UTILITY MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20110238311A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Inventors: Nikolich, George, Edwards, Peter R., Kuhns, Hampden, Roberts, Morien W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and devices for monitoring one or more utilities consumed within a monitored area. At least certain disclosed methods include detecting an amount of a first utility consumed by a load associated with a device. An amount of a second utility consumed by a load associated with the device is detected. The identity of the device is determined based on the amount of the first and second utility consumed. In further disclosed methods, a utility monitoring method is disclosed that includes measuring an amount of a utility consumed by a first device at a first time and an amount of a utility consumed by a second device at a second time. The identity of the first device is determined based on the measured consumption of the first and second devices at the first and second time. In certain implementations, the electricity meter uses an effective variance analysis of the conductance waveform on an electrical circuit to identify specific appliances.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A utility monitoring method comprising:

measuring an amount of a utility consumed by a first device at a first time to determine a utility amount consumed by the first device;

measuring an amount of a utility consumed by a second device at a second time, which may be the same as the first time, to determine a utility amount consumed by the second device; and

determining the identity of the first device based on the utility amounts consumed by the first and second devices at the first and second times,