ENERGY MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT SECURITY SYSTEM

• US 20120296486A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sotack, John, Marriam, Michael, Brown, Thomas P. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,760,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

An energy management system. The energy management system includes at least one energy monitoring and control device configured to monitor the power usage of one or more electrical devices, and a security system communicatively coupled to at least one energy monitoring and control device and having at least one sensor configured to sense a security event. The security system is configured to receive information about the power usage of the electrical device and to determine an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, on the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system.

Claims

1. An energy management system comprising:

at least one energy monitoring and control device configured to monitor the power usage of one or more electrical devices; and

a security system communicatively coupled to at least one energy monitoring and control device and having at least one sensor configured to sense a security event, the security system being configured

to receive information about the power usage of the electrical device, and

to determine an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, on the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system.

2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security system is further configured to direct at least one energy monitoring and control device to disconnect the power from an electrical device when the electrical device has operated for a predetermined time period.

3. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security system is further configured to require a monitored electrical device to be turned off before being armed.

4. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy monitoring and control device is coupled to a power cord of the electrical device on the one end, and connected to a power source on the other end.

5. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy monitoring and control device is configured to simultaneously monitor the power usage of more than one electrical device.

6. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy monitoring and control device includes an electronic module that controls the operation of the energy monitoring and control device, and wherein the electronic module is in direct communication with the security system and provides information about the power usage of an electrical device.

7. The energy management system of claim 6, wherein the electronic module receives instructions from the security system and controls the operation of the monitored electrical device.

8. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the state of the security system indicates whether the security system is armed, and whether there is an unauthorized or a security event.

9. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the abnormal operation of an electrical device includes the device running continuously for an extended period of time.

10. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the abnormal operation of an electrical device includes the device running when the security system is armed.

11. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the abnormal operation of an electrical device includes the device running with power that is below a threshold power previously determined for that device.

12. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the abnormal operation of an electrical device includes the device not receiving any power at all.

13. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management system is configured to determine if the monitored electrical device is an undersized unit.

14. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security system is configured to send an alarm message to a user when it determines an abnormal operation of the electrical device.

15. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security system uses predetermined power profiles of the monitored electrical devices to determine whether the electrical devices are operating normally.

16. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security system implements learning capabilities that are used to develop power profiles of the monitored electrical devices.

17. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security system is configured to record the energy used by the monitored electrical devices and to provide a report regarding that energy use.

18. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the information about the power usage of the electrical device comprises binary information.

19. An energy management system comprising:

a security system; and

at least one energy monitoring and control device communicatively coupled to the security system, the energy monitoring and control device being configured

to monitor the power supply and usage of one or more electrical devices, and

to provide an indication of a state of an electrical device to the security system.

20. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the state of the electrical device includes an alarm state and a normal state.

21. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the alarm state indicates abnormal operation of the electrical device.

22. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the security system is further configured to notify a user about the abnormal operation of the electrical device.

23. A method for detecting an abnormal operation of an electrical device by an energy management system including at least one energy monitoring and control device and a security system, the method comprising:

monitoring a power usage of one or more electrical devices by an energy monitoring and control device;

receiving information about the power usage of the electrical device from the energy monitoring and control device;

determining an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, of the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system; and

controlling the operation of the electrical device.