JP2003132121A - Consumptive medium supply system and consumptive medium supply method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a consumptive medium supply system and a consumptive medium supply method capable of effectively and efficiently utilizing electric power in both viewpoints of a consumer and an electric power company. SOLUTION: A consumer terminal 20 of a consumer, an electric power supply control server 30 of an intermediary, and electric power company terminals 51 to 53 of electric power companies A to C can mutually communicate through a communication network. The electric power supply control server 30 transmits supply request information J5 to the electric power company C after determining the electric power company C capable of supplying surplus electric power V to a dish washer 10 in the most inexpensive supply time zone TM most inexpensive in an electric power unit cost on the basis of registration request information J1 transmitted from the consumer terminal 20, and requests supply of the surplus electric power V to the dish washer 10. The consumer can operate the dish washer 10 at a low rate by consuming the surplus electric power V, and the electric power company C can turn the surplus electric power into sale.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a consumption medium supply system and a consumption medium supply method for supplying a consumption medium such as electric power to a consumer device such as a dishwasher used by a consumer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, power consumption by consumers has been increasing with the spread of various electric devices which consume electric power and operate. FIG. 9 shows a general transition of power consumption by consumers in one day. As shown by the curve (solid line) 9A in FIG. 9, the power consumption is generally
Daytime hours corresponding to consumer activity hours (for example, from 7 o'clock
It becomes relatively large at 21:00), while the nighttime zone corresponding to the sleeping time of the consumer (for example, 21:00 to 7).
It is known that it becomes relatively small in the time). The power consumption during the daytime is, for example, about 1.5 to 2 times the power consumption during the night.

An electric power company supplying electric power to consumers is shown in FIG.
The amount of power generation is adjusted according to the fluctuation tendency of the amount of power consumption by consumers as shown in Fig. 3, and in particular, a margin is provided for the amount of power generation so as not to hinder the supply of power. In addition, as a service related to the use of electricity to consumers, the electric power company provides, for example, discounts according to the amount of contracted electric power that sets the difference in the electric power usage charge depending on the amount of contracted electric power, and contract hours (for example, daytime, nighttime, and midnight power). Such as discounts by contract hours that provide differences in power usage charges depending on the time of day, etc.) or discounts by contract power that provide differences in power usage charges depending on the type of contract power (for example, commercial power or high-voltage power). There is a charge category.

[0004]

However, in the conventional power supply method, it is difficult to effectively and efficiently use the power from the viewpoints of the consumer and the power company for the following reasons. There was a problem.

That is, from the viewpoint of the electric power company, as is well known, it is difficult to accumulate a large amount of electric power at one time, so the margin of the above-mentioned power generation amount is regarded as "excess electric power", and this surplus electric power is considered. Electricity is likely to be wasted without being directly connected to sales. Naturally, it is expected that a large amount of surplus electricity will be generated during the daytime hours when the tendency of consumers to consume electricity is high. In order for electric power companies to aim for effective and efficient power supply, it is necessary to reduce waste of surplus power.

As a concrete measure for reducing the excess power itself in order to improve the waste of the excess power, for example, a discount according to the contracted power amount exchanged between the consumer and the power company, etc. There is a method in which the electric power company grasps the required amount of power generation based on the contents of the contract, and prevents the generation of surplus power as much as possible. However, it is practically difficult for electric power companies to accurately grasp the amount of power generation that is required, as electricity consumption by consumers usually fluctuates depending on factors such as season and climate. .

On the other hand, from the consumer's point of view, there is a demand to consume electric power at the lowest possible price. As a service that can meet the demands of such consumers, there are charge categories such as the discounts for each contract time zone described above. Despite knowing that consumers who consume electricity are cheaper, the current fee system makes it unattractive to use electric equipment at midnight, which is outside the working hours.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to supply a consumption medium capable of effectively and efficiently utilizing electric power from the viewpoint of both consumers and electric power companies. It is to provide a system and a consumption medium supply method.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A consumption medium supply system of the present invention is a consumer terminal that uses one or more consumer devices and a supplier that can supply the consumer media to one or more consumer devices. And a terminal of an intermediary that mediates the supply of the consumption medium between the consumer and the supplier, and the terminal of the consumer, the terminal of the supplier, and the terminal of the intermediary are connected via a communication network. The intermediary terminal is a consumer and the intermediary terminal has registration request information including the type of consumer device to be operated among one or more consumer devices, its operating time, and its operating time zone. The registration means for registering the registration request information when sent from the terminal of the terminal, and the surplus consumption that can be supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the operating time period based on the registration request information registered by the registration means. Place of medium Confirmation request means for sending confirmation request information including a request for confirmation to the supplier's terminal, and a presentation that can supply surplus consumption media to a consumer device to be operated at a predetermined unit consumption price during an operating time period. In response to the presentation requesting means for transmitting the presentation requesting information including the request for the presentation of the supply time zone to the terminal of the supplier, the confirmation requesting information transmitted by the confirmation requesting means and the presentation requesting information presented by the presentation requesting means Then, when response information is sent from the supplier's terminal, including the fact that an excess consumer medium can be supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time zone, the consumption to be operated based on the presentation supply time zone Selection determining means for selecting and deciding a supplier as a supply source of the surplus consumption medium for the equipment, and for supplying the surplus consumption medium to the consumption equipment to be operated in the presented supply time zone. Request means for transmitting supply request information including a request for supply processing to the terminal of the supplier, and surplus consumer equipment to be operated in the presented supply time zone presented by the supplier selected and determined by the selection determining means. And a notification means for transmitting supply execution information including notification that the consumption medium is supplied to the consumer's terminal.

In the consumption medium supply system of the present invention, the confirmation request information and the presentation request information are sent from the intermediary terminal to the supplier terminal based on the registration request information transmitted from the consumer terminal to the intermediary terminal. Sent. Then, based on the response information transmitted from the terminal of the supplier to the terminal of the intermediary, after the supplier is selected and determined as the source of the surplus consumption medium for the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time zone, The supply request information is transmitted from the intermediary terminal to the supplier terminal, and the supply execution information is transmitted from the intermediary terminal to the consumer terminal. As a result, the surplus medium owned by the supplier is utilized mainly from the viewpoints of both the consumer and the supplier, so that the surplus consumption medium can be effectively and efficiently used.

