Streamlined utility portals for managing demand-response events

• US 10,367,819 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• 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): Song, Hee K
• Application Number:
  US16/006,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20180302411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 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 automatically enrolling a smart-home device in a demand-response program includes receiving an identification of a user account that is sent from a utility provider computer system based on an agreement that the smart-home device will be enrolled in the demand-response program. The identification of the user account is also sent to indicate to the device management server that the smart-home device should be sent to a location associated with the user account. The method also includes causing the smart-home device to be sent to the location associated with the user account. The method additionally includes receiving an indication from the smart-home device that the smart-home device has been installed at the location associated with the user account, and enrolling the smart-home device in the demand-response program.

Claims

1. A method for automatically enrolling a smart-home device in a demand-response program, the method comprising:

receiving, at a device management server that manages a plurality of smart-home devices, an identification of a user account, wherein;

the identification of the user account is sent from a utility provider computer system based at least in part on an agreement that the smart-home device will be enrolled in the demand-response program; and

the identification of the user account is sent to indicate to the device management server that the smart-home device should be sent to a location associated with the user account;

causing the smart-home device to be sent to the location associated with the user account;

receiving, at the device management server, an indication from the smart-home device that the smart-home device has been installed at the location associated with the user account; and

enrolling the smart-home device in the demand-response program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device management server stores a plurality of device user accounts that are different from a plurality of user accounts stored at the utility provider computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising pairing the smart-home device with a device user account at the device management server in response to receiving the indication from the smart-home device that the smart-home device has been installed at the location associated with the user account.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a device identifier for the smart-home device prior to causing the smart-home device to be sent to the location associated with the user account.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the indication from the smart-home device that the smart-home device has been installed at the location associated with the user account comprises the device identifier; and

using the device identifier to link the smart-home device to the user account after installation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the smart-home device to be sent to the location associated with the user account comprises:

sending the location associated with the user account to a fulfillment service computer system; and

receiving a device identifier for the smart-home device from the fulfillment service computer system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility provider computer system is associated with a solar power utility provider.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a device user account from a plurality of device user accounts for the smart-home device on the device management server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the user account comprises an account number for the user account on the utility provider computer system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the user account comprises the location associated with the user account.

11. 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 the device management server that manages a plurality of smart-home devices, an identification of a user account, wherein;

the identification of the user account is sent from a utility provider computer system based at least in part on an agreement that a smart-home device will be enrolled in a demand-response program; and

the identification of the user account is sent to indicate to the device management server that the smart-home device should be sent to a location associated with the user account;

causing the smart-home device to be sent to the location associated with the user account;

receiving, at the device management server, an indication from the smart-home device that the smart-home device has been installed at the location associated with the user account; and

enrolling the smart-home device in the demand-response program.

12. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise sending an indication from the device management server to the utility provider computer system that indicates a total number of eligible devices associated with the user account.

13. The device management server of claim 11, sending an indication from the device management server to the utility provider computer 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.

14. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the smart-home device comprises a thermostat.

15. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the smart-home device comprises a hazard detector.

16. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the identification of the user account is received through an Application Programming Interface (API) that is provided by the utility provider computer system.

17. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the identification of the user account is received through an API that is provided by a third party that is distinct from the device management server and distinct from the utility provider computer system.

18. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a set of smart-home device requirements from the utility provider computer system.

19. The device management server of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the smart-home device meets the smart-home device requirements from the utility provider computer system.

20. The device management server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

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

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