Abstract: A method for observing a predetermined monitoring area, wherein one or more sensing platform nodes are employed to observe a predetermined number of sub-areas of the monitoring area, includes observing the sub-areas of the monitoring area using the sensing platform nodes so as to collect measuring data for the sub-areas. A prediction model is provided for analyzing predictability of measuring data for the sub-areas based on the collected measuring data. Future measuring data is calculated for the sub-areas and uncertainty of the future measuring data over time is calculated using the prediction model. The sensing platform nodes are scheduled for observation of the sub-areas according to a scheduling mechanism. The scheduling of the sensing platform nodes is dependent on the calculated uncertainty of the future measuring data predicted for the sub-areas.

Abstract: A system for collaborative load balancing within a community of a plurality of energy nodes includes a central allocation server and a plurality of local agent servers. Each of the local agent servers is connected to a respective one of the energy nodes and has a processor configured to: receive input variables or parameters; predict, using the received input variables or parameters, a non-zero energy generation amount that power generation equipment can generate over a planning horizon and an energy consumption amount that will be consumed over the planning horizon; solve, using the energy generation amount and the energy consumption amount, an optimization problem over the planning horizon; and communicate a solution to the optimization problem to the central allocation server. Each of the energy nodes includes power generation equipment, power transmission equipment, and power storage equipment.

Abstract: A method for verifying authenticity of a monitoring signal includes employing a multitude of actuators to impact a physical environment with individual signals, wherein the individual signals originate from the actuators and are directed to the physical environment; observing, via at least one sensor device, the physical environment so as to record the monitoring signal, wherein the monitoring signal represents a combined impact of the individual signals on the physical environment; and comparing the monitoring signal with an expected signal to determine a degree of similarity between the monitoring signal and the expected signal, wherein the expected signal is computed on the basis of one or more predetermined template.

Abstract: A method for observing a predetermined monitoring area, wherein one or more sensing platform nodes are employed to observe a predetermined number of sub-areas of the monitoring area, includes observing the sub-areas of the monitoring area using the sensing platform nodes so as to collect measuring data for the sub-areas. A prediction model is provided for analyzing predictability of measuring data for the sub-areas based on the collected measuring data. Future measuring data is calculated for the sub-areas and uncertainty of the future measuring data over time is calculated using the prediction model. The sensing platform nodes are scheduled for observation of the sub-areas according to a scheduling mechanism. The scheduling of the sensing platform nodes is dependent on the calculated uncertainty of the future measuring data predicted for the sub-areas.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for workload distribution, particularly in data centers, more particularly data centers which use fresh air cooling. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems which calculate a load value for each server which takes account of both the temperature of the server and its current job queue, and determine the server to which an incoming job should be allocated on the basis of the load values of the available servers.

Abstract: A method for verifying authenticity of a monitoring signal includes employing a multitude of actuators to impact a physical environment with individual signals, wherein the individual signals originate from the actuators and are directed to the physical environment; observing, via at least one sensor device, the physical environment so as to record the monitoring signal, wherein the monitoring signal represents a combined impact of the individual signals on the physical environment; and comparing the monitoring signal with an expected signal to determine a degree of similarity between the monitoring signal and the expected signal, wherein the expected signal is computed on the basis of one or more predetermined template.

Abstract: A system for collaborative load balancing within a community of a plurality of energy nodes includes a central allocation server and a plurality of local agent servers. Each of the local agent servers is connected to a respective one of the energy nodes and has a processor configured to: receive input variables or parameters; predict, using the received input variables or parameters, a non-zero energy generation amount that power generation equipment can generate over a planning horizon and an energy consumption amount that will be consumed over the planning horizon; solve, using the energy generation amount and the energy consumption amount, an optimization problem over the planning horizon; and communicate a solution to the optimization problem to the central allocation server. Each of the energy nodes includes power generation equipment, power transmission equipment, and power storage equipment.