The consumption medium supply method of the present invention is a method of supplying a consumption medium to one or more consumer devices used by a consumer, and the consumer and one or more consumer devices are supplied from a consumer's terminal. In the terminal of the intermediary that mediates the supply of the consumption medium to the supplier capable of supplying the consumption medium, the type of the consumption device to be operated among the one or more consumption devices, the operation time, and A first step of notifying registration request information including the operating time period, a second step of the intermediary's terminal registering the registration request information notified from the consumer's terminal, and a supply from the intermediary's terminal A third step of notifying the person's terminal, based on the registration request information, of confirmation request information including a request for confirmation of ownership of a surplus consumption medium that can be supplied to a consumer device to be operated in the operating time period; , Intermediary From the end, notify the supplier's terminal of presentation request information including a request to present a presentation supply time zone during which the surplus consumption medium can be supplied at a predetermined consumption price to the consumer device to be operated during the operation time zone And the fact that an extra consumption medium can be supplied from the supplier's terminal to the intermediary's terminal according to the confirmation request information and the presentation request information to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time zone. The fifth step of notifying the reply information including the presentation supply time zone, and the terminal of the intermediary, based on the presentation supply time zone, selects the supplier as a source of the surplus consumption medium for the consumer device to be operated, and A sixth step of determining and a step of requesting a supply process from the intermediary terminal to the supplier's terminal for supplying an excessive consumption medium to a consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time zone. The seventh step of notifying the request information and notifying that the surplus consumption medium is supplied from the intermediary terminal to the consumer terminal to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time period presented by the supplier. The eighth step of notifying the supply execution information including the effect that the terminal of the consumer, the terminal of the supplier, and the terminal of the intermediary can communicate with each other via the communication network.

In the consumption medium supply method according to the present invention, first, in the first step, the consumer terminal and the consumer are connected to each other.
Alternatively, the type of the consumer device to be operated, of one or more consumer devices, on the terminal of the intermediary that mediates the supply of the consumer medium to the supplier capable of supplying the consumer medium to the two or more consumer devices. The registration request information including the operating hours, the operating hours, and the operating hours is notified. Subsequently, in the second step, the registration request information notified from the terminal of the consumer is registered by the terminal of the intermediary. Then, in the third step, from the intermediary terminal to the supplier terminal,
Based on the registration request information, confirmation request information including a request for confirmation of ownership of a surplus consumer medium that can be supplied to a consumer device that is desired to operate in the operating time zone is notified. Then, in the fourth step, from the terminal of the intermediary to the terminal of the supplier, in the operation time period, the excess supply of the consumption medium to the consumer device to be operated can be supplied at a predetermined consumption price. Presentation request information including a request for presentation is notified. Subsequently, in a fifth step, an excessive consumption medium can be supplied from the supplier's terminal to the intermediary's terminal according to the confirmation request information and the presentation request information to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time period. The reply information including the effect and the presentation supply time zone is notified. Subsequently, in a sixth step, the intermediary's terminal selects and determines the supplier as a supply source of the surplus consumption medium for the consumer device to be operated based on the presented supply time zone. Subsequently, in a seventh step, a supply request including a request from the intermediary terminal to the supplier's terminal for a supply process for supplying an excessive consumption medium to a consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time period. Information is notified. Finally, in the eighth step, from the intermediary terminal to the consumer terminal,
Supply execution information including notification that the surplus consumption medium is supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the presented supply time zone presented by the supplier is notified. Notification between the consumer's terminal, the supplier's terminal, and the intermediary's terminal is performed by communication via a communication network.

Further, in the consumption medium supply system of the present invention, when a surplus consumption medium is supplied from a supplier to a consumer device to be operated, an operating signal is output to the consumer device to be operated and the consumer device is automatically operated. You may make it provide the automatic operating means.

In the consumer media supply system of the present invention, the intermediary terminal may be capable of communicating with a plurality of consumer terminals via a communication network.

Further, in the consumption medium supply system of the present invention, the intermediary terminal can communicate with the terminals of a plurality of suppliers capable of supplying the consumption medium to one or more consumer devices via the communication network. You may do it. In this case, the confirmation requesting means is for transmitting the confirmation requesting information to the terminals of the plurality of suppliers, and the presentation requesting means is for transmitting the presentation requesting information to the terminals of the plurality of suppliers. The determining means selects, as the cheapest supply time zone, the lowest supply time zone in which the unit price for consumption is the lowest, based on the plurality of supply time zones in the presentation transmitted from the terminals of the plurality of suppliers. From the above, the supplier that has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone is determined as the source of the surplus consumption medium for the consumer equipment to be operated, and the requesting means The supply request information is transmitted to the terminal of the supplier who has presented the corresponding presentation supply time zone,
The notification means, in the supply execution information to be sent to the consumer's terminal,
It seems to include notification that the supplier who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone notifies the consumer equipment to operate in the cheapest supply time zone that the excessive consumption medium is supplied. Is preferred.

According to the consumption medium supply method of the present invention, the consumer device desired to be operated can be remotely controlled via the communication network, and further, the surplus consumer medium is supplied from the supplier to the consumer device desired to be operated. In some cases, the intermediary's terminal may include a ninth step of remotely operating and automatically operating the consumer device to be operated.

Further, in the consumption medium supply method of the present invention, the intermediary terminal may be capable of communicating with a plurality of consumer terminals via a communication network.

Further, in the consumption medium supply method of the present invention, the intermediary terminal can communicate with the terminals of a plurality of suppliers capable of supplying the consumption medium to one or more consumer devices via the communication network. You may do it. In this case, in the third step, the intermediary terminal notifies the plurality of supplier terminals of the confirmation request information, and in the fourth step, the intermediary terminal transmits the plurality of supplier terminals. The presentation request information is notified, and in the fifth step, the terminal of the intermediary is based on the plurality of presentation supply time zones notified from the terminals of the plurality of suppliers, and the presentation supply time zone with the lowest unit consumption price is presented. Is selected as the cheapest supply time zone, and the supplier of the surplus consumption medium for the consumer device that wants to operate the supplier that has presented the suggested supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone from multiple suppliers So that you decide
In the sixth step, the intermediary terminal notifies the supply request information to the terminal of the supplier who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone, and in the seventh step, the intermediary terminal In the supply execution information notified to the consumer's terminal from the supplier, the surplus consumption medium is supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the cheapest supply time zone from the supplier who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone. It is preferable to include the notification of the fact.

Further, in the consumption medium supply system or the consumption medium supply method of the present invention, one or two or more consumer devices may consume power to operate.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Outline of Power Supply Method> First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a consumption medium supply method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a power supply method when, for example, power is used as a consumption medium,
FIG. 2 explains the selection contents of the cheapest supply time zone in the power supply method shown in FIG. It should be noted that the constant chain line in FIG. 1 indicates various information exchanged between the consumer terminal, the intermediary terminal (that is, the power supply management server) and the power company terminal, and the two-dot chain line indicates the power supply management server. It shows a predetermined signal transmitted from.

This power supply method is mainly performed by the consumer terminal 20 of the consumer, the power supply management server 30 of the intermediary, and the power company terminals 51 to 53 of the power companies A to C (suppliers).
Can be communicated with each other via a predetermined communication network, and can be established by transmitting and receiving information on power supply and consumption between each terminal. It is also used efficiently. Below, the communication contents using each terminal by a consumer, an intermediary, and electric power companies A to C will be described in order.

