TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Method and System for Granting and Trading Redeemable Energy Credits

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a method and system for granting and trading redeemable energy credits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Our economic growth has, in part, been fuelled by our access to energy. Increasingly, there is more pressure on these supplies. If we are to continue to grow and maintain our lifestyle, we need to find better ways of energy conservation and supply. As a result, the need for renewable energy sources is monumental and is growing more acute.

We usually obtain electricity and fuel by burning coal, gas and oil, created by decaying plants and animals millions of years ago. But these limited resources are being used up very much faster than nature can replace them. These energy resources will eventually run out. As the world becomes hungrier for energy - particularly in developed countries- there may be an 'energy crisis' with power and fuel shortages as the coal, gas and oil run out. About 90% of our energy today comes from these sources. Hence, methods must be deployed to overcome the above-mentioned problems.

US patent no US6978931 describes a method of providing an energy credit system for providing redeemable energy or mass transit credits to consumers who contribute power to a shared electric power grid wherein the excess power generated by each consumer to the power grid is measured and energy credits are awarded to those consumers who contribute power to the power grid. Each consumer receiving energy credits is allowed to redeem those credits by acquiring fuel, power or mass transit tickets. In one embodiment of the invention, a separate energy brokerage house is provided which receives

compensation from the operator of the power grid for power provided to the grid by the consumers and compensates the fuel or energy provider or mass transit system for the energy credits redeemed by each consumer. In a second embodiment, the operator of the power grid compensates the providers of fuel, energy or mass transit directly for the redeemed energy credits.

US patent no WO2001016905 describes a process, system and computer readable medium for providing a prepaid fuel card and using a personal identification as a prepaid fuel card. A process, system and computer readable medium for using a customer's identification, such as a frequent shopper card, as a prepaid fuel card in conjunction with a transfer certificate containing a transfer certificate identification. A customer is able to receive credit for pre-paid fuel by having the customer present their identification and the transfer certificate identification at a fuel pump when purchasing fuel. An account for a fuel credit associated with the customer's identification and transfer certificate identification is maintained.

US patent no WO2002073553 describes a supply system for supplying pre-paid goods or services e.g. electricity to a user, comprising: a monitoring device located at the user's premises for monitoring usage of goods or services, the device including a storage means for storing a signal indicative of the current amount of credit, a keyboard for entering an encoded message in the form of a data encryption standard code which includes information indicative of an amount of credit, decryption means for decrypting the encoded message, and processing means for processing the decoded message in order to determine the amount of credit and for updating the storage means; and a message generating device located remote from the user's premises for generating an encoded message in the form of a data encryption standard code in a discernable alphanumeric format, the encoded message generating device and the decryption means utilizing the same key, which key is changed for every transaction.

US patent no WO1999031953 describes a system for credit transfer and load control in a power distribution network. A system is provided for transferring financial data from a utility supplier to a number of remote devices belonging to at least one consumer. The system comprises a financial data memory in which is stored financial data relating to consumers of a utility supplier; a number of remote devices, each device further comprising a receiver having a network address in a radio network and a device memory; and a controller arranged to retrieve from the financial data memory financial data relating to a consumer and to transmit the financial data as a message over the radio network to the network address of at least one remote device. Each device is arranged to receive the message transmitted by the controller over the radio network and to store in the device memory the financial data in the message where the network address of the message matches the network address of the receiver. A method is also provided for transferring financial data from, a utility supplier to a number of remote devices belonging to at least one consumer. ,

US patent no WO2006046232 describes a communication system and method for controlling fuel transactions and for impeding theft of fuel. It is a system for communication between a vehicle and a fueling service system for providing a fueling service to a driver of the vehicle using a fuel pump of a gas station, that comprises a database that includes data related at least to the identity of the vehicle, to the account number to be credited and charged, and to credit rules defined by the owner of the vehicle, the credit rules being imposed by the owner on the driver; means for obtaining the identity of the vehicle using the database, for associating the identity with at least the account number and the credit rules when a fueling service commences and optionally, while the fueling service is in progress; and means for causing the fuel pump to deliver fuel to the vehicle if the circumstances of the fueling service and the credit rules are in agreement based on the association. The patent discloses the use of RFID tag and interrogator for identification and authentication purposes.

