US 9,471,946 B1Granted

Energy management computer system

AssigneeEnerAllies, Inc.

InventorsRobert S Keil, Stephen C Maruyama

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Abstract

The disclosure provides an energy management system that is based on a distributed architecture that includes networked energy management devices located at a plurality of sites and a collection of energy management program applications and modules implemented by a centralized energy management service unit. The energy management program applications and modules are responsible for facilitating customer access to the system, configuring energy management devices, and collecting, storing, and analyzing energy management data collected from the plurality of sites. The energy management system is adaptable to a wide variety of energy usage requirements and enables customers to configure energy management devices at customer sites using scheduling templates, to define and customize site groupings for device configuration and data analysis purposes, and to request and view various statistical views of collected energy usage data.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

detecting, by an energy management device that is coupled to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a particular site, a first value of a temperature setpoint configured at the energy management device, wherein the first value of the temperature setpoint is a current target temperature of the particular site, and a second value of an air temperature of an area outside of the particular site, wherein the second value of the air temperature is detected from an external data source and communicated, via Internet, to the energy management device;
determining, by the energy management device, that a difference between the first value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature exceeds a specified threshold value;
in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value exceeds the specified threshold value, configuring, by the energy management device, the temperature setpoint to a third value, causing the HVAC system of the particular site to change the current target temperature of the particular site;
wherein a difference between the third value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature of an area outside of the particular site is not more than the specified threshold value.

1 more element

A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which when executed cause one or more processors to perform:

detecting, by an energy management device coupled to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a particular site, a first value of a temperature setpoint configured at the energy management device, wherein the first value of the temperature setpoint is a current target temperature of the particular site, and a second value of an air temperature of an area outside of the particular site, wherein the second value of the air temperature is detected from an external data source and communicated, via Internet, to the energy management device;
determining, by the energy management device, that a difference between the first value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature exceeds a specified threshold value;
in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value exceeds the specified threshold value, configuring, by the energy management device, the temperature setpoint to a third value, causing the HVAC system of the particular site to change the current target temperature of the particular site;
wherein a difference between the third value of the temperature setpoint and the second value of the air temperature of an area outside of the particular site is not more than the specified threshold value.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/740,103Filed 11 Jan 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Jan 2012
Granted: 18 Oct 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

F24F 11/56
Characterised by user interfaces or communication: remote control
F24F 11/32
For purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring: responding to malfunctions or emergencies
F24F 11/46
For purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring: improving electric energy efficiency or saving
F24F 11/50
Control or safety arrangements: characterised by user interfaces or communication

Family

Application61/631,824Us provisional application · filed 12 Jan 2012
Application61/631,825Us provisional application · filed 12 Jan 2012
Application61/631,829Us provisional application · filed 12 Jan 2012
Application61/631,831Us provisional application · filed 12 Jan 2012
US 9,471,946 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.