<< Communication by Consumer Using Consumer Terminal >> The consumer consumes the electric power supplied from the electric power companies A to C to use one or more electric devices (consumer devices), and He is a person who runs a life activity by paying the power company a power usage fee according to his own power usage.

The consumer uses the consumer terminal 20 to operate electricity that he or she wants to operate, for example, based on the charge category such as the current discounted amount by contracted electric power, discounted by contracted time period, or discounted by contracted electric power. Type of equipment (for example, dishwasher 10 installed in consumer home 1; hereinafter referred to as "designated operation equipment"), time when dishwasher 10 is to be actually operated (for example, 30 minutes; hereinafter, "designated") The operation time TW ”), and the registration request information J1 including the time range in which the dishwasher 10 is to be operated for the specified operation time TW (for example, 21:00 to 23:00; hereinafter referred to as the“ specified operation time zone TS ”). Notify the supply management server 30. The “designated operating device” here does not require continuous operation for a long period of time, unlike a refrigerator, for example, and can be operated for a designated operating time TW within a designated operating time zone TS. As long as it means an electric device that does not need to be specified in its operating period. In particular,
For example, like the dishwasher 10, a dishwasher that does not necessarily need to be operated immediately after dinner and that can achieve the original purpose of washing dishes even when it is operated after the consumer goes to bed is applicable.

The reply to the registration request information J1 is notified from the power supply management server 30 to the consumer terminal 20 as supply execution information J6 described later. Details regarding the supply execution information J6 will be described in the following section “Communication by an intermediary using the power supply management server”. From the supply execution information J6, the consumer can confirm that the dishwasher 10 operates based on the registration request information J1 designated by the consumer.

The dishwasher 10 installed in the consumer's home 1 can be remotely operated by the power supply management server 30, for example. When the consumer inserts the dishes or the like to be washed in the dishwasher 10 in advance, the dishwasher 10 automatically operates and the dishes or the like are washed without requiring the operation of the consumer.

<< Communication by an intermediary using the power supply management server >> The intermediary is an intermediary regarding the supply of electric power between the consumer and the electric power companies A to C. It is an intermediary specialized company that does not own the equipment related to supply and whose main business is intermediary business. This intermediary contracts with the consumer for consumption of surplus electricity, for example, and
It contracts with electric power companies A to C to supply surplus power.

The intermediary, when notified of the registration request information J1 from the consumer terminal 20 to the power supply management server 30, registers the registration request information J1. Then, the intermediary calculates the expected power consumption of the dishwasher 10 based on the registration request information J1 using the power supply management server 30, and then calculates the surplus power in the designated operation time zone TS by the estimated power consumption. The power supply management server 30 notifies the power company management terminals 51 to 53 of the confirmation request information J2 including a request to confirm whether the device can be owned. In addition, for example, the intermediary requests, together with the confirmation request information J2, a presentation supply time period TB in the specified operation time period TS in which the excess power can be supplied to the dishwasher 10 at the specified operation time TW at a low price. The presentation request information J3 including the effect is provided to the power supply management server 30.
Notifies the power company terminals 51 to 53.

Confirmation request information J2 and presentation request information J3
Is a reply information J4 (J4A, J4
B, J4C) is notified from the power companies 51 to 53 to the power supply management server 30. The reply information J4A, J
4B and J4C are responses from electric power companies A, B and C, respectively. For more information about this reply information J4,
A description will be given in the section of << Communication using terminals for power companies by power companies A to C >> below. When the reply information J4 is notified, the mediator uses the power supply management server 30 to confirm that each of the power companies A to C owns the surplus power. Based on the presented presentation supply time zones TB, the presentation supply time zone TS with the lowest power unit price is selected as the cheapest supply time zone TM. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the power supply company A selects “21:00 to 23 as the presentation supply time zone TB.
Hour (electricity unit price: 6 yen / kWh) ", and from electric power company B to" 2
When 2 o'clock to 23 o'clock (electric power unit price: 5.90 yen / kWh) "and" 22:30 to 23 o'clock (electric power unit price: 5 yen / kWh) "are respectively presented by the electric power company C, the mediator By using the power supply management server 30, the presented supply time zone TB presented by the electric power company C is selected as the cheapest supply time zone TM from these presented supply time zones TB. Then, the intermediary uses the power supply management server 30 to determine the electric power company C as a source of surplus power to the dishwasher 10.

After determining the power supply source, the intermediary
The power supply management includes the supply request information J5 including the fact that the electric power company C has determined to be the supply source of the surplus power and the request for the supply process for supplying the surplus power to the dishwasher 10 in the cheapest supply time zone TM. Server 30 to power company terminal 5
Notify 3. Further, the mediator supplies the supply execution information J6 including the fact that the dishwasher 10 is supplied with the surplus power in the cheapest supply time zone TM and that the dishwasher 10 is automatically operated by remote control at this time. The power supply management server 30 notifies the consumer terminal 20. The supply execution information J6 includes, for example, information about the supply of the surplus power and the automatic operation of the dishwasher 10 as well as information such as a unit price of electricity accompanying the consumption of the surplus power.

In the cheapest supply time zone TM, the intermediary is
The power supply management server 30 sends an operation signal S to the dishwasher 10 to automatically operate the dishwasher 10.

The intermediaries are consumers and electric power companies A to C.
The contract fee is acquired from the electric power companies A to C on the basis of the contract relationship by intermediary between the contract companies. The contract fee is set to be, for example, a fixed rate (for example, 10%) with respect to the power rate associated with the consumption of surplus power by the consumer.

<< Communication of Electric Power Companies A to C Using Terminals for Electric Power Companies >> The electric power companies A to C are persons who can supply electric power to consumers, and, for example, equipment related to electric power supply such as a power plant. It is a power supply company that owns and mainly supplies power.

When the power supply management server 30 notifies the power company terminals 51 to 53 of the confirmation request information J2, the power companies A to C specify the designated operating time period TS based on the confirmation request information J2. At, it is confirmed whether surplus power can be owned by the expected power consumption of the dishwasher 10.

When the power supply management servers 30 notify the power company terminals 51 to 53 of the presentation request information J3, the power companies A to C confirm the ownership of the surplus power in the designated operation time zone TS. , The presentation supply time zone TB is determined. The presented supply time zone TB is, for example, a time zone in which the electric power companies A to C can supply electric power at the lowest rate based on their respective electric power rate systems in the designated operating time zone TS. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the electric power company A has a uniform electric power unit price of 6 yen / kWh in the designated operation time zone TS (for example, 21:00 to 23:00).
If it is, the presentation supply time period TB is set to “21:00 to 23
Hour (6 yen / kWh) ". In the designated operating time zone TS, the electric power company B, if the power unit price is 6.10.10 / kWh from 21:00 to 22:00 and 5.90 yen / kWh from 22:00 to 23:00, the presentation supply time is The belt TB is determined to be “22:00 to 23:00 (5.90 yen / kWh)”. The electric power company C, out of the designated operating hours TS, has an electric power unit price of 6 yen / kWh from 21:00 to 22:00 and 5.93 yen / kWh from 22:00 to 22:30 and 23:00.
If it is 5 yen / kWh from 0 minutes to 23:00, the presentation supply time period TB is set to “22:30 to 23:00 (5 yen / k
Wh) ”.

