Utility monitoring system and method for relaying personalized real-time utility consumption information to a consumer

• US 20060106741A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: San Vision Energy Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: San Vision Energy Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Janarthanan, Rajalingam
• Application Number:
  US11/184,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1333 adapted for special tariff measuring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A utility monitoring system and method for relaying to a consumer personalized utility consumption information in order to induce the consumer to conserve the utility. The system includes a data source, a processor coupled to the data source, and a display unit coupled to the processor. The processor receives utility consumption information from the data source. The processor then generates enhanced utility consumption information, as well as a display of the data. The processor may also provide Demand-Side Management for utility conservation based on the utility consumption information and the consumer'"'"'s settings. The display is then transmitted to the display unit to be displayed. The display unit resides in the consumer'"'"'s home or business. A broadband server may also be used to provide customized broadband information.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a comparison of the consumption of a utility for at least a portion of a first time period, said first time period comprising at least one time interval, with the consumption of said utility for at least a portion of a second time period, said second time period comprising at least one time interval, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said portion of said first time period, a first consumption value indicative of said consumption of a utility at said time intervals;

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said portion of said second time period, a second consumption value indicative of said consumption of a utility at said time intervals; and

generating a display showing a comparison of at least one of said first and second consumption values.

2. A method of displaying a price value related to the price of a utility for at least a portion of a time period, said time period comprising at least one time interval, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said portion of said time period, a price value relating to the price of said utility for said time interval; and

generating a display of a value related to said price values.

3. A method of displaying a comparison of a first price value related to the price of a utility for at least a portion of a first time period, said first time period comprising at least one time interval, with a second price value related to the price of said utility for at least a portion of a second time period, said second time period comprising at least one time interval, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said first time period, a first price value related to the price of said utility for said time interval;

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said second period, a second price value relating to the price of said utility for said time interval; and

generating a display showing a comparison of a first value related to said first price values and a second value related to said second price values.

4. A method of displaying the cost of the consumption of a utility for at least a portion of a time period, said time period comprising at least one time interval, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said time period, consumption value indicative of said consumption of a utility at said time interval;

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said time period, a price value relating to the price of said utility during said time interval;

generating a cost value of said consumption of said utility utilizing said consumption values and said price values;

generating a display showing said cost value.

5. A method of displaying a comparison of the cost of consumption of a utility for at least a portion of a first time period, said first time period comprising at least one time interval, with the cost of consumption of said utility for at least a portion of a second time period, said second time period comprising at least one time interval, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said first time period, a first consumption value indicative of said consumption of a utility for said time interval;

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said first time period, a first price value relating to the price of said utility during said time interval;

generating a first cost value of said consumption of said utility utilizing said first consumption values and said first price values;

storing said first cost value;

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said second time period, a second consumption value indicative of said consumption of a utility for said time interval;

obtaining, for each of said time intervals of said at least a portion of said second time period, a second price value relating to the price of said utility during said time interval;

generating a second cost value of said consumption of said utility utilizing said second consumption values and said second price values;

generating a display showing a comparison of said first and second cost values.

6. method of providing demand-side management to a location comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one utility consumption variable;

setting a trigger value for each of said at least one utility consumption variable for at least a portion of a time period;

determining the current value for each of said at least one utility consumption variable for at least a portion of a time period;

comparing said current value for each of said at least one utility consumption variable with said at least one trigger value for each of said at least one utility consumption variable;

managing utility consumption at said location based on said comparison.

7. A method of displaying a forecast of a utility consumption variable for a time period, said time period comprising at least one time interval, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, for at least one of said time intervals of said time period, an actual value indicative of the current value of said utility consumption variable for said time interval;

generating a forecast value indicative of a forecast of the value of said utility consumption variable for said time period based on said actual values; and

generating a display of said forecast value.

8. An apparatus for displaying utility consumption information comprising:

a data source;

a processor coupled to said data source; and

a display unit coupled to said processor.

9. In apparatus for providing demand side management to a location comprising:

a data source;

a processor, coupled to said data source, said processor running software to evaluate data from said data source; and

at least one appliance located at said location, coupled to said processor, said at least one appliance having its utility consumption managed by said processor based on results of said evaluation carried out by said processor running said software.