WO2012004815A2

WO2012004815A2 - System and method of proving energy as service

Info

Publication number: WO2012004815A2
Application number: PCT/IN2011/000461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vijay Anand Villapakkam Radhakrishnan; Ashish Joshi
Original assignee: Logica Private Limited
Priority date: 2010-07-09
Filing date: 2011-07-11
Publication date: 2012-01-12
Also published as: EP2591371A2; WO2012004815A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for providing energy as a service. In one embodiment, a system for providing energy as a service includes a plurality of energy based service equipments located in a premise associated with an entity, an energy service platform for providing one or more energy value added services to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments based on a pre-subscribed plan subscribed by the entity, and a gateway located in the premise and coupled to the plurality of energy based service equipments for delivering the one or more energy value added services to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING ENERGY AS A SERVICE

RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit is claimed to India Provisional Application No. 1964/C HE/2010, titled "ENERGY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD" by Villapakkam Radhakrishnan Vijay Anand filed on July 9, 2010, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of energy consumption, and more particularly relates to system and method of providing energy based services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional energy distribution system provides electrical energy to consumers and bills consumers based on the energy consumed over a period of time. Typically, energy is supplied to the consumers is measured on basis of amount energy consumed by electrical equipments in the premises. For instance electricity is typically billed per kilowatt hour (KW/hr). Regular energy meters merely measure the consumption of energy and display the amount of energy consumed on a dial or display. A consumer, or a representative of the company which supplies the goods such as an electricity supplier has to perform a reading of that number at given point in time in order to monitor the consumption of energy. An alternative to the regular meters is the use of smart meters which are able to communicate to the supplier using wireless or wire-line mediums. This way the supplier can obtain the meter value from each customer with little or no human interaction.

In the recent past, smart grid based distribution systems have been introduced for distribution of energy to consumers. A smart grid based system is an aggregate of multiple networks and multiple power generation companies with multiple utility l providers employing varying levels of communication and coordination. However, the utility providers currently focus only on distributing raw energy to end users in KW/Hr. In other words, the utility providers have been providing electricity in KW/Hr over years and the same holds good with the advancements in energy distribution.

Therefore, a need exists for scalable business and technical systems within utility industry for providing energy as a service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an energy distribution system for delivering energy as a service, according to one embodiment.

Figure 2 is a process flowchart of an exemplary method of providing energy as a service, according to one embodiment.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the energy service platform of Figure 1 , according to one embodiment. Figure 4 is an exploded view of the gateway 1 of Figure 1, according to one embodiment.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for providing energy as a service. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an energy distribution system 100 for delivering energy as a service, according to one embodiment. In Figure 1 , the energy distribution system 100 includes a server 108 with an energy service platform 106, gateways 104A-B located in premises 101A- and energy based service equipments 102A-N in each of the premises 101A-N. The energy service platform 106 hosts various energy value added services for delivering energy as a service to each of the premises 101A-N via the gateway ΐ'θ4Α-Ν. The energy value added services includes lighting service, washing service, climate control service, and other services which are powered by energy. The energy service platform 106 can configured to seamlessly integrate a number of energy value added services at any point of time.

In one embodiment, the energy service platform 106 may be deployed in a cloud infrastructure 106. In another embodiment, the energy service platform may be deployed in a server 106 remotely located from the premises 101A-N. The server 106 may be deployed in a utilities information technology (IT) network. Alternatively, the server 106 may be deployed in an IT network of an independent service provider.

The energy based service equipments 102A-N coupled to the respective gateway 104A-N through a home area network using short range communication channels such as Zigbee, Blue Tooth, IP network, RF, etc. or long range communication channels like GPRS/GSM, PLC, Fixed Line, etc. The energy based service equipments 102A-N may include electric lamps, washing machine, and the like. Each of the gateways 104A-N may be communicatively coupled to the server 108 through wired or wireless means (e.g., GSM/GPRS, CDMA, IP, PLC, Fixed Line, etc.)

The energy service platform 106 is configured for delivering one or more energy value added services based on a subscription plan associated with an entity. For example, an owner of the premise 101A may subscribe for an energy plan comprising various energy value added sen/ices. The pre-subscribed plan may be selected from a variety of subscription plans availed to the owner. In an exemplary operation, the energy service platform 106 determines a pre-subscribed plan (customised plan) associated with energy value added services subscribed by the entity. Based on the subscriber plan, the energy service platform 106 provides the subscribed energy value added services to the associated entity through the energy based service equipments 102A-N via the gateway 104A. The gateway 104A located in the premise 104A delivers the one or more energy value added services through the energy based service equipments 102A-N based on the instructions from the energy service platform 106.

