Personal Energy Usage Profiling Without Dedicated Monitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack numeric representations of individual energy consumption across various activities and do not provide analytical methodologies to analyze user energy usage behavior in commercial environments, nor do they offer feedback mechanisms for building occupants regarding comfort levels.
Innovation Solution
A two-way communication architecture between users and building infrastructure, utilizing a network, database server, sensors, and energy monitoring agents to track and analyze energy consumption, providing feedback and predictive analytics for energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated hardware monitors are used to measure energy usage, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical hardware monitors with a software-based energy monitoring agent that runs on existing computing platforms. This software agent collects energy usage data from system sensors and operational states, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware monitoring devices while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of energy monitoring functionality through software rather than physical hardware. The energy monitoring agent replicates the functions of hardware monitors by software means, using existing system sensors and data sources to provide equivalent measurement capabilities.
2Loss of information
If individual user energy consumption tracking is implemented, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy monitoring agent is designed to perform multiple functions: it tracks energy consumption, analyzes usage patterns, generates reports, and provides recommendations. By consolidating these functions into a single software platform, the system reduces overall complexity compared to having separate specialized devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines energy monitoring, data analysis, reporting, and recommendation functions into an integrated software platform. The energy monitoring agent consolidates data from multiple sources and performs multiple analytical functions, reducing the need for separate complex subsystems.
3Productivity
If comprehensive energy monitoring system is deployed, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy monitoring agent is designed to operate efficiently by leveraging existing system resources and sensors. It collects data from already-present hardware components without requiring additional high-power monitoring equipment, thereby minimizing the energy overhead of the monitoring system itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for configurable monitoring parameters and analysis depth, enabling users to adjust the level of detail and frequency of energy tracking based on their needs. This flexibility allows the system to optimize its energy consumption based on the required productivity level.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for energy consumption monitoring and analysis. Energy consumption of one or more energy consuming devices corresponding to a user is monitored. User profile information and user statistical information is utilized to analyze the monitored energy consumption to generate a personal energy usage profile for the user. The personal energy usage profile is transmitted to a computing platform associated with the user.