# US 10,768,015 B2 · Systems and methods to manage and control energy management systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,015 B2 - Document ID: US10768015B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/257,436 - Filed: 2019-01-25 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-22 - Assignees: Melrok, LLC - Applicants: Melrok, LLC - Inventors: Michel Roger Kamel; Paul W. Donahue - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768015B2 ## CPC - H02J 13/333: the equipment forming part of substations - G01D 4/002: {Remote reading of utility meters} - G01R 21/133: by using digital technique - G05B 15/02: electric - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - G08C 19/00: Electric signal transmission systems (G08C17/00 takes precedence) - H02J 3/00: Circuit arrangements for AC mains or AC distribution networks - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 13/12: Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status - H02J 13/1331: {using wireless data transmission} - H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - H02J 13/1321: {using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus} - H02J 13/1337: {involving the use of Internet protocols} - Y02B 70/34: Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation - Y02P 80/20: using renewable energy - Y02P 90/84: Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems - Y02P 90/845: Inventory and reporting systems for greenhouse gases [GHG] - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y04S 10/18: using switches, relays or circuit breakers, e.g. intelligent electronic devices [IED] - Y04S 10/30: State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge - Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading - Y04S 40/00: Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them - Y04S 40/124: using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses - Y04S 40/126: using wireless data transmission - Y04S 40/128: involving the use of Internet protocol - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - 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 - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits information related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant change. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to manage and control an air handling system, the method comprising: receiving first digital data associated with electrical energy consumed by an air handling system associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute; receiving second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute; receiving one or more of weather-related data, carbon footprint-related data, and grid-related data over a network, wherein the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and providing, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, and the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control the air handling system, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the weather-related data comprises one or more of actual weather data, predicted weather data, and solar irradiance data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the carbon footprint-related data comprises one or more of a carbon footprint associated with energy used and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the energy generated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the grid-related data comprises one or more of grid loading data, grid capacity data, pricing data, energy rates, grid condition data, utility demand reduction requirements, and grid forecast data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the control comprises one or more of pulse width modulation (PWM) control, digital control, and analog control. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises one of a digital control signal and an analog control signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the air handling system is configured to be part of a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system of the facility. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving energy-related data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the energy-related data comprises one or more of environmental data, fuel type, prior energy consumption, facility occupancy schedules, BIM (Building Information Modeling) data, GIS (Geographic Information System) data, facility data, equipment specification data, equipment maintenance logs, equipment data, electric vehicle data, and asset inventory data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein providing the control signal further comprises providing, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, and the energy-related data, the control signal to control the air handling system. ### Claim 11 An apparatus to manage and control an air handling system, the apparatus comprising: a first input/output (I/O) module configured to receive first digital data associated with electrical energy consumed by an air handling system associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute; a second I/O module configured to receive second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute; a communication port configured to receive one or more of weather-related data, carbon footprint-related data, and grid-related data over a network, wherein the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and a third I/O module configured to provide, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, and the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control the air handling system, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the weather-related data comprises one or more of actual weather data, predicted weather data, and solar irradiance data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the carbon footprint-related data comprises one or more of carbon footprint associated with energy used, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the energy generated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the grid-related data comprises one or more of grid loading data, grid capacity data, pricing data, energy rates, grid condition data, utility demand reduction requirements, and grid forecast data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control comprises one or more of pulse width modulation (PWM) control, digital control, and analog control. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control signal comprises one of a digital control signal and an analog control signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the air handling system is configured to be part of a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system of the facility. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the communication port is further configured to receive energy-related data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the energy-related data comprises one or more of environmental data, fuel type, prior energy consumption, facility occupancy schedules, BIM (Building Information Modeling) data, GIS (Geographic Information System) data, facility data, equipment specification data, equipment maintenance logs, equipment data, electric vehicle data, and asset inventory data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the third I/O module is further configured to provide, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, and the energy-related data, a control signal to control the air handling system.