Abstract: A business management method with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers includes the consumers providing respective electricity load profiles to the energy supplier. The method also includes the energy supplier aggregating the respective projected electricity load profiles. The method further includes the energy supplier making decisions based on the respective projected electricity load profiles on any of the consumers bidding on additional power, offering excess power on energy exchanges, and offering specials discounts to favored consumers. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method for remote detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective electric metering systems, comprises the steps of: the consumers providing respective metering system data to the electric distribution company; the electric distribution company monitoring the respective electric metering system data; the electric distribution company monitoring for anomalies in the data; the electric distribution company performing remote online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly; upon a finding that the electric metering system of a respective customer energy consumer is functioning properly, the electric distribution company notifies the respective customer energy consumer; and upon a finding that the electric metering system of a respective customer energy consumer is not functioning properly, the electric distribution company schedules a repair visit with the respective customer energy consumer.

Abstract: An optical inspection system is for visually inspecting the blades of a turbine at turning gear operation. The inspection system includes an imager for capturing images of the blades, an optical passage coupled to the imager and structured to provide maximum viewing area of the blades through an inspection port in the turbine and an illuminating assembly adapted to illuminate the blades while the imager captures images thereof. A method wherein the captured blade images are inspected for blade defects, is also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method are provided for remotely monitoring an individual's health and safety and communicating information to appropriate personnel and services, wherein the individual wears a remote monitoring device or the individual is monitored by cameras. The remote monitoring device can be capable of being activated by the individual or can be capable of measuring vital sign functions of the individual. The occurrence of an indication requiring an emergency response is verified and the appropriate response is initiated. The travel of emergency response vehicles can be expedited by controlling traffic signals to favor the route of the emergency response vehicle. Communication between monitored individuals, monitoring agencies, databases, responding services, healthcare facilities and traffic controllers is integrated through the use of modern data and communication systems such as telephone, cable, wireless or the Internet.

Abstract: A method for developing a software product includes developing a machine-readable description of a requirements model defining a plurality of functionalities of the software product, developing an architectural framework for the product that includes definitions of a plurality of components that make up the product and facilities for loading and running a configuration of one or more components, and mapping functionalities of the requirements model into the components of the architectural framework. A centralized product management and engineering group develops the requirements model and architectural framework and coordinates an incremental development of the components of the product. One or more component development groups are assigned to develop one or more components of the software product so that components of the software product are developed concurrently. A schedule is set for delivery of each component to the centralized product management and engineering group.

Abstract: A method for schedule-based load estimation in a system including a utility energy provider and a utility energy consumer, comprises the steps of generating a near-term proposed schedule set containing at least one near-term proposed schedule for operation of power-consuming resources; monitoring energy consumption of the consumer for providing a set of historical consumption data; providing from priorly stored data a set of historical schedule data for the consumer; providing a set of historical unscheduled factors that affect the consumer's power consumption; providing a set of unscheduled factor predictions; and performing a correlation operation on the near-term proposed schedule set, the set of historical consumption data, the set of historical schedule data, the set of historical unscheduled factors, and the set of unscheduled factor predictions, for providing a respective near-term load estimate for each near-term proposed schedule in the near-term proposed schedule set.

Abstract: A business management method for trading in load estimations with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers, comprises the steps of: grouping the plurality of customers into respective customer circles such that each circle comprises a number of customers engaged in similar activities; developing respective load profiles for each of the customer circles for a predetermined period past; inputting the respective load profiles to an aggregate load profile estimator for providing an aggregate load estimate; and trading in the load estimate. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method for detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective smart electric metering systems, comprises the steps of: the respective smart electric metering system providing an error message to the electric distribution company upon occurrence of an anomaly; electric distribution company performing online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly at a respective customer energy consumer site; the electric distribution company determines whether repairs are required; and upon a determination of a need for repair, electric distribution company schedules a repair visit at the respective customer energy consumer site. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method for remote detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective electric metering systems, comprises the steps of: the consumers providing respective metering system data to the electric distribution company; the electric distribution company monitoring the respective electric metering system data; the electric distribution company monitoring for anomalies in the data; the electric distribution company performing remote online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly; upon a finding that the electric metering system of a respective customer energy consumer is functioning properly, the electric distribution company notifies the respective customer energy consumer; and upon a finding that the electric metering system of a respective customer energy consumer is not functioning properly, the electric distribution company schedules a repair visit with the respective customer energy consumer.

