Apparatus and method for altering an operating window of a device

• US 8,473,109 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Allure Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/477,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20130173027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/295, 700/296, 700/299, 700/300
• US Class Current: 700/277
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 : variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 : Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 : Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller configured to detect a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detect a location of a mobile device associated with a site and alter the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location. Correspondingly, a method includes detecting a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site and altering the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location.

Claims

1. An application having executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the executable instructions when executed by a controller are configured to:

detect a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, the current operating window including an upper limit and a lower limit each defined relative to a set-point of the network device;

detect a location of a mobile device associated with a site; and

adjust the upper limit and the lower limit relative to the set-point of the network device in response to the detected location.

2. The executable instructions of claim 1 when executed by the controller are further configured to:

increase the upper limit and decrease the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the mobile device moving away from the site; and

decrease the upper limit and increase the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the mobile device moving towards the site.

3. The executable instructions of claim 2 when executed by the controller are further configured to:

detect a current operating condition of the site;

alter the network device using the current operating window when the current operating condition is outside one of the upper or lower limits of the current operating window.

4. The executable instructions of claim 3 wherein the network device is a thermostat and the set-point is a temperature set point and the current operating condition is a temperature of the site.

5. The executable instructions of claim 1 when executed by the controller are further configured to:

detect a first zone associated with the site;

increase the upper limit and decrease the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the detected location of the mobile device being disposed within the first zone.

6. The executable instructions of claim 5 when executed by the controller are further configured to:

detect a second zone associated with the site;

increase the upper limit and decrease the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the detected location of the mobile device changing from the first zone to the second zone; and

decrease the upper limit and increase the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the detected location of the mobile device changing from the second zone to the first zone.

7. The executable instructions of claim 1 when executed by the controller are further configured to:

establish at least one network capable of communicating with the network device and the mobile device.

8. The executable instructions of claim 7 wherein the controller is in communication with the network device over the first network and is in communication with the mobile device over a second network and wherein the second network is different than the first network.

9. The executable instructions of claim 8 wherein the second network is a subscriber based wireless data communications network.

10. The executable instructions of claim 8 wherein the first network is an 802.11 based network.

11. The executable instructions of claim 8 wherein the first network is a Zigbee based network.

12. The executable instructions of claim 1 when executed by the controller are further configured to:

detect a forecasted condition of the site; and

adjust the upper limit and the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted condition.

13. The executable instructions of claim 12 wherein the forecasted condition is a forecasted weather condition of the site.

14. The executable instructions of claim 13 wherein the forecasted weather condition includes a forecasted temperature of the site;

and the executable instructions when executed by the controller are further configured to;

compare the forecasted temperature of the site to a current temperature of the site;

increase the upper limit and decrease the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted temperature of the site being less than the current temperature of the site; and

decrease the upper limit and increase the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted temperature of the site being more than the current temperature of the site.

15. The executable instructions of claim 12 wherein the forecasted condition is a forecasted energy pricing data of the site;

and

wherein the executable instructions when executed by the controller are further configured to;

compare the forecasted energy pricing data to a current energy pricing data of the site; and

increase the upper limit and decrease the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted energy pricing data of the site being more than the current energy pricing data of the site.

16. The executable instructions of claim 12 wherein the forecasted condition is a forecasted energy availability;

and

wherein the executable instructions when executed by the controller are further configured to;

increase the upper limit and decrease the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to a forecasted decrease in energy availability.

17. The executable instructions of claim 1 when executed by the controller are further configured to detect the location of the mobile device using one of determining a distance of the mobile device, determining a geofencing location of the mobile device and determining a zone in which the mobile device is disposed within.

18. The executable instructions of claim 1 wherein the network device includes one or more of a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart phone, a cellular or mobile phone, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server or storage device, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, or a wireless router.

19. A method comprising:

detecting a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, wherein the current operating window includes an upper and lower limit defined relative to a set-point of the network device;

detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site; and

adjusting the upper limit and the lower limit relative to the set-point of the network device in response to the detected location.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

increasing the upper limit and decreasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the mobile device moving away from the site; and

decreasing the upper limit and increasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the mobile device moving towards the site.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

detecting a current operating condition of the site; and

altering the network device using the current operating window when the current operating condition is outside one of the upper and lower limits of the current operating window.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the network device is a thermostat and the set-point is a temperature set-point and the current operating condition is a temperature of the site.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of detecting a location of the mobile device further comprises one of:

detecting a distance of the mobile device;

detecting a geofencing location of the mobile device; and

detecting a zone in which the mobile device is disposed within.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

detecting a first zone associated with the site; and

increasing the upper limit and decreasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the detected location of the mobile device being disposed within the first zone.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

detecting a second zone associated with the site;

increasing the upper limit and decreasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the detected location of the mobile device changing from the first zone to the second zone; and

decreasing the upper limit and increasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the detected location of the mobile device changing from the second zone to the first zone.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

detecting a forecasted condition of the site; and

adjusting the upper limit and the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted condition.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the forecasted condition includes a forecasted temperature of the site and further comprising:

comparing the forecasted temperature of the site to a current temperature of the site;

increasing the upper limit and decreasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted temperature of the site being less than the current temperature of the site; and

decreasing the upper limit and increasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted temperature of the site being more than the current temperature of the site.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the forecasted condition is a forecasted energy pricing data of the site and further comprising:

comparing the forecasted energy pricing data to a current energy pricing data of the site; and

increasing the upper limit and the decreasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted energy pricing data of the site being more than the current energy pricing data of the site.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the forecasted condition is a forecasted energy availability and further comprising:

increasing the upper limit and decreasing the lower limit relative to the set-point in response to the forecasted decrease in the energy availability.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the network device includes one or more of a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart phone, a cellular or mobile phone, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server or storage device, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, or a wireless router.