Techniques for utilizing energy usage information

• US 8,880,925 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Milenkovic, Milan, Chang, Mark M., Shull, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US13/174,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1048 Counting of energy consumption
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• 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 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment

Abstract

Techniques for energy consumption monitoring and analysis. Energy consumption of one or more energy consuming devices corresponding to a user is monitored. User profile information and user statistical information is utilized to analyze the monitored energy consumption to generate a personal energy usage profile for the user. The personal energy usage profile is transmitted to a computing platform associated with the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring energy consumption of one or more energy consuming devices corresponding to a range of concurrent activities for a user, wherein the energy consumption is determined from a plurality of sensors including at least one power meter and at least one soft sensor that provides data in sensor format derived from other forms of data;

determining a location of one or more of the energy consuming devices with a location agent;

utilizing user profile information, the location and user statistical information to analyze the monitored energy consumption to generate a personal energy usage profile for the user;

transmitting the personal energy usage profile to a computing platform associated with the user, wherein the personal energy usage profile includes total energy usage as well as energy usage for one or more of the energy consuming devices and the personal energy usage profile also provides comparisons to other users, groups of users and targets.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user profile information comprises one or more of an organization for the user, credential information for the user, logistic information for the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user profile information comprises one or more of user controllable components, ambient data and feedback provided by the user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user statistical information comprises user proximity information with respect to the computing platform.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user statistical information comprises user input frequency information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy usage profile indicates an overall energy usage for the user and a component energy usage for the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the usage profile is utilized to generate an alert in response to energy usage exceeding a predetermined level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the usage profile indicates a user energy usage as compared to a group energy usage.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

monitor energy consumption of one or more energy consuming devices corresponding to a range of concurrent activities for a user, wherein the energy consumption is determined from a plurality of sensors including at least one power meter and at least one soft sensor that provides data in sensor format derived from other forms of data;

determine a location of one or more of the energy consuming devices with a location agent;

utilize user profile information, the location and user statistical information to analyze the monitored energy consumption to generate a personal energy usage profile for the user;

transmit the personal energy usage profile to a computing platform associated with the user, wherein the personal energy usage profile includes total energy usage as well as energy usage for one or more of the energy consuming devices and the personal energy usage profile also provides comparisons to other users, groups of users and targets.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the user profile information comprises one or more of an organization for the user, credential information for the user, logistic information for the user.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the user profile information comprises one or more of user controllable components, ambient data and feedback provided by the user.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the user statistical information comprises user proximity information with respect to the computing platform.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the user statistical information comprises user input frequency information.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the energy usage profile indicates an overall energy usage for the user and a component energy usage for the user.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the usage profile is utilized to generate an alert in response to energy usage exceeding a predetermined level.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the usage profile indicates a user energy usage as compared to a group energy usage.