Systems and methods for conveying utility information

• US 9,830,629 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-Radio USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: e-Radio USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jackson Kit, Koskowich, Calvin Daniel, Harvey, John Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US15/262,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20170069008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34087001, 34087011-87015, 34031001, 34031006, 340 1324, 700 22
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• 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 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• 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 3/14 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 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing energy management utilize wireless wide-area network broadcast signals and a decentralized receiver architecture to allow customers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption and load shedding for particular appliances. A receiver assembly embedded within an appliance receives a broadcast signal, e.g., an FM subcarrier signal, including tariff data and other electrical grid data. A processor coupled with the receiver controls the appliance in accordance with the received data and in accordance with user-defined preferences. In some embodiments, a transceiver assembly is embedded in one or more appliances in a household. Each transceiver is configured to receive broadcast signals regarding grid data, and to communicate with other appliances and/or a usage meter over a wireless personal area network. Meter data from one or more households may be aggregated and uplinked back to the energy provider or other entities.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more user interface devices;

an FM radio receiver configured to obtain utility operator data provided by an FM sub carrier channel; and

a processor in electrical communication with the FM radio receiver and the one or more user interface devices, wherein the processor is configured to extract real-time pricing information from the utility operator data and present the real-time pricing information on at least one of the one or more user interface devices for a user;

wherein the one or more user interface devices include an input interface configured for receiving instructions from the user on whether to alter usage of the apparatus after the real-time pricing information has been presented.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interface devices include a plurality of lights.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interface devices include a display capable of displaying alphanumeric characters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interface devices include a speaker.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an air conditioner, a heater, a clothes dryer, a refrigerator, a freezer, a dishwasher, or a hot water heater.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the utility operator data includes grid status information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores a key that represents a geographical position of the apparatus, a network associated with the apparatus, a sub-station associated with the apparatus, a section associated with the apparatus, a lateral associated with the apparatus, or a tap associated with the apparatus, wherein the key is used by the processor to select from the utility operator data information for display that corresponds to the geographical position, the network, the sub-station, the section, the lateral, or the tap.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the key is determined using one or more properties of an FM signal received by the FM radio receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the FM radio receiver is a hybrid digital radio receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the utility operator data is in the form of IBOC or RDS/RBDS modulated electrical grid tariff data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the utility operator data is electrical grid data.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the utility operator data originates from a water utility, an electrical utility, a gas utility, a garbage pickup service, or a hazardous waste pickup service.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores a key that represents a geographical position of the apparatus, wherein the key is used by the processor to select from the utility operator data that corresponds to the geographical position, and wherein the utility operator data originates from a water utility, an electrical utility, a gas utility, a garbage pickup service, or a hazardous waste pickup service.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate the utility operator data to one or more appliances in a home or a business via a local area network that interconnects the one or more appliances.