Abstract: A business management method with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers comprises the steps of: the consumers providing respective electricity load profiles to the energy supplier; the energy supplier aggregating the respective projected electricity load profiles; and the energy supplier making decisions based on the respective projected electricity load profiles on any of bidding on additional power, offering excess power on energy exchanges, and offering specials discounts to favored consumers. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A method for schedule-based load estimation in a system including a utility energy provider and a utility energy consumer, comprises the steps of generating a near-term proposed schedule set containing at least one near-term proposed schedule for operation of power-consuming resources; monitoring energy consumption of the consumer for providing a set of historical consumption data; providing from priorly stored data a set of historical schedule data for the consumer; providing a set of historical unscheduled factors that affect the consumer's power consumption; providing a set of unscheduled factor predictions; and performing a correlation operation on the near-term proposed schedule set, the set of historical consumption data, the set of historical schedule data, the set of historical unscheduled factors, and the set of unscheduled factor predictions, for providing a respective near-term load estimate for each near-term proposed schedule in the near-term proposed schedule set.

Abstract: A business management method with interactions between a direct electrical energy supplier, a plurality of indirect energy suppliers, and a plurality of customer energy consumers, the direct electrical energy supplier being the direct supplier of electricity to the customer energy consumers, and the indirect energy suppliers being indirect suppliers of the customer energy consumers by supplying the direct electrical energy supplier, comprises the steps of: the consumers providing respective electricity load profiles to the direct electrical energy supplier; the direct electrical energy supplier aggregating the respective projected electricity load profiles; the direct electrical energy supplier, in a low asking electrical energy price situation, generating economically advantageous specials for the situation taking account of the projected electricity load profiles; the direct electrical energy supplier deciding which ones of the specials to offer to which consumers, taking account of the projected electricit

Abstract: A business management method for load estimation with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers, comprises the steps of: grouping the plurality of customers into respective customer circles such that each circle comprises a number of customers engaged in similar activities; developing respective load profiles for each of the customer circles for a predetermined period past; and inputting the respective load profiles to an aggregate load profile estimator for providing an aggregate load estimate. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method for trading in load estimations with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers, comprises the steps of: grouping the plurality of customers into respective customer circles such that each circle comprises a number of customers engaged in similar activities; developing respective load profiles for each of the customer circles for a predetermined period past; inputting the respective load profiles to an aggregate load profile estimator for providing an aggregate load estimate; and trading in the load estimate. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method with interaction between an indirect electrical energy supplier providing energy to a direct electricity supplier who in turn supplies a plurality of customer energy consumers, comprises the steps of: the indirect electrical energy supplier informing the direct electricity supplier that a power shortage exists; the direct electricity supplier, upon a determination that energy exchange prices are too high, asks selected customer energy consumers to shed load; and the selected customers shed load and confirm load shedding. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management system with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers, comprises: an interactive flow of information between the supplier and the consumers so as to optimize efficient use of resources for power generation, distribution, and consumption by appropriate actions from among price adjustments, inducements, specials, production rates, maintenance rescheduling, load shedding and apportionment of excess power, by consideration of available power and resources, together with historical consumption records and present data; the supplier and consumers having respective staffs with personnel for performing functions associated with the system, and each of the staff having a respective Web-based portal for use in interacting with other staff members in associated portions of the system. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers. The method includes the steps of: the customer energy consumers and the electrical energy supplier cooperatively producing respective electricity load profiles for use by the electrical energy supplier; the electrical energy supplier aggregating the respective projected electricity load profiles; and the electrical energy supplier making decisions based on the respective projected electricity load profiles on any of: bidding on additional power, offering excess power on energy exchanges, and offering specials discounts to favored consumers. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method for detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective smart electric metering systems, comprises the steps of: the respective smart electric metering system providing an error message to the electric distribution company upon occurrence of an anomaly; electric distribution company performing online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly at a respective customer energy consumer site; the electric distribution company determines whether repairs are required; and upon a determination of a need for repair, electric distribution company schedules a repair visit at the respective customer energy consumer site. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: A business management method with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers, comprises the steps of: