Method for zone based energy management system with scalable map interface

• US 8,498,749 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kingston Consulting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Allure Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, ANTHONY T
• Application Number:
  US13/287,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20120064923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 621/26, 709/224
• 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 11/47 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 of managing a site in a mobile environment, comprising:

providing a web-based control selector within a hosted web application accessible using a computer and a mobile device, wherein the hosted web application is stored using a server;

providing a mobile-based control selector within a user interface of the mobile device, the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector in communication with a detection module in order to manage at least one network device at a site;

allowing each of the web-based and mobile-based control selectors to be toggled between an enabled setting and a disabled setting;

enabling the detection module in response to the enabled setting of at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector;

determining a location of the mobile device using the enabled detection module;

altering an operating condition of the at least one network device using the enabled detection module, wherein the altering of the operating condition is initiated based on the location of the mobile device;

disabling the detection module in response to the disabled setting of the control selector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is an alarm system and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the alarm system when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a lighting system and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the lighting system when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is an HVAC system and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the HVAC system when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a home media management system and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the home media management system when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a smart appliance and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the smart appliance when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a set-top box and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the set-top box when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a hot water heater and the detection module initiates altering the operating condition of the hot water heater when at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector is toggled to the enabled setting.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection module in response to the enabled setting of at least one of the web-based control selector and the mobile-based control selector can modify the operating condition of the at least one network device based on a detected distance of the mobile device with respect to the site.