IP Library Granted Patent US 8,855,830
Granted Patent B2
US 8,855,830 · App. 12/840,142 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Energy management system and method

Inventors: Kevin R. Imes (Austin, TX); James Hollister (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
H04W4/008G06Q50/06F24F11/006H04L43/08F24F2011/0073G05D23/1904F24F2011/0058F24F2011/0071F24F2011/0075G05D23/00F24F11/0086F24F11/0012G06F1/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,855,830
App. No.
12/840,142
Granted
Oct 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a network device disposed at a residence and a wireless home energy network capable of establishing communication with the network device. A server is disposed remotely from the residence and capable of generating a control action report to control the network devices. A controller is located at the residence and in communication with the server and configured to establish the wireless home energy network; initiate a plurality of operating status requests of the network device; receive device data in response to at least one of the operating status requests; generate a site report including the device data; initiate a communication of the site report to the remote server; and detect an availability of the control action report at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the site report.

Claims (35)

1. A system comprising:

a controller to be disposed at a site and including a communication device capable of initiating an 802.11 based network to communicate with a mobile device;

said controller including a proximity detection module configured to receive a location information from the mobile device; and

said controller configured to:

detect the mobile device establishing or losing an 802.11 based connection to said 802.11 based network;

alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing said 802.11 based connection;

enable the proximity detection module in response to detecting the mobile device losing said 802.11 based connection;

alter the operating condition at the site in response to the received location information; and

disable said proximity detection module in response to detecting the mobile device re-establishing said 802.11 based connection.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

said proximity detection module of said controller configured to receive GPS coordinates from the mobile device; and

said proximity detection module of said controller configured to alter the operating condition in response to the GPS coordinates.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable a first user schedule associated with the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing said 802.11 based connection.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable a second user schedule in response to detecting the mobile device losing said 802.11 based connection.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a thermostat.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises one or more of a set top box or a DSL gateway or a cable system gateway or a fiber optic gateway.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one network device disposed at the site and operably coupled to the controller to establish the operating condition.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said network device comprises a smart energy device.

9. A method comprising:

detecting a mobile device establishing or losing an 802.11 based connection with an 802.11 based network;

altering an operating condition of a site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the 802.11 based connection;

enabling a proximity detection module in response to detecting the mobile device losing the 802.11 based connection;

detecting a location change of the mobile device during a period when the proximity detection module is enabled;

altering the operating condition in response to the location change; and

disabling the proximity detection module in response to detecting the mobile device re-establishing the 802.11 based connection.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting a temperature setting of a network device at the site; and

initiating a communication of the temperature setting to the mobile device using the 802.11 based network.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:

initiating use of a first user schedule in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the 802.11 based connection.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising:

initiating use of a second user schedule in response to detecting the mobile device losing the 802.11 based connection.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT REEL/FRAME NO. IN BRIEF PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041500 FRAME: 0204. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 9, 2017
From: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041926/0029 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT NUMBERS 15/142,470, 14/323,029 AND 13/956,636 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040574 FRAME: 0924. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 26, 2017
From: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041500/0204 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 040574/0924 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2010
From: IMES, KEVIN R.; HOLLISTER, JAMES
To: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 024718/0962 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61255678 · Oct 28, 2009
Provisional Application 61235798 · Aug 21, 2009
Related Publication 20110046798A1 · Feb 24, 2011