# US 10,480,808 B2 · Energy management computer system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,808 B2 - Document ID: US10480808B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/295,841 - Filed: 2016-10-17 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-12 - Assignees: EnerAllies, Inc. - Applicants: EnerAllies, Inc. - Inventors: Robert S. Keil; Stephen C. Maruyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480808B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/56: Remote control - F24F 11/32: Responding to malfunctions or emergencies - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/50: characterised by user interfaces or communication - F24F 11/61: using timers - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - G05B 13/021: {in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/02: electric - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G05B 23/0235: {based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold} - G06Q 10/0639: Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - B60H 2001/00733: {Computational models modifying user-set values} - F24F 2110/12: of the outside air - F24F 2130/00: Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00 - F24F 2130/10: Weather information or forecasts - G05B 2219/2639: Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - Y02P 90/82: Energy audits or management systems therefor - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The disclosure provides an energy management system that is based on a distributed architecture that includes networked energy management devices located at a plurality of sites and a collection of energy management program applications and modules implemented by a centralized energy management service unit. The energy management program applications and modules are responsible for facilitating customer access to the system, configuring energy management devices, and collecting, storing, and analyzing energy management data collected from the plurality of sites. The energy management system is adaptable to a wide variety of energy usage requirements and enables customers to configure energy management devices at customer sites using scheduling templates, to define and customize site groupings for device configuration and data analysis purposes, and to request and view various statistical views of collected energy usage data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by an energy management service unit that is configured to be coupled to a plurality of energy management devices of a plurality of sites, energy usage data of a particular site of the plurality of sites; wherein the energy usage data includes information indicating one or more temperature setpoints of a particular energy management device of the particular site and, for each of the one or more temperature setpoints, one or more first values indicating one or more of: an amount of time elapsed for the particular site to reach each of the one or more temperature setpoints, an amount of time the particular energy management device is activated to reach each of the one or more temperature setpoints, and an amount of energy consumed by the particular energy management device to reach each of the one or more temperature setpoints; generating, based on the energy usage data, one or more second values indicating one or more of: an average amount of time elapsed to change the temperature of the particular site by one or more degrees, an average amount of time the particular energy management device is activated to change the temperature of the particular site by one or more degrees, and an average amount of energy consumed by the particular energy management device to change the temperature of the particular site by one or more degrees; determining that one or more of the one or more second values exceeds a specified threshold value; in response to determining that one or more of the one or more second values exceeds the specified threshold value, generating and sending a notification to a device to control an operation of at least one of the plurality of energy management devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes one or more of: an email message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, an alert message displayed on a web portal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the energy management device comprises a programmable thermostat including a Wi-Fi subsystem, and wherein the energy management device is configured to periodically send particular energy usage data to the energy management service unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first values indicate a humidity index. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to the notification, causing at least one of the plurality of energy management devices to change at least one of the one or more temperature setpoints at the site of the plurality of sites corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of energy management devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a temperature scale including a range of options according to comfort and energy cost savings; and in response to an instruction including one option of the range of options, causing at least one of the plurality of energy management devices to change at least one of the one or more temperature setpoints at the site of the plurality of sites corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of energy management devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising identifying the range of options using a maximum temperature setpoint value and a minimum temperature setpoint value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the energy management device is configured to periodically send particular energy usage data to the energy management service unit via a wireless link. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform: receiving, by an energy management service unit that is configured to be coupled to a plurality of energy management devices of a plurality of sites, energy usage data of a particular site of the plurality of sites; wherein the energy usage data includes information indicating one or more temperature setpoints of a particular energy management device of the particular site and, for each of the one or more temperature setpoints, one or more first values indicating one or more of: an amount of time elapsed for the particular site to reach the each of the one or more temperature setpoints, an amount of time the particular energy management device is activated to reach each of the one or more temperature setpoints, and an amount of energy consumed by the particular energy management device to reach each of the one or more temperature setpoints; generating, based on the energy usage data, one or more second values indicating one or more of: an average amount of time elapsed to change the temperature of the particular site by one or more degrees, an average amount of time the particular energy management device is activated to change the temperature of the particular site by one or more degrees, and an average amount of energy consumed by the particular energy management device to change the temperature of the particular site by one or more degrees; determining that one or more of the one or more second values exceeds a specified threshold value; in response to determining that one or more of the one or more second values exceeds the specified threshold value, generating and sending a notification to a device to control an operation of at least one of the plurality of energy management devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 9, wherein the notification includes one or more of: an email message, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a log file entry, an alert message or alarm message displayed on a web portal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 9, wherein the energy management device comprises a programmable thermostat including a Wi-Fi subsystem, and wherein the energy management device is configured to periodically send particular energy usage data to an energy management service unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more first values indicate a humidity index. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 9, wherein the sequences of instructions which when executed further cause the one or more processors to perform, in response to the notification, causing at least one of the plurality of energy management devices to change at least one of the one or more temperature setpoints at the site of the plurality of sites corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of energy management devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises a temperature scale including a range of options according to comfort and energy cost savings; and wherein the sequences of instructions which when executed further cause the one or more processors to perform: in response to an instruction including one option of the range of options, causing at least one of the plurality of energy management devices to change at least one of the one or more temperature setpoints at the site of the plurality of sites corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of energy management devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 14, wherein the sequences of instructions which when executed further cause the one or more processors to perform, identifying the range of options using a maximum temperature setpoint value and a minimum temperature setpoint value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium of claim 9, wherein the energy management device is configured to periodically send particular energy usage data to the energy management service unit via a wireless link.