UPDATING THERMOSTAT WEEKLY SCHEDULE OVER THE AIR

• US 20110264296A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Recio, Christopher, Drake, Jeff Donald, Worthington, Timothy Dale, Broniak, Jay Andrew, Brian, Joseph Mark, Finch, Michael Francis, Bultman, Robert Marten
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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

Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system.

Claims

1. A method of programming a device with resource load shedding capability with a schedule comprising:

using a central controller or otherwise referred to as a separate networked device;

using a user interface to enable a plurality of schedules;

storing in a schedule database the plurality of the schedules;

selecting a current schedule from the plurality of schedules;

communicating with a device to load the schedule onto the device; and

loading the current schedule onto the device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device operated in accordance with the loaded schedule, when the central controller is not operating.

3. The method according to claim 1 further including changing a current schedule on a device with another schedule stored in the schedule database.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of changing occurs automatically without human intervention.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the loading of the current schedule is accomplished using a wireless communication system.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of schedules are designed using a UTC time.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device is a thermostat.

8. A premise data management system including sensors and a user interface, for transmitting data/commands comprising:

a first data interface configured to transmit to and receive data from the user interface;

at least a second data interface configured to access data from the sensors; and

a gateway which receives the data from the first interface, and is configured to;

(i) reformat the data from the first interface for communication to the second interface,

(ii) request data from devices within the energy management system,

(iii) reply to the first data interface, and

(iv) transmit schedules from a schedule database of the gateway to selected devices within the energy management system, wherein the schedules control operation of the selected devices .

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the schedule located on the device is selected from among a plurality of schedules stored in a schedule database.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the device operates in accordance with the schedule located on the device even when the gateway is not operative.

11. The system according to claim 8 wherein communication in the system is accomplished via a wireless network.

12. The system according to claim 8 wherein the gateway is designed to change schedules on a device automatically without human intervention.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of schedules are designed using a UTC time.

14. The method according to claim 8 wherein the device is a thermostat.