Systems and methods for presenting saving opportunities for electronic edvices

• US 8,121,737 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap One LLC (Snap One Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Control4 Corporation (Snap One Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: West, William B., Smith, Wallace Eric, Nagel, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/498,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700297-298, 705/37, 705/412
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices is disclosed. Experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices is received. One or more power saving opportunities are generated based on the experience based data. Estimated cost savings is calculated. A notification message is presented to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities.

Claims

1. A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices;

generating one or more power saving opportunities based on the experience based data;

calculating estimated cost savings for the opportunities;

presenting a notification message to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities; and

permitting a user to alter one or more of the power saving opportunities.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling one or more of the devices based on an opportunity chosen by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

gathering non-experience based data about present and future conditions that may affect power consumption or the cost of power consumption in the devices; and

generating one or more power saving opportunities based on the experience based data and the non-experience based data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the non-experience based data is one or more of the following:

a present price of power, an anticipated price of power, present weather conditions, anticipated weather conditions, user preferences in the devices, and available stored power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the experience based data is one or more of the following:

power usage patterns, power consumption rates of the devices, and typical loads of the devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices are one or more of the following:

lighting devices, temperature control devices, security system devices, intercom system devices, audio devices, video devices, landscape devices, and control devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the video devices are one or more of the following:

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players, digital video recorders, videocassette recorders (VCRs), cable boxes, satellite receivers, and game consoles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the opportunities is a target electric bill for the devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost savings is in units of currency.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost savings is in units of greenhouse gas emissions.

11. A system that is configured to present saving opportunities for electronic devices, the system comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

receive experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices;

generate one or more power saving opportunities based on the experience based data;

calculate estimated cost savings for the opportunities;

present a notification message to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities; and

permit a user to alter one or more of the power saving opportunities.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to control one or more of the devices based on an opportunity chosen by the user.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

gather non-experience based data about present and future conditions that may affect power consumption or the cost of power consumption in the devices; and

generate one or more power saving opportunities based on the experience based data and the non-experience based data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the non-experience based data is one or more of the following:

a present price of power, an anticipated price of power, present weather conditions, anticipated weather conditions, user preferences in the devices, and available stored power.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the experience based data is one or more of the following:

power usage patterns, power consumption rates of the devices, and typical loads of the devices.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the devices are one or more of the following:

lighting devices, temperature control devices, security system devices, intercom system devices, audio devices, video devices, landscape devices, and control devices.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the video devices are one or more of the following:

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players, digital video recorders, videocassette recorders (VCRs), cable boxes, satellite receivers, and game consoles.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein one of the opportunities is a target electric bill for the devices.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the cost savings is in units of currency.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the cost savings is in units of greenhouse gas emissions.

21. A computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for:

receiving experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices;

generating one or more power saving opportunities based on the experience based data;

calculating estimated cost savings for the opportunities;

presenting a notification message to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities; and

permitting a user to alter one or more of the power saving opportunities.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions executable for controlling one or more of the devices based on an opportunity chosen by the user.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions executable for:

gathering non-experience based data about present and future conditions that may affect power consumption or the cost of power consumption in the devices; and

generating one or more power saving opportunities based on the experience based data and the non-experience based data.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the non-experience based data is one or more of the following:

a present price of power, an anticipated price of power, present weather conditions, anticipated weather conditions, user preferences in the devices, and available stored power.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the experience based data is one or more of the following:

power usage patterns, power consumption rates of the devices, and typical loads of the devices.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the devices are one or more of the following:

lighting devices, temperature control devices, security system devices, intercom system devices, audio devices, video devices, landscape devices, and control devices.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the video devices are one or more of the following:

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players, digital video recorders, videocassette recorders (VCRs), cable boxes, satellite receivers, and game consoles.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein one of the opportunities is a target electric bill for the devices.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the cost savings is in units of currency.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the cost savings is in units of greenhouse gas emissions.