Abstract: Control systems and methods for control of grid frequency in an electric power grid, are described. A grid frequency is monitored by monitoring devices at one or more predefined locations in the grid, and a determination is made whether one or more conditions relating to the monitored frequency have been met. A control period during which the grid frequency at one or more of the one or more predefined locations is to be controlled is initiated based on the determination. One or more variation characterizes relating to a variation, during the control period, in grid frequency are determined. Control instructions, comprising instructions to control power flow to and/or from each of a first plurality of power units so as to control the monitored frequency, are sent. The control instructions are generated on the basis of profile information relating to the power units and the determined one or more variation characteristics.

Abstract: Methods, and apparatus for determining inertia within a synchronous area of an electric power grid are described. A frequency characteristic relating to a frequency of electricity flowing in the electric power grid is measured, a magnitude relating to a power flow modulation is determined based on data relating to power characteristics of one or more power units arranged to consume electric power from and/or provide real and/or reactive electric power to the electric power grid, and a frequency response characteristic associated with at least one area of the electric power grid is determined on the basis of the measured frequency characteristic and the determined magnitude characteristic. This enables frequency response characteristics within a synchronous area of the electric power grid to be easily determined.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer programs for transmitting and/or receiving information are described. Information encoded in a carrier signal comprising a modulation pattern superimposed on a grid frequency at which electricity flows in a synchronous area of an electric power grid, is decoded by measuring, at a receiving device, a characteristic relating to a frequency of electricity flowing in the electric power grid, accessing data indicative of one or more predetermined code patterns and performing a correlation process to determine a correlation between the modulation pattern and one of the one or more predetermined code patterns. The information is decoded on the basis of the determined correlation. This enables information to be easily transmitted within a synchronous area of the electric power grid.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling one or more electricity characteristics of electricity flowing in an electric power grid are described. Data indicative of a control function representing characteristics of a contribution to the one or more electricity characteristics to be made by a distributed plurality of power units during a control period is provided to the distributed plurality of power units. The power units individually determine and provide a contribution to the one or more electricity characteristics based on the received control function and profile information relating to the power units. This saves processing resources at the central location providing the control function and/or communications bandwidth/resources.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for control of grid frequency in an electric power grid, are described. A grid frequency is monitored by monitoring devices at one or more predefined locations in the grid, and a determination is made whether one or more conditions relating to the monitored frequency have been met. A control period during which the grid frequency at one or more of the one or more predefined locations is to be controlled is initiated based on the determination. One or more variation characterizes relating to a variation, during the control period, in grid frequency are determined. Control instructions, comprising instructions to control power flow to and/or from each of a first plurality of power units so as to control the monitored frequency, are sent. The control instructions are generated on the basis of profile information relating to the power units and the determined one or more variation characteristics.

Abstract: Methods, and apparatus for determining inertia within a synchronous area of an electric power grid are described. A frequency characteristic relating to a frequency of electricity flowing in the electric power grid is measured, a magnitude relating to a power flow modulation is determined based on data relating to power characteristics of one or more power units arranged to consume electric power from and/or provide real and/or reactive electric power to the electric power grid, and a frequency response characteristic associated with at least one area of the electric power grid is determined on the basis of the measured frequency characteristic and the determined magnitude characteristic. This enables frequency response characteristics within a synchronous area of the electric power grid to be easily determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a reactive power contribution to reactive power flowing in an electricity distribution network, so as to optimize this reactive power flow are described. A reactive power characteristic of electrical power flowing in the electricity distribution network is detected at a power device. The reactive power characteristic relates to a reactive power component of electricity flowing in the network. On the basis of the detected reactive power characteristic a reactive power contribution to the electricity distribution network is controlled so as to adjust a value of the detected reactive power characteristic. This enables individual power consumption and/or provision devices to react autonomously to local variations in the electricity distribution network, and to provide a reactive power contribution, to drive the detected reactive power characteristic towards a desired value.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlling electrical energy consumption in an electricity distribution network, so as to reduce net energy consumption in a given area during a given time period are described. In particular, a method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network is described. The method comprises maintaining a database of information about electric devices, and identifying an area in which, and a time period during which, electrical energy consumption is to be controlled. The method further comprises selecting, based on device information stored in the database, groups of electric devices, and associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups. Requests are sent to the electric devices of the selected groups to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices. This enables a reduction in net consumption of electrical energy in a given area, during a respective time interval.

Abstract: A reader device for radio frequency identification transponders, which implements enhanced radio frequency identification transponder functionality. The reader device is capable of serving as a radio frequency identification transponder. Such a reader device includes a reader logic unit, a radio/high frequency (RF/HF) interface and an antenna, and is adapted to communicate at least with radio frequency identification transponders in a reader operation mode. The reader device also includes a transponder logic unit that is connected to the reader device and in particular to the radio/high frequency (RF/HF) interface such that the reader device acts as a radio frequency identification transponder in a transponder operation mode. In particular, the transponder logic unit is adapted to communicate with other reader devices for radio frequency identification transponders.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer programs for transmitting and/or receiving information are described. Information encoded in a carrier signal comprising a modulation pattern superimposed on a grid frequency at which electricity flows in a synchronous area of an electric power grid, is decoded by measuring, at a receiving device, a characteristic relating to a frequency of electricity flowing in the electric power grid, accessing data indicative of one or more predetermined code patterns and performing a correlation process to determine a correlation between the modulation pattern and one of the one or more predetermined code patterns. The information is decoded on the basis of the determined correlation. This enables information to be easily transmitted within a synchronous area of the electric power grid.