After determining the presentation supply time zone TB, the electric power companies A to C send the reply information J4 (J4A to J4C) including the fact that the ownership of the surplus power is confirmed and the presentation supply time zone,
From the power company terminals 51 to 53 to the power supply management server 30
To notify.

The electric power company C, which is determined as the source of the surplus electric power and the electric power supply management server 30 notifies the electric power company terminal 53 of the supply request information J5, is the electric power company terminal 53.
Is used to make a supply arrangement for supplying the surplus power V to the dishwasher 10 for the designated operating time TW in the cheapest supply time zone TM to the power plant of the company. As a result, in the cheapest supply time zone TM, the surplus power V is supplied to the dishwasher 10 from the power plant of the power company C or the like.

The series of communication of the consumer terminal 20, the power supply management server 30, and the power company terminals 51 to 53 related to the power supply method according to the present embodiment is performed by, for example, power consumption from the consumer terminal 20. The registration request information J1 may be performed once at each notification of the registration request information J1 to the supply management server 30, or after the consumer terminal 20 notifies the power supply management server 30 of the registration request information J1 once. The registration request information J1 may be repeatedly performed.

<Advantages of Power Supply Method> With the power supply method according to this embodiment, the consumer, the intermediary, and the power company C each obtain the following benefits.

That is, the consumer is the cheapest supply time zone TM
Since it becomes possible to consume the surplus power in, the electric power company C can use the dishwasher 10 at a lower charge by setting the usage charge of the surplus power lower than that of the current charge system. Since the reduction of the electricity charge realized by the electricity supply method according to the present embodiment is extremely attractive to the consumer, it is possible to encourage the consumer to further consume the electricity.

The electric power company C can convert the surplus electric power, which is likely to be wasted at present, into sales, so that effective and efficient electric power supply can be achieved.
Of course, even if the usage fee of the surplus electricity is set lower than that of the current fee system, there is no doubt that the sales of the electric power company C is expected to increase more than ever before. In particular, when the power consumption method according to the present embodiment is performed and the tendency of consumption of power by consumers shifts from daytime to nighttime, the peak of power consumption during the day is biased toward daytime. Unlike the case, as indicated by the curve (broken line) 9B in FIG. 9, the power consumption amounts are averaged as a whole. In this case, the maximum value of the amount of power generation per unit time in a day is lowered, which makes it possible to lower the upper limit of the power generation capacity of the generator, etc. Compared to the conventional case where it was set excessively,
It is possible to reduce capital investment for generators and the like.

The intermediary can obtain the contract fee from the electric power companies A to C while securing the above-mentioned consumer profit and electric power company profit.

<Modification of Power Supply Method> In the power supply method according to the present embodiment, the case where the number of consumers is one has been described, but the number of consumers is not limited to this. There may be a plurality. Of course, in this case, there are as many consumer terminals 20 as the number of consumers, and the plurality of consumer terminals 20 can communicate with the power supply management server 20. Since more consumers can consume more surplus power, the power supply method according to the present embodiment can be more effectively implemented.

In the present embodiment, the case where there are three electric power companies (electric power companies A to C) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of electric power companies is in the range of 1 or 2 or more. Can be set freely. Of course, in this case, there are as many power company terminals as there are power companies, and these plurality of power company terminals can communicate with the power supply management server 30. If there is only one electric power company (for example, electric power company A), the surplus electric power 10 will be supplied to the dishwasher 10 in the presentation supply time period TB presented by the electric power company A. In this case,
The confirmation request information J2, the presentation request information J3, and the supply request information J5 are transferred from the power supply management server 30 to the power company terminal 5
Only one is notified, and the power supply management server 3
Supply execution information J6 notified from 0 to the consumer terminal 20
In the presentation supply time period TB presented by the electric power company A,
In the above, the fact that surplus power is supplied to the dishwasher 10 is included. Even if the power source of the surplus power is only the power company A, the surplus power is supplied to the dishwasher 10 in the cheap presentation supply time period TB presented by the power company A. The dishwasher 10 can be used at a low price. However, in order to promote price competition between electric power companies for lowering the electric power charges and satisfy the demands of consumers who want to reduce the electric charges as much as possible, it is preferable that the electric power companies are plural in number. This is because when there are a plurality of electric power companies, the power unit price in the cheapest supply time zone TM is likely to be lower than the power unit price in the presentation supply time zone TB.

Further, in the present embodiment, the consumer terminal 2
When the registration request information J1 is notified to the power supply management server 30 from 0, the intermediary uses the power supply management server 30 to perform a series of procedures related to the supply of the surplus power to the dishwasher 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the notification of the registration request information J1, the intermediary can use the power supply management server 30 and the power company terminal without the notification of the registration request information J1. 51
~ 53 is arbitrarily inquired about the existence of the surplus power, and when the surplus power may exist, the power supply management server 30 announces it to the consumer terminal 20 and obtains the consent of the consumer. Also, a series of procedures for supplying surplus power may be performed. In this case, the consumer can be actively encouraged to consume the surplus power, and the power supply method according to the present embodiment can be used more effectively.

Further, in the present embodiment, the presentation request information J
3 is uniformly notified from the power supply management server 30 to the power company terminals 51 to 53 together with the confirmation request information J2, but is not necessarily limited to this, and for example,
First, the presentation request information J3 is notified to the power company terminals 51 to 53, the power company that owns the surplus power (for example, the power company B) is specified, and then only the power company terminal 52 of the specified power company B is specified. The presentation request information J3 may be notified. In this case, the notification of the presentation request information J3 to the power company terminals 51 and 53 of the power companies A and C that cannot supply the surplus power is avoided, and the power supply management server 3
0 and information between the power company terminals 51 to 53 can be smoothly transmitted and received.

Further, in the present embodiment, the consumer uses the consumer terminal 20 to designate only one type of designated operating equipment (for example, the dishwasher 10) in the registration request information J1. The present invention is not limited to this, and two or more types may be designated. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the consumer can designate three types of designated operating devices. 3 and 4 show modified examples of the power supply method according to the present embodiment,
FIG. 3 shows the contents of the registration request information J1, and FIG. 4 shows the contents of the supply execution information J6. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, in the registration request information J1, an electric water heater (designated operating time zone TS = 21: 00 to 7:00, designated operating time TW = 3 hours, together with the dishwasher 10 already described, Price category = midnight power) and floor heater (designated operating hours TS = 5-7)
Hour, designated operating time TW = 1 hour, charge category = midnight electricity)
Is specified, the cheapest supply time zone TM between the electric power supply management server 30 and the power company terminals 51 to 53 is the same for the electric water heater and the floor heater as in the dishwasher 10. A series of procedures relating to the selection of As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the dishwasher 10
Similarly to the electric water heater and the floor heater, the cheapest supply time zone TM and the source of the surplus power are determined. In FIG. 4, for example, it is determined that the cheapest supply time zone TM = 2: 00 to 5:00, electric power unit price = 4.90 yen / kWh, and surplus power supply source = electric power company B for the electric water heater together with the dishwasher 10. The lowest supply time zone TM for floor heaters
= 3:00 to 4:00, power unit price = 4.95 yen / kWh, supply source of surplus power = power company A is shown. The surplus power supply source (for example, a specific power company name) is included in the supply execution information J6, and the consumer terminal 20 is included.
May be notified or may not be notified.

