Low cost and flexible energy management system and method for transmitting messages among a plurality of communication networks
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving into a home energy gateway data generated from any one of a first communication network via a first interface channel to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network via a second interface channel to transmit and receive data to and from a utility company, and a third communication network via a third interface channel to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home; and
operating an energy data management control system using the data,wherein the receiving of the data includes providing a price signal from the utility company to an appliance, receiving in the home energy gateway the price signal which includes a price schedule or a price change from the utility company via the second communication network, storing in the home energy gateway the price signal, reviewing scheduling priorities in the home energy gateway received from a user over the first interface channel, and sending a load shed command to the appliance based on the scheduling priorities and the price signal via the third interface channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system.
111 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving into a home energy gateway data generated from any one of a first communication network via a first interface channel to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network via a second interface channel to transmit and receive data to and from a utility company, and a third communication network via a third interface channel to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home; and operating an energy data management control system using the data, wherein the receiving of the data includes providing a price signal from the utility company to an appliance, receiving in the home energy gateway the price signal which includes a price schedule or a price change from the utility company via the second communication network, storing in the home energy gateway the price signal, reviewing scheduling priorities in the home energy gateway received from a user over the first interface channel, and sending a load shed command to the appliance based on the scheduling priorities and the price signal via the third interface channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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receiving into a home energy gateway data generated from any one of a first communication network via a first interface channel to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network via a second interface channel to transmit and receive data to and from a utility company, and a third communication network via a third interface channel to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home; and operating an energy data management control system using the data, wherein receiving of the data includes, generating a utility company direct load control command to a load control box on at least one accessory of the accessories; receiving, at the home energy gateway, a price signal which includes a price schedule or a price change for an appliance from the utility company over the second communication network via the second interface channel; reviewing scheduling priorities in the home energy gateway received from a user over the first interface channel; and sending a load shed command to a disconnect box of the accessory over the third communication network via the third interface channel. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An energy data management and control system configured to allow a user to configure operation of the energy data management and control system to generate and send a plurality of different messages, the system comprising:
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a plurality of communication networks configured to transmit and receive data, the plurality of communication networks comprising a first communication network via a first interface channel configured to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network via a second interface channel configured to transmit and receive data to and from a utility company, and a third communication network via a third interface channel configured to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home, the first communication network, the second communication network, and the third communication network configured to operate via communication protocols distinct from one another; and a home energy gateway configured as a single point of control and including a plurality of interface channels that correspond to the first interface channel, the second interface channel, and the third interface channel to enable communication by the plurality of communication networks to the home energy gateway, wherein the user interface allows entry of instructions that control operation of the system by the entered instructions, and wherein the home energy gateway is configured to; provide a price signal from the utility company to an appliance, wherein the price signal includes a price schedule or a price change from the utility company via one of the plurality of communication networks, store the price signal, review scheduling priorities received from the user via the user interface, and send a load shed command to the appliance based on the scheduling priorities and the price signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification