IP Library Granted Patent US 12,425,262
Granted Patent B2
US 12,425,262 · App. 17/966,661 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Integrated home energy management, home monitoring, and automated fault mitigation

Inventors: Archan Padmanabhan Rao (San Francisco, CA); Jack Jester Weinstein (Oakland, CA); Julia Sachs (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee: Span.IO, Inc.
H04L12/2816H04L12/2825H04L12/2838
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,425,262
App. No.
17/966,661
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes control circuitry configured to manage faults of an electrical system. The system is configured to monitor consumption for a plurality of electrical circuits, such as branch circuits, and generate device information about a device based on an electrical current measurement from at least one electrical circuit of the plurality of electrical circuits to which the device is coupled. The system is also configured to determining that an event has occurred based on the device information and interrupt current of the at least one electrical circuit, generate a notification, communicate a control signal to the device in response to the event occurring to mitigate the event, actuate a second device in response to the event, or a combination thereof.

Claims (68)

1. A method for managing faults of an electrical system, the method comprising:

monitoring power consumption for a plurality of electrical circuits;

generating, using processing circuitry, device information about a device based on an electrical current measurement from at least one electrical circuit of the plurality of electrical circuits to which the device is coupled, wherein the device is a load coupled to the electrical system;

determining, using the processing circuitry, that a hazard event has occurred based on the device information and based on collecting data from at least one residential sensor; and

communicating a control signal to the device in response to the hazard event occurring to mitigate the hazard event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the control signal comprises causing a change in current consumption of the device in response to determining the hazard event has occurred.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical circuit comprises a branch circuit of a panel, and wherein communicating the control signal comprises:

identifying the device as a smart appliance corresponding to the branch circuit; and

generating the control signal based on the device information.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a first device, the method further comprising:

causing an actuator of a second device to be actuated in response to the hazard event; and

the second device operates independently from the first device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry; and

determining the hazard event has occurred based at least in part on the sensor signal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a smart appliance communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry, the method further comprising:

receiving data from the device; and

generating the device information further based at least in part on the data.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining notification preferences;

generating a notification for user indicative of the hazard event based on the notification preferences; and

transmitting the notification via a communication link based on the notification preferences.

8. A system for managing faults, the system comprising:

a panel comprising a plurality of electrical circuits;

processing circuitry communicatively coupled to a device and configured to:

monitor power consumption for the plurality of electrical circuits;

generate device information about the device based on an electrical current measurement from at least one electrical circuit of the plurality of electrical circuits to which the device is coupled, wherein the device is a load coupled to the system;

determine that a hazard event has occurred based on the device information and based on collecting data from at least one residential sensor; and

communicate a control signal to the device in response to the hazard event occurring to mitigate the hazard event.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control signal causing a change in current consumption of the device.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one electrical circuit comprises a branch circuit of the panel, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to communicate the control signal by:

identifying the device as a smart appliance corresponding to the branch circuit; and

generating the control signal based on the device information.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the device is a first device;

the processing circuitry is further configured to cause an actuator of a second device to be actuated in response to the hazard event; and

the second device operates independently from the first device.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive a sensor signal from the at least one sensor; and

determine the hazard event has occurred based at least in part on the sensor signal.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the device is a smart appliance communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive data from the device; and

generate the device information further based at least in part on the data.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine notification preferences;

generate a notification for user indicative of the hazard event based on the notification preferences; and

transmit the notification via a communication link based on the notification preferences.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer instructions recorded thereon that, when executed by processing circuitry, performs a method for managing faults of an electrical system, the method comprising:

monitoring power consumption for a plurality of electrical circuits;

generating device information about a device based on an electrical current measurement from at least one electrical circuit of the plurality of electrical circuits to which the device is coupled, wherein the device is a load coupled to the electrical system;

determining that a hazard event has occurred based on the device information and based on collecting data from at least one residential sensor; and

communicating a control signal to the device in response to the hazard event occurring to mitigate the hazard event.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one electrical circuit comprises a branch circuit of a panel, and wherein communicating the control signal comprises:

identifying the device as a smart appliance corresponding to the branch circuit; and

generating the control signal based on the device information.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the method further comprises:

causing an actuator of a second device to be actuated in response to the hazard event; and

the second device operates independently from the first device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a sensor signal from at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry; and

determining the hazard event has occurred based at least in part on the sensor signal.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the device is a smart appliance, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data from the device; and

generating the device information further based at least in part on the data.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining notification preferences;

