Power-using device monitor
First Claim
1. A method of remotely managing a plurality of energy-using devices, the method comprising:
- installing a device energy sensor at each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at a plurality of facilities, wherein the plurality of facilities comprise a plurality of buildings of a first type and a plurality of buildings of a second type, wherein the plurality of buildings of the first type is different than the plurality of buildings of the second type, wherein each device energy sensor is configured to measure an electrical characteristic indicative of energy being used by each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first and second type, wherein each device energy sensor includes a communication interface configured to communicate an energy-indicative measurement over a network;
using a command and control center, located geographically remote from the plurality of buildings of the first type and the plurality of buildings of the second type, to centrally manage and monitor the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the second type, wherein the command and control center comprises a user interface, a communication interface, a processing device, and a memory device, and wherein using the command and control center to centrally manage and monitor comprises;
receiving, via the network, at the central command and control center the energy-indicative measurements from each of the device energy sensors at each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the plurality of buildings of the second type;
monitoring, using the energy-indicative measurements, each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the second type; and
managing, using a plurality of control panels, the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the plurality of buildings of the second type, wherein each of the plurality of buildings of the first type and each of the plurality of buildings of the second type include, at least, two or more of the plurality of energy-using devices and, at least, one of the plurality of control panels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for intelligently monitoring and managing, from a centralized location, one or more power-using systems. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a current sensor is installed at each heating or cooling system at a facility to measure the electricity used by each heating or cooling system. A current sensor is also installed at each facility to measure the total amount of electricity used by the facility. The current measurements are monitored in real time or near real time to monitor operation of the heating and cooling systems at the facility. In some embodiments, temperature sensors and other sensors are installed for each heating and cooling system and are also used to monitor operation of the heating and cooling systems. In some embodiments, controllers are also installed for each heating and cooling system to permit control of each system at a remote central control system.
49 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of remotely managing a plurality of energy-using devices, the method comprising:
-
installing a device energy sensor at each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at a plurality of facilities, wherein the plurality of facilities comprise a plurality of buildings of a first type and a plurality of buildings of a second type, wherein the plurality of buildings of the first type is different than the plurality of buildings of the second type, wherein each device energy sensor is configured to measure an electrical characteristic indicative of energy being used by each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first and second type, wherein each device energy sensor includes a communication interface configured to communicate an energy-indicative measurement over a network; using a command and control center, located geographically remote from the plurality of buildings of the first type and the plurality of buildings of the second type, to centrally manage and monitor the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the second type, wherein the command and control center comprises a user interface, a communication interface, a processing device, and a memory device, and wherein using the command and control center to centrally manage and monitor comprises; receiving, via the network, at the central command and control center the energy-indicative measurements from each of the device energy sensors at each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the plurality of buildings of the second type; monitoring, using the energy-indicative measurements, each of the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the second type; and managing, using a plurality of control panels, the plurality of energy-using devices located at the plurality of buildings of the first type and the plurality of buildings of the second type, wherein each of the plurality of buildings of the first type and each of the plurality of buildings of the second type include, at least, two or more of the plurality of energy-using devices and, at least, one of the plurality of control panels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21)
-
-
8. A heating or cooling system comprising:
-
a plurality of current sensors, each of the plurality of current sensors measuring electrical current drawn by one of a plurality of heating or cooling devices, wherein each of the plurality of current sensors comprises a communication interface for communicating measurements of electrical current over a network; a plurality of control panels comprising a communication interface and configured to use the communication interface to gather, via the network, the measurements of electrical current from each of the plurality of current sensors; a plurality of facilities, wherein the plurality of facilities comprise a first plurality of buildings and a second plurality of buildings, wherein the first plurality of buildings is different than the second plurality of buildings, each of the first and the second plurality of buildings comprising one or more of the plurality of heating or cooling devices and at least one of the plurality of control panels; and a command and control center located geographically remote from the first and second plurality of buildings, wherein the command and control center is used to centrally manage and monitor the plurality of heating or cooling devices located the first and the second plurality of buildings, wherein the command and control center comprises a user interface, a communication interface, a processing device, and a memory device, and wherein using the command and control center to centrally manage and monitor comprises; receiving, via the network, at the central command and control center the measurements of electrical current from each of the plurality of current sensors at each of the heating or cooling devices located at the first plurality of buildings and the second plurality of buildings; monitoring, using the measurements of electrical current, each of the plurality of heating or cooling devices located at the first and the second plurality of buildings; and managing, using a plurality of control panels, the plurality of heating or cooling devices located at the first plurality of buildings and the second plurality of buildings, wherein each of the first plurality of buildings and each of the second plurality of buildings include, at least, two or more of the plurality of heating or cooling devices and, at least, one of the plurality of control panels. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of remotely managing energy-using devices, the method comprising:
-
installing a device energy sensor at each of a first plurality of energy-using devices and a second plurality of energy-using devices, the device energy sensor being configured to measure an electrical characteristic indicative of energy being used by each of first and second the energy-using devices, wherein each device energy sensor includes a communication interface configured to communicate an energy-indicative measurement over a network; using a command and control center, located geographically remote from a first plurality of buildings and a second plurality of buildings, to centrally manage and monitor the first and the second plurality of energy-using devices located at the first plurality and second plurality of buildings, wherein the command and control center comprises, at least, a user interface, a communication interface, a processing device, and a memory device, and wherein using the command and control center to centrally manage and monitor comprises; receiving, via the network, at the command and control center, the energy-indicative measurements from the device energy sensors at each of the first plurality and second plurality of energy-using devices; monitoring, via the user interface of the command and control center and using the energy-indicative measurements, each of the first plurality and second plurality of energy-using devices; managing, using a first plurality of control panels, the first plurality of energy-using devices located at the first plurality of buildings, wherein each of the first plurality of buildings includes, at least, two or more of the first plurality of energy-using devices and, at least, one of the first plurality of control panels; and managing, using a second plurality of control panels, the second plurality of energy-using devices located at the second plurality buildings, wherein each of the second plurality of buildings includes, at least, two or more of the second plurality of energy-using devices and, at least, one of the second plurality of control panels, and wherein the second plurality of buildings is different than the first plurality of buildings, and wherein the first plurality of buildings and the second plurality of buildings are maintained by one institution.
-
Specification