SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFYING POWER USAGE
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing energy management utilize wireless wide-area network broadcast signals and a decentralized receiver architecture to allow customers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption and load shedding for particular appliances. A receiver assembly embedded within an appliance receives a broadcast signal, e.g., an FM subcarrier signal, including tariff data and other electrical grid data. A processor coupled with the receiver controls the appliance in accordance with the received data and in accordance with user-defined preferences. In some embodiments, a transceiver assembly is embedded in one or more appliances in a household. Each transceiver is configured to receive broadcast signals regarding grid data, and to communicate with other appliances and/or a usage meter over a wireless personal area network. Meter data from one of more households may be aggregated and uplinked back to the energy provider or other entities.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1-44. -44. (canceled)
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45. A system for managing a first appliance, the system comprising:
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a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of transmitters configured to broadcast one or more wireless signals, wherein each said wireless signal in said one or more wireless signals comprises utility information; a first receiver assembly in electrical communication with said first appliance, said first receiver assembly comprising a microcontroller; a receiving interface in electrical communication with said microcontroller for receiving said utility information broadcast by said wide-area wireless communication system; a display in electrical communication with said microcontroller for notifying a user of said utility information; and an input interface in electrical communication with said microcontroller for receiving instructions from said user on whether to alter usage of said first appliance after notifying said user of said utility information using said display. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 82)
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58. A receiver assembly for managing an appliance, comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a signal from a wide-area wireless communication system comprising a plurality of transmitters configured to broadcast one or more wireless signals, wherein each said wireless signal in said one or more wireless signals comprises utility information; a processor in electrical communication with said receiver and the appliance, said processor configured to control the appliance as a function of the utility information; a display in electrical communication with said processor for notifying a user of said utility information; and an input interface in electrical communication with said processor for receiving instructions from said user on whether to alter usage of said appliance after notifying said user of said utility information using said display. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83)
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69. A household electrical apparatus comprising:
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(a) a receiver; (b) a microprocessor; (c) an input interface; and (d) a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions for using the microprocessor to; receive, via the receiver, broadcasted radio signals that include utility information; display, via a display device, said utility data; and receive, via the input interface, instructions from a user on whether to alter usage of the household electrical apparatus after notifying said user of said utility data using said display device. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 84, 85)
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Specification