Home power management system
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a programmable microprocessor;
at least one input mechanism;
a first memory having program instructions;
a display;
at least one power consuming device;
at least one sensor configured to (i) monitor and collect usage data associated with operation of the power consuming device and (ii) produce one or more signals carrying the usage data;
a transceiver device connectable in signal communication with both the programmable microprocessor and the sensor; and
a housing containing the programmable microprocessor, the input mechanism, the first memory, the display, the sensor and the transceiver device,wherein the program instructions are executable by the programmable microprocessor to,(i) cause information stored in the first memory to be presented to a power consumer on the display,(ii) collect consumer data from an interaction of the power consumer with the input mechanism in response to the display and store the consumer data in the first memory,(iii) collect the usage data from the sensor and store the usage data in the first memory,(iv) cause the usage data and the consumer data to be transmitted via a communication channel to a server remotely located from the housing,(v) cause the information to be received via the communication channel from the server, wherein the information facilitates changes in behavior of the power consumer through education and/or feedback based on the consumer data and the usage data, and(vi) store the information in the first memory, wherein (i) the program instructions in the first memory further cause the programmable microprocessor to display one or more menus on the display, (ii) operation of one or more switches aligned with the menus allows the power consumer to control the programmable microprocessor and the transceiver device and (iii) the operation of the switches further controls (a) processing of the usage data, (b) transmission of the signals from the transceiver device to the programmable microprocessor and (c) the display of the information on the display.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for managing power usage are provided. The system includes a programmable microprocessor, at least one input mechanism, a memory having instructions and/or other information, a display, at least one power consuming power device and a remote server. The systems allows the user of a power consuming device to receive instructions or other information from the server. The method includes using stored program instructions to generate power device related information on a display, collecting power device data representative of the electrical current or power consumed, connecting to a remote computing facility having a server, and providing the data to a computer remotely located from the central server.
419 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a programmable microprocessor; at least one input mechanism; a first memory having program instructions; a display; at least one power consuming device; at least one sensor configured to (i) monitor and collect usage data associated with operation of the power consuming device and (ii) produce one or more signals carrying the usage data; a transceiver device connectable in signal communication with both the programmable microprocessor and the sensor; and a housing containing the programmable microprocessor, the input mechanism, the first memory, the display, the sensor and the transceiver device, wherein the program instructions are executable by the programmable microprocessor to, (i) cause information stored in the first memory to be presented to a power consumer on the display, (ii) collect consumer data from an interaction of the power consumer with the input mechanism in response to the display and store the consumer data in the first memory, (iii) collect the usage data from the sensor and store the usage data in the first memory, (iv) cause the usage data and the consumer data to be transmitted via a communication channel to a server remotely located from the housing, (v) cause the information to be received via the communication channel from the server, wherein the information facilitates changes in behavior of the power consumer through education and/or feedback based on the consumer data and the usage data, and (vi) store the information in the first memory, wherein (i) the program instructions in the first memory further cause the programmable microprocessor to display one or more menus on the display, (ii) operation of one or more switches aligned with the menus allows the power consumer to control the programmable microprocessor and the transceiver device and (iii) the operation of the switches further controls (a) processing of the usage data, (b) transmission of the signals from the transceiver device to the programmable microprocessor and (c) the display of the information on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for gathering data from a remotely located apparatus comprising:
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(a) at a site employing at least one power consuming device of the apparatus, executing program instructions using a programmable microprocessor of the apparatus to; (i) generate information on at least one display of the apparatus, wherein the information is related to operation of the power consuming device; and (ii) collect usage data representative of the power consuming device; (b) connecting at least one remotely located computing facility to the apparatus, the computing facility (i) including at least one server, (ii) is remotely located form the apparatus and (iii) is in signal communication with a communications device of the apparatus via a first communication channel, (c) providing the usage data to at least one computer remotely located from the computing facility and in signal communication with the server via a second communication channel, wherein (i) the server is configured to receive and store the usage data from the communication device and (ii) the usage data can be viewed or retrieved by a user from the computer; and (d) downloading the program instructions from the server to the apparatus at the site. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for gathering data from remotely located power devices, the system comprising:
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a) a server; b) a remote interface for entering in the server a set of queries; and c) a remotely programmable apparatus for interacting with the remotely located power devices, the remotely programmable apparatus being in communication with the server;
wherein the server comprises;i) a program generator for generating program instructions from the set of queries and a profile, the program instructions being executable by the remotely programmable apparatus (a) to communicate the set of queries to a system user, (b) to receive responses to the set of queries, and (c) to transmit the responses from the remotely programmable apparatus to the server; and ii) a database connected to the program generator, the database for storing the program instructions, and the responses to the set of queries; wherein the remotely programmable apparatus comprises; i) a communication device for receiving the program instructions from the server and for transmitting the responses to the server; ii) an interface for communicating the set of queries to the system user and for receiving the responses to the set of queries; iii) a memory for storing the program instructions and the responses to the set of queries; and iv) a processor connected to the communication device, the interface, and the memory for executing the program instructions (a) to communicate the set of queries to the system user, (b) to receive the responses to the set of queries, and (c) to transmit the responses to the server. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification