Resource Manager, System And Method For Communicating Resource Management Information For Smart Energy And Media Resources

1 . A resource management platform comprising:

an interface configured to communicate media management information and energy management information;

a processor configured to detect an incoming communication to alter an operating condition in response to receiving the media management information or the energy management information, the processor further configured to:

initiate an output of media content in response to detecting media management information;

initiate altering an operating status of a resource in response to detecting the energy management information; and

store at least a portion of the media content and the energy management information within a memory.

2 . The resource management platform of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a second resource via the interface;

identify that the energy management information or the media management information is to be used to control the second resource;

communicate at least a portion of the energy management information or the media information to the second resource; and

receive a response from the second resource that the operating condition has been altered.

3 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising:

a display capable of outputting a GUI operable to display at least a portion of the media content including graphics and video;

at least one speaker configured to output an audio portion of the media content; and

a thermostat control configured to alter an operating condition of environmental control system at the site.

4 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising a near field communication device configured to:

output a unique identifier including provisioning information configured to enable provisioning to join the communication network; and

communicate the provisioning information to the processor to indicate provisioning has been initiated.

5 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein the interface is configured to enable access to a cloud service operable to communicate the energy management information or the media management information; and

wherein the processor is further configured to periodically initiate communication with the cloud service using the interface.

6 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising an embedded server deployed using the processor and configured to:

operate as an energy management service capable of managing energy use at the site;

operate as a media management system capable of managing media use at the site; and

operate as a gateway configured to enable access to the Internet.

7 . The resource management platform of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

enable a pub-sub communication protocol using the interface;

identify a second resource using the pub-sub communication protocol;

receive profile information of the second resource using the pub-sub communication protocol; and

communicate additional profile information including a device identifier to the second resource using the pub-sub communication protocol.

8 . The resource management platform of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to use one or more of:

a Smart Energy based profile;

a Echonet Lite based profile;

a Echonet based profile;

a UPNP based profile;

a DLNA based profile;

a Environment management based profile;

a Customer engagement based profile; and

a AirPlay based profile.

9 . The resource management platform of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the media management information and at least a portion of the energy management information can be communicated together.

10 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising:

a publish-subscribe communication infrastructure; and

a chat room configured to enable publishing of resource information.

11 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising the processor configured to enable an application including one or more of:

a weather application;

a price alert application;

a energy saving tips application;

a photo viewer application;

a music player application;

a video streamer application;

an energy monitor application;

a music streaming application;

a lighting control application;

a home security application;

a video surveillance application;

a calendar application;

a reminder application;

an appliance control application;

a settings application;

a third party application;

a water sprinkler application;

a renewable energy management application;

a YouTube application;

a Pandora music application;

a Picasa photo viewer application; and

a network monitor application

12 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising an application framework configured to enable adding, deleting, and updating applications without requiring a reboot of the processor.

13 . The resource management platform of claim 1 further comprising:

a docking station housing configured to be mounted to a wall; and

a media center housing configured to be coupled to the docking station.

14 . The resource management platform of claim 13 further comprising:

wherein the docking station housing includes:

a terminal interface configured to be connected to a wiring harness of the environmental control system;

a docking station PCB including a docking station processor within the docking station housing and capable of controlling the environmental control system;

a docking interface configured to be coupled to a media center interface of the media center housing;

wherein the media center housing includes:

a media center printed circuit board including the processor;

a touchscreen display configured to output video;

a speaker configured to output audio; and

wherein the processor includes an embedded media player within the processor and capable of outputting the audio and video.

15 . The resource management platform of claim 14 wherein the interface is operably coupled to one or more communication devices stored in either or both of the media center housing or docking station housing, the communication modules including one or more of:

a IP-based communication device;

a Broad-band communication device;

a IEEE 802.15-based wireless communication device;

a Zigbee communication device;

a INSETEON communication device;

a X10 communication protocol device;

a Z-Wave communication device;

a Bluetooth communication device;

a WIFI communication device;

a IEEE 802.11-based communication device;

a WiMAX communication device;

a IEEE 802.16-based communication device;

a communication device within a frequency range of 900 MHz-1.5 GHz;

a Infrared communication device;

a proprietary wireless communication device;

a 6LowPAN communication device;

a power line communication device;

a RFID enabled communication device; and

a NFC enabled communication device.