In the present embodiment, the intermediary performs the intermediary process between the consumer and the electric power company by using the power supply management server 30, but the intermediary is not necessarily limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the electric power company itself (for example, electric power company A) may use the terminal for electric power company (for example, terminal 51 for electric power company) to perform the intermediary process. Of course, in this case, the electric power company A is not limited to the intermediary processing, and it is possible to supply the surplus electric power similarly to the electric power companies B and C. Also in this case, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In the power supply method shown in FIG. 5, the contents other than the above-mentioned characteristic portions are the same as those shown in FIG. 1, for example.

<Structure of Power Supply System> Next, referring to FIG.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, the configuration of the power supply system as the consumption medium system according to the embodiment of the present invention used for implementing the power supply method shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a block configuration of the power supply system. In FIG. 6, among the elements used to implement the power supply method shown in FIG. 1, mainly the equipment related to the transmission and reception of various types of information and signals, except for equipment related to the supply of surplus power such as power plants. Only those elements are shown.

This power supply system is, for example, a dishwasher 10 installed in a consumer's home 1 and a consumer terminal 20 that can be used by consumers who use the dishwasher 10.
And an electric power supply management server 30 that is installed in an office or the like where an intermediary works, and is installed for each of the electric power companies A to C, and is available to each of the electric power companies A to C. Including the company terminals 51 to 53, the dishwasher 10, the consumer terminal 20, the power supply management server 30, and the power company terminals 51 to 53 are connected to each other via the Internet 60. There is. Thereby, the consumer terminal 20 and the power supply server 3 are mainly used.
Between 0 and the power supply management server 30 and the power company terminal 5
1 to 53, and the power supply server 30 and the dishwasher 10 can communicate with each other. here,
The power supply management server 30 corresponds to a specific example of “intermediate terminal” of the present invention, and the power company terminals 51 to 53 correspond to specific examples of “supplier terminal” of the present invention.
The Internet 60 corresponds to a specific example of "a communication network" in the invention.

<< Structure of Dishwasher >> The dishwasher 10 is
For example, it can be operated by remote control, mainly
A control unit 11 for controlling the dishwasher 10 as a whole, a communication interface (hereinafter, simply referred to as “I / F”) 12 for the control unit 11 to communicate with the outside, and a washing unit 13 for washing dishes and the like. It is configured to include. Control unit 11
Is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and is configured to automatically operate the cleaning unit 13 in accordance with an operation signal S output from the power supply management server 30.

<< Construction of Consumer Terminal >> Consumer Terminal 20
Is used by a consumer to input / output information, and is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer having a communication function connectable to the Internet 60. The consumer terminal 20 can mainly transmit the registration request information J1 input by the consumer to the power supply management server 30 and receive the supply execution information J6 transmitted from the power supply management server 30. It is possible. The contents of the registration request information J1 and the supply execution information J6 are displayed on the monitor mounted on the consumer terminal 20 at any time.

<< Structure of Power Supply Management Server >> The power supply management server 30 is a database server in which an intermediary stores and collectively manages information about supply and consumption of surplus power, and mainly controls the entire server. The control unit 31 includes a unit 31, a communication I / F 32 for the control unit 31 to communicate with the outside, and a memory 33 for registering various kinds of information. The various information input / output in the power supply management server 30 is displayed on the monitor 34 connected to the power supply management server 30 as needed, for example.

The control unit 31 is composed of, for example, a CPU, and mainly includes a registration unit 41, a confirmation requesting unit 42, a presentation requesting unit 43, a selection determining unit 44, a requesting unit 45, and a notifying unit. 46 and an automatic operating unit 47. Here, the elements forming the control unit 31 will be described in order.

The registration unit 41 mainly registers the registration request information J1 in the memory 33 when the registration request information J1 is transmitted from the consumer terminal 20.

When the registration request information J1 is registered by the registration unit 41, the confirmation request unit 42 mainly includes confirmation request information including a request to confirm the ownership of the surplus power based on the registration request information J1. J2 is transmitted to the power company terminals 51 to 53. Specifically, the confirmation requesting unit 42, for example, specifies the type of designated operating equipment (for example, the dishwasher 10) and the designated operating time TW included in the registration request information J1.
After calculating the amount of electric power (expected power consumption) required to operate the dishwasher 10 based on the above, whether or not it is possible to own surplus power corresponding to the expected power consumption in the designated operating time period TS To the electric power companies A to C.

The presentation requesting unit 43 mainly consists of the confirmation requesting unit 42.
When the confirmation request information J2 is notified to the power company terminals 51 to 53 by the presenting, the presentation supply time period TB during which the surplus power can be cheaply supplied to the dishwasher 10 in the designated operation time period TS.
The presentation request information J3 including a request for the presentation is transmitted to the power company terminals 51 to 53.

The selection determining section 44 mainly comprises the confirmation requesting section 42.
Confirmation request information J2 and presentation request unit 4 transmitted by
In accordance with the presentation request information J3 transmitted by A.3, the electric power company A capable of supplying the surplus electric power in the designated operating time zone TS.
Response information J4 (J4A to J4) including the presentation supply time period TB (see FIG. 2) presented by each electric power company by C to C.
C) is transmitted from the power company terminals 51 to 53, the supplier of the surplus power to the dishwasher 10 is selected and determined from the power companies A to C based on the response information J4. is there. Specifically, the selection determining unit 44 causes the plurality of presentation supply time zones TB presented by the power companies A to C to be presented.
From the above, the presentation supply time period TB with the lowest power unit price (for example, the presentation supply time period TB presented by the electric power company C)
Is selected as the cheapest supply time zone TM. Then, the selection determination unit 44 is configured to determine the electric power company C that has presented the presented supply time zone TB selected as the cheapest supply time zone TM, as a source of surplus power to the dishwasher 10.

The requesting unit 45 mainly determines the electric power company C as the supply source of the surplus electric power by the selection determining unit 44.
Supply request information J4 including the fact that the supplier of the surplus power has been determined by the power company C and the request for the supply process for supplying the surplus power to the dishwasher 10 in the cheapest supply time zone TM is the terminal for the power company. It is transmitted to 53.

