POLICY-DRIVEN AUTOMATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20130226320A1
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PepperDash Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: PepperDash Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Berg-Sonne, Anker, Nunes, Howard A., Rayancha, Sumanth, Huselid, David M.
• Application Number:
  US13/676,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

An automated facilities management system has the ability to predict occupant behavior by identifying recurring patterns in the way that people use buildings and comparing them with environmental characteristics. This technology is not limited to human behavior patterns, but extends to any mechanical systems or data points that tend to vary in recurring patterns. The data processing is carried out by rules engines triggered by relational database modifications.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a facilities management system, comprising:

determining a value for a default facility setting;

specifying a general policy consideration; and

modifying the default facility setting value based on the accepted general policy consideration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the default facility setting value affects a device that consumes energy at an adjustable rate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is one of a heating system component, a cooling system component, a ventilation system component, a lighting system component, a security system component, or an audiovisual system component.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the general policy consideration includes energy consumption considerations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein specifying is followed by predicting effects of the specified general policy consideration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified facility setting affects a plurality of facility systems.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of facility systems are distributed across a plurality of locations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining includes analyzing occupancy data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining includes analyzing occupant feedback data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining includes analyzing sensor data.

11. A method for controlling a facilities management system, comprising:

determining values for a plurality of default facility settings;

specifying a general policy consideration; and

modifying the default facility setting values based on the accepted general policy consideration.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the default facility setting values affect a plurality of devices that consumes energy at an adjustable rate.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the devices are selected from a heating system component, a cooling system component, a ventilation system component, a lighting system component, a security system component, or an audiovisual system component.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the general policy consideration includes energy consumption considerations.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein specifying is followed by predicting effects of the specified general policy consideration.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the modified facility settings affects a plurality of facility systems.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of facility systems are distributed across a plurality of locations.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining includes analyzing occupancy data.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein determining includes analyzing occupant feedback data.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein determining includes analyzing sensor data.

21. A system for controlling a facilities management system, comprising:

a database having stored therein a default facility setting value;

an interface to accept a general policy consideration; and

a mechanism coupled to the interface and the database to modify the default facility setting value based on the accepted general policy consideration.