Systems, apparatus and methods for managing demand-response programs and events

• US 10,438,304 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Yoky, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, McGaraghan, Scott A., Kortz, Samuel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US15/458,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20170241663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 : Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat controls an HVAC system to cool the structure using a demand response event implementation profile over the demand response event period. The thermostat can also receive a requested change to the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile and access a determination of an impact on energy shifting that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile. This determination can be communicated to the energy consumer.

Claims

1. An intelligent, network-connected thermostat comprising:

a user interface for displaying information to an energy consumer associated with a structure and receiving user inputs from the energy consumer;

a connector for coupling the thermostat to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system associated with the structure;

a communications component for communicating with a remote server;

a memory for storing a demand response event implementation profile that defines a plurality of setpoint temperatures distributed over a demand response event period of a demand response event, and

a processor coupled to the user interface, the connector, the communications component, and the memory, the processor being operable to;

control the HVAC system to cool the structure in accordance with the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile over the demand response event period,

receive a requested change to first one or more of the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile, wherein second one or more of the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile remain unchanged;

access a determination of an impact on energy shifting for the demand response event that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile; and

communicate to the energy consumer information indicative of the impact on energy shifting for the demand response event that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to:

access a determination of whether the requested change would increase or decrease an amount of energy shifting if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the processor is further operable to:

in response to accessing a determination that the requested change would increase the amount of energy shifting, incorporate the requested change into the demand response event implementation profile without further input from the energy consumer.

4. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the processor is further operable to:

in response to accessing a determination that the requested change would decrease the amount of energy shifting, cause the user interface to request confirmation of the requested change prior to incorporating the requested change into the demand response event implementation profile.

5. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the processor is further operable to:

in response to accessing a determination that the requested change would decrease the amount of energy shifting, eliminate or suspend participation of the energy consumer from the demand response event.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the information indicative of an impact on energy shifting includes one or more of a monetary value and an amount of energy.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the requested change is received prior to the demand response event period and information indicative of the impact on energy shifting is communicated to the energy consumer prior to the demand response event period.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the requested change is received during the demand response event period and information indicative of the impact on energy shifting is communicated to the energy consumer during the demand response event period.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the determination of an impact on energy shifting accessed by the thermostat is computed at a remote server.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the determination of an impact on energy shifting accessed by the thermostat is computed by the thermostat.

11. A method of operating an intelligent, network-connected thermostat, the method comprising:

displaying, on a user interface, information to an energy consumer associated with a structure and receiving user inputs from the energy consumer;

storing, in a memory device, a demand response event implementation profile that defines a plurality of setpoint temperatures distributed over a demand response event period of a demand response event

control an HVAC system to cool the structure in accordance with the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile over the demand response event period,

receive a requested change to first one or more of the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile, wherein second one or more of the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile remain unchanged;

access a determination of an impact on energy shifting for the demand response event that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile; and

communicate to the energy consumer information indicative of the impact on energy shifting for the demand response event that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing a determination of whether the requested change would increase or decrease an amount of energy shifting if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to accessing a determination that the requested change would increase the amount of energy shifting, incorporating the requested change into the demand response event implementation profile without further input from the energy consumer.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to accessing a determination that the requested change would decrease the amount of energy shifting, causing the user interface to request confirmation of the requested change prior to incorporating the requested change into the demand response event implementation profile.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to accessing a determination that the requested change would decrease the amount of energy shifting, eliminating or suspending participation of the energy consumer from the demand response event.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the information indicative of an impact on energy shifting includes one or more of a monetary value and an amount of energy.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the requested change is received prior to the demand response event period and information indicative of the impact on energy shifting is communicated to the energy consumer prior to the demand response event period.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the requested change is received during the demand response event period and information indicative of the impact on energy shifting is communicated to the energy consumer during the demand response event period.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination of an impact on energy shifting accessed by the thermostat is computed at a thermostat management server.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination of an impact on energy shifting accessed by the thermostat is computed by the thermostat.