DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN A HOUSEHOLD

• US 20130091567A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Finch, Michael Francis, Kobraei, Henry Nader, Koehler, Elliott Dean
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

An energy management system comprises one or more appliances, a remote device, and a communication device. In one embodiment, the communication device forms a physical connection with the remote device and thereafter a physical connection with an associated appliances. The first physical connection binds the communication to the remote device, thereby forming a secure connection over which inputs and outputs can be exchanged between the remote and the associated appliance when the communication device is connected to the appliance.

Claims

1. A remote device for use in an energy management system, said remote device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

one or more executable instructions stored on the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the one or more executable instructions comprising instructions for,

sensing a physical connection with a communication device; and

exchanging security data with the communication device in response to and over the physical connection to form a secure connection,

wherein the secure connection is established prior to exchanging operating data with an appliance via the communication device.

2. The remote device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for receiving the operating data from the appliance over the secure connection.

3. The remote device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for:

receiving an input encoding a first security key from the communication device; and

forming the secure connection in response to the first security key.

4. The remote device of claim 3, further comprising instructions for providing an output to the communication device in response to the input, wherein the output comprises a second security key, and wherein the combination of the first security key and the second security key enables the secure connection to be formed.

5. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the security data for the first secure connection is different than the security information for the second secure connection.

6. The remote device of claim 1, further comprising a port configured to receive a connector on the communication device to form the physical connection.

7. The remote device of claim 6, wherein the connector is coupled to a wire that is connected to a computing device.

8. The remote device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for:

monitoring the operating data; and

transmitting the operating data to a computing device.

9. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the operating data can be exchanged wirelessly with the appliance via the communication device.

10. A method, comprising:

at a remote device comprising a processor, a memory, and a wireless radio;

securely binding with a communication device to form a secure connection; and

receiving operating data from an appliance via the secure connection,

wherein the secure connection is established through a physical connection with the communication device that occurs prior to exchanging the operating data with the appliance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless radio through which the operating data is exchanged.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising exchanging a security data key with the communication device, wherein the secure connection requires the security data key.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising exchanging the security data key in response to the physical connection.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the secure connection comprises a first secure connection for a first appliance and a second secure connection for a second appliance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first appliance and the second appliance having different communication devices connected thereto.

16. An appliance, comprising:

a port through which data can be transmitted and received; and

a control circuit coupled to the port,

wherein the control circuit is configured to sense the connection of a communication device to the port,

wherein the control circuit is configured to exchange data with a remote device via the communication device, and

wherein the communication device can form a secure connection with the remote device that is established prior to connecting the communication device with the port by way of a physical connection of the communication device with the remote device.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the communication device exchanges security data with the remote device via the physical connection.

18. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the secure connection requires a first security key from the communication device and a second security key from the remote device.

19. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the communication device comprises a connector that can interface with the remote device and the port.

20. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit operating data to the remote device via the secure connection.