SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HOME ENERGY MONITOR AND CONTROL

• US 20120316808A1
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energyhub Incorporated (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Energyhub Incorporated (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: von Muehlen, Stephan, Kennedy, Thomas, FRADER-THOMPSON, SETH
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/125 Utility meter reading systems specially adapted for determining the environmental impact of user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

The invention generally concerns systems and methods for monitoring and controlling the power consumption of a power-consuming device. The system and method may connect to a power source and a power-consuming device, connecting the power-consuming device to the power source. The power usage of the power-consuming device may then be measured and monitored. This monitoring data may then be stored and optionally sent to a controlling device on a data network. The location of the power-consuming device may also be determined, recorded, and sent to a controlling device. The system may also control the power usage of the power-consuming device. In some cases, a remote server may connect multiple energy monitoring systems in order to gain additional efficiencies and foster a community-based social network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for auditing the energy use of a user'"'"'s energy network, comprising:

gathering energy-usage data pertaining to the user'"'"'s energy network;

gathering baseline data pertaining to a baseline energy network;

comparing the energy-usage data and the baseline data; and

presenting the compared energy-usage data and baseline data to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering baseline data includes gathering historical energy usage of the user'"'"'s energy network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering baseline data includes gathering historical energy usage from at least one network other than the user'"'"'s energy network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an optimal usage level of the user'"'"'s energy network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering baseline data includes determining a usage level of a plurality of other users'"'"' energy networks.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting, to the user, at least one modification to improve the user'"'"'s energy network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the presenting the at least one modification includes at least one recommendation of at least one more efficient power-consuming or power-producing device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising presenting reviews, to the user, of the at least one more efficient power-consuming or power-producing device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting at least one review, to the user, of the at least one more efficient power-consuming or power-producing device, wherein the at least one review was created by another energy network user.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the presenting the at least one modification includes at least one advertisements for at least one more efficient power-consuming or power-producing device.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising presenting, to the user, at least one projected effect of the suggested changes.