Utility monitoring systems and methods of use

• US 8,396,821 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Inventors: Kuhns, Hampden, Edwards, Peter R., Nikolich, George, Roberts, Morien W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSS, BENJAMIN J
• Application Number:
  US12/982,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 706/14, 706/48, 702/61, 702/66, 702/70, 700/286, 324/76.12
• US Class Current: 706/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and devices for monitoring one or more utilities consumed within a monitored area. At least certain disclosed methods include detecting an amount of a first utility consumed by a load associated with a device. An amount of a second utility consumed by a load associated with the device is detected. The identity of the device is determined based on the amount of the first and second utility consumed. In further disclosed methods, a utility monitoring method is disclosed that includes measuring an amount of a utility consumed by a first device at a first time and an amount of a utility consumed by a second device at a second time. The identity of the first device is determined based on the measured consumption of the first and second devices at the first and second time. In certain implementations, the electricity meter uses an effective variance analysis of the conductance waveform on an electrical circuit to identify specific appliances.

Claims

1. A utility monitoring method comprising:

measuring an amount of a first utility consumed by a first device at a first time to determine a first utility amount consumed by the first device;

measuring an amount of a second utility, which may be the same as the first utility, consumed by a second device at a second time, which may be the same as the first time, to determine a second utility amount consumed by the second device;

identifying a relationship between the first and second devices from the relative timing of the utility consumption of the first device at the first time and the utility consumption of the second device at the second time; and

determining the identity of the first device based at least in part on the utility amounts consumed by the first and second devices at the first and second times and the relationship identified between the first and second devices,

wherein the first and second devices are different appliances.

2. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, wherein determining the identity of the first device based on the utility amounts consumed by the first and second devices at the first and second times, comprises:

determining a first hypothetical consumption scenario comprising the consumption of a first possible first device and a first possible second device;

determining a second hypothetical consumption scenario comprising the consumption of a second possible first device and a second possible second device;

comparing the first and second hypothetical consumption scenarios;

selecting the first or second hypothetical consumption scenario as the more probable scenario; and

identifying the first device based on the selected hypothetical consumption scenario.

3. The utility monitoring method of claim 2, further comprising receiving information about the accuracy of the identification of the first device based on the selected hypothetical consumption scenario and modifying the selection of the first or second hypothetical consumption scenario as the more probable scenario based on that information.

4. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the first utility is different from the second utility.

5. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an amount of a third utility, which may be the same as either the first utility or the second utility, consumed by the second device.

6. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an amount of the first utility consumed by the first device at a third time, which may be the same as the second time if the second time is different than the first time.

7. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the first utility is the same as the second utility.

8. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, wherein identifying the relationship between the first and second devices comprises determining that the consumption of the first utility by the first device is closely followed in time by the consumption of the second utility by the second device.

9. The utility monitoring method of claim 1, wherein determining the identity of the first device further comprises identifying a time of day in which the first and second times occurred.

10. A utility monitoring method comprising:

measuring an amount of a first utility consumed by a first device at a first time during a first use to determine a first utility amount consumed by the first device;

measuring an amount of a second utility, which may be the same as the first utility, consumed by a second device at a second time during a second use to determine a second utility amount consumed by the second device, the second device being different than the first device and the second time being sequentially after the first time; and

identifying a time-based relationship between the first use of the first device and the second use of the second device; and

determining the identity of the second device based at least in part on the identified time-based relationship and the utility amounts consumed by the first and second devices at the first and second times,

wherein the first and second devices are different appliances.

11. The utility monitoring method of claim 10, wherein the time-based relationship is identified based on the amount of time that passes between the first and second uses.

12. The utility monitoring method of claim 11, wherein the first utility is different from the second utility.

13. The utility monitoring method of claim 12, wherein the first utility comprises water and the second utility comprises electricity.

14. The utility monitoring method of claim 11, wherein the first utility is the same as the second utility.

15. The utility monitoring method of claim 14, wherein the first and second utilities are electricity.

16. The utility monitoring method of claim 10, wherein the determining of the identity of the second device further comprises identifying the time of day in which the second use occurs.