NFC Auto-Provisioning for Energy Management Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems are passive and lack transparency, failing to provide consumers with real-time energy consumption data and analytical infrastructure for utility companies to manage energy demand effectively, leading to inefficient energy use and inconvenience to end-users.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that includes a database for storing site report data, a processor to access and analyze energy usage, and modules for energy pricing, demand response, and scheduling, which communicates with smart devices and thermostats to optimize energy use based on real-time data and user proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If passive energy display technologies are provided to show current energy prices, then consumers can see energy pricing information, but consumers still lack active energy management capability and must manually curtail their use
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables energy-consuming devices to automatically adjust their operation based on real-time energy pricing and demand signals. The energy management system autonomously makes curtailment decisions by analyzing pricing data and controlling connected devices, eliminating the need for manual consumer intervention while maintaining energy cost optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where real-time energy pricing and consumption data are continuously monitored, analyzed, and used to automatically adjust device operation. This feedback loop enables the system to respond dynamically to changing energy conditions without requiring manual input from consumers
2Productivity
If demand response systems force curtailment on customers to react to load levels, then utility load management is achieved, but end users experience inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic, flexible curtailment strategies that adapt to user preferences and real-time conditions. Instead of forcing uniform curtailment, the system allows users to configure priority levels and operational parameters for different devices, enabling load management that dynamically adjusts to both utility needs and user convenience requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies differentiated curtailment strategies to different devices and locations based on user-defined priorities and local conditions. Each energy-consuming device can have customized control parameters, allowing critical devices to maintain operation while non-critical devices are curtailed, thereby maintaining user convenience while achieving load management
3Measurement precision
If smart meters are deployed to measure and report consumption data, then real-time energy measurement capability is provided, but lack of communication and analytical infrastructure prevents effective energy production scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines smart meter measurement capabilities with integrated communication and analytical processing functions into a unified energy management platform. By merging these previously separate infrastructure components, the system enables effective energy production scheduling while avoiding the complexity of maintaining separate communication and analytical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The energy management system is designed as a multi-functional platform that performs measurement data collection, real-time analysis, communication coordination, and production scheduling functions. This universal system handles multiple tasks through integrated processing, reducing the need for specialized separate infrastructure components
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a provisioning system for a network includes a first device associated with a site. The first device includes an RFID reader associated therewith. The system also includes a second device including a device identifier associated therewith. The device identifier includes information about the second device to assist in joining it to the network. The RFID reader is configured to read the device identifier on the second device to obtain information about the second device. Based on the information about the second device it can then be joined to the network by the first device.