generating a notification for user indicative of the hazard event based on the notification preferences; and

transmitting the notification via a communication link based on the notification preferences.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2024
From: SPAN.IO, INC.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066690/0729 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2024
From: SPAN.IO, INC.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066690/0773 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (SENIOR) Recorded Nov 10, 2023
From: SPAN.IO, INC.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065536/0229 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (MEZZANINE) Recorded Nov 10, 2023
From: SPAN.IO, INC.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065536/0304 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2022
From: RAO, ARCHAN PADMANABHAN; WEINSTEIN, JACK JESTER; SACHS, JULIA
To: SPAN.IO, INC.
Reel/Frame 061889/0231 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63256403 · Oct 15, 2021
Related Publication 20230120453A1 · Apr 20, 2023
References Cited (99)
US 5572438A · Ehlers et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 6018203A · David et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 7016174B2 · Dougherty · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 8488302B2 · Mills et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8937822B2 · Dent · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9190836B2 · Dent · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9634552B2 · Dent · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9659721B1 · Sastry et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9735703B2 · Dent · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9831664B1 · Sastry et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9960637B2 · Sanders et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9966206B1 · Sastry et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10090777B2 · Dent · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10148093B2 · Dent · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10205324B2 · Dent · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10312684B2 · Niaki · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10536039B2 · Haartsen et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10564193B2 · Kania · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10663443B2 · Kates · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10666161B2 · Dent · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10784710B2 · Dent · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10840735B1 · Cooper · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10998755B2 · Dent · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11050260B2 · Narla et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11196272B2 · Dent · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11342754B2 · Rao · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11552500B2 · Rao et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11642977B2 · Bhargava et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 12062901B2 · Rao · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20050099314A1 · Aisa · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050116814A1 · Rodgers et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070064377A1 · Deboer et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070158171A1 · Deboer et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070247134A1 · Ryan et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080041704A1 · McCoy · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090018706A1 · Wittner · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090021879A1 · Rivers et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100163377A1 · Frassineti · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100289451A1 · Tuffner et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100301809A1 · Bhade · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110037429A1 · Deboer et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110172841A1 · Forbes · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120127088A1 · Pance · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120286729A1 · Yegin et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120330473A1 · Meredith et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130030590A1 · Prosser · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140063695A1 · Martin et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140088780A1 · Chen · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140175881A1 · Creed · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150035485A1 · Wu et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150162157A1 · Luebke · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150270695A1 · Baker et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150316944A1 · Thellerid · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160137087A1 · Haas et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160178678A1 · Pelletier et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160241017A1 · Schroeder · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160305797A1 · Pietrasik · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170141610A1 · Niaki · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170264817A1 · Yan · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170288384A1 · Loewenstern et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170302039A1 · Tremaine · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180048142A1 · Immel et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180048159A1 · Narla · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180205206A1 · Bazhinov · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180254633A1 · Covic et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180358839A1 · Perez et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190181690A1 · Haartsen et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190190266A1 · Soulieres et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200014206A1 · Haartsen et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200023747A1 · Logvinov et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200073342A1 · Lee et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200112199A1 · Rao · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200259336A1 · Rao · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210083506A1 · Rao · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220139191A1 · Price · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220140644A1 · Dent · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220216697A1 · Rao et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220216728A1 · Ashman et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230120740A1 · Lewchuk et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230155482A1 · Dent · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CA 2637087A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 1183860A · 1998 [cited by applicant]
CN 201623478U · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 102470775A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 103828167A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 106325240A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 206976837U · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 107800376A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011019509 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013144947A2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014175897A2 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT/US2022/046788 dated Feb. 15, 2023. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT/US2019/054878 dated Jan. 8, 2020. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT/US2020/017993 dated Jun. 29, 2020. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT/US2020/051276 dated Nov. 5, 2020. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT/US2022/011646 dated Apr. 22, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Invitation to Pay Additional Fees from PCT/US2020/017993 dated Apr. 23, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Ren, Qiangguo et al., “A BDI multi-agent approach for power restoration,” 2014 7th International Symposium on Resilient Control Systems (ISRCS), IEEE, pp. 1-6, Aug. 19, 2014. [cited by applicant]
Shanghai Vocational and Technical Education Curriculum Reform and Textbook Construction Committee, Machine Tools Electric, Oct. 31, 2001 (16 pages). [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,719,743