Home power management system
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring and managing power usage by at least one power consumer, the system comprising:
- an apparatus comprising (i) a programmable microprocessor, (ii) at least one input mechanism, (iii) a first memory having program instructions and (iv) a display;
at least one power device separate from the apparatus and having at least one sensor associated therewith, the sensor being operable to (i) monitor electrical current or power consumption associated with operation of the power device and (ii) produce one or more signals carrying usage data representative of the monitored electrical current or power consumed;
a server remotely located from the apparatus and the power device; and
a transceiver device connectable in signal communication with both the programmable microprocessor and the sensor,wherein the program instructions are executable by the programmable microprocessor to,(i) cause first information stored in the first memory to be presented to the power consumer on the display, wherein the first information comprises a plurality of queries,(ii) collect consumer data from an interaction of the power consumer with the input mechanism in response to the queries on the display and store the consumer data in the first memory,(iii) collect the usage data from the sensor via the transceiver device 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 the server, wherein the server generates second information based on the consumer data and the usage data,(v) cause second information to be received via the communication channel from the server, wherein the second information facilitates changes in the power consumer'"'"'s behavior through consumer education and/or feedback, and(vi) cause the second information to be presented to the power consumer on the display.
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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
34 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring and managing power usage by at least one power consumer, the system comprising:
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an apparatus comprising (i) a programmable microprocessor, (ii) at least one input mechanism, (iii) a first memory having program instructions and (iv) a display; at least one power device separate from the apparatus and having at least one sensor associated therewith, the sensor being operable to (i) monitor electrical current or power consumption associated with operation of the power device and (ii) produce one or more signals carrying usage data representative of the monitored electrical current or power consumed; a server remotely located from the apparatus and the power device; and a transceiver device connectable in signal communication with both the programmable microprocessor and the sensor, wherein the program instructions are executable by the programmable microprocessor to, (i) cause first information stored in the first memory to be presented to the power consumer on the display, wherein the first information comprises a plurality of queries, (ii) collect consumer data from an interaction of the power consumer with the input mechanism in response to the queries on the display and store the consumer data in the first memory, (iii) collect the usage data from the sensor via the transceiver device 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 the server, wherein the server generates second information based on the consumer data and the usage data, (v) cause second information to be received via the communication channel from the server, wherein the second information facilitates changes in the power consumer'"'"'s behavior through consumer education and/or feedback, and (vi) cause the second information to be presented to the power consumer on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 33, 34)
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22. A method of using a modular microprocessor system for managing power usage by a power consumer comprising:
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(a) at a site employing at least one power device of the power consumer, executing program instructions using a programmable microprocessor to; (i) generate first information on at least one display, wherein the first information is related to the power device and comprises a plurality of queries; (ii) collect consumer data from the power consumer responding to the queries; (iii) collect usage data representative of electrical current or power consumed by the power device; (iv) cause the consumer data and the usage data to be transmitted to at least one server; (v) cause second information to be received from the server; and (vi) present the second information to the power consumer on the display; (b) connecting at least one remotely located computing facility to the site, the computing facility (i) including the at least one server, (ii) is remotely located from the site and (iii) is in signal communication with a communications device at the site via a first communication channel to receive the consumer data and the usage data; and (c) providing the usage data from the server 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 (a) receive and store the consumer data and the usage data from the communication device and (b) generate the second information based on the consumer data and the usage data, and (ii) the usage data can be viewed or retrieved by a user from the computer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification