Systems and methods for managing smart devices based upon electrical usage data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12314020-B2
Application number	US-202318134756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2023
Priority date	Oct 7, 2014
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing the operation of devices within a home or other property based upon electrical usage data are described. With customer knowledge or consent, a home controller may retrieve and analyze electrical usage data corresponding to a device, such as by comparing it to certain threshold data. If the analysis results in a trigger condition, the controller may generate a command, and transmit the command to the device for implementation, allowing modification of device operation to address any issues indicated in the electrical usage data. The controller may notify a home owner/occupant. As a result, faulty devices may be managed prior to their faults causing damage to the device and/or the property, and/or property owners may be timely prompted to investigate, repair, and/or replace a failing device. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon the risk mitigation/prevention functionality.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring device electrical usage within a property, the property populated with a hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
analyzing, by one or more processors of the hardware controller, (i) electrical usage data from a device disposed within the property and (ii) audio data corresponding to noise generated during operation of the device to determine that the device is outputting more than a threshold level of power;
in response to determining that the device is outputting more than the threshold level of power, generating, by the one or more processors, a command to reduce a power output of the device; and
sending the command to the hardware controller, wherein the hardware controller causes the device to reduce the power output.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a notification indicating at least the command to reduce the power output of the device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
communicating the notification to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from a server, data corresponding to weather conditions in a vicinity of the property.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the electrical usage data comprises:
analyzing the electrical usage data to determine that the power output of the device exceeds one or more threshold metrics associated with the threshold level of power.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the electrical usage data comprises:
analyzing the electrical usage data to determine that the power output of the device exceeds a recommended aggregate output amount.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, based upon the electrical usage data, a recommendation to adjust operation of the device to reduce energy usage; and
communicating the recommendation to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

8. A hardware controller for monitoring device electrical usage within a property, the hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, comprising:
a memory storing non-transitory computer executable instructions; and
one or more processors interfacing with the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
analyze (i) electrical usage data from a device disposed within the property and (ii) audio data corresponding to noise generated during operation of the device to determine that the device is outputting more than a threshold level of power,
in response to determining that the device is outputting more than a threshold level of power, generate a command to reduce a power output of the device, and
send the command to the hardware controller, wherein the hardware controller is configured to cause the device to reduce the power output.

9. The hardware controller of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
generate a notification indicating at least the command to reduce the power output of the device.

10. The hardware controller of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
communicate the notification to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

11. The hardware controller of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
receive, from a server, data corresponding to weather conditions in a vicinity of the property.

12. The hardware controller of claim 8 , wherein to analyze the electrical usage data, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
analyze the electrical usage data to determine that the power output of the device exceeds one or more threshold metrics associated with the threshold level of power.

13. The hardware controller of claim 8 , wherein to analyze the electrical usage data, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
analyze the electrical usage data to determine that the power output of the device exceeds a recommended aggregate output amount.

14. The hardware controller of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
generate, based upon the electrical usage data, a recommendation to adjust operation of the device to reduce energy usage, and
communicate the recommendation to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by one or more processors of a hardware controller, the instructions comprising:
instructions for analyzing (i) electrical usage data from a device disposed within a property and (ii) audio data corresponding to noise generated during operation of the device to determine that the device is outputting more than a threshold level of power;
instructions for, in response to determining that the device is outputting more than a threshold level of power, generating a command to reduce a power output of the device; and
instructions for sending the command to the hardware controller, wherein the hardware controller causes the device to reduce the power output.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions for generating a notification indicating at least the command to reduce the power output of the device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions for communicating the notification to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions for receiving, from a server, data corresponding to weather conditions in a vicinity of the property.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions for analyzing the electrical usage data comprise:
instructions for analyzing the electrical usage data to determine that the power output of the device exceeds one or more threshold metrics associated with the threshold level of power.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions for analyzing the electrical usage data comprise:
instructions for analyzing the electrical usage data to determine that the power output of the device exceeds a recommended aggregate output amount.

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Jordan Ii Jackie O
• Donovan John
• Turrentine David
• Wollenschlager Torri
• Nussbaum Bryan R
• Stockweather Deanna
• Stoiber Jeffrey W
• Markwardt Kerstin
• Carlson Gail L
• Schiebel Kyle C
• Winslow Troy
• Harr Joseph P
• Wagner Ellakate
• Harris jr michael
• Sun Jennylind

Classifications

• G06Q30/0613

  using intermediate agents · CPC title

• G06Q30/0269

  based on user profile or attribute · CPC title

• G06Q30/01

  Customer relationship services · CPC title

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title