Energy usage prediction and control system and method
First Claim
1. An energy controller for controlling energy usage, the energy controller comprising:
- an energy predictor for calculating an initial energy prediction of energy to be used by devices associated with the energy controller based on an initial prediction of how the devices will be used at a point in the future;
a transmitter for transmitting the initial energy prediction to an energy company such that energy purchases can be made in advance based on the initial energy prediction; and
a receiver for receiving changes to the initial prediction of how the devices will be used at the point in the future,wherein the received changes are communicated to the energy predictor to calculate a revised energy prediction based on the received changes, andwherein the transmitter transmits the revised energy prediction to the energy company.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller and/or a gateway acts as a feedback-based energy estimator for controlling initial and refined estimates of energy usage of one or more buildings controlled by the controller or gateway. An initial estimate of a building'"'"'s energy needs for a specified time in the future (e.g., a month or a week ahead) are calculated, and then over time, in conjunction with an energy company, the initial estimate (and subsequent estimates) is revised based on the costs of the energy predicted or quoted by the energy company. The controller may examine jobs to be performed at the time as well as predictive information that may affect the building'"'"'s energy needs (e.g., the predicted temperature for the time of the predicted energy needs). As expectations change (or as predicted factors such as temperature change), the energy company may be informed of the additional energy that will be needed (e.g., if the predicted temperature is increasing and cooling will be needed) or the excess energy that is expected (e.g., if the predicted temperature is decreasing and less cooling will be needed).
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An energy controller for controlling energy usage, the energy controller comprising:
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an energy predictor for calculating an initial energy prediction of energy to be used by devices associated with the energy controller based on an initial prediction of how the devices will be used at a point in the future; a transmitter for transmitting the initial energy prediction to an energy company such that energy purchases can be made in advance based on the initial energy prediction; and a receiver for receiving changes to the initial prediction of how the devices will be used at the point in the future, wherein the received changes are communicated to the energy predictor to calculate a revised energy prediction based on the received changes, and wherein the transmitter transmits the revised energy prediction to the energy company. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An energy system for responding to changes in energy usage from at least one energy controller controlling an associated at least one device, the energy system comprising:
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a receiver for receiving from the at least one energy controller (1) an initial energy prediction of energy to be used by the at least one device associated with the energy controller based on an initial prediction of how the devices will be used at a point in the future and (2) a revised energy prediction based on predicted changes in usage of how the devices will be used at the point in the future; a transmitter for transmitting a revised cost representing a cost differential between the initial and revised energy predictions; and an energy purchasing system for purchasing at least one of energy and energy futures in response to at least one of the initial and revised energy predictions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling energy usage via an energy controller, the method comprising:
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calculating, by an energy predictor, an initial energy prediction of energy to be used by devices associated with the energy controller based on an initial prediction of how the devices will be used at a point in the future; transmitting the initial energy prediction to an energy company such that energy purchases can be made in advance based on the initial energy prediction; and receiving changes to the initial prediction of how the devices will be used at the point in the future, wherein the received changes are communicated to the energy predictor to calculate a revised energy prediction based on the received changes, and wherein the revised energy prediction is transmitted to the energy company. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for responding to changes in energy usage from at least one energy controller controlling an associated at least one device, the method comprising:
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receiving from the at least one energy controller (1) an initial energy prediction of energy to be used by the at least one device associated with the energy controller based on an initial prediction of how the devices will be used at a point in the future and (2) a revised energy prediction based on predicted changes in usage of how the devices will be used at the point in the future; transmitting a revised cost representing a cost differential between the initial and revised energy predictions; and purchasing at least one of energy and energy futures in response to at least one of the initial and revised energy predictions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification