Abstract: Systems, methods and computer software are disclosed for providing base station and Remote Radio Head (RRH) functionality. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed, the method for providing base station and Remote Radio Head (RRH) functionality in a base station, comprising: providing a baseband card; providing a radio head, the radio head coupled to the baseband card by way of an interface; and switching, under the control of a processor, between use of the baseband card and use of an external baseband unit for controlling the radio head, the external baseband unit used via a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) port, thereby providing dual base station and remote radio head functionality.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing energy. The method comprises collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members. The method further comprises determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group, determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price, and issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.

Abstract: A method of controlling storage of electrical energy by charging and discharging an energy storage device in response to pricing data indicative of future prices of electrical energy over time and energy losses caused by charging and discharging the energy storage device comprises detecting alternating candidate charging and discharging occasions with respect to the pricing data by selecting a next occurrence of a locally minimum price in the pricing data as a candidate charging occasion or a next occurrence of a locally maximum price in the pricing data as a candidate discharging occasion; validating a candidate charging or discharging occasion if the price difference between that candidate charging or discharging occasion and another later price in the pricing data is at least sufficient to compensate for the energy losses caused by charging and discharging the energy storage device; and charging and discharging the energy storage device at the validated charging and discharging occasions, respectively.

Abstract: A method of controlling the connection of a collection of a plurality of electricity providing devices to an electrical power network is described. In this, the plurality of electricity providing devices having a communication line therebetween and the method comprises receiving a message at a first electricity providing device from a controlling device and, in response to the message: connecting the first electricity providing device to the electrical power network; and sending, from the first electricity providing device to a second electricity providing device, a second message containing data in response to which the second electricity providing device is connected to the electrical power network.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a device which consumes energy from an energy network. The network has a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected thereto to supply energy to the network. The method includes determining energy requirements of the device, and determining a renewable energy component of the supplied energy generated by the renewable energy generator. The method compares the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy, and controls the energy to the device in accordance with the comparison between the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing energy. The method comprises collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members. The method further comprises determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group, determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price, and issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.

Abstract: A method of controlling storage of electrical energy by charging and discharging an energy storage device in response to pricing data indicative of future prices of electrical energy over time and energy losses caused by charging and discharging the energy storage device comprises detecting alternating candidate charging and discharging occasions with respect to the pricing data by selecting a next occurrence of a locally minimum price in the pricing data as a candidate charging occasion or a next occurrence of a locally maximum price in the pricing data as a candidate discharging occasion; validating a candidate charging or discharging occasion if the price difference between that candidate charging or discharging occasion and another later price in the pricing data is at least sufficient to compensate for the energy losses caused by charging and discharging the energy storage device; and charging and discharging the energy storage device at the validated charging and discharging occasions, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a star-connected network (C1-C4, P1-P8) having a number of peripheral nodes (P1-P8) and a central control arrangement (C1-C4). Each peripheral node has means for restricting communications across the network to the central control arrangement using a respective encrypted connection unless the peripheral node has received explicit authorization from the control arrangement to set up a direct connection with another peripheral node.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a plurality of devices on an energy network, wherein each device has an identifier which uniquely identifies the device on the network, the method comprising: forming a group of devices from said plurality of devices; and controlling the power of other devices in said group in accordance with the state of the power supplied to a first device in said group.

Abstract: Control of supplying power to a storage device is performed based on carbon emission strength or a power rate. A battery center 13 that constitutes a storage device 11 performs radio communication with a gateway 4 and is controlled by the gateway 4. The gateway 4 collects a measured value of power consumed by electric appliances in a home and obtains the carbon emission strength in real time. A solar panel 9 is provided and a battery of the storage device 11 is charged with an output of the solar panel. The battery is also charged with direct current power obtained from power from outside. The power is stored in the storage device 11 based on the carbon emission strength by charging control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a star-connected network (C1-C4, P1-P8) having a number of peripheral nodes (P1-P8) and a central control arrangement (C1-C4). Each peripheral node has means for restricting communications across the network to the central control arrangement using a respective encrypted connection unless the peripheral node has received explicit authorisation from the control arrangement to set up a direct connection with another peripheral node.

Abstract: To solve problems arising when a power conditioner equivalent to that connected to a solar panel is connected to a power storage device. Direct-current power generated by the solar panel 9 is supplied to a DC-DC converter 51 and output as a predetermined direct-current voltage. The output voltage of the converter 51 is supplied to a DC-AC inverter 52. Direct-current power generated by the power storage device 11 is supplied to a DC-DC converter 55. Predetermined direct-current power from the converter 55 is supplied to a DC-AC inverter 56. Alternating-current power output by the inverter 56 is supplied to an alternating-current power system at home. The converter 55 is configured to have two output voltages. The first output voltage is a standby voltage. The second voltage is a voltage at which the inverter 56 starts power supply to outside.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a device which consumes energy from an energy network. The network has a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected thereto to supply energy to the network. The method includes determining energy requirements of the device, and determining a renewable energy component of the supplied energy generated by the renewable energy generator. The method compares the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy, and controls the energy to the device in accordance with the comparison between the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy.

Abstract: A distribution system including, for connection over a network a plurality of client upload devices, each client upload device storing one or more chunks of a content file, a client download device configured to download from the client upload devices chunks of the content file stored by the respective client upload devices and an incentive device configured to generate token data packets exchangeable for chunks of the content file. The client download device is configured to acquire a plurality of token data packets from the incentive device and to communicate with individual respective client upload devices and thereby download, in exchange for respective token data packets, stored chunks of the content file.

Abstract: A method of controlling the connection of a collection of a plurality of electricity providing devices to an electrical power network is described. In this, the plurality of electricity providing devices having a communication line therebetween and the method comprises receiving a message at a first electricity providing device from a controlling device and, in response to the message: connecting the first electricity providing device to the electrical power network; and sending, from the first electricity providing device to a second electricity providing device, a second message containing data in response to which the second electricity providing device is connected to the electrical power network.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a plurality of devices on an energy network, wherein each device has an identifier which uniquely identifies the device on the network, the method comprising: generating a profile of the power associated with each device over a given time frame; and controlling the power to each device in accordance with the profile at a corresponding time frame on a different occasion.

Abstract: A method of controlling power to a plurality of devices on an energy network, wherein each device has an identifier which uniquely identifies the device on the network, the method comprising: forming a group of devices from said plurality of devices; and controlling the power of other devices in said group in accordance with the state of the power supplied to a first device in said group.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing energy. The method comprises collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members. The method further comprises determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group, determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price, and issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.

Abstract: A distribution system including, for connection over a network a plurality of client upload devices, each client upload device storing one or more chunks of a content file, a client download device configured to download from the client upload devices chunks of the content file stored by the respective client upload devices and an incentive device configured to generate token data packets exchangeable for chunks of the content file. The client download device is configured to acquire a plurality of token data packets from the incentive device and to communicate with individual respective client upload devices and thereby download, in exchange for respective token data packets, stored chunks of the content file.

Abstract: The present invention provides a star-connected network (C1-C4, P1-P8) having a number of peripheral nodes (P1-P8) and a central control arrangement (C1-C4). Each peripheral node has means for restricting communications across the network to the central control arrangement using a respective encrypted connection unless the peripheral node has received explicit authorization from the control arrangement to set up a direct connection with another peripheral node.