Data transfer control based on connected device usage analysis

A computerized method performed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

• loading, from a computer-readable storage medium, an expected usage amount for a plurality of network-connected devices, wherein the expected usage amount for the plurality of network-connected devices is associated with a time period, the time period comprises a budgetary period, the plurality of network-connected devices are associated with at least one bill for the budgetary period, and each bill is associated with a cost of usage corresponding to the actual usage amounts of the connected devices in the plurality of network-connected devices;
• obtaining, from at least one data source, information relating to a future event;
• predicting, based on a correlation between the future event and usage of at least one network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices, a potential change in an expected usage amount for the at least one network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices;
• based on the predicted potential change in the expected usage amount for the at least one network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices, automatically generating a modified expected usage amount for the plurality of network-connected devices;
• receiving, from the plurality of network-connected devices, signals representing actual usage amounts associated with the plurality of network-connected devices from at least one network-connected device in the at least one group of network-connected devices;
• comparing the actual usage amounts to the modified expected usage amounts for the plurality of network-connected devices;
• determining that the actual usage amounts are higher than the modified expected usage amounts for the plurality of network-connected devices;
• in response to a determination that the actual usage amounts are larger than the modified expected usage amounts for the plurality of network-connected devices, automatically performing operational modifications to one or more network-connected devices in the plurality of network-connected devices, comprising:
• identifying a non-essential network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices;
• and
• transmitting instructions to the identified non-essential network-connected device to cause a delay in use of the identified non-essential network-connected device until a predetermined time;
• and
• instructing the at least one processor to allocate funds to a holding account associated with the at least one bill, the allocated funds corresponding to the actual usage amounts, wherein the allocated funds are to be automatically disbursed from the holding account to perform payment of the bills in response to the authorization of the at least one payment-related action associated with the plurality of network-connected devices, wherein funds remaining in the holding account after the automatic disbursement are automatically transferred to a savings or retirement account or are maintained in the holding account for the next budgetary period, wherein the funds allocated to the holding account in the next budgetary period are reduced by an amount corresponding to the funds remaining in the holding account after the automatic disbursement.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor and storing expected usage amounts associated with connected devices and programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor, the programming instructions instruct the at least one processor to:

• load an expected usage amount for plurality of network-connected devices, wherein the expected usage amount for the plurality of network-connected devices is associated with a time period, the time period comprises a budgetary period, the plurality of network-connected devices are associated with at least one bill for the budgetary period, and each bill is associated with a cost of usage corresponding to the actual usage amounts of the connected devices in the plurality of network-connected devices;
• obtain, from at least one data source, information relating to a future event;
• predict, based on a correlation between the future event and usage of at least one network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices, a potential change in an expected usage amount for the at least one network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices;
• based on the predicted potential change in the expected usage amount for the at least one network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices, automatically generate a modified expected usage amount for the plurality of network-connected devices;
• receive, from the plurality of network-connected devices, signals representing actual usage amounts associated with the plurality of network-connected devices;
• compare the actual usage amounts to the modified expected usage amount for the plurality of network-connected devices;
• determine that the actual usage amounts are larger than the modified expected usage amounts for the plurality of network-connected devices;
• in response to a determination that the actual usage amounts are higher than the modified expected usage amounts for the plurality of network-connected devices, automatically perform operational modifications to one or more network-connected devices in the plurality of network-connected devices, comprising:
• identify a non-essential network-connected device in the plurality of network-connected devices;
• and
• transmit instructions to the identified non-essential network-connected device to cause a delay in use of the identified non-essential network-connected device until a predetermined time;
• and
• allocate funds to a holding account associated with the at least one bill, the allocated funds corresponding to the actual usage amounts, wherein the allocated funds are to be automatically disbursed from the holding account to perform payment of the bills in response to the authorization of the at least one payment-related action associated with the plurality of network-connected devices, wherein funds remaining in the holding account after the automatic disbursement are automatically transferred to a savings or retirement account or are maintained in the holding account for the next budgetary period, wherein the funds allocated to the holding account in the next budgetary period are reduced by an amount corresponding to the funds remaining in the holding account after the automatic disbursement.