Energy management system with security system interface

• US 7,706,928 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Original Assignee: Admmicro Properties LLC
• Inventors: Blevins, Frank O., Tamagni, Armand J. Jr., Vinson, Mark W., Howell, Donald W., Campbell, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Paul L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAO, SHEELA S
• Application Number:
  US11/470,607
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 700/21, 700/291, 700/295, 700/276, 700/277, 700/293, 702/188, 340/506, 713/320, 713/340, 455/433
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A system that establishes a local dynamic data link between an energy management system (EMS) and a security system (SS) within a building. A power management device, including a monitor module that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and a security module operatively coupled to the monitor module.

Claims

1. A compact power management device for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of individual energy sub-loads, comprising:

an integrated monitor unit, including;

a multi-circuit energy monitoring module of an energy management system (EMS) that directly and simultaneously monitors energy usage as a form of power of the plurality of individual energy sub-loads to generate a plurality of measurements of energy usage by said plurality of energy sub-loads;

at least one program for using said plurality of measurements of energy usage in a first pre-determined manner, said at least one program selected from the group consisting of firmware and software, each said at least one program downloadable via a communications network, each said at least one program locally stored on the device,

each said at least one program comprising at least one pre-determined algorithm,

each said at least one program comprising at least one member of the group consisting of at least one schedule, at least one setpoint and at least one report parameter; and

said first pre-determined manner including said monitor module selecting and executing said at least one program,

a single housing unit for housing components of the monitor module within 24 inches of one another, and

a local display coupled to the integrated combination monitor/control unit, wherein the communications network is connected to the integrated monitor unit,

optionally said EMS includes a control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first pre-determined manner based on at least one said measurement of energy usage, wherein said control module controls at least one said energy sub-load;

wherein at least one module of the group consisting of said monitor module and said optional control module is configured for further performing processing to accomplish at least one of the group consisting of alarm notification, exception reporting, and periodic reporting,

wherein said at least one of alarm notification, exception reporting, and periodic reporting are output to at least one of the communication network and the local display, and

a security monitoring module of a security system (SS), said SS being operatively coupled to the EMS, said security monitoring module has means to detect at least one alarm condition,

wherein said EMS and SS are suited for arrangement locally within a building being monitored,

said EMS has first means to communicate with at least one entity selected from the group consisting of police department, fire department, security company, custodial personnel, first responder and facilities manager,

said SS has second means to communicate with at least one entity selected from the group consisting of police department, fire department, security company, custodial personnel, first responder and facilities manager;

wherein the EMS has means to automatically provide the first means to communicate as an alternative back up communications means to report SS alarms and/or other SS communications to said at least one entity when the SS communications means is unavailable.

2. The power management device of claim 1, wherein said SS is operatively coupled to said EMS via a local dynamic data link, and

said security monitoring module has means to detect at least one or more alarm conditions and notify said EMS of a detected alarm, and

said EMS further comprising a control module for controlling an operation of said at least one energy sub-load, said control module controlling a function selected from the group consisting of (i) turning building lights on and off at least once, (ii) turning video surveillance cameras on and off;

and (iii) activating and deactivating alarms.

3. The power management device according to claim 2, wherein said power management device embeds energy management system algorithms and security system algorithms in a firmware in one or more microprocessors of the power management device.

4. The power management device of claim 2, wherein said power management device embeds energy management system algorithms and security system algorithms in a software locally resident in the power management device.

5. The power management device according to claim 2, wherein said security module detects a plurality of categories of alarm conditions and said EMS controls the operation of the energy load according to a respective category of alarm conditions.

6. The power management device of claim 2, wherein the EMS has the capability of ascertaining a status of the security system (SS) within a building and responding if the security module detects a failure of the security system.

7. The power management system according to claim 2, wherein the local dynamic data link comprises a wireless link.

8. The power management system according to claim 2, wherein the local dynamic data link comprises a wired link, and further comprising a backup link that is wireless.

9. The power management system according to claim 2, wherein the security monitoring module is operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module;

and a local dynamic data link for exchange of communications between the energy monitoring module and the security monitoring module, and wherein at least one of;

(i) said security monitoring module has the capability to check a status of said energy monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building; and

(ii) said energy module has the capability to check a status of said security monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building.

10. The power management system according to claim 9,

said EMS further includes a control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first predetermined manner that is based on the at least one measurement of energy usage, wherein said control module controls said at least one energy load.

11. The power management system of claim 10, further comprising that said security system (SS) has means for detecting when an entry into a building area is one of authorized and unauthorized,

wherein said security monitoring module has the capability to check a status of said energy monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building.

12. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the power management device communicates over at least one Wide Area Data Link.

13. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the EMS communicates over a first wide area data link, and the SS communicates over a second wide area data link, and the EMS is coupled to the SS via a third data link comprising a local dynamic data link.

14. The power management system according to claim 1, comprising:

said control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first pre-determined manner that is based on the at least one measurement of energy usage, wherein said control module controls said at least one energy load.

15. The power management system according to claim 1, wherein the single housing unit houses components of the monitor module and control module within 24 inches of one another.

16. A power management system comprising a power management device comprising:

an energy monitoring module that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and

a security monitoring module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module; and

a local dynamic data link for exchange of communications between the energy monitoring module and the security monitoring module and wherein at least one of;

(i) said security monitoring module has the capability to check a status of said energy monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building; and

(ii) said energy module has the capability to check a status of said security monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building;

said EMS includes a control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first pre-determined manner that is based on the at least one measurement of energy usage, wherein said control module controls said at least one energy load;

said security system (SS) detects when an entry into a building area is one of authorized and unauthorized,

wherein when the security module determines that entry into the building is authorized, the security system has means to communicate with the control module of said EMS to illuminate a predetermined portion of the building.