US patent no US6529883 describes a prepayment energy metering system with two- way smart card communications. A pre-payment energy metering system uses two-way

smart card communications. Secure power line carrier communications are provided at the consumer locations communication between a customer terminal and the utility meter. Two-way secure communication of data is provided through the use of a smart card or memory card which conveys data from the utility service provider to the customer's terminal and also conveys information from the customer's terminal back to the utility. The pre-payment power system of the present invention allows consumers to pay for electricity prior to consumption through the use of the smart card that is loaded with funds at a fully automatic point-of-sale (POS) terminal or at the utility service providers staffed customer service center. Back office software interfaces between the POS terminals and customer service centers, and utility service providers customer information systems.

None of the above patents offers a system for granting credits without generation of power by the consumer himself. Further, none of the prior art technologies discuss any credit note that can be traded such as a negotiable instrument. In yet another fundamental difference as regards prior art, the present invention focuses on the renewable energy sources like agro wastes or waste fuel like high ash, coal etc. So there is a need for such a technique, which can grant and trade redeemable energy credits in exchange of renewable sources.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the instant invention to obviate the above drawbacks and provide a method and system for granting and trading redeemable energy credits.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide the user with energy credit points on his energy credit note equivalent to the value of the fuel supplied him as decided by processing the said fuel based on decided protocols.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to redeem these credit points in exchange for energy or cash as desired by the user.

It is also an object of the instant invention to maintain a record of all the transactions including issuing and redeeming of credit points of each consumer.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a new consumer with an energy credit note and open an account for him by assigning him a unique identification number and giving him an authentication means.

It is further an object of the instant invention to record the personal and authentication details of each consumer along with his transaction details in the form of an account and also at his energy credit note.

It is also an object of the instant invention to calculate the energy credit points for the fuel supplied by analyzing it based on decided protocols.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to store data in a network so as to ensure uniform storage and updation of data at all the entities.

It is further an object of the instant invention to provide a suitable human interface at each of the above-mentioned entities.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives the instant invention provides a method for granting redeemable energy credits and providing a medium for trading these credits comprising receiving fuel from the consumer, processing and analyzing the said fuel to ascertain the calorific value, assigning energy credits to said fuel, granting the said consumer corresponding energy credits, recording and updating credit and transaction details in the account of the said consumer and redeeming said credit note in exchange for energy by verifying the authentication information provided.

The instant invention further provides a computing system for granting redeemable energy credits on energy credit notes and providing a medium for trading these credits comprising input means responsive to operator commands enabling an operator to read

data from the energy credit note, input means responsive to operator commands enabling an operator to enter data to access or alter the database, compute energy credit points or access his account, memory for storing the database containing records pertaining to the details of the consumer, processor coupled to the input and the memory programmed to process and analyze the input pertaining to the fuel characteristics to compute credit points and maintain the same in the database and output means responsive to operator commands enabling an operator to feed in the upgraded data into the energy credit note.

The instant invention also provides a remote access apparatus for providing end-user access through a human interface to a desired remote utility service on a remote host computer, comprising a local host computer at a nodal agency, a remote host computer at any agency registered with said nodal agency (where the consumer can sell fuel, redeem his credit points or change his authentication details) and a network connection between said local host computer and said remote host computer allowing data transfer there between.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• FIG 1 defines a flowchart depicting the basic operation of the instant invention

• FIG 2 defines a flowchart depicting the process for granting an energy credit note to a new consumer

• FIG 3 illustrates a flowchart depicting the procedure for changing the personal or authentication details of a consumer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention provides a system wherein energy credit notes will be provided to consumers who provide fuel to the agencies dealing with generation and supply of

power. In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, these energy credit notes would be certified and issued by a nodal agency. The said nodal agency is any identified entity that is authorized for doing the same. It is also responsible for the computation and management of credit points. Also, it tracks all the energy credit notes it issues. The instant invention attempts to encourage the supply of fuel by agro wastes or waste fuel like high ash coal etc.

