# US 11,308,508 B2 · Utility portals for managing demand-response events > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,508 B2 - Document ID: US11308508B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/806,615 - Filed: 2020-03-02 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka; Anthony M. Fadell; Matthew L. Rogers; David Sloo; Scott A. McGaraghan; Samuel W. Kortz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308508B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0202: Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities - G06F 16/955: using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL] - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles} - H04W 12/06: Authentication - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 40/20: Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security - 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 - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - 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) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - 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 method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A smart-home system comprising: a thermostat configured to perform operations comprising: establishing a wireless connection with an energy meter that measures energy from a utility provider that is consumed by devices in and around a structure in which the thermostat is installed; receiving first energy-usage information from the energy meter through the wireless connection; accessing second energy-usage information measured or calculated by the smart-home system; and sending the first energy-usage information and the second energy-usage information to an energy-management server, wherein at least the first energy-usage information is forwarded to a utility provider computer system, and wherein the energy meter also communicates with the utility provider computer system at a first communication rate, wherein the first communication rate is slower than a communication rate at which the first energy-usage information is forwarded to the utility provider computer system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection uses a low-power RF connection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the first energy-usage information indicates aggregate energy consumption during a time interval for the structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates a thermal retention characteristic of the structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates an HVAC capacity of an HVAC associated with the structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates energy reduction associated with the structure before, during, or after a demand response (DR) event. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates whether the thermostat is enrolled in a DR program. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates a user amenability to load shifting during a DR event. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the second energy-usage information is also forwarded to the utility provider computer system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise identifying the utility provider computer system from a plurality of utility provider computer systems from the first energy-usage information received from the energy meter. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a smart-home system, the method comprising: establishing a wireless connection with an energy meter that measures energy from a utility provider that is consumed by devices in and around a structure in which a thermostat is installed; receiving first energy-usage information from the energy meter through the wireless connection; accessing second energy-usage information measured or calculated by the smart-home system; and sending the first energy-usage information and the second energy-usage information to an energy-management server, wherein at least the first energy-usage information is forwarded to a utility provider computer system, and wherein the energy meter also communicates directly with the utility provider computer system at a first communication rate, wherein the first communication rate is slower than a communication rate at which the first energy-usage information is forwarded to the utility provider computer system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first energy-usage information indicates aggregate energy consumption during a time interval for the structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates a thermal retention characteristic of the structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates an HVAC capacity of an HVAC associated with the structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates energy reduction associated with the structure before, during, or after a demand response (DR) event. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second energy-usage information indicates a user amenability to load shifting during a DR event. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The smart-home system of claim 1, wherein the first energy-usage information is forwarded from the energy-management server to the utility provider computer system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first energy-usage information is forwarded from the energy-management server to the utility provider computer system.