17. The power management system according to claim 16, wherein an area of the predetermined portion of the building that is illuminated depends on the time of day.

18. The power management system according to claim 16, wherein an area of the predetermined portion of the building that is illuminated depends on the particular day of the week in which it occurs.

19. A power management system comprising a power management device comprising:

an energy monitoring module that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and

a security monitoring module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module; and

a local dynamic data link for exchange of communications between the energy monitoring module and the security monitoring module and wherein at least one of;

(i) said security monitoring module has the capability to check a status of said energy monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building; and

(ii) said energy module has the capability to check a status of said security monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building;

said EMS includes a control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first pre-determined manner that is based on the at least one measurement of energy usage wherein said control module controls said at least one energy load;

said security system (SS) detects when an entry into a building area is one of authorized and unauthorized,

wherein when the security module determines that entry into the building is unauthorized, the SS has means to communicate the unauthorized entry to the EMS so that the control module identifies the portion of the building by one of flash building lights, activation of video surveillance cameras, and activation of alarms within a predetermined portion of the building.

20. A method of power and security management comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a compact power management device for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of individual energy sub-loads for lighting, comprising;

an integrated monitor unit, including;

a multi-circuit energy monitor module of a local energy management system (EMS) that directly and simultaneously monitors energy usage as a form of power of the plurality of individual energy sub-loads to generate a plurality of measurements of energy usage by said plurality of energy sub-loads;

at least one program for using said plurality of measurements of energy usage in a first pre-determined manner, said at least one program selected from the group consisting of firmware and software, each said at least one program downloadable via a communications network, each said at least one program locally stored on the device,

each said at least one program comprising at least one pre-determined algorithm,

each said at least one program comprising at least one member of the group consisting of at least one schedule, at least one setpoint and at least one report parameter; and

said first pre-determined manner including said monitor module selecting and executing said at least one program,

a single housing unit for housing components of the monitor module within 24 inches of one another, and

a local display coupled to the integrated combination monitor/control unit, wherein the communications network is connected to the integrated monitor unit,

optionally said EMS includes a control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first pre-determined manner that is based on at least one said measurement of energy usage, wherein said control module controls at least one said energy sub-load;

wherein at least one module of the group consisting of said monitor module and said control module is configured for further performing processing to accomplish at least one of the group consisting of alarm notification, exception reporting and periodic reporting,

wherein said at least one of alarm notification, exception reporting, and periodic reporting are output to at least one of the communication network and the local display, and

(b) providing a security module of a local security system (SS), said EMS being coupled to said local SS, wherein the security module monitors a status of the monitor module;

said security monitoring module has means to detect at least one alarm condition;

wherein the Energy Management System (EMS) communicates with a first wide area data link, and the SS communicates with a second wide area data link, and the EMS is coupled to the SS via a third data link comprising a local dynamic data link,

wherein the EMS comprises means for providing the first wide area data link as an alternative backup wide area data link via the local dynamic data link for the SS so that SS alarms and/or other security module data communications will be provided to at least one entity selected from the group consisting of police department, fire department, security company, custodial personnel, first responder and facilities manager when the SS wide area data link is unavailable.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said EMS and said SS are both arranged within a building.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the EMS controls at least one energy load comprising one of video surveillance cameras and alarms.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

(c) said SS notifying said monitor module of an alarm condition including a category; and

(d) said monitor module controlling operation of said at least one energy load by performing one of;

(i) if said energy load comprises lights, at least one of turning a predetermined number of said lights on, dimming a predetermined number of said lights, and turning off a predetermined number of said lights;

(ii) if said energy load comprises surveillance equipment, turning on and off said surveillance equipment; and

(iii) if said energy load comprises alarms, activating and de-activating said alarms.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein said predetermined number of said lights being turned on, turned off, and dimmed are based on the severity code of a detected alarm condition.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the EMS controls at least one energy load comprising building lights.

26. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

(a) (i) connecting the monitor module to said at least one energy load; and

(b) (i) monitoring an operational status by said EMS of said at least one energy load.

27. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of the EMS detecting status of the SS via the local dynamic link and reporting a detected condition via the EMS wide area data link.

28. The method according to claim 20, comprising:

said control module operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module to control energy usage by the said at least one energy load in a first pre-determined manner that is based on the at least one measurement of energy usage, wherein said control module controls said at least one energy load.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the single housing unit houses components of the monitor module and control module within 24 inches of one another.

30. A method of power and security management comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a monitor module of a local energy management system (EMS) that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and

(b) providing a security module of a local security system (SS) said EMS being coupled to said local SS, wherein the security module monitors a status of the monitor module;

wherein the Energy Management System (EMS) communicates with a first wide area data link, and the SS communicates with a second wide area data link, and the EMS is coupled to the SS via a third data link comprising a local dynamic data link,

further comprising the step of the SS detecting status of the EMS via the local dynamic link and reporting a detected condition via the SS wide area data link.

31. A power management system device, comprising:

a power management device comprising;

an energy monitoring module that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and

a security monitoring module is operatively coupled to the energy monitoring module; and

a local dynamic data link for exchange of communications between the energy monitoring module and the security monitoring module, and wherein;

said security monitoring module has the capability to detect a status of said energy monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building;

said security monitoring module has the capability to report a detected condition via the SS wide area data link; and

said energy module has the capability to check a status of said security monitoring module over the local dynamic data link between the energy monitoring module of the power management device and a security system (SS) within a building.