IP Library Granted Patent US 12,283,813
Granted Patent B1
US 12,283,813 · App. 17/708,528 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Systems and methods for adjusting electric power distributed to consumers

Inventors: Andre Rene Buentello (San Antonio, TX); Dustin Bowen Bitter (Lehi, UT); Brennen Michael Ricks (San Antonio, TX); Jose L. Romero, Jr. (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
H02J13/00034G05B15/02H02J3/003H02J3/381H02J13/00001H02J3/32H02J2203/10H02J2300/24H02J2300/28H02J2310/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,283,813
App. No.
17/708,528
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

A non-transitory computer-readable medium has instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to perform operations that include determining net electric power consumption associated with a first consumer, determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the first consumer is below a threshold level, reducing central electric power distributed from a central electric power source to the first consumer to obtain additional central electric power in response to determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the first consumer is below the threshold level, and distributing the additional central electric power to a second consumer in response to reducing the central electric power distributed to the first consumer.

Claims (50)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

determining net electric power consumption associated with a first consumer;

determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the first consumer is below a threshold level;

receiving one or more user inputs to increase distribution of electric power to a second consumer, wherein the one or more user inputs relate to prioritizations of electrical outlets corresponding to specific devices of a plurality of devices associated with the second consumer;

reducing central electric power distributed from a central electric power source to the first consumer to obtain additional central electric power in response to determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the first consumer is below the threshold level;

distributing the additional central electric power to the second consumer based on the one or more user inputs and in response to reducing the central electric power distributed to the first consumer; and

enabling and/or blocking one or more flows of the additional central electric power to the plurality of devices associated with the second consumer based on the prioritizations of the electrical outlets corresponding to the specific devices of the plurality of devices associated with the second consumer.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

determining total electric power consumed by the first consumer;

determining available local electric power of the first consumer; and

determining the net electric power consumption associated with the first consumer based on the total electric power consumed and the available local electric power.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine the net electric power consumption based on the total electric power consumed minus the available local electric power.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine receipt of local electric power distributed by the first consumer as a part of the additional central electric power.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

determining net electric power consumption associated with a second consumer;

determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the second consumer is above an additional threshold level; and

distributing the additional central electric power to the second consumer in response to reducing the central electric power distributed to the first consumer and determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the second consumer is above an additional threshold level.

6. A system, comprising:

an electrical connection system associated with a structure, wherein the electrical connection system is configured to receive electric power; and

a control system associated with the structure, wherein the control system is configured to perform operations comprising:

determining total electric power consumed based on the electric power received by the electrical connection system;

determining available local electric power from a local electric power source for distribution to the electrical connection system;

determining that net electric power consumption based on the total electric power consumed and the available local electric power;

receiving one or more user inputs to increase distribution of electric power to an additional electrical connection system, wherein the one or more user inputs relate to prioritizations of electrical outlets corresponding to specific devices of a plurality of devices associated with the additional electrical connection system;

reducing central electric power distributed from a central electric power source to the electrical connection system in response to determining that the net electric power consumption is below a threshold level;

increasing central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the additional electrical connection system in response to receiving the one or more user inputs and reducing the central electric power distributed to the electrical connection system; and

enabling and/or blocking one or more flows of the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the additional electrical connection system to the plurality of devices associated with the additional electrical connection system based on the prioritizations of the electrical outlets corresponding to the specific devices of the plurality of devices associated with the additional electrical connection system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the control system is configured to determine the available local electric power based on local electric power generated via the local electric power source, local electric power stored at the local electric power source, or both.

8. The system of claim 6 , comprising the local electric power source, wherein the local electric power source comprises a solar panel, a generator, a power storage, a wind turbine, or any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the electrical connection system is configured to receive the central electric power from the central electric power source and local electric power from the local electric power source, and the electrical connection system is configured to enable flow of the central electric power, the local electric power, or both to a plurality of devices associated with the electrical connection system.

10. A system, comprising:

a first control system comprising first processing circuitry configured to operate a first electrical connection system to control a first flow of electric power to a first plurality of devices associated with the first electrical connection system;

a second control system comprising second processing circuitry configured to operate a second electrical connection system to control a second flow of electric power to a second plurality of devices associated with the second electrical connection system; and

a monitoring system comprising third processing circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving one or more user inputs to increase distribution of central electric power from a central electric power source to the second electrical connection system, wherein the one or more user inputs relate to prioritizations of electrical outlets corresponding to specific devices of the second plurality of devices associated with the second electrical connection system;

reducing central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the first electrical connection system in response to receiving the one or more user inputs;

increasing the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the second electrical connection system in response to receiving the one or more user inputs; and

enabling and/or blocking one or more flows of the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the second electrical connection system to the second plurality of devices associated with the second electrical connection system based on the prioritizations of the electrical outlets corresponding to the specific devices of the second plurality of devices associated with the second electrical connection system.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the third processing circuitry of the monitoring system is configured to perform operations comprising:

determining net electric power consumption associated with the first electrical connection system;

determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the first electrical connection system is below a threshold level; and

reducing the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the first electrical connection system in response to receiving the one or more user inputs and determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the first electrical connection system is below the threshold level.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the third processing circuitry of the monitoring system is configured to perform operations comprising:

determining net electric power consumption associated with the second electrical connection system;

determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the second electrical connection system exceeds a threshold level; and

increasing the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the second electrical connection system in response to receiving the one or more user inputs and determining that the net electric power consumption associated with the second electrical connection system exceeds the threshold level.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the third processing circuitry of the monitoring system is configured to increase the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the second electrical connection system by a first amount based on a second amount in which the net electric power consumption associated with the second electrical connection system exceeds the threshold level.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first processing circuitry of the first control system is configured to transmit the one or more user inputs to increase the distribution of the central electric power from the central electric power source to the second electrical connection system, and the third processing circuitry of the monitoring system is configured to receive the one or more user inputs via the first control system.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first flow of electric power controlled by the first control system via the first electrical connection system comprises the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the first electrical connection system, and the second flow of electric power controlled by the second control system via the second electrical connection system comprises the central electric power distributed from the central electric power source to the second electrical connection system.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first flow of electric power controlled by the first control system via the first electrical connection system comprises local electric power distributed from a first local electric power source to the first electrical connection system, and the second flow of electric power controlled by the second control system via the second electrical connection system comprises local electric power distributed from a second local electric power source, separate from the first local electric power source, to the second electrical connection system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: UIPCO, LLC
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 070436/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2022
From: BUENTELLO, ANDRE RENE; BITTER, DUSTIN BOWEN; RICKS, BRENNEN MICHAEL; ROMERO, JOSE L., JR.
To: UIPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 059462/0716 →
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