Systems and methods for use in controlling energy consumption within a building

• US 8,726,059 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Acosta-Cazaubon, Jesus, Kienitz, Paul Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Suryawanshi, Suresh
• Application Number:
  US13/171,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00019 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• 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: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• 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 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A computing device is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface that is configured to receive at least one signal from a utility, wherein the signal is representative of a request for a reduction of energy consumption within a building. Moreover, the computing device includes a processor that is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to identify at least one machine within the building that is subject to the request. The processor is further programmed to generate at least one proposed control parameter for the machine based on the request. A user interface is coupled to processor and configured to enable a user of the machine to provide a response to the control parameter.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive at least one signal from a utility, wherein the at least one signal is representative of a request for reduction of energy consumption within a building;

a processor coupled to said communication interface and programmed to identify at least one machine within the building that is subject to the request, said processor is further programmed to generate at least one proposed control parameter for the at least one machine based on the request; and

at least one sensor communicatively coupled to said processor, said at least one sensor is configured to determine a current operating state for the at least one machine, said processor is further programmed to generate at least one alternative control parameter based on the sensed operating state of the at least one machine.

2. A computing device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface coupled to said processor and configured to enable a user of the at least one machine to provide a response to the at least one control parameter and

a presentation interface coupled to said processor and configured to present at least one of the at least one machine identified and the at least one proposed control parameter to the user.

3. A computing device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said user interface is configured to enable the user to accept the at least one proposed control parameter.

4. A computing device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said user interface is configured to enable the user to input at least one alternative control parameter for the at least one machine.

5. A computing device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said user interface is configured to enable the user to negotiate the at least one proposed control parameter for the at least one machine.

6. A computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor identifies the at least one machine by considering at least one operational parameter of the at least one machine, the at least one operational parameter includes a power level required for the operation of the at least one machine.

7. An energy control system comprising:

a computing device comprising;

a communication interface configured to receive at least one signal from a utility, wherein the at least one signal is representative of a request for a reduction of energy consumption within a building;

a processor coupled to said communication interface and programmed to identify at least one machine within the building that is subject to the request, said processor is further programmed to generate at least one proposed control parameter for the at least one machine based on the request;

at least one sensor communicatively coupled to said processor, said at least one sensor is configured to determine a current operating state for the at least one machine, said processor is further programmed to generate at least one alternative control parameter based on the sensed operating state of the at least one machine; and

a controller coupled to said computing device, said controller configured to receive at least one signal representative of at least one of the at least one proposed control parameter and the at least one alternative control parameter and to execute at least one of the at least one proposed control parameter and the at least one alternative control parameter.

8. An energy control system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said computing device further comprises:

a user interface coupled to said processor and configured to enable a user of the least one machine to provide a response to the at least one control parameter and

a presentation interface coupled to said processor and configured to present at least one of the at least one machine identified and the at least one proposed control parameter to the user.

9. An energy control system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said user interface is configured to enable the user to accept the at least one proposed control parameter for the at least one machine.

10. An energy control system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said user interface is configured to enable the user to input at least one alternative control parameter for the at least one machine.

11. An energy control system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said user interface is configured to enable the user to negotiate the at least one proposed control parameter for the at least one machine.

12. An energy control system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said processor identifies the at least one machine by considering at least one operational parameter of the at least one machine, the at least one operational parameter includes a power level required for the operation of the at least one machine.

13. A method for use in controlling energy consumption, said method comprising:

receiving, via a communication interface, at least one signal from a utility, wherein the at least one signal is representative of a request for a reduction of energy consumption within a building;

identifying, via a processor, at least one machine within the building that is subject to the request;

generating, via the processor, at least one proposed control parameter for the at least one machine based on the request;

determining, via at least one sensor, a current operating state for the at least one machine; and

generating, via the processor, at least one alternative control parameter based on the sensed operating state of the at least one machine.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

enabling, via a user interface, a user of the at least one machine to provide a response to the at least one control parameter and

presenting, via a presentation interface, at least one of the at least one machine identified and the at least one proposed control parameter to the user.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein enabling, via a user interface, a user of the least one machine to provide a response to the at least one control parameter further comprises, enabling, via the user interface, the user to accept the at least one proposed control parameter.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein enabling, via a user interface, a user of the least one machine to provide a response to the at least one control parameter further comprises, enabling, via the user interface, the user to input at least one alternative control parameter for the at least one machine.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein enabling, via a user interface, a user of the least one machine to provide a response to the at least one control parameter further comprises, enabling, via the user interface, the user to negotiate the at least one control parameter for the at least one machine.

18. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein identifying, via a processor, at least one machine further comprises identifying, via the processor, the at least one machine by considering a plurality of machines within the building.

19. A computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor is further programmed to adjust the current operating state of the at least one machine based on one of the at least one proposed control parameter and the at least one alternative control parameter.

20. A computing device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising adjusting the current operating state of the at least one machine based on one of the at least one proposed control parameter and the at least one alternative control parameter.