METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN OPTIMAL SCHEDULE OF AN APPLIANCE
First Claim
1. A method of defining a message to be sent to at least one appliance regarding a schedule for performing a cycle of operation, the method comprising:
- acquiring pricing data from a source of information about a resource consumed by the appliance while performing the cycle of operation;
obtaining a user preference for a factor associated with the use of the resource by the appliance;
calculating a projected rate for the use of the resource by the appliance for a future series of time periods;
assigning a delay request to selected time periods based on the factor and the projected rate;
creating a projected schedule for performing the cycle of operation for the future series of time periods;
incorporating the projected schedule into the message; and
transmitting to the appliance the message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of defining a message to be sent to at least one appliance regarding a schedule for performing a cycle of operation includes a step of acquiring pricing data from a source of information about a resource consumed by the appliance. A projected rate for the use of the resource by the appliance for a future series of time periods is calculated based upon a user preference. A projected schedule for performing the cycle of operation for a future series of time periods is created and then incorporated into the message that is transmitted to the appliance.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of defining a message to be sent to at least one appliance regarding a schedule for performing a cycle of operation, the method comprising:
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acquiring pricing data from a source of information about a resource consumed by the appliance while performing the cycle of operation; obtaining a user preference for a factor associated with the use of the resource by the appliance; calculating a projected rate for the use of the resource by the appliance for a future series of time periods; assigning a delay request to selected time periods based on the factor and the projected rate; creating a projected schedule for performing the cycle of operation for the future series of time periods; incorporating the projected schedule into the message; and transmitting to the appliance the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of scheduling a cycle of operation in an appliance comprising:
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obtaining from a user of an appliance a factor between 0 and 1 based on a user'"'"'s preference for a level of participation in management of a resource; and determining an optimal schedule for performing a cycle of operation in the appliance wherein the schedule is a function of the factor and the cost or availability of the resource consumed by the appliance while performing the cycle of operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A remote device configured to communicate with at least one appliance regarding a schedule for performing a cycle of operation and to communicate with a source of information about a resource consumed by the appliance while performing the cycle of operation, wherein the remote device comprises at least one server configured to:
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acquire pricing data from the source of information; obtain a user preference for a factor associated with the use of the resource by the appliance; calculate a projected rate for the use of the resource by the appliance for a future series of time periods; assign a delay request to selected time periods based on the factor and the projected rate; create a projected schedule for performing the cycle of operation for the future series of time periods; incorporate the projected schedule into a message; and transmit the message to the appliance.
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19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for defining a message to be sent to at least one appliance regarding a schedule for performing a cycle of operation, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for a server to:
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acquire pricing data from the source of information; obtain a user preference for a factor associated with the use of the resource by the appliance; calculate a projected rate for the use of the resource by the appliance for a future series of time periods; assign a delay request to selected time periods based on the factor and the projected rate; create a projected schedule for performing the cycle of operation for the future series of time periods; incorporate the projected schedule into a message; and transmit the message to the appliance.
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Specification