Method, apparatus and computer program product for reporting energy consumption

US7376631B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Jennifer E. King · Austin, US
• Robert R. Peterson · Austin, US
• Jon F. Richter · Austin, US
• Ian P. Spivey · Cambridge, US
• Tyron Jerrod Stading · Austin, US
• Rhys D. Ulerich · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 26, 2005
• Grant date: May 20, 2008
• Expiry date: May 26, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y04S20/30
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Energy consumption meters are associated with owners who hold accounts with a power supplier. The meters are assigned meter identifiers and identifiers for their respective owners. Such a meter may be a parent meter having associated submeters. In response to being plugged into a power source from the power supplier, such a meter reports its owner identifier and meter identifier to the supplier. Also, in response to being plugged into a power source supplied by one of the parent meters, a meter communicates with the parent meter. This establishes that the parent meter is associated with the submeter. The submeter measures energy delivered reports this to the power supplier. Also, the indicated association of the submeter to the parent meter is reported to the power supplier. The receipt of this information enables the power supplier to debit and credit owner accounts in a manner permitting temporary associations of meters.