Abstract: An NFC communicator has a coupler operable to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field, a demodulator to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler, and a modulator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator. The NFC communicator communicates with a data source and is arranged to at least one of provide timing data to the data source and receive timing data from the data source.

Abstract: A near field communications (NFC) enabled device configured to adaptively switch between a power saving sense mode and a communication mode is provided. The NFC enabled device includes a sense signal controller configured to cause an initiating coupler to generate a sense signal, and a sensor unit configured to determine when a target RF communicator is in near field range based on a change in an impedance of the initiating coupler. The NFC enabled device also includes an activation signal controller configured to cause the initiating coupler to send an activation signal to a target coupler upon determination by the sensor unit that the target RF communicator is in near field range. The NFC enabled device generates the sense signal when in the power saving sense mode, and sends the activation signal to the target RF communicator when in the communication mode.

Abstract: A communications system comprising one or more transponders and a user terminal including a processing unit, a reader unit for communicating with the transponders and a communications unit. The one or more transponders are configured to store connection specific information on the terminal device, and the reader unit of the user terminal is configured to receive the connection specific information on the terminal device stored in a transponder in response to the reader unit of the user terminal being positioned at least in proximity to the transponder, and the processing unit is configured to utilize the received connection specific information when a communications connection between the user terminal and the terminal device is established.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and/or managing power consumption by power units connected to an electricity distribution network are disclosed. Power flow to and/or from a power unit connected to an electricity distribution network is controlled in accordance with a control sequence, such that the consumption and/or provision of power by the power unit results in a power flow having a predefined flow pattern, and having a characteristic, such as an amplitude, which can be remotely measured. This measurement may be performed using a method in which a signal indicative of power flowing at a measurement node is measured and correlated with a predefined pattern, and a characteristic of the correlated signal is measured. Thus, power flow characteristics resulting from a group of one or more power flow devices can be remotely detected and measured.

Abstract: A communications device configured to couple with a near field RF communicator, in near field range, to enable communication of data by modulation of a magnetic field. The communications device also including a secure element, having a plurality of memory areas with differing levels of access, configured to provide secure data storage for transaction data, wherein the levels of access are differentiated by a degree to which the plurality of memory areas are programmable, writable and modifiable. Further, the communications device includes a controller configured to read the transaction data from the at least one secure element, and to cause a modulator to modulate the RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the secure element so as to communicate the read transaction data to the near field RF communicator as proof of the transaction to enable an action related to the transaction to be carried out.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and/or managing power consumption by power units connected to an electricity distribution network are disclosed. Power flow to and/or from a power unit connected to an electricity distribution network is controlled in accordance with a control sequence, such that the consumption and/or provision of power by the power unit results in a power flow having a predefined flow pattern, and having a characteristic, such as an amplitude, which can be remotely measured. This measurement may be performed using a method in which a signal indicative of power flowing at a measurement node is measured and correlated with a predefined pattern, and a characteristic of the correlated signal is measured. Thus, power flow characteristics resulting from a group of one or more power flow devices can be remotely detected and measured.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlling electrical energy consumption in an electricity distribution network, so as to reduce net energy consumption in a given area during a given time period are described. In particular, a method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network is described. The method comprises maintaining a database of information about electric devices, and identifying an area in which, and a time period during which, electrical energy consumption is to be controlled. The method further comprises selecting, based on device information stored in the database, groups of electric devices, and associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups. Requests are sent to the electric devices of the selected groups to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices. This enables a reduction in net consumption of electrical energy in a given area, during a respective time interval.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlling electrical energy consumption in an electricity distribution network, so as to reduce net energy consumption in a given area during a given time period, are described. In particular, a method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network is described. The method comprises maintaining a database of information about electric devices, and identifying a time period during which consumption of electrical energy is to be controlled. The method further comprises selecting, based on device profile information stored in the database, groups of electric devices, and associating one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups. Requests are sent to the electric devices of the selected groups to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices. This enables a reduction in net consumption of electrical energy during a respective time interval.

Abstract: A reader device for radio frequency identification transponders, which implements enhanced radio frequency identification transponder functionality. The reader device is capable of serving as a radio frequency identification transponder. Such a reader device includes a reader logic unit, a radio/high frequency (RF/HF) interface and an antenna, and is adapted to communicate at least with radio frequency identification transponders in a reader operation mode. The reader device also includes a transponder logic unit that is connected to the reader device and in particular to the radio/high frequency (RF/HF) interface such that the reader device acts as a radio frequency identification transponder in a transponder operation mode. In particular, the transponder logic unit is adapted to communicate with other reader devices for radio frequency identification transponders.

Abstract: A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag includes a controller capable of receiving information regarding a signaling tag at least partially over an air interface. The controller is also capable of determining whether the controller is actively operating an application. In this regard, if the terminal is actively operating an application, the controller is capable of performing a predefined action based upon the application and a state of the application.