System and method for using a network to control multiple power management systems

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a method a method of using a network which to control multiple power management systems. The method includes using the network to access multiple generator controllers where each generator controller operates an internal combustion engine driven generator that is part of a respective power management system. Each respective power management system includes an automatic transfer switch that is configured to receive power from the internal combustion engine driven generator and a primary power source. In some embodiments, using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes using a server on the network to access multiple generator controllers. The method further includes using the network to exchange communications with the generator controller in each of the multiple power management systems in order permit the generator controllers to exercise the internal combustion driven generators in each of the respective power management systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a network to control multiple power management systems, the method comprising:
 using the network to access multiple generator controllers, wherein each generator controller operates an internal combustion engine driven generator that is part of a respective power management system, and wherein each respective power management system includes an automatic transfer switch that is configured to receive power from the internal combustion engine driven generator and a primary power source; and   using the network to exchange communications with the generator controller in each of the multiple power management systems in order permit the generator controllers to exercise the internal combustion driven generators in each of the respective power management systems.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes connecting to the network with an electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein connecting to the network with an electronic device includes connecting to the network with a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes using a server on the network to access multiple generator controllers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising providing environmental data to the server, wherein using a server on the network to access multiple generator controllers includes delivering the environmental data to the generator controllers in order permit the generator controllers to exercise the internal combustion engine generators that are part of the respective power management system based on the environmental data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein providing environmental data to the server includes using the network to supply the environmental data to the server. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the servers selects which of the power management systems to exchange communication with in order to exercise the respective internal combustion engine driven generators in those power management systems based on the environmental data are supplied to the generator controller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the network to notify a user when any type of fault occurs within any of the multiple generators when the generator controllers exercise the respective multiple generators. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending maintenance personnel to those generators where any type of fault occurs during exercise of the respective multiple generators including prioritizing an order in which the maintenance personnel perform generator maintenance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes using the network to access multiple generator controllers within a particular geographic region. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a network to control multiple power management systems, the method comprising:
 using the network to access multiple generator controllers, wherein each generator controller operates an internal combustion engine driven generator that is part of a respective power management system and other electronic components that are part of a respective power management system; and   using the network to exchange communications with the generator controller in each of the multiple power systems in order permit the generator controllers to exercise the internal combustion driven generator and other electronic components in each of the respective power management systems.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes connecting to the network with an electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes using a server on the network to access multiple generator controllers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein using a server on the network to access multiple generator controllers includes displaying a status of each internal combustion engine driven generator and the other electronic components in each of the respective power management systems. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing environmental data to the server, wherein using a server on the network to access multiple generator controllers includes delivering the environmental data to the generator controllers in order permit the generator controllers to exercise the internal combustion engine generators and other electronic components in each of the respective power management systems based on the environmental data, wherein the servers selects which of the power management systems to exchange communication with in order to exercise the respective internal combustion engine driven generators and other electronic components in each of the respective power management systems based on the environmental data that is supplied to the generator controllers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing environmental data to the server includes using the network to supply the environmental data to the server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the network to notify a user when any type of fault occurs within any of the multiple generators and the other electronic components that are part of the respective power management systems when the generator controllers exercises the respective multiple generators and other electronic components that are part of the respective power management systems. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending maintenance personnel to those generators and other electronic components that are part of the respective power management systems where any type of fault occurs during exercise of the respective multiple generators and other electronic components that are part of the respective power management systems including prioritizing an order in which the maintenance personnel perform maintenance on the generators and other electronic components that are part of the respective power management systems. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , using the network to access multiple generator controllers includes using the network to access multiple generator controllers within a particular geographic region. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the other electronic components include at least one of an automatic transfer switch, a load control module and sensor inputs and power switching outputs.