Energy management computer system

• US 9,471,946 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnerAllies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EnerAllies, Inc.
• Inventors: Keil, Robert S, Maruyama, Stephen C
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US13/740,103
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00733 Computational models modifying user-set values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• 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 13/021 in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/82 : Energy audits or management systems therefor

Abstract

The disclosure provides an energy management system that is based on a distributed architecture that includes networked energy management devices located at a plurality of sites and a collection of energy management program applications and modules implemented by a centralized energy management service unit. The energy management program applications and modules are responsible for facilitating customer access to the system, configuring energy management devices, and collecting, storing, and analyzing energy management data collected from the plurality of sites. The energy management system is adaptable to a wide variety of energy usage requirements and enables customers to configure energy management devices at customer sites using scheduling templates, to define and customize site groupings for device configuration and data analysis purposes, and to request and view various statistical views of collected energy usage data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

detecting, by an energy management device that is coupled to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a particular site, a first value of a temperature setpoint configured at the energy management device, wherein the first value of the temperature setpoint is a current target temperature of the particular site, and a second value of an air temperature of an area outside of the particular site, wherein the second value of the air temperature is detected from an external data source and communicated, via Internet, to the energy management device;

determining, by the energy management device, that a difference between the first value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature exceeds a specified threshold value;

in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value exceeds the specified threshold value, configuring, by the energy management device, the temperature setpoint to a third value, causing the HVAC system of the particular site to change the current target temperature of the particular site;

wherein a difference between the third value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature of an area outside of the particular site is not more than the specified threshold value.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second value is based in part on a humidity index value.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the specified threshold value is specified in a scheduling template, wherein the scheduling template defines one or more energy management device operating parameters to control operation of the energy management device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the scheduling template further specifies a maximum temperature setpoint value and a minimum temperature setpoint value.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which when executed cause one or more processors to perform:

detecting, by an energy management device coupled to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a particular site, a first value of a temperature setpoint configured at the energy management device, wherein the first value of the temperature setpoint is a current target temperature of the particular site, and a second value of an air temperature of an area outside of the particular site, wherein the second value of the air temperature is detected from an external data source and communicated, via Internet, to the energy management device;

determining, by the energy management device, that a difference between the first value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature exceeds a specified threshold value;

in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value exceeds the specified threshold value, configuring, by the energy management device, the temperature setpoint to a third value, causing the HVAC system of the particular site to change the current target temperature of the particular site;

wherein a difference between the third value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature of an area outside of the particular site is not more than the specified threshold value.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 5, wherein the second value is based in part on a humidity index value.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 5, wherein the specified threshold value is specified in a scheduling template, wherein the scheduling template defines one or more energy management device operating parameters to control operation of the energy management device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 7, wherein the scheduling template further specifies a maximum temperature setpoint value and a minimum temperature setpoint value.