Energy management system and method

• US 8,396,602 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Allure Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US13/089,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/295, 700/286, 700/291, 700/278, 700/296, 340/3.1, 340/12.32, 340/310.11, 705/7.22
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 : variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 : Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 : Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management system and method includes managing energy use of a site comprising the steps of: acquiring a network device data from a network device joined to a wireless energy network; translating the network data into device report data comprised of at least one Java based object; detecting an interval to generate a site report of the wireless energy network; translating the device report data into site report data comprised of XML formatted data; and generating the site report including the site report data at the interval. A wireless energy network communication device is configured to communicate with a wireless energy network and a processor is operably coupled to the wireless energy communication device and configured to perform the steps of managing energy use of the site.

Claims

1. A method of managing energy use of a site comprising:

accessing a first energy network using a first security level;

acquiring network device data from a first network device joined to the first energy network;

detecting an availability of a second energy network wherein the second energy network is different than the first energy network;

accessing the second energy network using a second security level wherein the second security level is different than the first security level;

detecting a second network device joined to the second energy network;

acquiring network device data from the second network device using the second energy network;

wherein the acquiring further includes acquiring one of the first and second network device data using the corresponding energy network configured as a ZigBee wireless network and wherein the network device data includes ZigBee profile data of the network device;

translating the first and second network device data into first and second device report data;

detecting an interval to generate a site report of the energy networks;

generating a site report including the first and second site report data;

establishing a connection between a wireless controller and a network location capable of providing access to at least a first control action;

detecting an availability of the first control action;

receiving the first control action that includes XML formatted control action data at the wireless controller;

detecting a first control action data within the XML formatted control action data to be used by the first network device;

processing XML formatted control action data into Java based objects, wherein the Java based objects are generated using ZigBee profile device data of the first network device;

translating the Java based objects to a first ZigBee network device data, wherein the first ZigBee network device data includes a first network device identifier, a ZigBee channel identifier, and the first control action; and

outputting the first ZigBee network device data to the first energy network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an interval to generate the site report of the first and second energy network;

detecting an updated interval to generate the site report, wherein the updated interval is determined in response to a detection of a location reporting device being at a distance from the site using one of the energy networks;

wherein the generating includes generating the site report using the updated interval; and

wherein the acquiring includes acquiring the network device data using a device reporting interval, wherein the device reporting interval is greater than the updated interval.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the site report using a wireless controller located at the site;

connecting to a server accessible to the wireless controller, wherein the connecting is initiated by the wireless controller and establishes a secure network connection between the wireless controller and the server;

initiating a request to transfer the site report to the server;

receiving a response from the server to initiate a communication including the site report;

detecting if at least one control action is available at the server;

requesting the control action be communicated from the server to the wireless controller;

receiving at least one control action from the server to the wireless controller using the secure network connection; and

disconnecting the wireless controller and the server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

connecting the wireless controller to a network location when a site report may not be available;

detecting multiple control actions available;

detecting an update availability;

enabling receipt of the multiple control actions from the network location during the connection; and

enabling receipt of the update from the network location during the connection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

translating the first and second network device data into first and second device report data comprised of at least one Java based object;

translating the first and second device report data comprised of the Java based object into first and second site report data comprised of XML formatted data; and

wherein the generating includes generating an XML formatted site report including the XML formatted device data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) enabled smart metering device;

acquiring AMI enabled smart meter data; and

generating the site report including the acquired AMI enabled smart meter data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the site report at a network location having a site report processor;

processing the site report to detect a site data and the first and second network device data;

accessing the site data;

accessing the first and second network device data;

detecting a ZigBee control action using the first and second network device data;

detecting if the ZigBee control action should be used in response to processing the site report;

generating Zigbee control action device data to be used with at least one of the network devices in response to detecting the ZigBee control action should be used;

generating a control action report that includes the ZigBee control action device data; and

queuing the control action report to be communicated to a site using at least one of the network devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second control action to be communicated to the second network device;

processing XML formatted control data of the second control action into Java based objects, wherein the Java based objects are generated using a second ZigBee profile device data of the second network device;

translating the Java based objects to a second ZigBee network data, wherein the second ZigBee network device data includes a second network device identifier, the ZigBee channel identifier, and a second control action; and

outputting the second ZigBee network device data to the second energy network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second control action data within the XML formatted control action data to be used by the second network device;

processing the XML formatted control action data into Java based objects, wherein the Java based objects are generated using a ZigBee profile device data of the second network device;

translating the Java based objects to a second ZigBee network data, wherein the second ZigBee network device data includes a second network device identifier and a second ZigBee channel identifier, and a second control action; and

outputting the second ZigBee network device data to the second energy network.

