Streamlined utility portals for managing demand-response events

• US 9,998,475 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruffner, Scott, Crimins, Jonathan, McGaraghan, Scott, Greene, William, Luxenberg, Jared
• Primary Examiner(s): Armouche, Hadi
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, HEE K
• Application Number:
  US14/742,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20160373453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• 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 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A method for authorizing a smart-home device for enrollment with a demand-response program may include receiving, at a control server of an energy management system and for the smart-home device, identifying information for a user account. The method may also include sending the identifying information from the control server to an Application Program Interface (API) with an enrollment request. The method may additionally include receiving, at the control server, a determination from the API as to whether the identifying information for the user account was matched to an existing utility account. The method may further include based on the determination from the API, determining whether the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand-response program.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing a smart-home device for enrollment with a demand-response program, the method comprising:

receiving, at a device management server that manages a plurality of smart-home devices, identifying information associated with the smart-home device, wherein it is not required that the identifying information includes a utility account number;

identifying a device user account from a plurality of device user accounts for the smart-home device on the device management server;

sending the identifying information from the device management server to an Application Program Interface (API) of a utility provider computing system with an enrollment request;

receiving, at the device management server, a determination from the API as to whether the identifying information associated with the smart-home device was matched to an existing utility account;

generating or receiving, at the device management server, a determination as to whether the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand-response program;

based on a determination that (i) the identifying information associated with the smart-home device was matched to the existing utility account, and (ii) the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand response program, causing terms and conditions to be sent to a user device; and

enrolling the existing utility account with the demand-response program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying information comprises a name and an address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination from the API comprises an error code that identifies why the approval request was rejected.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the determination from the API indicates that the identifying information for the user account was matched to an existing utility account, sending an indication from the device management server to the utility provider computing system that indicates a total number of eligible devices associated with the user account.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending another indication from the device management server to the utility provider computing system that indicates a total number of eligible devices associated with the user account in response to detecting that one or more of the eligible devices has been disabled.

6. A device management server of an energy management system, the device management server comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memory devices comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a device management server that manages a plurality of smart-home devices, identifying information associated with the smart-home device, wherein it is not required that the identifying information includes a utility account number;

identifying a device user account from a plurality of device user accounts for the smart-home device on the device management server;

sending the identifying information from the device management server to an Application Program Interface (API) of a utility provider computing system with an enrollment request;

receiving, at the device management server, a determination from the API as to whether the identifying information associated with the smart-home device was matched to an existing utility account;

generating or receiving, at the device management server, a determination as to whether the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand-response program;

based on a determination that (i) the identifying information associated with the smart-home device was matched to the existing utility account, and (ii) the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand response program, causing terms and conditions to be sent to a user device; and

enrolling the existing utility account with the demand-response program.

7. The device management server of claim 6 wherein the smart-home device comprises a thermostat.

8. The device management server of claim 6 wherein the API is provided by the utility provider computing system.

9. The device management server of claim 6 wherein the API is provided by a third party that is distinct from the energy management system and distinct from the utility provider computing system.

10. The device management server of claim 6 wherein the identifying information is received from an app operating on a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is in communication with the smart-home device during a registration process.

11. The device management server of claim 6 wherein the one or more memory devices comprise further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

prior to receiving the identifying information for the user account;

receiving a utility account number to be associated with the user account from the utility provider computing system; and

receiving an order for the smart-home device from the utility provider computing system.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a device management server that manages a plurality of smart-home devices, identifying information associated with the smart-home device, wherein it is not required that the identifying information includes a utility account number;

identifying a device user account from a plurality of device user accounts for the smart-home device on the device management server;

sending the identifying information from the device management server to an Application Program Interface (API) of a utility provider computing system with an enrollment request;

receiving, at the device management server, a determination from the API as to whether the identifying information associated with the smart-home device was matched to an existing utility account;

generating or receiving, at the device management server, a determination as to whether the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand-response program;

based on a determination that (i) the identifying information associated with the smart-home device was matched to the existing utility account, and (ii) the smart-home device can be enrolled with the demand response program, causing terms and conditions to be sent to a user device; and

enrolling the existing utility account with the demand-response program.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12 comprising further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

receiving a set of smart-home device requirements from the utility provider computing system.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13 comprising further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

determining whether the smart-home device meets the device requirements from the utility provider computing system.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13 comprising further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

receiving a second set of smart-home device requirements from a second utility provider computing system; and

storing both sets of device requirements at the device management server.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12 comprising further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

when the determination from the API indicates that the identifying information for the user account was matched to an existing utility account, sending an indication from the device management server to the utility provider computing system that indicates a total number of eligible devices associated with the user account.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12 comprising further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

sending another indication from the device management server to the utility provider computing system that indicates a total number of eligible devices associated with the user account in response to detecting that one or more of the eligible devices has been disabled.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12 comprising further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

prior to receiving the identifying information for the user account;

receiving a utility account number to be associated with the user account from the utility provider computing system;

receiving an order for the smart-home device from the utility provider computing system; and

causing the smart-home device to be shipped to an installation location.