Approach for managing power consumption in buildings

• US 7,613,549 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US11/104,198
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700295-297, 340/509, 340/3.1, 340/524, 340/526, 340/825.49, 713/300, 713/320, 713/324, 713/340
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An approach for managing power consumption in a building includes receiving a signal that indicates that a user has entered or left the building. In response to receiving the signal, one or more resources in the building are transitioned between a first state and a second state. When operating in the first state, the one or more resources consume relatively less power relative to when the one or more resources are operating in the second state. A determination may also be made, based upon the signal and status data, whether the user has entered the building or left the building. If the user has entered the building, then the one or more resources are transitioned from the first state to the second state. If the user has left the building, then the one or more resources are transitioned from the second state to the first state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing resources in a building, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a data signal that indicates that a user has entered the building; and

in response to receiving a data signal that indicates that a user has entered the building;

identifying a first set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with only the user;

causing the first set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with only the user to be activated;

identifying a second set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with a logical group that includes as members both the user and one or more other users; and

causing the second set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with the logical group that includes as members both the user and the one or more other users to be activated.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein causing the first set of one or more resources to be activated includes causing the first set of one or more resources to transition from a low power state to a higher power state, wherein the set of one or more resources consume relatively more power when operating in the higher power state compared to when the first set of one or more resources are operating in the lower power state.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein causing the second set of one or more resources to be activated includes causing the second set of one or more resources to transition from a low power state to a higher power state, wherein the set of one or more resources consume relatively more power when operating in the higher power state compared to when the second set of one or more resources are operating in the lower power state.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a lighting system.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a heating/cooling system.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a computer.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first set of one or more resources includes a computer.

8. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data signal is generated in response to detecting an identifier that identifies the user.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal is generated in response to detecting an identifier that uniquely identifies the particular user.

10. A computer-readable medium for managing resources in a building, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause:

receiving a data signal that indicates that a user has entered the building; and

in response to receiving a data signal that indicates that a user has entered the building;

identifying a first set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with only the user;

causing the first set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with only the user to be activated;

identifying a second set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with a logical group that includes as members both the user and one or more other users; and

causing the second set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with the logical group that includes as members both the user and the one or more other users to be activated.

11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein causing the first set of one or more resources to be activated includes causing the first set of one or more resources to transition from a low power state to a higher power state, wherein the set of one or more resources consume relatively more power when operating in the higher power state compared to when the first set of one or more resources are operating in the lower power state.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein causing the second set of one or more resources to be activated includes causing the second set of one or more resources to transition from a low power state to a higher power state, wherein the set of one or more resources consume relatively more power when operating in the higher power state compared to when the second set of one or more resources are operating in the lower power state.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a lighting system.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a heating/cooling system.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a computer.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the first set of one or more resources includes a computer.

17. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the data signal is generated in response to detecting an identifier that identifies the user.

18. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the signal is generated in response to detecting an identifier that uniquely identifies the particular user.

19. An apparatus for managing resources in a building, the apparatus comprising a memory storing instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause:

receiving a data signal that indicates that a user has entered the building; and

in response to receiving a data signal that indicates that a user has entered the building;

identifying a first set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with only the user;

causing the first set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with only the user to be activated;

identifying a second set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with a logical group that includes as members both the user and one or more other users; and

causing the second set of one or more resources that are disposed in the building and associated with the logical group that includes as members both the user and the one or more other users to be activated.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein causing the first set of one or more resources to be activated includes causing the first set of one or more resources to transition from a low power state to a higher power state, wherein the set of one or more resources consume relatively more power when operating in the higher power state compared to when the first set of one or more resources are operating in the lower power state.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein causing the second set of one or more resources to be activated includes causing the second set of one or more resources to transition from a low power state to a higher power state, wherein the set of one or more resources consume relatively more power when operating in the higher power state compared to when the second set of one or more resources are operating in the lower power state.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a lighting system.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a heating/cooling system.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the second set of one or more resources includes a computer.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the first set of one or more resources includes a computer.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the data signal is generated in response to detecting an identifier that identifies the user.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the signal is generated in response to detecting an identifier that uniquely identifies the particular user.