16 . The resource management platform of claim 14 further comprising:

wherein the docking interface and the media center interface are configured to enable the media center housing to be removed from the docking station housing;

a rechargeable battery within the media center housing cable of powering media center components when removed from the docking interface; and

wherein the interface includes a wireless communication interface configured to allow wireless communication of the media management information and the energy management information.

17 . A method comprising:

receiving a communication including resource management information at a site;

detecting a request to alter an operating condition in response to receiving an media management information or an energy management information within the resource management information;

outputting media content in response to detecting the media management information;

altering an operating status of a resource in response to detecting the energy management information; and

storing at least a portion of the media content and the energy management information within a memory.

18 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

enabling a near field reader using a mobile application of a mobile device;

displaying identification information of a near field device within a user interface of the mobile application, wherein the identification information can be used to identify an resource including the near field device; and

detecting provisioning information of the near field device.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:

detecting whether the identification information includes provisioning information;

using a web service to access the provisioning information stored remote from the mobile device;

displaying the identification information; and

provisioning the resource using at least a portion of the provisioning information accessed using the web service.

20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:

detecting a request to output media content within the media management information;

outputting the media content using a media player of a processor, a video display, and at least one speaker; and

receiving the energy management information while the media content is being output.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:

detecting the energy management information;

determining whether to alter an operating condition of an environmental control resource using the energy management information; and

initiating an altering of the environmental control resource while the media content is being output.

22 . The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a first resource configured to:

receive a communication including media management information and energy management information at a site;

detect a request to alter an operating condition of the first resource using the energy management information;

detect a request to output media content at a second resource using the media management information; and

initiate outputting the media content at the second resource.

23 . The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving the media management information and the energy management information from a mobile device configured to be used with the first resource and the second resource.

24 . The method of claim 19 further comprising:

enabling a mobile application within a mobile device;

enabling an wireless access point (WAP) function of a resource, wherein the enabling includes broadcasting a WAP identifier;

identifying the WAP identifier using the mobile device;

enabling entry of a password of another local wireless access point;

communicating the password using the WAP;

joining the resource to the another local access point using the password.

25 . A resource management platform comprising:

a processor configured to detect an incoming communication to alter an operating condition in response to receiving media management information or energy management information, the processor further configured to:

initiate an output of media content in response to detecting the media management information;

initiate altering an operating status of a resource in response to detecting the energy management information; and

store at least a portion of the media content and the energy management information within a memory;

a interface configured to use one or more of:

a Zigbee based communication device;

a Zwave based communication device;

a WiFi based communication device;

a Bluetooth based communication device; and

a Power Line based communication device.

26 . The resource management platform of claim 25 further comprising:

a docking station housing configured to house one or more of the communication devices; and

a media center housing configured to house one or more of the communication devices.

27 . The resource management platform of claim 25 further comprising:

a communication module having at least two of the communication devices; and

wherein the interface is configured to be operably coupled to the communication module to access the at least two of the communication devices.

28 . A resource management platform comprising:

a thermostat control interface capable of altering an operating condition of an environmental control system;

a touchscreen display configurable to enable access to media content located at a remote media source;

a speaker operable to output audio accessed from the remote media source;

a interface configured to communicate media content and energy management information at the site;

a processor configured to detect an incoming communication to alter an operating condition in response to receiving at least a portion of the media management information and at least a portion of the energy management information, the processor further configured to:

initiate an output of the media content in response to detecting the media management information;

initiate altering the operating condition of the environmental control system in response to detecting the energy management information; and

store at least a portion of the media content and the energy management information within a memory.

29 . The resource management platform of claim 28 wherein the remote media source can include one or more of:

an AirPlay enabled resource;

a DLNA enabled resource;

a UPNP enabled resource;

a media server;

a computer;

a mobile resource;

a game console;

a photo server;

a portable music resource; and

a wireless speaker.

30 . The resource management platform of claim 25 further comprising the interface configured to enable access an Internet-based source including one or more of:

a streaming music library source;

a streaming radio source;

a streaming video source;

a pay-per-view media source;

a subscription based source;

a paid music source;

an on-line photo source;

an energy management source;

a utility source;

a thermostat management source;

a web-services source;

a home security source;

a website;

a customer engagement source;

a savings tip source;

a video source; and

a software update source.