Utility Meter Gateway for Priority-Based Home Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home energy management systems fail to efficiently connect and optimize energy use between household appliances and energy-producing devices, lacking the ability to smartly schedule energy transfer based on real-time data and predefined priority values.
Innovation Solution
An energy management module that is electrically coupled to a utility meter and both energy-consuming and energy-producing devices, utilizing a communication gateway to receive real-time data, determine energy consumption, and establish connections based on predefined priority values to enable smart scheduling and power optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing home energy management systems are used, then basic energy monitoring is provided, but efficient energy transfer and optimization between devices cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary component that mediates between the utility meter and various energy-consuming and energy-producing devices. The gateway receives real-time energy data from the utility meter, processes it according to predefined priority values, and coordinates energy transfer between devices. This intermediary structure enables efficient energy optimization without requiring direct complex connections between all devices, thus improving productivity while managing device complexity.
2Extent of automation
If real-time energy data collection from multiple devices is implemented, then smart scheduling capability is enhanced, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining priority values for different energy-consuming and energy-producing devices before runtime operations. These priority values are configured in advance and stored in the gateway device. When real-time energy data is collected, the gateway simply compares the predefined priorities to determine energy transfer decisions, rather than performing complex real-time analysis. This approach enhances smart scheduling capability while minimizing data processing complexity during operation.
3Ease of operation
If priority-based device selection is implemented, then optimized energy distribution is achieved, but additional control logic and processing requirements are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by representing device priorities as simple numerical values rather than complex rules or algorithms. Each energy-consuming and energy-producing device is assigned a priority parameter that can be easily compared and processed. The gateway device uses these numerical parameters to make straightforward decisions about energy transfer, achieving optimized energy distribution through simple parameter comparison rather than complex control logic. This approach improves ease of operation while keeping control logic relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, disclosed is a system comprising an energy management module, electrically coupled to a utility meter, energy consuming devices and energy producing devices, comprising, a communication module configured to receive input energy data from utility meter, and energy information of energy consuming devices and energy producing devices; a processor storing instructions in a non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the processor to: determine energy consumption data of the devices; identify a first device based on a first set of predefined priority values which requires energy; identify a second device based on a second set of predefined priority values which has excess energy; establish a connection and control energy transfer from the second device to the first device based on the energy consumption data and the input energy data to enable smart scheduling and power optimization among the energy consuming devices and the energy producing devices.