Connection locator in a power aggregation system for distributed electric resources

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a service establishes individual Internet connections to numerous electric resources intermittently connected to the power grid, such as electric vehicles. The Internet connection may be made over the same wire that connects the resource to the power grid. The service optimizes power flows to suit the needs of each resource and each resource owner, while aggregating flows across numerous resources to suit the needs of the power grid. The service can bring vast numbers of electric vehicle batteries online as a new, dynamically aggregated power resource for the power grid. Electric vehicle owners can participate in an electricity trading economy regardless of where they plug into the power grid.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of determining an electric network location associated with a connection location of an electric vehicle, comprising:
 obtaining physical location information, wherein the physical location information is associated with a physical charging location on a power grid; and   determining an electric network location of an electric resource from the physical location information, wherein the electric resource is an electric vehicle, wherein the electric network location of the electric resource is associated with a connection location for the electric resource on the power grid.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein obtaining physical location information comprises receiving a unique identifier of a device and associating the unique identifier with a location of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein determining the electric network location includes associating the electric network location with the location of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein obtaining physical location information includes receiving a unique identifier associated with a device in a physical location in order to determine an electric network location of the electric resource connected to the electric network. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising sending the unique identifier to a service, wherein the service matches an electrical network location with the unique identifier. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising using the determined electrical network location for accurate control of aggregating power of multiple electric resources. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the service uses the determined electrical network location for a transaction associated with using or providing energy. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the device is selected from the group of devices consisting of a smart meter, a modem, a router, a network switch, a cable television set-top box, a TV remote, a garage door opener, an alarm system, an automotive satellite radio, a radio frequency identifier (RFID)-based unit, a cell phone tower, a cell phone, and a location identification beacon placed in the location with an associated location unique identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the unique identifier comprises a media access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein a service maps the MAC address to a location on the electrical network. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the device sends the unique ID back to a newly connected electric resource and the electric resource sends the unique identifier to the service. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the device sends the unique identifier and an identity of a newly connected electric resource to the service and the service determines the location of the newly connected electric resource. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the electric resource obtains the unique identifier via a wireless transmission or via a powerline carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A method for approximating the location of an electric vehicle connected to an electric power grid, comprising:
 acquiring a unique identifier and a signal strength from at least one wireless transceiver in proximity to an electric resource; wherein the electric resource is an electric vehicle; and   approximating a location of the electric resource by relating the signal strength to a distance between the electric resource and the corresponding wireless transceiver, wherein the location of the electric resource is associated with a connection location for the electric resource on an electric power grid.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the wireless transceivers comprise base stations of a GSM/UMTS wireless network, CDMA/CDMA2000 wireless network, a 802.16/WiMax wireless network, or an 802.11/WiFi wireless network. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the approximate location comprises an electricity account, an address, or a power grid control area. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the approximating uses one or more of past history of resource connection location, resource owner information such as home or work location, or querying the resource owner to confirm the resource location. 
     
     
         18 . A method for determining an approximate location of an electric vehicle on an electric power grid, comprising:
 acquiring global positioning satellite (GPS) signals at an electric resource; wherein the electric resource is an electric vehicle; and   inferring an approximate location of the electric resource on an electrical network by matching a GPS location with a map of the electrical network, wherein the approximate location of the electric resource is associated with a connection location of the electric resource on an electric power grid.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the approximate location comprises an electricity account, an address, or a power grid control area. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the inference uses one or more of past history of resource connection location, resource owner information such as home or work location, or querying the resource owner to confirm the resource location.