Preventing unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10222774-B2
Application number	US-201715603918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2017
Priority date	May 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for preventing unauthorized movement of energy across grid networks due to portable storage devices are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units, restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes, restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes, mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of one or more of the distinct charging modes and one or more of the distinct discharging modes, and automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on the mapping and one or more contextual details.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising steps of:
dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units;
restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes;
restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes;
mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more of the distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more of the distinct discharging modes; and
automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details;
wherein the steps are carried out by at least one computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the portable energy storage device comprises a battery.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more distinct charging modes comprise an office charging mode and a home charging mode, and wherein the one or more distinct discharging modes comprise a self-discharging mode and a grid feed-in mode.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pre-defined rules comprise one or more user-defined rules.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more user-defined rules comprise one or more user-defined rules for selecting one or more of the multiple virtual energy sub-units for a particular one of the distinct charging modes if multiple options are permissible per said mapping.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more user-defined rules comprise one or more user-defined rules for selecting one or more of the multiple virtual energy sub-units for a particular one of the distinct discharging modes if multiple options are permissible per said mapping.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pre-defined rules comprise one or more rules pertaining to mapping feasibility.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more contextual details comprise one or more energy demand parameters associated with the portable energy storage device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more contextual details comprise one or more energy supply parameters.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more contextual details comprise one or more cost parameters.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:
tracking energy flow into and out of each of the virtual energy storage sub-units.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:
generating a user interface.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the user interface enables user access to a current state of one or more of the multiple virtual energy sub-units.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the user interface enables user-reconfiguration of said mapping.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the user interface enables user-definition of one or more user preferences.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to:
divide a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units;
restrict each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes;
restrict each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes;
map, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more of the distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more of the distinct discharging modes; and
automatically charge and automatically discharge the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details.

17. A system comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor operably coupled to the memory and configured for:
dividing a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units;
restricting each of one or more energy charging options to one or more distinct charging modes;
restricting each of one or more energy discharging options to one or more distinct discharging modes;
mapping, in accordance with one or more pre-defined rules, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more of the distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more of the distinct discharging modes; and
automatically charging and automatically discharging the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details.

18. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising steps of:
compartmentalizing energy stored in a portable energy storage device into multiple virtual energy storage sub-units, wherein the portable energy storage device is associated with a user;
mapping, based on one or more preferences defined by the user, each respective one of the multiple virtual energy sub-units to at least one of (i) one or more distinct charging modes and (ii) one or more distinct discharging modes;
charging and discharging the portable energy storage device based on (i) said mapping and (ii) one or more contextual details; and
precluding charging and discharging of the portable energy storage device under conditions that are in conflict with (i) said mapping and (ii) said one or more contextual details;
wherein the steps are carried out by at least one computing device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the portable energy storage device comprises a battery, wherein the one or more distinct charging modes comprise an office charging mode and a home charging mode, and wherein the one or more distinct discharging modes comprise a self-discharging mode and a grid feed-in mode.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , comprising:
generating a user interface, wherein the user interface enables the user to:
monitor a current state of storage capacity in the virtual energy storage sub-units;
re-define one or more of the preferences; and
reconfigure one or more mappings between the multiple virtual energy sub-units, the one or more of the distinct charging modes, and the one or more of the distinct discharging modes.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Chandan Vikas
• Dayama Pankaj
• Narayanam Krishnasuri

Classifications

• G05B19/042 Primary

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M10/44

  Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) · CPC title

• G05D23/19

  characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G05B2219/2639

  Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low · CPC title

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title