformer A upon demand (subject to reasonable notice) if owner  20  requires Transformer A for his power system. This type of right would encourage transformer owners to list their backup transformers for lease with system  10 .  
         [0028]     We next examine how system  10  functions with Transformer B listed by owner  22 . In some situations, owner  22  may be the same entity as administrator  12 . Owner  22  would be an entity with spare transformers that he can part with or an entity that purchases commonly-used transformers with the intention of profiting from the sale of the rights of refusal, the leasing of the transformers, or the outright sale of the transformers. Owner  22  may thus purchase a group of commonly-used transformers (Transformers B, C, and D) and price the options to pay off the purchase price and create an income stream based on its ownership interest.  
         [0029]     Owner  22  may list Transformer B for sale or for lease. Owner  22  would not retain a right of first refusal because owner  22  has no need for Transformer B. Owner  22  thus offers the right of first refusal for sale to the other users of system  10 .  
         [0030]     In this situation, other users interested in Transformer B will purchase ordered rights of refusal (first, second, third, fourth, etc.). Each user pays administrator  12  a monthly fee for owning the right of refusal. The fee for the first right may be higher than the second right and the fee for the second right may be higher then the third right, etc. Administrator  12  holds a portion of the money in an interest-bearing account until one of the users exercises an option on Transformer B. Another portion of the money is paid to owner  22  for listing Transformer B. If the owner of the third right of refusal indicates that he wishes to purchase or lease Transformer B, the owner of the first right of refusal must decide whether to purchase or lease Transformer B or pass on his right. If the first right of refusal is exercised, the money paid by the users for the second, third, fourth, etc. rights of refusal is returned without interest and less an administrative fee. The administrative fee and the interest is retained by administrator  12 .  
         [0031]     If the owner of the first right does not exercise his option, the holder of the second right of refusal is given the opportunity to exercise his right to purchase or lease Transformer B. In this situation, the owner of the first right forfeits his fees to owner  22  and administrator  12 . If the owner of the second right exercises the right, the lower right holders get their payments back. If the second right owner passes, he loses his fees and Transformer B is controlled by the third right holder who initiated the process. All right holders behind the third holder then receive their money back (less interest and administrative fees).  
         [0032]     With respect to either owner  20  or  22  described above, administrator  12  may apply a portion of the option fees against a lease or sale price eventually paid by the entity who exercises his right.  
         [0033]     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0034]     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.