10. An energy management system comprising:

a energy network communication device configured to communicate with a first energy network and a second energy network, wherein the first energy network is different than the second energy network;

a processor capable of being operably coupled to the energy network communication device, wherein the processor is configured to;

access the first energy network using a first security level;

acquire a first network device data from a first network device joined to the first energy network;

access the second energy network using a second security level, wherein the second security level is different than the first security level;

acquire a second network device data from a second network device joined to the second energy network;

translate the first and second network device data into first and second device report data;

detect an interval to generate a site report of the energy networks; and

generate a site report including the first and second site report data; and

a wireless controller that includes;

the processor;

the energy network communication device; and

an information network communication device capable of establishing a connection between the wireless controller and a network location capable of providing access to at least a first control action; and

wherein the wireless controller is further configured to;

detect an availability of the first control action;

receive the first control action that includes an XML formatted control action data;

detect a first control action data within the XML formatted control action data to be used by the first network device;

process XML formatted control action data into Java based objects, wherein the Java based objects are generated using ZigBee profile device data of the first network device;

translate the Java based objects to a first ZigBee network device data, wherein the first ZigBee network device data includes a first network device identifier, a ZigBee channel identifier, and the first control action; and

output the first ZigBee network device data to the first energy network.

11. The energy management system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

translate the first and second network device data into first and second device report data comprised of at least one Java based object;

translate the first and second device report data comprised of the Java based object into first and second site report data comprised of XML formatted data; and

wherein the generating includes generating an XML formatted site report including the XML formatted device data.

12. The energy management system of claim 10, wherein the wireless controller is further configured to:

detect a second control action data within the XML formatted control action data to be used by the second network device;

process the XML formatted control action data into Java based objects, wherein the Java based objects are generated using a ZigBee profile device data of the second network device;

translate the Java based objects to a second ZigBee network device data, wherein the second ZigBee network device data includes a second network device identifier, a second ZigBee channel identifier, and a second control action; and

output the second ZigBee network device data to the second energy network.

13. The energy management system of claim 10, wherein the wireless controller is further configured to:

detect a second control action to be communicated to the second network device;

process XML formatted control data of the second control action into Java based objects, wherein the Java based objects are generated using a second ZigBee profile device data of the second network device;

translate the Java based objects to a second ZigBee network device data, wherein the second ZigBee network device data includes a second network device identifier, the ZigBee channel identifier, and a second control action; and

output the second ZigBee network device data to the second energy network.

14. The energy management system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect an interval to generate the site report of the energy networks;

detect an updated interval to generate the site report, wherein the updated interval is determined in response to a detection of a location reporting device being at a distance from a site using at least one of the energy networks;

generate the site report using the updated interval; and

acquire the first and second network device data using a device reporting interval, wherein the device reporting interval is greater than the updated interval.

15. The energy management system of claim 10, further comprising:

wherein the energy network communication device is further configured to;

detect an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) enabled smart metering device;

acquire AMI enabled smart meter data; and

wherein the processor is further configured to generate the site report including the acquired AMI enabled smart meter data.

16. The energy management system of claim 10, further comprising:

a network location including resources configured to receive the site report at a network location; and

a site report processor configured to;

process the site report to detect a site data and the first and second network device data;

access the site data;

access the first and second network device data;

detect a ZigBee control action using the first and second network device data;

detect if the ZigBee control action should be used in response to processing the site report;

generate Zigbee control action device data to be used with at least one of the network devices in response to detecting the ZigBee control action should be used;

generate a control action report that includes the ZigBee control action device data; and

queue the control action report to be communicated to a site having the network devices.

17. The energy management system of claim 10, further comprising:

wherein the energy network communication device is further configured to acquire one of the first and second network device data using the corresponding energy network configured as a ZigBee wireless network;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

process the network device data into at least one Java based object, wherein the Java based object uses ZigBee profile data of the corresponding network device;

use the Java based object to output the network device data as XML formatted device data; and

generate an XML formatted site report including the XML formatted device data.