Computer based energy management

• US 8,396,608 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Budderfly, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Budderfly Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Subbloie, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/827,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/30, 705/34, 705/412, 700/225, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 711/114, 711/144, 711/168, 370/338, 370/252, 370/466, 370/452, 370/455, 709/223, 709/224, 702/61, 702/62
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Computer based energy management including an adaptor having a server network interface and a control device interface. The adaptor transmitting the commands to the control device via a control device interface on the adaptor, and receiving energy usage data from the control device in response to a command including a request for energy usage. The adaptor transmitting the energy usage data to the energy management software in response to receiving the energy usage data from the control device, receiving sensor data from one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the adaptor, transmitting the sensor data to the energy management software in response to receiving the sensor data from the sensors, receiving control commands at the adaptor from the energy management host software and transmitting the control commands to the control device, the control commands altering the function of a device.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a network of adaptors for computer based energy management, the method comprising:

connecting a plurality of adaptors over a network;

linking the plurality of adaptors to one another;

connecting the plurality of adaptors to a plurality of control devices, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to measure and control energy usage of one or more energy devices, and the plurality of adaptors are configured to measure and control the plurality of control devices and acquire energy usage data of the one or more energy devices; and

controlling, by a computer, any of the plurality of control devices from any of the plurality of adaptors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, each of the plurality of adaptors comprises a unique address, and the unique address is broadcast over the network when each of the plurality of adaptors is connected to the network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein, the unique address is established when each of the plurality of adaptors is manufactured.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein, the linking comprises:

receiving at an energy management software the unique address of the plurality of adaptors;

transmitting instructions from the energy management software, the instructions establishing a group of adaptors, the group of adaptors comprising a group identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein, an instruction addressed to the group identifier is broadcast over the network is received by all of the plurality of adaptors in the group of adaptors comprising the group identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, at least one of the plurality of adaptors is a controller, and at least one of the plurality of adaptors is a responder, wherein the controller issues instructions over the network, the instructions indicating a target adaptor, and the responders repeat the instructions over the network and execute the instructions in response to determining that they are the target adaptor.

7. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by a computer establishes a network of adaptors for computer based energy management, the computer program product implementing a method, the method comprising:

connecting a plurality of adaptors over a network;

linking the plurality of adaptors to one another;

connecting the plurality of adaptors to a plurality of control devices, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to measure and control energy usage of one or more energy devices, and the plurality of adaptors are configured to measure and control the plurality of control devices and acquire energy usage data of the one or more energy devices; and

controlling any of the plurality of control devices from any of the plurality of adaptors.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein, each of the plurality of adaptors comprises a unique address, and the unique address is broadcast over the network when each of the plurality of adaptors is connected to the network.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein, the unique address is established when each of the plurality of adaptors is manufactured.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein, the linking comprises:

receiving at an energy management software the unique address of the plurality of adaptors;

transmitting instructions from the energy management software, the instructions establishing a group of adaptors, the group of adaptors comprising a group identifier.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein, an instruction addressed to the group identifier is broadcast over the network is received by all of the plurality of adaptors in the group of adaptors comprising the group identifier.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein, at least one of the plurality of adaptors is a controller, and at least one of the plurality of adaptors is a responder, wherein the controller issues instructions over the network, the instructions indicating a target adaptor, and the responders repeat the instructions over the network and execute the instructions in response to determining that they are the target adaptor.