Appliance Data Keys for Household Energy Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems in households struggle to distinguish and analyze data from individual appliances, limiting effective energy consumption monitoring and management due to the inability to uniquely identify and communicate data from each appliance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of data keys, which include unique credentials, allows appliances to be identified and distinguished within a household, enabling secure communication and data association, using communication devices that store and manage these keys locally or in conjunction with appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data keys with unique credentials are implemented for each appliance, then measurement precision and data association capability improve, but device complexity increases due to additional authentication mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the household appliance ecosystem by assigning unique data keys to each appliance, enabling individual identification and data association. This segmentation transforms the previously undifferentiated data stream into appliance-specific data streams that can be precisely tracked and analyzed.
Solution Approach 2:
The data key acts as an intermediary element between the appliance and the communication system. Rather than requiring complex direct authentication between appliances and the energy management system, the data key serves as a portable credential that mediates the identification and data association process.
2Reliability
If data keys are stored locally in appliances and communication devices, then reliability of data exchange improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase for secure storage implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The data keys are generated and stored in advance in both the appliance and the communication device before actual data exchange occurs. This preliminary action ensures that authentication credentials are already in place, enabling immediate and reliable data exchange without requiring complex real-time key generation or distribution mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If unique identification credentials are implemented for each appliance, then loss of information is reduced through proper data association, but loss of time increases during key management and authentication processes
Solution Approach 1:
The data key is copied to both the appliance and the communication device, creating redundant copies that eliminate the need for real-time key distribution or verification. This copying mechanism enables rapid authentication since both parties already possess the necessary credentials locally, significantly reducing authentication processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of an appliance and method utilize data keys to facilitate the exchange of data and information among devices as part of an energy management system. The data keys contain and/or encode information particular to the appliance. This information helps to distinguish data that originates from one appliance from data that originates from other appliances in the household. In one embodiment, the data keys are stored locally, either on devices (e.g., memory) incorporated into the appliance or on a communication device (e.g., a wireless radio) that can connect to the appliance to permit the exchange of inputs and outputs. Exemplary configuration of the appliance can sense the connection with the communication device and provide an input to the communication device to determine the data key that is associated with the appliance.