Systems and methods for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices

#The present invention relates generally to electronic devices and embedded systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices.

#In recent years, the price of electronic devices has decreased dramatically. In addition, the types of electronic components that can be purchased have continued to increase. For example, DVD players, large screen TVs, multi-carousel CD and DVD players, MP3 players, video game consoles, and similar consumer electronic items have become more widely available while continuing to drop in price.

#The decreasing prices and increasing types of electronic components have packed today's homes and businesses with modern conveniences. Typical homes and businesses now include more power-consuming devices than ever before. As more of these components are sold, the average household power consumption also increases. As power demands increase, the cost of running these devices also increases. Furthermore, the ever-increasing cost of resources, such as electricity, may be a concern.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of a site controller system;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating various configurations of home area networks (HAN);

#FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices;

#A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices is disclosed. Experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices is received. One or more power saving opportunities are generated based on the experience based data. Estimated cost savings is calculated. A notification message is presented to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities.

#In one configuration, one or more of the devices may be controlled based on an opportunity chosen by the user. Non-experience based data about present and future conditions that may affect power consumption or the cost of power consumption in the devices may be gathered. One or more power saving opportunities may be generated based on the experience based data and the non-experience based data. The experience based data may be power usage patterns, power consumption rates of the devices, and/or typical loads of the devices. The non-experience based data may be a present price of power, an anticipated price of power, present weather conditions, anticipated weather conditions, user preferences in the devices, and/or available stored power.

#In one configuration, the devices may be lighting devices, temperature control devices, security system devices, intercom system devices, audio devices, video devices, landscape devices, and/or control devices. The video devices may be Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players, digital video recorders, videocassette recorders (VCRs), cable boxes, satellite receivers, and/or game consoles. The opportunities may be a target electric bill for the devices. The cost savings may be in units of currency or greenhouse gas emissions.