Abstract: A method for verifying authenticity of a monitoring signal includes employing a multitude of actuators to impact a physical environment with individual signals, wherein the individual signals originate from the actuators and are directed to the physical environment; observing, via at least one sensor device, the physical environment so as to record the monitoring signal, wherein the monitoring signal represents a combined impact of the individual signals on the physical environment; and comparing the monitoring signal with an expected signal to determine a degree of similarity between the monitoring signal and the expected signal, wherein the expected signal is computed on the basis of one or more predetermined templates, wherein the predetermined templates are previously generated in a secret initialization procedure in such a way that the impact on the physical environment for each of the individual signals is separately recorded as a template by the sensor device.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for limiting consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide arrangements in which the aggregated power load of a plurality of appliances is capped to a selected value (which may be arbitrary, or may be dictated by conditions) while seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building through a combination of distributed decision making by the appliances themselves and centralized orchestration, which may be informed by real-time sensor readings and/or known properties of the building. The distributed decision-making by individual devices may be based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity but with a central controller which determines which devices should be switched on.

Abstract: A system for collaborative load balancing within a community of energy nodes includes a central allocation control device and local agent devices each associated with an energy node. The local agent devices solve an optimization problem over a planning horizon and communicate the solution to the central allocation control device. The central allocation control device uses the solutions in an allocation algorithm so as to determine an amount of energy which will be received from or supplied to individual ones of the energy nodes and provide the collaborative load balancing within the community.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for controlling consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems which probabilistically limit the aggregated power load of a plurality of climate control appliances in a building to a selected value, while seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building. The embodiments of the invention propose distributed decision-making by individual devices based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity.

Abstract: A method for verifying authenticity of a monitoring signal includes employing a multitude of actuators to impact a physical environment with individual signals, wherein the individual signals originate from the actuators and are directed to the physical environment; observing, via at least one sensor device, the physical environment so as to record the monitoring signal, wherein the monitoring signal represents a combined impact of the individual signals on the physical environment; and comparing the monitoring signal with an expected signal to determine a degree of similarity between the monitoring signal and the expected signal, wherein the expected signal is computed on the basis of one or more predetermined templates, wherein the predetermined templates are previously generated in a secret initialization procedure in such a way that the impact on the physical environment for each of the individual signals is separately recorded as a template by the sensor device.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for workload distribution, particularly in data centers, more particularly data centers which use fresh air cooling. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems which calculate a load value for each server which takes account of both the temperature of the server and its current job queue, and determine the server to which an incoming job should be allocated on the basis of the load values of the available servers.

Abstract: A system for collaborative load balancing within a community of energy nodes includes a central allocation control device and local agent devices each associated with an energy node. The local agent devices solve an optimization problem over a planning horizon and communicate the solution to the central allocation control device. The central allocation control device uses the solutions in an allocation algorithm so as to determine an amount of energy which will be received from or supplied to individual ones of the energy nodes and provide the collaborative load balancing within the community.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for assigning tasks to a plurality of agents includes determining, by a processor, a stance for an agent of the plurality of agents; and, when an unassigned task is available, assigning, by the processor, the unassigned task to an agent in the second stance. The stance is selected from the group consisting of a first stance and a second stance. Determining the stance is based on whether an unassigned task is available. The first stance relates to balancing tasks among the plurality of agents and the second stance relates to maximizing an amount of tasks assigned to a subset of the plurality of agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for limiting consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide arrangements in which the aggregated power load of a plurality of appliances is capped to a selected value (which may be arbitrary, or may be dictated by conditions) whilst seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building through a combination of distributed decision making by the appliances themselves and centralized orchestration, which may be informed by real-time sensor readings and/or known properties of the building. The distributed decision-making by individual devices may be based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity but with a central controller which determines which devices should be switched on.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for controlling consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems which probabilistically limit the aggregated power load of a plurality of climate control appliances in a building to a selected value, whilst seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building. The embodiments of the invention propose distributed decision-making by individual devices based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity.