System and method for monitoring and estimating energy resource consumption
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring the consumption of at least one energy resource, the system comprising:
- a) a measuring unit;
b) a wireless network; and
c) a user module connected to the measuring unit via the wireless network.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a system for monitoring and estimating the consumption of energy resources in real-time. The system includes an interactive user module, a measuring unit and a wireless network. The measuring unit is interfaced to a utility meter. Optionally, the measuring unit can also function as a stand alone device. The measuring unit is further connected to the interactive user module via the wireless network. The system monitors energy resource consumption such as electricity, gas or water consumption in real-time, generates and displays graphs of energy resource consumption over user selected time periods and enables communication with at least one utility company. The system increases the users'"'"' awareness of their energy consumption and aids users in dynamic or deregulated pricing environments to shed load when the energy resource is most expensive. With knowledge of their energy use, the users can take proactive steps to control their energy consumption and save money. A method of estimating the energy resource consumption over a period of time is also provided.
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Citations
71 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring the consumption of at least one energy resource, the system comprising:
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a) a measuring unit; b) a wireless network; and c) a user module connected to the measuring unit via the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method of estimating the consumption of at least one energy resource, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining the energy resource consumed over an elapsed time period A; (b) obtaining the average percentage of energy resource consumed over the elapsed time period A; (c) obtaining the average percentage of energy resource consumed in remaining time period B; (d) multiplying the average percentage of energy resource consumed in remaining time period B with the energy resource consumed over the elapsed time period A (e) dividing the result obtained in step (d) with the average percentage of energy resource consumed over the elapsed time period A and (f) adding the result obtained in step (e) with the energy resource consumed over the elapsed time period A. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification