Beam power with multipoint reception
A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.
1. A method of determining relative priority of receiving units for power beaming, comprising:
receiving a first request for power from a first receiving unit including a first power specification request;
receiving a second request for power from a second receiving unit including a second power specification request;
determining a relative priority for the first and second requests according to a predetermined selection method; and
instructing a first power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a higher determined priority.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second power specification requests includes a datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, time window, acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a relative priority includes determining relative profitability for the first and second power specification requests.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a relative priority includes determining availability of power corresponding to the first and second power specification requests.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising instructing the first power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a lower determined priority.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising instructing a second power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a lower determined priority.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the first power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to the first power beaming unit.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the first power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to a remote unit configured to instruct the first power beaming unit.