A method includes the steps of obtaining distance measurements between a device and a number of lighting fixtures, processing the distance measurements to assign coordinates to each one of the lighting fixtures, and facilitating registration of the coordinates of a subset of the lighting fixtures to obtain registered coordinates for all of the lighting fixtures. The coordinates indicate a relative location of each one of the lighting fixtures with respect to one another. The registered coordinates indicate a location of each lighting fixture in a desired coordinate space. Accordingly, a location of a lighting fixture within a desired coordinate space can be easily obtained, which may enable significant additional functionality of the lighting fixture.

A solar power system and method of data sampling to predict how much energy a solar power system will generate is disclosed. The solar power system consists of a solar panel, a battery, a sensor adapted to monitor the amount of energy, e.g. by sensing the current and voltage, generated by the solar panel, a controller which regulates the charge of the battery, and a processor which is adapted to monitor the charge of the battery. The processor receives signals from the sensor and stores the information in non-transitory memory. This solar power system may be used to operate various home automation devices, including but not limited to automated window coverings or windows. The processor preferably communicates with a user interface, which will enable the user to program the operation of the automated windows, and also view how much battery charge will be left for the remainder of the day and night.

A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of voltage measurement using paired t statistical analysis applied to calculating a shift in average usage per customer from one time period to another time period for a given electrical use population where the pairing process is optimized using a novel technique to improve the accuracy of the statistical measurement.

An information equipment 300 located in a consumer's facility 300 includes a reception unit 310 and a transmission unit 320 that performs transmission and reception of a command conforming to a predetermined protocol with a HEMS 200 via a network connected to the HEMS 200, and receives an operational instruction from the HEMS 200 and a control unit 340 that controls an operation of the information equipment 300 according to the operational instruction. The transmission unit 320 transmits a breakdown notification message indicating that the network has had a breakdown to the HEMS 200 when the network is restored after the breakdown.

Presented is an electronic meter for supplying driving power to a battery module charged by wireless power transmission. The presented electronic meter includes a usage detection module for detecting energy usage of a consumer, a control module for generating meter data based on the energy usage detected by the usage detection module, a communication module for transmitting the meter data generated by the control module to a meter reading server or a repeater, a battery module composed of a secondary cell, and for supplying driving power to the usage detection module, the control module, and the communication module, and a wireless power receiving module for receiving power wirelessly from a wireless power transmission device to charge the battery module.

Apparatuses including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are provided. The utility meter circuitry is configured to measure usage of electricity supplied by an electric utility to a premise of a customer of the electric utility. The power electronics circuitry is configured to regulate a voltage level supplied to the premise of the customer. Moreover, the communications circuitry is configured to provide communications with a first electronic device of the customer at the premise of the customer and to provide communications with a second electronic device that is upstream from the apparatus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including utility meter, power electronics, and communications circuitry are also provided.

An example battery charging system utilizes demand response management to reduce energy consumption during times of high demand. The system includes a plurality of battery chargers and a charge controller in communication with the plurality of battery chargers. The charge controller may be configured to receive, from each of the plurality of battery chargers, a respective state of charge of a battery coupled to the battery charger, receive data indicative of a demand on a power source that provides power to the plurality of battery chargers, calculate a charge reduction quantity for one or more of the battery chargers according to the demand data, the states of charge of the batteries, and/or the prioritizations of batteries to meet operational needs, and transmit the charge reduction quantities to the one or more battery chargers.

A direct current (DC) bus voltage from a combined output of a plurality of DC power modules is controlled based on an alternating current (AC) voltage of a power grid. The DC bus voltage tracks the AC grid voltage to provide efficient conversion between the DC power sources and the AC grid, even when the amplitude of the AC grid voltage varies. In one example, a variable reference voltage is generated based on a detected AC grid voltage. The reference voltage increases and decreases in proportion to increases and decreases in the AC grid voltage. In this manner, large differences between the bus voltage and the grid voltage are avoided. By closely tracking the two voltages, efficiency in the modulation index for power conversion can be achieved.

A computer-implemented method and system is provided. The system adaptively switches prediction strategies to optimize time-variant energy demand and consumption of built environments associated with renewable energy sources. The system analyzes a first, second, third, fourth and a fifth set of statistical data. The system derives of a set of prediction strategies for controlled and directional execution of analysis and evaluation of a set of predictions for optimum usage and operation of the plurality of energy consuming devices. The system monitors a set of factors corresponding to the set of prediction strategies and switches a prediction strategy from the set of derived prediction strategies. The system predicts a set of predictions for identification of a potential future time-variant energy demand and consumption and predicts a set of predictions. The system manipulates an operational state of the plurality of energy consuming devices and the plurality of energy storage and supply means.

A system providing connectivity management is provided. The system comprises: a content management server configured to manage connectivity for a network; one or more central controllers configured to collect connectivity information for at least a portion of the network for use by the content management server; and at least one outlet having one or more ports for receiving one or more plugs, wherein connectivity information is communicated between the outlet and the central controller through one or more wireless communication interface.