While the services are being delivered, the gateway 104A measures various parameters associated with the energy value added services. Exemplary parameters may include luminosity, temperature, washing cycles and so on. The gateway 104A processes the measured parameters in real time and communicates the processed parameters back to the energy service platform 106. Accordingly, the energy service platform 106 may compute a charge for the energy value added services delivered to the entity based on the processed parameters. Additionally, the gateway 104A manages the subscribed energy value added services being delivered to the entity at the premise 101 A.

In some embodiments, the parameters can be utilized to provide feedback to the entity for selecting the appropriate subscription plan. It can be noted that the service logic and business logic may reside in the energy service platform 106 and/or the gateway 104A depending on the nature of the service being offered.

Figure 2 is a process flowchart 200 of an exemplary method of providing energy as a service, according to one embodiment. At step 202, a pre-subscribed plan associated with energy value added services subscribed by the entity. At step 204, the energy value added services are delivered to the entity through the energy based service equipments 102A-N in the premise 101 A via the gateway 104A as per the pre-subscribed plan. In some embodiments, a set of energy capability functions are invoked in the energy service platform using a set of standard application programming interfaces (APIs). In these embodiments, the service functionality associated with the energy value added services is provided to the entity through the energy based service equipments 102A-N via the gateway 04A. At step 206, parameters associated with the energy value added services are monitored by the gateway 104A in real time. At step 208, the parameters associated ■■ with the energy value added services are processed and communicated to the energy service platform 106. At step 210, a charge associated with the energy value added services delivered to the entity is computed based on the parameters.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the energy service platform 106 of Figure 1 , according to one embodiment. In Figure 3, the energy service platform 106 includes a container 302, an energy capability engine 304, a communication engine 306, service communication bus 308, and downstream adaptors 310. The container 302 hosts a plurality of energy value added services 312A-N such as washing cycle service, lighting service, climate control service, promotional energy service and other services powered by energy. The container 302 is configured to enable addition of one or more energy value added services 312A-N to the energy service platform 106 at any point of time.

The energy capability engine 304 is coupled to the container 302 via a service communication bus 308. The energy capability engine 304 provides a set of energy capability functions 314A-N to realize service functionality associated with the energy value added services 312A-N. Exemplary the energy capability functions 304A-N includes account management function, a service usage management function, messaging function, accounting function, authentication and authorization function, and so on. The communication engine 306 is coupled to the energy capability engine 304 via downstream adapters 310. The communication engine 306 establishes a communication channel (e.g. , wired or wireless) with the gateways 104A-N to deliver the service functionality associated with the energy value added services 3 2A-N through the energy based service equipments 102A-N. The communication engine 306 also connects with customer support system 316, advanced billing system 318, partner/vendor collaboration system 320, network communication hub 322, and utilities core system 324. For example, the communication engine .306 provides the parameters associated with the energy value added services 312A-N delivered to the premise 101 A-N to the advanced billing system 318. Based on the parameters, the advance billing system 318 computes a charge associated with the energy value added services 312A-N.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the gateway 104A of Figure 1 , according to one embodiment. In Figure 4, the gateway 104A includes a service management module 402, a configuration management module 404, a service monitoring module 406, a security module 408, a display 410, a network element 412, and a device element 414.

The service management module 402 manages the energy value added services being delivered to the premise 10 A at the energy based service equipments 102A- N via . the device element 414. The service management module 402 assist in installation and un-installation of the energy value added services based on the subscription plan. The service management module 402 enables selection and control of a source of energy associated with the energy value added services. The source of energy can be in-premise source, such as in-premise solar panels, in- premise wind based energy, batteries, etc. , and non in-premise source of energy such as utilities grid. The entity can also select the source of energy through a web interface associated with the entity.

The configuration management module 404 is operable for configuring the subscribed energy value added services, profile of the entity, and the energy based service equipments connected to the gateway 04A. The configuration management module 404 is configured for remotely downloading and configuring gateway specific software/firmware components for the subscribed energy value added services on to the gateway 104A.

