Abstract: Systems and methods dynamically assess energy efficiency by obtaining a minimum energy consumption of a system, receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of actual energy consumption of the system, and comparing the minimum energy consumption to the measurement of actual energy consumption to calculate a substantially continuous energy performance assessment. The system further provides at least one of a theoretical minimum energy consumption based at least in part on theoretical performance limits of system components, an achievable minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for high energy efficient equivalents of the system components, and the designed minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for the system components.

Abstract: A system for assessing energy usage reads read at least one computer-aided design (CAD) file relating to the architecture of a facility and extracts information from the CAD file for use in determining static energy characteristics corresponding to the architecture of the facility, acquires information for use in determining dynamic energy characteristics of the facility, and calculates a predicted energy usage of the facility based at least in part on the static and dynamic energy characteristics. The system further acquires data from at least one sensor configured to measure actual energy usage of the facility in real-time and calculates the actual energy usage of the facility. When the actual energy usage exceeds the predicted energy usage, the system transmits an alert to a user and determines corrective measures to reduce energy usage.

Abstract: A decision support system for energy use demand management manages energy consumption and costs. A one way broadcast communications capability transmits energy management data to a population of energy consumers. A receiver-controller changes the energy consumption of an apparatus in response to receiving the energy management data. An energy consumption monitor determines energy consumption information related, at least in part, to the energy consumption of the apparatus, and provides energy consumption information through a feedback path that can be correlated with the energy management data. The receiver-controller changes the energy consumption of the apparatus in response to an analysis of the energy consumption information.

Abstract: A system for assessing energy usage reads read at least one computer-aided design (CAD) file relating to the architecture of a facility and extracts information from the CAD file for use in determining static energy characteristics corresponding to the architecture of the facility, acquires information for use in determining dynamic energy characteristics of the facility, and calculates a predicted energy usage of the facility based at least in part on the static and dynamic energy characteristics. The system further acquires data from at least one sensor configured to measure actual energy usage of the facility in real-time and calculates the actual energy usage of the facility. When the actual energy usage exceeds the predicted energy usage, the system transmits an alert to a user and determines corrective measures to reduce energy usage.

Abstract: A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits information related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant change.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for the multicasting of streaming digital content to a plurality of Internet users. Streaming digital audio, video or other digital data content that is to be multicast to Internet users is formatted into IP protocol at a head-end content source transmission site. The streaming IP digital data is transmitted from the head-end transmission site to at least one distant/remote routing station of an Internet service provider (i.e., a provider-edge router or Internet point of presence) via a bandwidth portion of a digital communications data transport service or transmission medium that is substantially unaffected by conventional Internet communications traffic. The Internet service provider (ISP) maintains at least one access router for providing Internet access via its Internet domain for its customers accessing the Internet via conventional two-way IP connection.

Abstract: A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.

Abstract: A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.

Abstract: An arrangement for multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The arrangement entails placing streaming digital data content that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate streaming IP digital data. The streaming IP digital data is uplinked from a transmission site to a satellite and downlinked to one or more remote Internet gateways via a communications path that is substantially separate from the Internet backbone. A plurality of separate satellite receiver systems, which may be located at separate remote Internet gateways, are adapted to receive IP streaming content via downlink carrier from the satellite and provide the streaming IP content to an Internet gateway without providing substantial TCP confirmation of delivery. At a remote Internet gateway, the streaming IP digital data content is multicast for delivery as a one-way data stream to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distant from the remote Internet gateway.

Abstract: A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to the multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.

Abstract: A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to the multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.

Abstract: A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for the multicasting of streaming digital content to a plurality of Internet users. Streaming digital audio, video or other digital data content that is to be multicast to Internet users is formatted into IP protocol at a head-end content source transmission site. The streaming IP digital data is transmitted from the head-end transmission site to at least one distant/remote routing station of an Internet service provider (i.e., a provider-edge router or Internet point of presence) via a bandwidth portion of a digital communications data transport service or transmission medium that is substantially unaffected by conventional Internet communications traffic. The Internet service provider (ISP) maintains at least one access router for providing Internet access via its Internet domain for its customers accessing the Internet via conventional two-way IP connection.