The notifying unit 46 mainly notifies the power supply company C of the supply request information J4 by the requesting unit 45, and when the supply of surplus power to the dishwasher 10 from the power supply company C is confirmed, the notification unit 46 is the cheapest supply time zone TM. Power company C supplies excess power to dishwasher 10 (including unit price of electricity)
And the supply execution information J including that the dishwasher 10 is remotely operated by the power supply management server 30 and is automatically operated.
6 is transmitted to the consumer terminal 20. At this time, the notification unit 46 is configured to register the supply execution information J6 in the memory 33.

The automatic operation unit 47 outputs the operation signal S to the dishwasher 10 so as to be synchronized with the supply of the surplus electric power by the electric power company C mainly in the cheapest supply time zone TM, so that the specified operation time is The dishwasher 10 is automatically operated only for TW.

Next, the configuration of the power supply management server 30 will be described.

The communication I / F 32 connects the control unit 31 and the Internet 60 as needed when the control unit 31 inputs and outputs various information and signals.

The memory 33 is composed of, for example, a storage device such as a hard disk device. The memory 33 is not limited to the registration request information J1 and the supply execution information J6, and other information can be registered at any time.

<< Configuration of Power Company Terminals >> The power company terminals 51 to 53 are used by the power companies A to C for inputting and outputting information, respectively. For example, a communication function connectable to the Internet 60 is available. It is a general-purpose personal computer equipped with. This power company terminal 51-53
Mainly supplies the response information J4A to J4C input by the persons in charge of the power companies A to C, respectively.
It is possible to receive the confirmation request information J2, the presentation request information J3, and the supply request information J5 that are transmitted from the power supply management server 30 while being transmitted to 0. When receiving the supply request information J5, for example, the power company terminals 51 to 53 make a supply arrangement for supplying surplus power to the dishwasher 10 to a power plant or the like owned by the power companies A to C. It is executable. These confirmation request information J
2. The contents of the presentation request information J3, the response information J4A to J4C, and the supply request information J5 are the power company terminals 51 to 53.
It will be displayed on the monitor installed in each.

<Operation of Power Supply System> Next, referring to FIG.
The operation of the power supply system will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are for explaining the flow of operation of the power supply system.
Is the operation of the consumer terminal 20, (B) is the operation of the power supply management server 30 (control unit 31), (C) is the operation of the power company terminal 53, and (D) is the dishwasher 10 (control unit 11). ) Represents the operation of each. 7 and 8 indicates the transmission and reception of information and signals between the constituent elements of the power supply system.

In the following, the power company terminals 51 to 5 will be described.
The operation of No. 3 will be described mainly with respect to only the power company terminal 53 of the power company C that finally becomes the supply source of surplus power. The operations of the power company terminals 51 and 52 are substantially the same as the operations of the power company terminal 53.

In this power supply system, a contract for the supply of surplus power is mainly concluded between the intermediary and the power companies A to C, and the surplus power is consumed between the intermediary and the consumer. While the contract is concluded, the consumer is in a state where the network via the Internet 60 is built between the dishwasher 10, the consumer terminal 20, the power supply management server 30, and the power company terminals 51 to 53. Due to
When the registration request information J1 including the type of the designated operating device (for example, the dishwasher 10), the designated operating time TW, and the designated operating time zone TS is input to the consumer terminal 20, first, the consumer terminal 20 powers. The registration request information J1 is transmitted to the supply management server 30 (FIG. 7; step S101). In addition, when accessing the power supply management server 30 from the consumer terminal 20, for example, the consumer inputs an ID (Identification) number and a password set for each consumer, if necessary.

Then, when the power supply management server 30 receives the registration request information J1, the registration section 41 causes the registration request information J1.
1 is registered in the memory 33 (FIG. 7; step S20).
1).

Subsequently, the registration request information J by the registration unit 41.
When 1 is registered, the confirmation requesting unit 42 causes the registration request information J
Based on 1, the confirmation request information J2 including a request to confirm the ownership of the surplus power is transmitted to the power company terminal 53 (FIG. 7; step S202). At this time, the presentation request unit 4
The confirmation request information J2 includes presentation request information J3 including a request that presentation of the presentation supply time period TB in which the surplus power can be supplied to the dishwasher 10 at a low price in the designated operation time period TS is requested.
And then transmit (FIG. 7; step S203).

Subsequently, when the power company terminal 53 receives the confirmation request information J2 and the presentation request information J3, it is confirmed based on the confirmation request information J2 whether or not the surplus power can be owned in the designated operating time zone TS. (FIG. 7; step S30)
1). When surplus power can be required (FIG. 7; step S3)
01Y), the power company terminal 53 displays the presentation request information J
After investigating the presentation supply time zone TB (see FIG. 2) according to No. 3 (FIG. 7; step S302), the reply information J4 including the confirmation of ownership of the surplus power and the presentation supply time zone TB
C is transmitted to the power supply management server 30 (FIG. 7; step S303). If the power company C cannot own the surplus power (FIG. 7; step S301N), the power company C is excluded from the supply source candidates of the surplus power for the dishwasher 10, and the surplus power by the power company C is reduced. Supply opportunities are forgotten.

Subsequently, when the power supply management server 30 receives the response information J4C, the selection determining unit 44 mainly considers the low unit price of power, and the presented supply time period TB (Fig. After selecting 2) as the cheapest supply time zone TM (FIG. 7; step S204), the supply source of the surplus power to the dishwasher 10 is determined to be the electric power company C (FIG. 7; step S205).

Subsequently, when the selection determining unit 44 determines the electric power company C as the supply source of the surplus electric power, the requesting unit 45.
However, the electric power company supplies the supply request information J5 including the fact that the supplier of the surplus electric power is determined to be the electric power company C and the supply processing for supplying the surplus electric power to the dishwasher 10 is requested in the cheapest supply time zone TM. It transmits to the terminal 53 for use (FIG. 7; step S206). The power company terminal 53 supplies the supply request information J
When 5 is received, supply of surplus power is arranged for the power plant owned by the electric power company C (FIG. 7; step S304).

Subsequently, the request unit 45 transmits the supply request information J5 to the power company terminal 53, and when the supply of surplus power to the dishwasher 10 from the power company C is confirmed, the notification unit 46 causes the lowest supply time. Supply execution information including that surplus power is supplied from the electric power company C to the dishwasher 10 in the obi TM (including the power unit price) and that the dishwasher 10 is automatically operated by remote control through the power supply management server 30. J6 is transmitted to the consumer terminal 20 (FIG. 8; step 207). At this time, the notification unit 46 registers the supply execution information J6 in the memory 33 (FIG. 8; step S20).
8). The content of the supply execution information J6 is confirmed by the consumer through the consumer terminal 20 (FIG. 8; step S10).
2). This completes the preparation for supplying surplus power to the dishwasher 10.

