Smart appliance registration

• US 9,846,889 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Ur, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Benlagsir, Amine
• Application Number:
  US13/701,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 34087001
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

In one example of smart appliance registration, a system comprises an electric device that is configured to transmit a unique identifier upon activation, a smart meter that is configured to receive the unique identifier and to further transmit the unique identifier, and a monitoring entity configured to receive the unique identifier from the smart meter for device-specific profiling.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a resource-using device pre-programmed to;

gather identification data to identify the resource-using device to a meter and a monitoring entity, wherein the identification data includes a unique identifier and an executable program to reduce resource usage of the resource-using device over a predetermined amount of time responsive to activation of the resource-using device, and wherein the activation includes turning on the resource-using device for a first use and the unique identifier includes a location of the resource-using device, and

transmit, to the meter, the unique identifier and performance-related data, wherein the performance-related data is based on the reduction of the resource usage of the resource-using device for the predetermined amount of time;

the meter configured to;

receive, from the resource-using device, the unique identifier and the performance related data,

authenticate the identification data of the resource-using device as a resource-saving device based on the unique identifier, and

transmit, to the monitoring entity, the authenticated unique identifier and the performance related data; and

the monitoring entity configured to;

receive the authenticated unique identifier and the performance related data from the meter for device-specific profiling of the resource-using device, and

verify the performance related data to provide rewards in response to a determination that the resource usage of the resource-using device meets a threshold of an efficient resource usage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource-using device includes an electric appliance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource-using device includes a water-using appliance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource-using device includes a gas-using appliance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduction of the resource usage includes modification of resource-using requirements for the resource-using device for the predetermined amount of time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource-using device is further configured to transmit the unique identifier over a structural power system to which the resource-using device and the meter are connected.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the resource-using device is further configured to transmit the unique identifier over an internet connection facilitated by the structural power system to which the resource-using device and the meter are connected.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource-using device is further configured to transmit the unique identifier using a wireless communication protocol.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource-using device is further configured to transmit the unique identifier a predetermined number of times over a predetermined span of time upon the activation thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter is further configured to:

verify the identification data of the resource-using device based on at least the unique identifier, and

transmit the unique identifier received from the resource-using device in response to the verification of the unique identifier.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the verification of the unique identifier includes receipt of the unique identifier a predetermined number of times over a predetermined span of time.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter is further configured to transmit the unique identifier and the performance-related data to the monitoring entity, over an internet connection.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter is further configured to store therein a catalog of identifiers to which the received authenticated unique identifier is compared.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring entity includes a utility company.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring entity is further configured to monitor use of the resource-using device according to a predetermined business model.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined business model includes provision of financial rewards based upon the performance-related data.

17. A method, comprising:

responsive to activation of an appliance, reducing resource usage of the appliance over a predetermined amount of time, wherein the appliance is pre-programmed to gather identification data to identify the appliance to a local meter and a monitoring utility, wherein the identification data includes a unique identifier and an executable program to reduce the resource usage upon the activation over the predetermined amount of time of the appliance, and wherein the activation includes turning on the appliance for a first use and the unique identifier includes a location of the appliance;

transmitting, to the local meter, the unique identifier and performance-related data of the appliance, wherein the performance-related data is based on the reduction of the resource usage of the appliance;

wherein the local meter is configured to;

responsive to receipt of the unique identifier, authenticate the identification data of the appliance as a resource-saving appliance based on the unique identifier; and

responsive to the authentication of the appliance as the resource-saving appliance and a determination that the resource usage of the appliance meets a threshold of an efficient resource usage, transmit the authenticated unique identifier, and the performance-related data of the appliance to the monitoring utility for verification of the performance-related data and provisioning of rewards based upon the verified performance-related data of the appliance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmission of the unique identifier to the local meter is implemented over a structural power system to which the appliance and the local meter are electrically connected.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmission of the unique identifier to the local meter is implemented over a radio frequency (RF) connection.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the resource usage includes usage of electricity, gas, or water.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the local meter is further configured to said authenticate the identification data of the appliance as the resource-saving appliance based on the receipt of the unique identifier, from the appliance, a predetermined number of times over the predetermined amount of time.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the monitoring utility is configured to:

reduce resource usage cost rates for the appliance based upon the unique identifier.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the monitoring utility is configured to:

reduce resource usage cost rates for the appliance based upon the verification of the unique identifier and the performance-related data.

24. A method, comprising:

registering an identity of a resource-saving appliance with a utility, by transmitting a unique identifier from the resource-saving appliance to the utility via a local meter, wherein the resource-saving appliance is pre-programmed to gather identification data to identify the resource-saving appliance to the local meter and the utility, wherein the identification data includes the unique identifier and an executable program to reduce resource usage upon activation over a predetermined amount of time, and wherein the activation includes turning on the resource-saving appliance for a first use and the unique identifier includes a location of the resource-saving appliance;

transmitting, to the local meter, the unique identifier and performance-related data of the resource-saving appliance, wherein the performance-related data is based on the reduction of the resource usage;

wherein the local meter is configured to;

responsive to receipt of the unique identifier, authenticate the identity of the resource-saving appliance based on the unique identifier; and

responsive to the authentication of the identity of the resource-saving appliance and a determination that the resource usage of the resource-saving appliance meets a threshold of an efficient resource usage, transmit the authenticated unique identifier and the performance-related data of the resource-saving appliance to the utility for rewarding an owner of the resource-saving appliance based upon verification of the identity, the location, and the performance-related data of the resource-saving appliance.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the transmission of the unique identifier to the local meter is conducted over one of an electric line, a Wi-Fi connection, or an RF connection.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the local meter is further configured to identify an address thereof to the utility.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the utility is configured to reward by providing a financial rebate to the owner of the resource-saving appliance.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the utility is configured to reward by reducing resource usage rates for the resource-saving appliance to the owner thereof.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the utility is configured to reward the owner of the resource-saving appliance in response to the determination that the resource-saving appliance meets the threshold efficient resource usage.

30. A resource-using device, comprising:

a pre-programmed appliance configured to;

store identification data to identify the resource-using device to a local meter and a monitoring utility, wherein the identification data includes a unique identifier and an executable program to, responsive to activation of the resource-using device, reduce usage of a resource by the resource-using device over a predetermined amount of time, and wherein the activation includes turning on the resource-using device for a first use and the unique identifier includes a location of the resource-using device; and

transmit the unique identifier and performance-related data of the resource-using device to the local meter, wherein the performance-related data is based on the reduction of the usage of the resource of the resource-using device,

wherein the unique identifier is used by the local meter to authenticate the resource-using device as a resource-saving device based on the unique identifier of the resource-using device; and

wherein, responsive to the authentication of the resource-using device as the resource-saving device and a determination that the usage of the resource of the resource-using device meets a threshold of an efficient resource usage, the authenticated unique identifier and the performance-related data of the resource-using device is transmitted by the local meter to the monitoring utility for verification of the performance-related data and provisioning of rewards based upon the verified performance-related data of the resource-using device.

31. The resource-using device of claim 30, wherein the resource includes electricity, gas, or water.

32. The resource-using device of claim 30, wherein the executable program is further configured to modify resource-using requirements for the resource-using device for the predetermined amount of time.

33. The resource-using device of claim 30, wherein the preprogrammed appliance further is configured to transmit the unique identifier, to the local meter, over one of an electric line, a Wi-Fi connection, or an RF connection.