Multi-utility energy control and facility automation system with dashboard having a plurality of interface gateways

• US 20080097782A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powerweb Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Powerweb Incorporated
• Inventors: Budike, Lothar
• Application Number:
  US11/976,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A multi-utility energy and facility automation control system has control center computer(s) connected to various utility consuming systems and software that formats pertinent systems'"'"' energy data, stores, retrieves, diagnoses and acts in response to changes and includes a multi-utility master meter device and a plurality of sensors for utilities and other facility operational data. The system includes at least one dashboard screen as a control screen, and a plurality of interconnected gateways for selection of separate networks for various utility-facility related subscreens. The sensors monitor consumption of a plurality of different utilities and other pertinent data and, using the presentation of the facility information as processed by the computer and presented on the dashboard, exercise c control of the facility to optimize performance and reduce the cost of purchased utilities and other facility operations.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A lighting control system comprising:

a lighting control device to control at least one lighting device in a commercial facility; and

a processing device in communication with the lighting control device and a computer external to the commercial facility, wherein the processing device sends a first control signal to the lighting control device based on a second control signal received from the external computer.

44. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the processing device and the lighting control device communicate through wire.

45. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the processing device and the lighting control device communicate wirelessly.

46. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the external computer communicates with the processing device through internet.

47. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the lighting control device is coupled to the lighting device to directly control the lighting device.

48. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the lighting control device is coupled to a circuit breaker, which is coupled to the lighting device through a wire, and the lighting control device controls the circuit breaker to control the lighting device.

49. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the commercial facility has a plurality of lighting control devices, wherein the processing device identifies one lighting control device from the plurality of lighting control devices and generates the first control signal identifiable by the identified lighting control device.

50. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the first control signal includes a code which when processed by the lighting control device causes the lighting device to dim, turn off or turn on the lighting device.

51. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the processing device includes a data processing part, a communication part, and a memory.

52. The lighting control system of claim 51, wherein the processing device receives lighting control data from the external computer and stores the lighting control data in the memory.

53. The lighting control system of claim 52, wherein the processing device sends the first control signal based on the stored lighting control data.

54. The lighting control system of claim 52, wherein the external computer sends the second control signal that adjusts the lighting control data stored in the processing device.

55. The lighting control system of claim 52, wherein the lighting control data is used by the processing device to send a sequence of first control signals during a predetermined time interval.

56. The lighting control system of claim 52, wherein the lighting control data includes information that is used by the processing device to send a sequence of first control signals, wherein each first control signal includes lighting level control based on different times in a predetermined interval.

57. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the external computer receives energy price in real time.

58. The lighting control system of claim 57, wherein the external computer sends the second control signal to adjust energy consumption of the lighting device based on the on real time energy price.

59. The lighting control system of claim 43 wherein the external computer sends the second control signal to adjust energy consumption of the lighting device based on grid emergencies.

60. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the external computer sends the second control signal to adjust energy consumption of the lighting device based on air pollution data.

61. The lighting control system of claim 43, wherein the external computer sends the second control signal that alters content and/or operation of the processing device.

62. A lighting control system comprising:

a lighting control device configured to control at least one lighting device in a commercial facility; and

a processing device configured to communicate with the lighting control device and a computer external to the commercial facility, wherein the processing device is further configured to send a first control signal to the lighting control device based on a second control signal received from the external computer.