Device State Detection via Power and Network Data Fusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power monitoring systems struggle to accurately disaggregate electricity usage data from multiple devices connected to an electrical panel, making it difficult for users to identify individual device consumption and state changes, which hinders effective energy reduction efforts.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines power monitoring signals with network data to identify devices and track state changes by using sensors on electrical lines and network connections, employing models to process signals and determine device presence and activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a power monitor is installed at an electrical panel to monitor multiple devices simultaneously, then the convenience and coverage of monitoring is improved, but the ability to extract specific information about individual device power usage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aggregate power signal into individual device contributions by analyzing temporal patterns, power signatures, and usage behaviors of different devices. This segmentation allows the system to extract specific device-level information from the combined electrical panel signal, resolving the contradiction between monitoring convenience and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If disaggregation techniques are used to extract individual device information from aggregate power signals, then the specificity of device usage information is improved, but the accuracy of disaggregation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where device state information (from sensors, network data, or user inputs) is continuously fed back into the disaggregation algorithm. This feedback loop allows the system to refine its device-level power estimates by comparing predicted usage patterns with actual observed patterns, thereby improving disaggregation accuracy while maintaining specificity.
3Reliability
If device state information is used to improve disaggregation accuracy, then the accuracy of device identification is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional system where a single platform performs aggregate power monitoring, individual device disaggregation, state change detection, and user notification functions. By consolidating these functions into one universal system rather than separate specialized devices, the patent improves device identification accuracy while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices state changes in a building may be determined using a combination of power monitoring and network monitoring. Power monitoring may be performed by obtaining a power monitoring signal and processing the power monitoring signal with models to determine information about state changes of one or more devices in the building. Network monitoring may be performed by receiving information about network packets transmitted by devices in the building and processing the information about the network packets to determine information about state changes of one or more devices in the building. For some devices and some implementations, information about state changes of a device may be determined by using both power monitoring and network monitoring.