Household Energy Management Using Contextual Consumption Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy usage measurement systems are cryptic and not user-friendly for average consumers, as they provide measurements in complex units like kilowatts per hour without context, making it difficult for consumers to understand and manage energy usage effectively across devices and households.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that monitors and compares energy usage data from various devices and the household, generating instructions to modify energy profiles based on pre-programmed rules or demand-response calls from utility companies, enabling efficient energy management by correlating device usage with overall household energy policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed energy usage measurements are provided to consumers, then energy management precision is improved, but consumer understanding and ease of operation deteriorates due to cryptic measurements in complex units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts cryptic energy measurements (kilowatts per hour) into relatable contextual information (comparisons with appliance usage, household benchmarks, cost implications). This mediator bridges the gap between precise technical measurements and consumer comprehension without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the parameter representation of energy usage data by changing from raw technical units (kW/h) to contextualized metrics that maintain precision while improving interpretability. This includes presenting energy usage in terms of equivalent appliance operations, time-based comparisons, and relative efficiency ratings that consumers can easily understand.
2Adaptability or versatility
If energy usage data from multiple devices and households is aggregated, then energy management versatility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy management system into modular components: individual device monitoring modules, household aggregation modules, and utility-level analysis modules. Each segment handles specific data processing tasks independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive energy management capabilities across multiple devices and households.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs universal data collection and processing protocols that can handle energy usage data from diverse sources (different devices, households, utility providers) through a standardized interface. This multi-functional approach allows the same core infrastructure to serve multiple purposes without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Accessing an energy management policy for a plurality of devices is described, wherein the devices are coupled with a first structure. The energy usage of the devices is monitored. An energy usage rule and energy usage is then compared. The energy management policy and energy usage is also compared. Based on the comparing, an instruction is generated to modify an energy usage profile of said device to correlate with the energy usage rule associated with the devices and the energy management policy, thereby enabling efficient energy management.