Energy management system and method

• US 9,360,874 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• 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 F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US13/949,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 11/62 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• 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: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• 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 13/0001 : using modification of a parameter of the network power signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 : using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 : involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 : involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

A method of managing at least one network device at a site includes providing a web-based control selector to manage a detection module to control the at least one network device at the site. The method includes enabling the detection module in response to an enabled setting of the web-based control selector, and initiating a change in an operating condition of the at least one network device at the site in response to the enabled detection module and based on a detected presence of a user at the site. The method proceeds by disabling the detection module in response to the disabled web-based control selector.

Claims

1. A method of managing at least one network device at a site, comprising:

providing a controller having a detection module configured to control the at least one network device based on a determined presence of a user at the site;

providing a mobile-based control selector of a mobile device, the mobile-based control selector configured to remotely manage the detection module of the controller;

detecting by the mobile device a manually enabled setting or a manually disabled setting of the mobile based control selector;

communicating by the mobile device the manually enabled or disabled setting to the detection module;

enabling the detection module in response to the manually enabled setting communicated from the mobile device;

communicating, by the detection module, with a mobile-based boundary selector of the mobile device, the mobile-based boundary selector configured to manually establish a geofence about the site for use by the detection module in determining the presence of the user at the site;

initiating a change in an operating condition of the at least one network device using the enabled detection module, wherein the enabled detection module determines a presence or absence of the user at the site based on the geofence and implements a first mode of the at least one network device based on the determined presence of the user at the site and implements a second mode of the at least one network device based on the determined absence of the user at the site; and

disabling the detection module in response to the manually disabled setting communicated from the mobile device based control selector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabled detection module determines a presence of the user inside the geofence and initiates the first mode of the at least network device in response to the user being determined to be inside the geofence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabled detection module determines a presence of the user outside the geofence and initiates the second mode of the at least one network device in reponse to the user being determined to be outside the geofence.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an electronic device;

associating the electronic device with the at least one network device at the site;

altering the operating condition of the at least one network device in response to a detected presence of the electronic device at the site.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

associating the electronic device with the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting when the electronic device arrives at the site; and

implementing the first mode of the at least one network device in response to the detecting the electronic device arriving at the site.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a thermostat and further comprising:

selecting a home temperature for the thermostat; and

implementing the home temperature at the thermostat in response to a determined presence of the user at the site.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a thermostat and further comprising:

selecting an away temperature for the thermostat; and

implementing the away temperature at the thermostat in response to a determined absence of the user at the site.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a cooling range to cool the site; and

providing a heating range to heat the site.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

using the cooling range and the heating range to display a schedule provided within a user interface of the at least one network device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a selection to receive an alert message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting the operating condition of the at least one network device; and

communicating the alert message to the user in response to the detected selection, and the alert message including information about the detected operating condition.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a detection selector on the at least one network device to determine if an auto presence detection should be used at the site.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a registration of an electronic device associated with the site;

establishing the first mode and the second mode of the site, wherein the first mode comprises a home mode and the second mode comprises an away mode;

detecting a plurality of users associated with the site;

altering an operating condition of the at least one network device in response to determining a last user of the plurality of users leaving the site;

determining when a first user of the plurality of users arrives back to the site; and

altering an operating condition of the at least one network device in response to determining the first user arriving at the site.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is one of or a part of one or more of the following:

a tablet, a smart phone, an energy management system, an energy management device, a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, 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 broadband communication device, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a media server, a network server, a network storage device, a wireless speaker, a retail energy provider'"'"'s server, a wholesale energy provider'"'"'s server, a COOP energy provider'"'"'s server, a retail business server, a commercial site server, an industrial site server, a multi-residential site server, a temporary lodging server, a hotel server, a motel server, a condominium server, a utility provider'"'"'s server, which can include waste, water, power or combinations thereof, an energy substation, a news media server, a weather server, an advertisement server or service provider, a network radio server or service provider, a network media server or service provider, a music server or server provider, a search engine server or service provider, an information server or service provider, a wireless information network device, 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 (TSTAT), an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a garage door opening system or device, a power management 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, a wireless router, an automobile or transportation device, or a network communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is an alarm system and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the alarm system to be armed and disarmed based on the determined presence of the user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a lighting system and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the lighting system based on the determined presence of the user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is an HVAC system and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the HVAC system based on the detected presence of the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a home media management system and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the home media management system based on the determined presence of the user.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a smart appliance and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the smart appliance based on the determined presence of the user.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a set-top box and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the set-top box based on the determined presence of the user.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device is a hot water heater and the detection module initiates a change of the operating condition of the hot water heater based on the determined presence of the user.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection module in response to the enabled mobile-based control selector can modify the operating condition of the at least one network device based on the determined presence of the user at the site.

24. A system for managing at least one network device at a site, comprising:

a mobile-based control selector of a mobile device having an enabled setting and a disabled setting on a graphical user interface (GUI);

a detection module disposed remote from the mobile-based control selector and configured to receive a manual selection communicated from the mobile device;

the detection module configured to;

enable in response to the manually enabled setting communicated from the mobile-based control selector, wherein the enabled detection module determines a presence of the user at the site based on a geofence and initiates a first mode of the at least one network device at the site based on a determined presence of the user at the site and initiates a second mode of the at least network device at the site based on a detected absence of the user at the site; and

disable in response to the manually disabled setting communicated from the mobile device to disable the ability of the detection module to initiate a mode of the at least one network device based on the determined presence of the user at the site; and

a mobile-based boundary selector of the mobile device to manually establish the geofence about the site for use by the detection module in determining the presence of the user at the site.

25. A system as set forth in claim 24, whererin the detection module is further configured to:

determine a presence of the user inside the geofence; and

initiate the first mode of the at least one network device in response to the user being determined to be inside the geofence.

26. A system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the detection module is configured to:

determine a presence of the user outside the geofence; and

initiate the second mode of the at least one network device in response to the user being determined to be outside the geofence.

27. The system as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

an electronic device associated with the site; and

said detection module configured to alter an operating condition of the network device in response to a detected presence of the electronic device in close proximity to the site.

28. A system as set forth in claim 27, further comprising means for communicating an alert message from the detection module to the electronic device.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one network device is one of or a part of one or more of the following:

a tablet, a smart phone, an energy management system, an energy management device, a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, 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 broadband communication device, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a media server, a network server, a network storage device, a wireless speaker, a retail energy provider'"'"'s server, a wholesale energy provider'"'"'s server, a COOP energy provider'"'"'s server, a retail business server, a commercial site server, an industrial site server, a multi-residential site server, a temporary lodging server, a hotel server, a motel server, a condominium server, a utility provider'"'"'s server, which can include waste, water, power or combinations thereof, an energy substation, a news media server, a weather server, an advertisement server or service provider, a network radio server or service provider, a network media server or service provider, a music server or server provider, a search engine server or service provider, an information server or service provider, a wireless information network device, 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 (TSTAT), an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a garage door opening system or device, a power management 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, a wireless router, an automobile or transportation device, or a network communication device.