Method and apparatus for reading and controlling utility consumption

• US 7,039,532 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TrendPoint Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US10/683,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 702 60- 62, 702/64, 702/65, 702/79, 702176-178, 702/187, 702/188, 361111-115, 700/291, 324/142, 340/870.02, 340/3.1, 340/577, 340/70.39, 340/142
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique

Abstract

A method and system for controlling electric power consumption using a computer to create a forecast and then controlling devices that use power based on the forecast. An automatic reader device is used to gather power consumption data from a point of utility service. The power consumption data is then provided to a computer. The computer is used to create a forecast of energy use for instantaneous demand and time-based usage. The computer then provides alerts based on the forecast for the manual or automatic control of devices that consume electricity. The system may be managed locally or remotely by a computer, PDA, cell phone or other network enabled device.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring and controlling power consumption comprising:

connecting a current transducer and a voltage wire to an automatic reader to measure power consumption;

collecting data from one or more readers into a data collection unit;

transferring the data from one or more readers to a computer system;

creating a target amount of power consumption for a predetermined period of time wherein the target amount may be any of a group including amperage, amperage hours, kilovolts, kiloyolt hours, watts, watt hours and currency;

creating a forecast of electric power consumption for the predetermined period of time using the computer system, wherein the computer system is used in the controlling one or more devices based on the forecast so that usage for the predetermined period of time falls below the target amount.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said controlling is done manually by hand.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said controlling is done manually using the computer system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said controlling is done automatically through the computer system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined period of time is instantaneous.

6. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined period of time is a chronological period of time.

7. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined period of time is a non-chronological period of time.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data obtained from the automatic reader is power consumption data for one or more circuits measured in amperage.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data obtained from the automatic reader is power consumption data for one or more circuits measured in wattage.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data obtained from the automatic reader is power consumption data for one or more circuits measured in kilowatt-hours.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer memory device via wireless communications.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer memory device via wired communications.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer system via wireless communications.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer system via wired communication.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is two or more instantaneous time periods.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer system is used to control a security system.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer system is used to control a fire alarm system.

18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the computer system employs the use of Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.

19. A system for monitoring and controlling power consumption comprising:

a current transformer and a voltage wire connected to a reader wherein the reader calculates power consumption data for a power circuit; and

,

a data collection unit to obtain the data from one or more readers and,

a target amount for power consumption for a predetermined period of time for the power circuit wherein the target amount may be any of a group including amperage, amperage hours kilovolts, kilovolt hours, watts, watt hours and currency; and

,

a computer system for collecting the data from the one or more data collection units wherein the computer system is used in the creation of a forecast of electric power consumption and wherein a device that consumes power is controlled based on the forecast to allow power consumption for the circuit to end the predetermined period of time below the target amount.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said controlling is done manually using a computer.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said controlling is done automatically through a computer.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined period of time is instantaneous.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined period of time is a chronological period of time.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined period of time is a non-chronological period of time.

25. The system according to claim 19, wherein the data obtained from the automatic reader is power consumption data for one or more circuits measured in amperage.

26. The system according to claim 19 wherein the data obtained from the automatic reader is power consumption for one or more circuits measured in wattage.

27. The system according to claim 19, wherein the data obtained from the automatic reader is power consumption data for one or more circuits measured in kilowatt-hours.

28. The system according to claim 19, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer memory device via wireless communications.

29. The system according to claim 19, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer memory device via wired communications.

30. The system according to claim 19, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer system via wireless communications.

31. The system according to claim 19, wherein the data is transferred from the reader to the computer system via wired communication.

32. The system according to claim 19, wherein the controlling is done manually by hand.

33. The system according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined period of time is two or more instantaneous time periods.

34. The system according to claim 19, wherein the computer system controls a security system.

35. The system according to claim 19, wherein the computer system controls a fire alarm system.

36. The system according to claim 19, responsive to a remote user interface, and operative to control a security system.

37. The system according to claim 19, wherein the computer system employs the use of a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.