Mobile device with scalable map interface for zone based energy management

• US 9,209,652 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• 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, Cottrell, John Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fei, Jordan S
• Application Number:
  US13/287,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408, 701/409, 701/454, 700/276, 700/291, 715/781, 715/784, 715/800, 715/835
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• 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: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• 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 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: 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: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a mobile energy management system includes controlling at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. Various features may be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device including a map which may present the location of the site, the current location of the mobile device, and the plurality of zones. The graphical user interface may further include a zone size setting presenting selectable distance values enabling the user to set the distance between the site and the boundary of each zone. In response to the selection of a distance value, the mobile device may automatically scale the map to simultaneously present the boundary of each zone and the current location of the mobile device within the display screen of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a location detection device configured to detect a current location of the mobile device and determine a boundary of at least one zone disposed about a site location, wherein the current location of the mobile device relative to the boundary is determined to initiate an altering of an operating condition of a device located at the site;

a display including a graphical user interface (GUI) presenting a map and graphics displaying the site location and the boundary disposed about the site location and the current location of the mobile device; and

a distance selector displayed within said GUI and capable of enabling a user selection of a distance to update the boundary disposed about the site location; and

wherein the mobile device simultaneously scales the map and updates the boundary displayed within the GUI in response to the user selection of the distance using the distance selector.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the display comprises a touchscreen display capable of detecting user interaction with the GUI.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the distance selector is a tumbler enabling user to scroll and select one of several distance values each representing a distance relative to the site.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the boundary is operably associated with one or more location reporting technologies accessible using the location detection device, wherein the location reporting technologies can include:

a GPS reporting technology;

a signification change reporting technology;

a boundary based reporting technology; and

triangulation based reporting technology.

5. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the location detection device detects an IP address of a local WIFI network to determine the current location of the mobile device and the boundary of at least one zone disposed about the site location.

6. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is integral with a smart phone.

7. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is integral with a tablet.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is disposed within a vehicle.

9. A graphical user interface (GUI) for a mobile device comprising:

a map capable of displaying graphics presenting a site location and a boundary displayed about the site location wherein the boundary is used to initiate altering an operating condition of a device located at the site; and

a distance selector displayed within the GUI and capable of enabling user selection of a distance of the boundary relative to the site, wherein the boundary and the map are simultaneously responsive to user selection of the distance to automatically alter the size of the boundary and the scale of the map in response to the distance selected using the distance selector.

10. The GUI of claim 9 wherein the distance selector is a tumbler enabling user to scroll and select one of several distance values each representing a distance relative to the site.

11. The GUI of claim 9 wherein the map is responsive to selection of the distance to automatically alter a map scale of the map in response to the distance selected using the distance selector.

12. The GUI of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of boundaries displayed about the site location in response to the distance selected using the distance selector.

13. The GUI of claim 12 wherein the plurality of boundaries includes a first boundary capable of initiating a first operating condition in response to detecting a location of a mobile device outside of the first boundary and a second boundary capable of initiating a second operating condition in response to detecting a location of a mobile device outside of the second boundary.

14. The GUI of claim 13 wherein the second boundary is located at a distance away from the site equal to the distance selected using the distance selector.

15. The GUI of claim 13 wherein the second boundary is located at a distance away from the site that is less than the distance selected using the distance selector.