Then, when the electric power company C supplies surplus power to the dishwasher 10 in the cheapest supply time zone TM,
In order for the automatic operating unit 47 to synchronize with the supply of surplus power,
The operation signal S is output to the dishwasher 10 (FIG. 8; step S209). By the control unit 11 operating the cleaning unit 13 in response to the operation signal S, the dishwasher 10 is automatically operated for the designated operating time TW to wash the dishes and the like (FIG. 8; step S401).

<Operation and Effect of First Embodiment> As described above, in the power supply system according to the present embodiment, the power supply management server 30 has the consumer terminal 20.
After determining the electric power company C capable of supplying the surplus power to the dishwasher 10 based on the registration request information J1 transmitted from the electric power company C, the electric power company C is transmitted with the supply request information J5. Since the surplus power is requested to be supplied to the dishwasher 10, the consumer can consume the surplus power and operate the dishwasher 10 at a low charge, and the electric power company C can operate the surplus power. It becomes possible to convert into sales, and the power supply method described in FIG. 1 can be effectively implemented.

In particular, in this embodiment, when the electric power company C supplies surplus power to the dishwasher 10, the power supply management server 30 outputs the operation signal S to automatically operate the dishwasher 10. Therefore, the consumer can operate the dishwasher 10 without directly operating it, and the convenience of the consumer when carrying out the power supply method described in FIG. 1 can be improved. This is also a great attraction for consumers in implementing the power supply method.

<Modified Example of Power Supply System> In the present embodiment, a general-purpose personal computer is used as the consumer terminal 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a personal computer may be used. Instead, mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handy Pho
ne) or PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) may be used. Also in this case, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.
In addition, the modification regarding this consumer terminal 20 is the same also about the electric power company terminals 51-53.

In addition, in the mobile phone of this embodiment, the dishwasher 1
0, the consumer terminal 20, the power supply management server 30, and the power company terminals 51 to 53 are used as the "communication network" for communicative connection, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the Internet 60, for example, communication such as an intranet, an extranet, a wired telephone line (for example, analog line and ISDN line) or a mobile phone (for example, i-mode communication), PHS (Personal Handy Phone), Bluetooth, etc. A medium network or the like may be used. Of course, two or more “communication networks” listed above may be used together. Whichever communication network is used, the same effect as when the Internet 60 is used can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. That is, the procedure of the above-described power supply method and the configuration and function of each constituent element that constructs the power supply system are provided between the consumer terminal, the intermediary terminal, and the power company terminal via a predetermined communication network. By using the surplus power while transmitting and receiving various information between each terminal in a state where they can communicate with each other, mainly the consumer can consume the power at a low charge, and the power company can consume the surplus power. It can be freely changed as long as it can be converted into sales.

The present invention is not limited to electric power,
The present invention is also applicable to consumption media other than electric power in a field in which an excessive consumption media that is likely to be wasted at present may occur. Examples of the "consumption medium other than electric power" include fuel gas and the like. Of course, in the present invention, it is possible to use these electric power and fuel gas together. Further, in the present invention, it is possible to use together electric power and fuel gas which are likely to be wasted in the present situation, and tap water which can be stored in a large amount and is unlikely to be wasted in the present situation.

[0082]

As described above, according to the consumption medium supply system of any one of claims 1 to 6, the terminal of the intermediary is the registration request notified from the terminal of the consumer. Based on the information, after determining the supplier that can supply the consumer device that wants to operate the surplus consumption medium in the presented supply time zone, notify the supplier's terminal of the supply request information and the surplus for the consumer device to operate. Since the supply of various consumption media is requested, the consumption medium supply system of the present invention can effectively implement the consumption medium supply method of the present invention using the surplus consumption media.

According to the consumption medium supply method of any one of claims 7 to 12, the intermediary is based on the registration request information notified from the terminal of the consumer to the terminal of the intermediary. After deciding the supplier who can supply the consumer device that wants to operate the surplus consumption medium in the presentation supply time zone, the surplus consumption for the consumer device that wants to operate by notifying the supplier's terminal of supply request information Since it is requested to supply the medium, it becomes possible for the consumer to operate the consumer device that consumes the surplus electricity and wants to operate at a low charge, and the supplier converts the surplus consumer medium into sales. It becomes possible. Therefore, it is possible to effectively and efficiently use the consumption medium from the viewpoints of both the consumer and the supplier.

Particularly, according to the consumption medium supply system or the consumption medium supply method according to the eighth aspect, when the surplus consumption medium is supplied from the supplier to the consumer device to be operated, the mediation is performed. Since the consumer's terminal remotely operates the consumer device that he / she wants to operate and automatically operates it, the consumer can operate the consumer device that he / she wants to operate without directly operating it, and the surplus consumer media can be saved. It is possible to improve the convenience of the consumer when implementing the utilized consumption medium supply method of the present invention.

According to the consumption medium supply system and the consumption medium supply method of the ninth aspect, the terminal of the intermediary can communicate with a plurality of consumers through the communication network. Therefore, more consumers can consume more surplus consumption media, and the consumption medium supply method of the present invention using the surplus consumption media can be more effectively implemented.

According to the consumption medium supply system or the consumption medium supply method of the tenth aspect, the terminal of the intermediary can communicate with the terminals of the plurality of suppliers through the communication network. As a result, it is possible to promote price competition for reducing the consumption charge of the consumption medium among a plurality of suppliers, and to satisfy the demand of consumers who desire a further reduction in the charge.

According to the consumption medium supply system or the consumption medium supply method of the eleventh aspect, the terminal of the intermediary has a plurality of presentation supply times notified from the terminals of the plurality of suppliers. Select the cheapest supply time zone based on the zone, and select the surplus consumption medium for the consumer device that wants to operate the supplier that has presented the suggested supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone from multiple suppliers. After determining the supply source, the intermediary's terminal notifies the supplier, who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone, of the supply request information. It is possible to operate the consumer device that you want to operate during the cheapest supply time that is likely to be low in price.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a power supply method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing selection contents of a cheapest supply time zone.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the content of registration request information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the content of supply execution information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of the power supply method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the power supply system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the power supply system following FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a general transition of power consumption by a consumer in one day.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Consumer house, 10 ... Dishwasher, 11, 31 ... Control part, 12, 32 ... Communication I / F, 13 ... Washing part, 20 ... Consumer terminal, 30 ... Power supply management server, 33 ... Memory , 34 ... Monitor, 41 ... Registration section, 42 ... Confirmation request section,
43 ... Presentation requesting part, 44 ... Selection determining part, 45 ... Requesting part,
46 ... Notification unit, 47 ... Automatic operation unit, 51, 52, 53 ...
Power company terminal, 60 ... Internet, J1 ... Registration request information, J2 ... Confirmation request information, J3 ... Presentation request information, J
4 (J4A, J4B, J4C) ... Reply information, J5 ... Supply request information, J6 ... Supply execution information, S ... Operation signal, TB ...
Suggested supply time zone, TS ... Designated operation time zone, TM ... Cheapest supply time zone, TW ... Designated operation time zone, V ... Surplus power.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H02J 3/00 H02J 3/00 J

