INTERACTIVE ENERGY DEVICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

• US 20140277602A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generac Power Systems Incorporated (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ditlow, Gary S., Gaucher, Brian P., Pickover, Clifford A., Xiong, Jinjun
• Granted Patent: US 9,599,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/32
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for operating an energy-using device are disclosed. Current data related to operation of the energy-using device is received at a remote device. An operating specification for the energy-using device is received at the remote device from a database. A recommended setting of the energy-using device is determined from the current data and the operating specification. The remote device communicates the recommended setting to the energy-using device. A control unit at the energy-using device receives the recommended setting and implements the recommended setting at the energy-using device.

Claims

1. A method of operating an energy-using device, comprising:

receiving a current data reading related to operation of the energy-using device at a remote device;

receiving at the remote device an operating specification for the energy-using device from a database;

determining a recommended setting of the energy-using device from the current data reading and the operating specification; and

communicating the recommended setting from the remote device to the energy-using device;

wherein the recommended setting is implemented at the energy-using device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the recommended setting of the energy-using device based on a user preference for the energy-using device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an energy report at the remote device for the energy-using device based on the current data reading.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the energy report includes at least one of:

current energy usage;

energy usage over a selected time interval;

a histogram of energy use over a selected time interval;

a listing of current settings of the energy-using device;

a listing of recommended settings of the energy-using device;

a color that represents a summary of the quality of energy usage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is one of:

a smartphone, a wristwatch, eyeglasses, a computer mouse, a personal digital assistant, a television set and an MP3 player.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising at least one of:

receiving a recommended setting to change a carbon footprint of the energy-using device;

obtaining a recommendation of an alternate energy-using device based on the energy report; and

compiling energy usage from a plurality of energy-using devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing the recommended setting via one of:

automatically; and

with a user intervention.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining the recommended setting using information related to one of:

a location of the energy-using device, a current season, a current weather pattern, diurnal variations in energy usage.

9-20. -20. (canceled)