Mobile energy management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9800463-B2
Application number	US-201313956636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2013
Priority date	Aug 21, 2009
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A system includes a network device installed at a site, the network device including an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site. The system also includes at least one multi-user configurable geographical boundary capable of being established about the site to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of a user relative to the site and the geographical boundary. A method of managing a site includes detecting a network device installed at a site, the network device having an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site. The method also includes enabling configuration of at least one multi-user configurable geographical boundary capable of being established about the site to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of a user relative to the site and the geographical boundary.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a network device configured to be installed at a site and including an operating condition configured to be altered by a plurality of separate inputs initiated external to the site;
a first geographical boundary associated with the network device and having a first boundary distance established about the site, the first geographical boundary configured to be associated with a first user and a first input associated with the first user to alter the operating condition of the network device in response to a location based information of the first user relative to the site and the first geographical boundary;
a second geographical boundary associated with the network device and having a second boundary distance that is different than the first boundary distance and established about the site, the second geographical boundary configured to be associated with a second user and a second input associated with the second user to alter the operating condition of the network device in response to a location based information of the second user relative to the site and the second geographical boundary;
wherein the first and second boundary distances are automatically scaled relative to one another based on input from one of the first and second user, and
wherein the network device includes at least one of a wireless thermostat, a lighting system, a HVAC system, a door lock system, a security system, and an alarm system capable of being altered by a setpoint provided in response to detecting the mobile device relative to the geographical boundary.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a server-based user interface configured to enable the users to configure the geographical boundaries.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mobile application configured to be used by a mobile device and capable of providing the location based information; and
a server-based application configured to use the location based information and at least one of the geographic boundaries to initiate the input to alter the operating condition of the network device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the network device includes a wireless thermostat capable of being altered by a setpoint provided in response to detecting the mobile device relative to the geographical boundary.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the input is provided in response to the second location based information of the second user relative to the site and the second geographical boundary.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mobile application configured to be used with a mobile device capable of providing the location based information to be used in combination with at least one of the geographical boundaries to alter the operating condition of the network device.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the first geographic boundary is associated with the first user having a first mobile device; and
wherein the second geographic boundary is associated with the second user having a second mobile device.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a location detection module operable to detect a location of the first or second user, wherein the location detection module uses one or more of WIFI detection, GPS detection, Bluetooth detection, Geofence detection, triangulation detection, significant change detection, motion detection, Zigbee detection, Z-wave detection, WiMax detection.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network device includes at least one or more of: a tablet, a smart phone, an energy management system, an energy management device, a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a broadband communication device, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a media server, a network server, a network storage device, a wireless speaker, a retail energy provider's server, a wholesale energy provider's server, a co-operative energy provider's server, a retail business server, a commercial site server, an industrial site server, a multi-residential site server, a temporary lodging server, a hotel server, a motel server, a condominium server, a utility provider's server, an energy substation, a news media server, a weather server, an advertisement server or service provider, a network radio server or service provider, a network media server or service provider, a music server or server provider, a search engine server or service provider, an information server or service provider, a wireless information network device, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat (TSTAT), an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a garage door opening system or device, a power management device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router, an automobile or transportation device, or a network communication device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one operating condition of the network device is configured to be automatically altered by the location based information of the first or second user closest to the network device.

11. A method of managing a site comprising:
providing a network device to be installed at a site, the network device including an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site;
detecting a first geographical boundary having a first boundary distance established about the site and associated with a first user to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of the first user relative to the site and the first geographical boundary;
detecting a second boundary having a second boundary distance that is different than the first boundary distance and established about the site and associated with a second user to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of the second user relative to the site and the second geographical boundary;
automatically scaling the first and second boundary distances relative to one another based on input from one of the first and second users; and
wherein the network device includes at least one of a wireless thermostat, a lighting system, a HVAC system, a door lock system, a security system and an alarm system capable of being altered by a setpoint provided in response to detecting the mobile device relative to the geographical boundary.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting an enabled automatic away mode of the network device;
setting the network device to the automatic away mode;
detecting when the first or second user crosses the respective geographic boundary during the automatic away mode; and
initiating an altering of the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the respective geographic boundary being crossed.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
detecting a disabled automatic away mode of the network device;
detecting a non-presence of either the first

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Imes Kevin R
• Hollister James
• Cottrell John F

Classifications

• H02J2105/42

  Home appliances · CPC title

• H02J13/10

  characterised by displaying of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition [SCADA] systems · CPC title

• H02J13/1337

  involving the use of Internet protocols · CPC title

• H02J13/333

  the equipment forming part of substations · CPC title

• H02J13/14

  the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] · CPC title