System and method for managing power consumption

• US 8,996,186 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Wei-Peng, Yoshimura, Koji, Masuoka, Ryusuke, Lee, Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US13/372,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/286, 700291-293, 700/295, 700/297
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• 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: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

In accordance with a particular embodiment, a method for managing power consumption includes receiving power rate information and receiving power usage information. The method also includes receiving a plurality of personal preference profiles. Each personal preference profile of the plurality of personal preference profiles is associated with a different user of a plurality of users and includes at least one preferred state associated with a respective user. The method further includes detecting a presence of at least one user within a room. The method additionally includes adjusting at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

Claims

1. A method for managing power consumption, comprising:

receiving power rate information;

receiving power usage information;

receiving a plurality of personal preference profiles, each personal preference profile of the plurality of personal preference profiles associated with a different user of a plurality of users and comprising at least one preferred state associated with a respective user;

detecting a presence of at least one user within a room; and

adjusting at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one personal preference profile comprises a preferred temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one personal preference profile comprises a preferred illumination.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring state input provided by the at least one user; and

updating the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user based on the monitored state input provided by the at least one user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a presence of at least one additional user within the room;

resolving any differences between the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room and at least one preferred state associated with the at least one additional user within the room; and

adjusting at least one state associated with the room based on the resolved differences between the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room and the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one additional user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring at least one state associated with a plurality of rooms within a building, the plurality of rooms comprising the room and at least one additional room; and

adjusting at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one state associated with the plurality of rooms, the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an override command from a mobile device of the at least one user within the room, the override command overriding the adjustment to the at least one state associated with the room.

8. A system for managing power consumption, comprising:

an interface configured to;

receive power rate information;

receive power usage information; and

receive a plurality of personal preference profiles, each personal preference profile of the plurality of personal preference profiles associated with a different user of a plurality of users and comprising at least one preferred state associated with a respective user;

a processor coupled to the interface and configured to;

detect a presence of at least one user within a room; and

adjusting at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one personal preference profile comprises a preferred temperature.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one personal preference profile comprises a preferred illumination.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor state input provided by the at least one user; and

update the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user based on the monitored state input provided by the at least one user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a presence of at least one additional user within the room;

resolve any differences between the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room and at least one preferred state associated with the at least one additional user within the room; and

adjust at least one state associated with the room based on the resolved differences between the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room and the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one additional user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor at least one state associated with a plurality of rooms within a building, the plurality of rooms comprising the room and at least one additional room; and

adjust at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one state associated with the plurality of rooms, the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface is further configured to receive an override command from a mobile device of the at least one user within the room, the override command overriding the adjustment to the at least one state associated with the room.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code, that when executed, is configured to:

receive power rate information;

receive power usage information;

receive a plurality of personal preference profiles, each personal preference profile of the plurality of personal preference profiles associated with a different user of a plurality of users and comprising at least one preferred state associated with a respective user;

detect a presence of at least one user within a room; and

adjust at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein at least one personal preference profile comprises a preferred temperature.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein at least one personal preference profile comprises a preferred illumination.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the logic, when executed, is further configured to:

monitor state input provided by the at least one user; and

update the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user based on the monitored state input provided by the at least one user.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the logic, when executed, is further configured to:

detect a presence of at least one additional user within the room;

resolve any differences between the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room and at least one preferred state associated with the at least one additional user within the room; and

adjust at least one state associated with the room based on the resolved differences between the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room and the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one additional user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the logic, when executed, is further configured to:

monitor at least one state associated with a plurality of rooms within a building, the plurality of rooms comprising the room and at least one additional room; and

adjust at least one state associated with the room based on the at least one state associated with the plurality of rooms, the at least one preferred state associated with the at least one user within the room, the power rate information, and the power usage information.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the logic, when executed, is further configured to receive an override command from a mobile device of the at least one user within the room, the override command overriding the adjustment to the at least one state associated with the room.