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A consumer terminal that uses one or more consumer devices, a supplier terminal that can supply a consumption medium to the one or more consumer devices, and between the consumer and the supplier. And a terminal of an intermediary that mediates the supply of the consumption medium, and the consumer's terminal, the supplier's terminal, and the intermediary's terminal can communicate with each other via a communication network. , The intermediary's terminal sends registration request information including the type of consumer device to be operated among the one or more consumer devices, its operating time, and its operating time zone from the consumer's terminal. And a registration means for registering the registration request information, and based on the registration request information registered by the registration means, a surplus consumption medium that can be supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the operating time zone. Place Confirmation requesting means for transmitting confirmation requesting information including a request for confirmation of existence to the supplier's terminal, and a predetermined consumption of the surplus consumption medium in the consumer device to be operated in the operating time period. Presentation request information including a request to present a presentation supply time zone that can be supplied at a unit price, presentation request means for transmitting to the terminal of the supplier, the confirmation request information and the presentation transmitted by the confirmation request means In response to the presentation request information presented by the requesting means, response information including that the surplus consumption medium can be supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time period is transmitted from the terminal of the supplier. Selection determination means for selecting and determining a supplier as a supply source of the surplus consumption medium for the consumer device to be operated based on the presented supply time zone, Requesting means for transmitting supply request information to the supplier's terminal, the supply request information including requesting supply processing for supplying the surplus consumption medium to the consumer device to be operated in the presented supply time zone; The supply execution information including notification that the surplus consumption medium is supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the presented supply time zone presented and selected by the supplier, by the consumer. And a notification means for transmitting the notification to the terminal. 2. An automatic operation means for outputting an operation signal to the consumer device to be operated and automatically operating when the surplus consumption medium is supplied from the supplier to the consumer device to be operated. The consumable medium supply system according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The consumption medium supply system according to claim 1, wherein the intermediary terminal is capable of communicating with a plurality of consumer terminals via the communication network. 4. The intermediary terminal is capable of communicating with the terminals of a plurality of suppliers capable of supplying a consumption medium to the one or more consumer devices via the communication network. The consumption medium supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The confirmation requesting means transmits the confirmation requesting information to the terminals of the plurality of suppliers, and the presentation requesting means transmits the presentation requesting information to the terminals of the plurality of suppliers. The selection determining means selects, as a cheapest supply time zone, a presentation supply time zone having the lowest unit consumption price based on the plurality of presentation supply time zones transmitted from the terminals of the plurality of suppliers. In addition, among the plurality of suppliers, the supplier who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone is determined as the supplier of the surplus consumption medium to the consumer equipment to be operated. The requesting means transmits the supply request information to the terminal of the supplier used by the supplier who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the lowest supply time zone, and the notification means Is In the supply execution information to be transmitted to the terminal of the consumer, from the supplier who has presented the presentation supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone, to the consumer device to be operated in the lowest supply time zone The consumption medium supply system according to claim 4, further comprising a notification that the consumption medium is supplied. 6. The consumption medium supply system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more consumer devices consume electric power to operate. 7. A method of supplying a consumption medium to one or more consumer devices used by a consumer, comprising supplying the consumer medium to the consumer and the one or more consumer devices from a terminal of the consumer. At the terminal of an intermediary that mediates the supply of the consumption medium with a supplyable supplier, the type of the consumer equipment to be operated among the one or more consumer equipment, its operating time, and its operating time A first step of notifying registration request information including a band; a second step of the intermediary terminal registering the registration request information notified from the consumer's terminal; A third step of notifying the terminal of confirmation request information including a request to confirm ownership of a surplus consumption medium that can be supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the operating time period, based on the registration request information. And Naka From the person's terminal to the supplier's terminal, a request is made to present a presentation supply time zone in which the surplus consumption medium can be supplied to the consumer device to be operated at a predetermined unit price in the operation time zone. A fourth step of notifying the presentation request information, the supplier's terminal to the intermediary's terminal, in accordance with the confirmation request information and the presentation request information, to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time zone. A fifth step of notifying the reply information including the fact that the surplus consumption medium can be supplied and the presentation supply time zone, and the terminal of the intermediary for the consumer device to be operated based on the presentation supply time zone. A sixth step of selecting and determining a supplier as a supplier of the surplus consumption medium, and a consumer machine to be operated in the presentation supply time zone from the intermediary terminal to the supplier terminal A seventh step of notifying supply request information including a request for supply processing for supplying the surplus consumption medium to the container, and the method presented by the supplier from the intermediary terminal to the consumer terminal. An eighth step of notifying supply execution information including a notification that the surplus consumption medium is supplied to the consumer device to be operated in the presentation supply time zone, the consumer's terminal, the supply A method of supplying a consumption medium, characterized in that a terminal of an operator and a terminal of the intermediary can communicate with each other via a communication network. 8. The consumer device to be operated is enabled to be remotely controlled via the communication network, and further, the surplus consumption medium is supplied from the terminal of the supplier to the consumer device to be operated. 8. The method of supplying a consumption medium according to claim 7, further comprising a ninth step in which the intermediary's terminal remotely operates the consumer device to be operated and automatically operates the consumer device. 9. The consumption medium supply method according to claim 7, wherein the intermediary terminal is allowed to communicate with a plurality of consumer terminals via the communication network. . 10. The intermediary's terminal is capable of communicating with the terminals of a plurality of suppliers capable of supplying a consumption medium to the one or more consumer devices via the communication network. The consumption medium supply method according to any one of claims 7 to 9. 11. In the third step, the intermediary's terminal notifies the terminals of a plurality of suppliers of the confirmation request information, and in the fourth step, the intermediary's terminal provides a plurality of suppliers. The presentation request information is notified to the terminal of the intermediary, and in the fifth step, the intermediary terminal determines whether the unit price of consumption is based on the plurality of presentation supply time zones notified from the terminals of the plurality of suppliers. The cheapest presented supply time zone is selected as the cheapest supply time zone, and the supplier who has presented the presented supply time zone corresponding to the cheapest supply time zone is selected from among the plurality of suppliers, and the desired consumption The supplier that determines the supply source of the surplus consumption medium to the device, and in the sixth step, presents the presentation supply time zone corresponding to the lowest supply time zone from the intermediary terminal. The supply request information is notified to the terminal, and in the seventh step, the supply execution information notified from the intermediary terminal to the consumer terminal is presented corresponding to the lowest supply time zone. 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: notifying that a supplier who has presented a supply time zone notifies the consumer device to be operated that the surplus consumption medium will be supplied in the lowest supply time zone. The consumption medium supply method described. 12. The consumption medium supply method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more consumer devices consume power to operate.