Multi-utility energy control and facility automation system with dashboard having a plurality of interface gateways

• US 7,788,189 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PowerWeb International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PowerWeb International, Inc.
• Inventors: Budike, Lothar E. S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US11/592,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20070143046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 705/412, 705/413, 705/26, 705/27, 705 7- 10, 705/30, 705/37, 700/17, 700/22, 700/83, 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 702/182, 702/188
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A multi-utility energy and facility automation control system has control center computer(s) connected to various utility consuming systems and software that formats pertinent systems'"'"' energy data, stores, retrieves, diagnoses and acts in response to changes and includes a multi-utility master meter device and a plurality of sensors for utilities and other facility operational data. The system includes at least one dashboard screen as a control screen, and a plurality of interconnected gateways for selection of separate networks for various utility-facility related subscreens. The sensors monitor consumption of a plurality of different utilities and other pertinent data and, using the presentation of the facility information as processed by the computer and presented on the dashboard, exercise c control of the facility to optimize performance and reduce the cost of purchased utilities and other facility operations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method wherein all steps are performed by a computer, the method comprising:

generating and displaying a map of a region configured to present a plurality of facilities for selection;

receiving a selection of a facility from the displayed map;

based on the selected facility, generating a dashboard screen including information regarding overall energy consumption for the facility, the dashboard screen further including a dashboard of selectable utility and selectable facility operations related icons configured to calculate demand, usage, and usage patterns based on utility and selectable facility operations related data for the selected facility, the facility operations related data including characteristics of a fire system, sprinkler system, and power quality and at least two characteristics selected from a group of electrical, HVAC, occupancy, air quality, and lighting systems;

receiving a selection of at least one of a demand, usage, or usage pattern for a selected utility based on a selected utility icon;

receiving a selection of the facility operations related data icon for the selected facility, the facility operations related data including characteristics of a fire system, sprinkler system, and power quality and at least two characteristics selected from a group of electrical, HVAC, occupancy, air quality, and lighting systems;

in response to receiving a selection of the selected icons in the dashboard screen, accessing alternative costs for procuring energy from one or more alternative providers;

calculating at least one of a demand, usage, and usage pattern for the selected facility based on the selected facility operations related data, including characteristics of a fire system, sprinkler system, and power quality and at least two characteristics selected from a group of electrical, HVAC, occupancy, air quality, and lighting systems;

calculating a lowest cost for procuring energy for the facility by comparing the calculated at least one demand, usage, or usage pattern with the alternative costs; and

procuring energy for the facility from the alternative provider based on the calculated lowest cost.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said dashboard screen includes selectable icons for at least two utilities selected from the group consisting of electric, oil, gas, water and steam.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said dashboard screen further includes a plurality of multi-site consolidation screens and supporting software to enable a user to consolidate and coordinate utility information for multiple locations in real time as well as aggregate load demand for regions.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said dashboard screen further includes selectable icons configured to enable communication with at least a supply side management center, a facility management center and a demand center.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said dashboard screen includes at least two interface gateways to access the facility or operations related data, and further includes said selectable icons to enable communication with at least a demand side center, a supply side center, and systems operation center.