Method for zone based energy management system with scalable map interface

• US 8,396,604 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Allure Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James, Cottrell, John Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, ANTHONY T
• Application Number:
  US13/364,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20120135759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 370/338, 455/567
• US Class Current: 700/286
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• 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: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• 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 13/00004 : characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0001 : using modification of a parameter of the network power signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 : using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 : involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 : the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 : by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 : involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

A method of managing energy use of a network device located at a site with a mobile device is provided. The method proceeds by determining a plurality of zones about the site and detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones. The method continues by altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed within the display screen of the mobile device. A map presenting the site location, the plurality of zones disposed about the site location, and the current location of the mobile device is displayed within the GUI along with a distance selector including selectable distance values. The method further includes automatically scaling the plurality of zones and the map in response to changing the selectable distance value using the distance selector.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a plurality of zones associated with a site using an application hosted by a mobile device, wherein the plurality of zones include a first zone defined by the site and a second zone defined by a boundary determined at a distance away from the site;

detecting a current location of the mobile device using the application hosted by the mobile device;

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) within a display screen of the mobile device including a map presenting graphics corresponding to the site and the first and second zones and the current location of the mobile device with respect to the first and second zones; and

initiating and altering an operating condition of a network device located at the site in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones outside of the boundary.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the current location of the mobile device is detected by determining a GPS coordinate of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the current location of the mobile device is detected by determining an IP address of a local WIFI network.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an icon within the GUI configured to present the operating condition of the network device located at the site.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the network device located at the site is a thermostat and the operating condition presented by the icon is a current temperature set-point.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a distance selector within the GUI;

detecting a distance setting of the distance selector;

determining the boundary of the second zone at a distance away from the site equal to the distance setting; and

displaying the boundary of the second zone using the distance setting of the distance selector.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the distance selector is a tumbler enabling user to scroll and select one of several distance values each representing a distance relative to the site.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

resizing the map to a new map scale in response to detecting the distance setting of the distance selector.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the new map scale is a predetermined value greater than or equal to the distance setting of the distance selector.

10. A method of managing energy use of a network device with a mobile device having a display screen comprising:

detecting a location of the network device;

associating a site location with the location of the network device;

determining a plurality of zones about the site location;

detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones,

determining when the mobile device changes between the zones in response to detecting the current location of the mobile device;

altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones;

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) within the display screen of the mobile device including a map presenting the site location and the plurality of zones disposed about the site location; and

displaying a graphic within the map presenting the current location of the mobile device with respect to the plurality of zones.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of zones includes a first zone having first distance defining a boundary of the first zone and a second zone having a second distance defining a boundary of the second zone.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying a graphic presenting the first zone and the boundary of the first zone within the map; and

displaying a graphic presenting the second zone and the boundary of the second zone within the map.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying a distance selector within the GUI presenting selectable distance values;

altering the first distance and the second distance in response to selection of the selectable distance values to automatically scale the boundary of the first zone and the boundary of the second zone; and

automatically scaling the map in response to scaling the boundary of the first zone and the boundary of the second zone and displaying a graphic within the map presenting the current location of the mobile device to simultaneously present the boundary of the first zone and the boundary of the second zone and the graphic presenting the current location of the mobile device within the display screen of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the distance selector is a tumbler enabling user to scroll and select one of several selectable distance values each representing a distance relative to the site.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the current location of the mobile device is detected by determining a GPS coordinate of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the current location of the mobile device is detected by determining an IP address of a local WIFI network.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting an operating condition of the network device; and

displaying an application icon within the graphical user interface (GUI) configured to present the operating condition of the network device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the network device is a thermostat and the operating condition presented by the icon is a current temperature set-point.