Managing power utilized within a local power network

Abstract

Power utilized in a local power network may be managed. The local power network may include a power management system. The power management system may communicate with one or more of a circuit controller, a switch controller, and/or an outlet controller in order to manage power utilization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power management system configured to manage power utilization of one or more of loads within a local power network of a temporary structure, the power management system comprising:
 a communicative connection configured to be communicatively coupled with a circuit controller of a distribution board installed in the temporary structure, the distribution board being configured to divide electrical power among one or more circuits each configured to contain at least one load, the circuit controller being configured to reversibly effectuate energization and deactivation of individual ones of the one or more circuits, wherein a given load is electrically coupled with a given circuit via a lighting fixture or an outlet receptacle installed in the temporary structure; and   one or more processors configured by computer readable instructions to:
 provide a graphical user interface for presentation to a user, the graphical user interface being configured to receive, from the user, a set of power management parameters including a total power usage limit associated with one load and/or one circuit; 
 automatically generate instructions for the circuit controller, the generated instructions being configured to effectuate energization and deactivation of the one or more circuits by the circuit controller, wherein the generated instructions are based on the total power usage limit associated with the one load and/or the one circuit and are further based on a historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit during two or more discrete time periods that are separated by at least one time period, wherein the historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit reflects how power is consumed by the one load and/or one circuit; and 
 transmit the generated instructions from the power management system to the circuit controller via the communicative connection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power management system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an amount of power utilized by the one load.   
     
     
         3 . The power management system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 calculate an electric bill estimation based at least in part on the amount of power utilized by the one load.   
     
     
         4 . The power management system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 obtain an identity of the one load, the generated instructions being based at least in part on the identity of the at least one load.   
     
     
         5 . The power management system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 manage a schedule associated with the one load, the schedule indicative of time periods of energization and deactivation of the one or more circuits, the generated instructions being based at least in part on the schedule.   
     
     
         6 . The power management system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 manage one or more business rules, the generated instructions based at least in part on the one or more business rules.   
     
     
         7 . The power management system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 adaptively manage goals associated with power utilization.   
     
     
         8 . The power management system of  claim 1 , wherein the communicative connection includes a power line that facilitates power line communication. 
     
     
         9 . A circuit controller configured to control a distribution board that divides electrical power among one or more circuits each configured to contain at least one load within a local power network of a temporary structure, the circuit controller comprising:
 a communicative connection configured to be communicatively coupled with a power management system, the power management system configured (1) to receive, from a user via a graphical user interface provided by an interface included in the power management system, a set of power management parameters including a total power usage limit associated with one load and/or one circuit, (2) to automatically generate instructions for the circuit controller to effectuate energization and deactivation of the one or more circuits based on the total power usage limit associated with the one load and/or the one circuit and further based on a historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit during two or more discrete time periods that are separated by at least one time period, the historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit reflecting how power is consumed by the one load and/or one circuit, and (3) to transmit the generated instructions from the power management system to the circuit controller, wherein the distribution board is installed in the temporary structure, and wherein a given load is electrically coupled with a given circuit via a lighting fixture or an outlet receptacle installed in the temporary structure; and   one or more processors configured by computer readable instructions to:
 receive the generated instructions from the power management system via the communicative connection; and 
 reversibly effectuate energization and deactivation of the one or more circuits in response to the generated instructions. 
   
     
     
         10 . The circuit controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an indication of an amount of power utilized by the one load; and   transmit the indication to the power management system.   
     
     
         11 . The circuit controller of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an identity of the at least one load; and   transmit the identity of the one load to the power management system.   
     
     
         12 . The circuit controller of  claim 9 , wherein the generated instructions are based at least in part on the identity of the one load. 
     
     
         13 . A switch controller configured to control a switch configured to be electrically coupled with at least one load within a local power network of a temporary structure, the switch controller comprising:
 a communicative connection configured to be communicatively coupled with a power management system, the power management system configured (1) to receive, from a user via a graphical user interface provided by an interface included in the power management system, a set of power management parameters including a total power usage limit associated with one load and/or one circuit, (2) to automatically generate instructions for the switch controller to effectuate energization and deactivation of at least one load based on the total power usage limit associated with the one load and/or the one circuit and further based on a historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit during two or more discrete time periods that are separated by at least one time period, the historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit reflecting how power is consumed by the one load and/or one circuit and (3) to transmit the generated instructions from the power management system to the switch controller, wherein the switch is installed in the temporary structure, and wherein a given load is electrically coupled with a given circuit via a lighting fixture or an outlet receptacle installed in the temporary structure; and   one or more processors configured by computer readable instructions to:
 receive the generated instructions from the power management system via the communicative connection; and 
 reversibly effectuate energization and deactivation of the at least one load electrically coupled to the switch in response to the generated instructions by reversibly effectuating energization and deactivation of the switch and/or by modulating the switch. 
   
     
     
         14 . The switch controller of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an indication of an amount of power utilized by the one load; and   transmit the indication to the power management system.   
     
     
         15 . The switch controller of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an identity of the one load; and   transmit the identity of the one load to the power management system.   
     
     
         16 . The switch controller of  claim 15 , wherein the generated instructions are based at least in part on the identity of the one load. 
     
     
         17 . An outlet controller configured to control an outlet receptacle configured to be electrically coupled with at least one load within a local power network of a temporary structure, the outlet controller comprising:
 a communicative connection configured to be communicatively coupled with a power management system, the power management system configured (1) to receive, from a user via a graphical user interface provided by an interface included in the power management system, a set of power management parameters including a total power usage limit associated with one load and/or one circuit, (2) to automatically generate instructions for the outlet controller to effectuate energization and deactivation of the at least one load based on the total power usage limit associated with the one load and/or the one circuit and further based on a historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit during two or more discrete time periods that are separated by at least one time period, the historical usage pattern of the one load and/or the one circuit reflecting how power is consumed by the one load and/or one circuit and (3) to transmit the generated instructions from the power management system to the outlet controller, wherein the outlet receptacle is installed in one of the temporary structure; and   one or more processors configured by computer readable instructions to:
 receive the generated instructions from the power management system via the communicative connection; and 
 reversibly effectuate energization and deactivation of the at least one load electrically coupled to the outlet receptacle in response to the generated instructions by reversibly effectuating energization and deactivation of the outlet receptacle. 
   
     
     
         18 . The outlet controller of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an indication of an amount of power utilized by the one load; and   transmit the indication to the power management system.   
     
     
         19 . The outlet controller of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine an identity of the at least one load; and   transmit the identity of the one load to the power management system.   
     
     
         20 . The outlet controller of  claim 19 , wherein the generated instructions are based at least in part on the identity of the one load.