The service monitoring module 406 includes monitoring parameters associated with the energy value added services delivered to the entity, reporting and submission of parameters to the energy service platform 106 via the network element 412. The security module 408 secures and shields the gateway 104A, user profile, user data and energy based service equipments. The gateway 104A may optionally include a metering module 416 for metering .the energy consumed by the energy based service equipments from a power source while delivering the energy value added services. The display device 410 is configured for displaying amount of energy consumed, carbon footprint and other dynamic parameters associated with the energy value added services and/or energy based service equipments. The display device 410 is also display the source of power used for delivering the energy value added services. Additionally, the display device 410 acts as user interface for enabling the entity to configure source of power and other information.

In accordance with the foregoing description, the gateway 104A described herein acts as a single entry point to the premise for offering energy value added services and personal services such as health care, entertainment, etc. It is appreciated that, the gateway 104A can co-exist with existing metering system in the premise 101A or can have metering capabilities by itself for measuring the energy consumed from utility companies.

The present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments; it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Furthermore, the various devices, modules, selectors, estimators, and the like described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry, for example, complementary metal oxide semiconductor based logic circuitry, firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software embodied in a machine readable medium. For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits, such as application specific integrated circuit.

Claims

We claim:

1. A system for providing energy as a service, the system comprising:

a plurality of energy based service equipments located in a premise associated with an entity;

an energy service platform for providing one or more energy value added services to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments based on a pre-subscribed plan subscribed by the entity; and

a gateway located in the premise and coupled to the plurality of energy based service equipments for delivering the one or more energy value added services to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy value added services are selected from the group consisting of lighting service, climate control service, temperature control service, washing service and other services powered by energy source.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy service platform comprises:

a container for hosting a plurality of energy value added services;

an energy capability engine for providing a set of energy capability functions to realize service functionality associated with the plurality of energy value added services; and

a communication engine for establishing a communication channel with the gateway to deliver the service functionality associated with the plurality of energy value added services to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the energy service platform is configured for seamlessly integrating additional energy value added services to the container in real time.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy service platform resides in a cloud infrastructure.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy service platform resides in a server remotely located from the premise.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy service platform resides in an utilities information technology network.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy service platform resides in information technology network associated with an independent service provider.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a display device for displaying amount of energy consumed by each of the plurality of the energy based service equipments in delivering the one or more energy values added services, carbon footprint, and dynamic parameters associated with the plurality of the energy based service equipments and the one or more energy value added services in real time.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a configuration management module for downloading and configuring gateway specific software/firmware components associated with the one or more energy value added services.

1 1. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a metering module for metering the energy consumed by the plurality of energy based service equipments while delivering the one or more energy value added services.

12. The system of claim 1 1 , wherein the configuration management module is operable for configuring source of energy required for delivering the one or more energy value added services.

13. The system of claim 1 1 , wherein the source of energy is selected from the group consisting of in-premise power source and non in-premise power source.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a service management module for managing the one or more energy value added services being delivered to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a service monitoring module is configured for monitoring parameters associated with the one or more energy value added services delivered to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a network element for communicating the parameters associated with the one or more energy value added services to the energy service platform.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy service platform comprises an advanced billing system for computing a charge associated with the one or more energy value added services provided to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments based on the parameters associated with the one or more energy value added services.

18. A method for providing energy as a service, the method comprising:

determining a pre-subscribed plan associated with one or more energy value added services subscribed by an entity;

delivering one or more energy value added services to the entity through a plurality of energy based service equipments as per the pre-subscribed plan by an energy service platform via a gateway;

monitoring parameters associated with the one or more energy value added services delivered to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments by the gateway; and

communicating the parameters associated with the one or more energy value added services to the energy service platform.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising: computing a charge associated with the one or more energy value added services delivered to the plurality of energy based service equipments based on the parameters associated with the one or more energy value added services.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more energy value added services are selected from the group consisting of lighting service, climate control service, washing service, and services powered by energy source.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the parameters associated with the one or more energy value added service comprises luminosity, temperature, number of washing cycles and other energy service based parameters.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein delivering the one or more energy value added services to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments comprises:

invoking a set of energy capability functions using a set of standard application programming interfaces for providing service functionality associated with the one or more energy value added services to the entity; and

delivering the service functionality associated with the plurality of energy value added services at the plurality of energy based service equipments.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

managing the one or more energy value added services being delivered to the entity through the plurality of energy based service equipments.