HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT SCREENSAVER

• US 20110154269A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan, Guernsey, Byron K., Broniak, Jay Andrew, Bingham, David C., Brian, Joseph Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/644,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20110154269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/867
• 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

Abstract

A computer screensaver program runs a home energy manager application. The screensaver program is activated after a predetermined time and automatically runs a web browser by detecting the URL of the home energy manager application. The home energy manager interface is then displayed on the computer screen or a remote monitor. Preferably, the screensaver cycles through one or more various screens and remains active until a key is pressed or the mouse is activated.

Claims

1. A screensaver program for communicating information relating to homeowner energy consumption comprising:

a set point for activating the screensaver program after a predetermined time period of inactivity; and

instructions for running a web browser relating to home appliance energy consumption through the screensaver program.

2. The program of claim 1 wherein the URL of the web browser is automatically detected during installation of the program.

3. The program of claim 1 wherein the program displays the web browser.

4. A computer system comprising:

a controller;

a monitor operatively communicating with the controller; and

instructions provided to the controller for displaying a screensaver on the monitor that includes home energy usage information.

5. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the instructions include automatically detecting a URL of a home energy manager system.

6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the home energy usage information is displayed as a part of the screensaver without running the home energy manager system.

7. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the instructions retrieve the home energy usage information from a networked home energy manager system.

8. The computer system of claim 5 further comprising a remote second monitor for receiving and displaying the screensaver.

9. The computer system of claim 5 further comprising a remote mobile device displaying the screensaver.

10. A method of displaying information relating to homeowner energy consumption on a computing device having a monitor comprising:

running a screensaver on the monitor; and

displaying utility usage data on at least a portion of the monitor in response to activation of the screensaver.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the utility usage data displaying step includes further displaying the utility usage data on the monitor during non-screensaver activity.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising connecting with a networked device [home energy manager] in response to activating the screensaver.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the connecting step includes accessing the networked device through the network.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the connecting step includes accessing the networked device from a location external to the network.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes displaying information from the networked device on the monitor.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes additionally displaying the utility usage data on a remote, second monitor.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes additionally displaying the utility usage data on a remote mobile device.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes progressively cycling the display through various screens.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the running step includes operating a web browser within a monitor screensaver.