In yet another embodiment of the instant invention, the credit points on the energy credit note may be traded preferably, but not limiting to, at industries that consume power at a higher rate or they may be exchanged for various forms of power with institutions that supply power.

The said energy credit note may be a smart card provided by a bank or any other financial institution or an electricity board office or any other designated office or institution. It may also be a paper document or any other means that serve as a negotiable derivative and a tool to aid financial transactions.

The details of the said energy credit note are maintained in a record book or any other paper format or any electronic format. The data includes the identification of the user, his authentication means, and a record of his transactions, which includes details of debit and credit. The said data relating to any consumer is maintained in the form of an account and is assigned an account number. The account contains the updated details of the available or sold credits.

There are also provided various communication protocols to enable the consumers to access their accounts through various agencies including nationalized or private banks or any other identified institutions or organizations. Alternatively, the consumers can get details of their accounts by telecommunication or from call centers.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a flowchart for the granting and trading process. In step 101 , the consumer visits an identified agency to sell fuel. The fuel may be of any quantity and of any type, including agro waste and waste fuel like high ash coal. The agency receives the fuel from the consumer and sends it for analysis.

Next, in step 102, the fuel is processed and analyzed to ascertain its calorific value. This is achieved using an apparatus for performing various experiments on a sample of the fuel to determine the same. Further, the net conversion rate is identified.

Next, in step 103, the energy credit points are assigned to the said fuel received depending on its calorific value and the current net conversion rate.

Now, in step 104, it is checked whether the said consumer holds an energy credit note.

If the consumer does not hold an energy credit note, then he is registered firstly as a new consumer in order to open a new account for him and assign him an energy credit note.

If the consumer already holds an energy credit note, then in step 105, his authentication details are taken from the energy credit note.

Next, in step 106, these authentication details are verified. A request is made to the remote computer at the server for doing the same. The server validates the details and sends a response stating whether the said consumer is valid or not.

Next, in step 107, the response from the server is checked to ascertain whether this consumer is valid or not.

If the said consumer is authenticated successfully, then in step 109, he is provided with power or cash as desired by him for the credit points he wants to redeem.

Next, in step 110, the transaction details and updated credit details are recorded at the consumer's energy credit note and t the agency's database. Also, the said details are sent to the nodal agency to update the data stored at the server.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a flowchart for granting an energy credit note to a new consumer. In step 201 , the agency takes in the required consumer details and verifies them with the said consumer.

Next, in step 202, the said consumer is provided with a unique identification number and authentication means to validate him at the time of selling fuel or redeeming his credit points.

In step 203, an account is opened for the said consumer to keep track of his credits, debits and transactions.

These details are then recorded in step 204, onto his newly issued energy credit note and sent to the remote computer at the server in the nodal agency.

Finally, in step 205, the said consumer is informed of his identification number and authentication means.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a flowchart for changing the personal or authentication details of a consumer. In step 301 , the consumer is asked if he would like to change his personal details or his authentication details. Personal details include details like birth date, address, contact number etc. Authentication details include the consumer's unique identification number and his authentication means. However, a consumer cannot alter his unique identification number.

Next, in step 303, if the consumer wishes to alter his personal details as ascertained in step 302, then they are acquired from ^' the database at the server.

Else, in step 304, the authentication details to be altered are read from the said consumer's energy credit note.

Now, in step 305, the altered details are acquired from the said consumer.

In step 306, it is ascertained if the above-mentioned details are valid.

As decided in step 307, if the authentication details are to be changed, the changed authentication details are recorded onto the energy credit note of the consumer in step 308.

Further, in step 309, the updated details are sent to the server to be recorded at the database.

The present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.