Power generator management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11002184-B2
Application number	US-202016750232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2020
Priority date	Feb 26, 2019
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A power generator management system comprises a plurality of power generators, and an information processing apparatus configured to process information acquired from the plurality of power generators. Each power generator comprises: a detection unit configured to detect a remaining fuel amount in a fuel tank of the power generator; a position acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the power generator; a state acquisition unit configured to acquire information representing an operating state of the power generator; and a communication unit configured to transmit the remaining fuel amount, the position information, and information representing the operating state to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus comprises a processing unit configured to acquire a margin level of power supply in each of the plurality of power generators and provide a result of the acquisition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power generator management system comprising a plurality of power generators, and an information processing apparatus configured to process information acquired from the plurality of power generators,
wherein each of the plurality of power generators comprises:
a detection unit configured to detect a remaining fuel amount in a fuel tank of the power generator;
a position acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the power generator;
a state acquisition unit configured to acquire information representing an operating state of the power generator; and
a communication unit configured to transmit the remaining fuel amount, the position information, and information representing the operating state to the information processing apparatus via a network, and
the information processing apparatus comprises an information processing unit configured to acquire a margin level of power supply in each of the plurality of power generators based on the information transmitted from the plurality of power generators and provide a result of the acquisition.

2. The power generator management system according to claim 1 , wherein the power generator further comprises
a remaining amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining fuel amount in a reserve tank, and
the communication unit transmits information representing the remaining fuel amount in the fuel tank and information representing the remaining fuel amount in the reserve tank to the information processing apparatus.

3. The power generator management system according to claim 2 , wherein the remaining amount acquisition unit acquires the information representing the remaining fuel amount in the reserve tank based on information input from an input unit.

4. The power generator management system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a setting unit configured to set a priority order to supply fuel to each of the plurality of power generators, and
the setting unit sets the priority order based on the position information and information representing the remaining fuel amount.

5. The power generator management system according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing unit acquires installation position information of a facility capable of providing fuel to the power generator, and
the setting unit sets the priority order based on comparison between the installation position information and the position information of each of the plurality of power generators.

6. The power generator management system according to claim 5 , wherein the setting unit sets the priority order in accordance with a distance from each power generator to the facility.

7. The power generator management system according to claim 4 , wherein the power generator further comprises a control unit configured to control the power generator,
wherein the control unit calculates a power margin level representing a degree of margin of power supply based on information representing a power generation capability of the power generator and the information representing the remaining fuel amount, and
the communication unit transmits the power margin level to the information processing apparatus.

8. The power generator management system according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing unit acquires a power margin level representing a degree of margin of power supply in each power generator based on information representing a power generation capability of the power generator and the information representing the remaining fuel amount, which are transmitted from each of the plurality of power generators.

9. The power generator management system according to claim 7 , wherein the setting unit sets the priority order to supply fuel to each of the plurality of power generators based on the power margin level.

10. The power generator management system according to claim 4 , wherein the setting unit acquires information representing the remaining fuel amount at every predetermined timing from each of the plurality of power generators, and calculates a fuel consumption rate in each power generator based on a time-rate change of the information representing the remaining fuel amount.

11. The power generator management system according to claim 10 , wherein the setting unit sets the priority order based on the fuel consumption rate.

12. The power generator management system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing unit
specifies, based on the position information, a base where each power generator is arranged, and
collects, via the network, fuel information from a vehicle located within a predetermined range with respect to the base as a center.

13. The power generator management system according to claim 12 , wherein the information processing unit outputs, via the network, a control signal to the vehicle such that the vehicle moves to the base.

14. The power generator management system according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit of the power generator
specifies, based on the position information, a base where the power generator is arranged, and
collects, via the network, fuel information from a vehicle located within a predetermined range with respect to the base as a center.

15. The power generator management system according to claim 7 , wherein the information processing unit provides, based on the information transmitted from the plurality of power generators, information that combines the position information of the power generator in the operating state and the power margin level to an external information terminal device via the network.

16. The power generator management system according to claim 15 , wherein the information processing unit provides information that combines information arranged in descending order of the power margin level and information of a base where the power generator corresponding to the power margin level is arranged, and causes a display unit of the information terminal device to display the information.

17. The power generator management system according to claim 15 , wherein the information processing unit provides position information of a base of the highest power margin level in a plurality of bases and route information for guidance to the base, and causes the display unit of the information terminal device to display the information.

18. The power generator management system according to claim 15 , wherein the information processing unit
determines, based on the information representing the operating state, whether a power generator in a stop state exists among the plurality of power generators, and
assigns the power generator in the stop state as a power generator in a base of the lowest power margin level in the plurality of bases.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hashizume Takashi
• Dobashi Manabu
• Matsuhisa Tetsuya
• HISADA Ryota

Classifications

• F02B63/048 Primary

  Portable engine-generator combinations · CPC title

• B60K5/1216

  characterised by the location of the supports relative to the motor or to each other (B60K5/1225 takes precedence) · CPC title