Techniques for predictive control of energy use in a structure
AssigneeElexity, Inc.
InventorsJohn Powers, Ari Halberstadt, Layne Clemen, Rodin Porrata, Keith Mosher, Cameron Barclift
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of systems included within one or more structures includes: selecting a first controller from a set of multiple of controllers; with the first controller, determining a control action for a device included in a first system within the one or more structures based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and forecast information; and transmitting a control signal based on the control action to the device.
Claims19
An environmental control unit for a structure wherein the control unit processes a computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of systems within one or more structures, the method comprising:
- selecting a first controller from a set of multiple controllers wherein the first controller is a predictive controller wherein the predictive controller is capable of integrating operations of independent systems within a structure and across multiple structures;
- with the first controller, determining a control action for a device included in a first system within the one or more structures based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and forecast information wherein a meta controller within the first controller evaluates the suitability of the first controller for communication with the first system such that in the event the first controller is not suitable a replacement first controller is selected for communication with the first system;
- with the first controller or replacement first controller, transmitting a control signal based on the control action to the device thereby controlling the output of the device;
- and
- selecting at least one subsequent controller from the set of multiple controllers to determine a separate control action in parallel with the first controller or replacement first controller, wherein the steps further include, after transmitting the control signal based on the control action to the first device, selectin a second controller from the set of multiple of controllers based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and additional state information associated with the one or more structures, wherein the second controller has a greater data input requirement than the first controller.
A computer system for controllinq the environment within a structure having a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes a set of instructions which, in response to execution by a processor of the computer system, cause the processor to perform the steps:
- selecting a first controller from a set of multiple controllers wherein the predictive controller is capable of integratinq operations of independent systems within a structure and across multiple structures;
- with the first controller, determining a control action for a first device included in a first system within one or more structures based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and forecast information wherein a meta controller within the first controller evaluates the suitability of the first controller for communication with the first system such that in the event the first controller is not suitable a replacement first controller is selected for communication with the first system;
- and
- with the first controller or replacement first controller, transmitting a control signal based on the control action to the first device thereby controlling the output of the first device;
- and selecting at least one subsequent controller from the set of multiple controllers to determine a separate control action in parallel with the first controller or replacement first controller, wherein the steps further include, after transmittinq the control signal based on the control action to the first device, selectinq a second controller from the set of multiple of controllers based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and additional state information associated with the one or more structures, wherein the second controller has a qreater data input requirement than the first controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.