Rule-Based Sensor Control for Energy Device Automation by Occupancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote device control and energy monitoring systems lack the ability to efficiently manage energy consumption based on real-time occupancy patterns and weather data, leading to suboptimal energy usage and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes sensors to monitor occupancy and weather conditions, analyzing this data against predefined rules to automatically control energy-consuming devices such as thermostats and lighting systems, optimizing energy usage by adjusting settings based on user presence, geographic location, and weather forecasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If energy-consuming devices are kept active to ensure availability, then user convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting user arrival based on geographic location data and historical patterns. Energy-consuming devices are activated in advance of actual occupancy, allowing the system to reduce energy consumption while maintaining user convenience. For example, heating or cooling systems are adjusted before the user arrives home, and lights are turned on in anticipated occupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data, device status, and user location to provide real-time feedback for adjusting energy consumption. This feedback loop allows the system to dynamically control devices based on actual occupancy patterns, ensuring devices are active only when and where needed, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining convenience.
2Use of energy by moving object
If devices are controlled manually to optimize energy usage, then energy consumption is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to control themselves automatically based on integrated data from multiple sources including sensor data, geographic location information, weather forecasts, and historical usage patterns. The controller autonomously adjusts device operation without requiring manual user input, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining or even improving user convenience through automated optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of various data sources to predict optimal device operation before users need to act. By pre-processing sensor data, location information, and weather forecasts, the system automatically prepares energy-saving configurations, eliminating the need for manual intervention while achieving optimal energy usage.
3Use of energy by moving object
If automated control systems are implemented, then energy consumption is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a universal multi-functional device that integrates multiple capabilities: analyzing sensor data, processing geographic location information, incorporating weather forecasts, predicting user behavior patterns, and controlling various types of energy-consuming devices. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate specialized systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple data sources and control functions into a unified automated control architecture. By combining sensor data analysis, location-based prediction, weather integration, and device control into a single coordinated system, the patent reduces the complexity that would arise from multiple independent systems while achieving comprehensive energy optimization.
4Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of multiple parameters is performed, then energy optimization accuracy is improved, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing and analysis of sensor data, location information, and weather forecasts in advance of when control decisions are needed. By pre-analyzing these multiple parameters and storing processed results, the system reduces real-time data processing requirements while maintaining high energy optimization accuracy when control actions are executed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops that monitor the accuracy of energy optimization and adjust data processing priorities accordingly. By analyzing historical data and actual energy consumption patterns, the system refines its parameter monitoring and processing efficiency, maintaining high optimization accuracy while minimizing unnecessary data processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing remote device (e.g., thermostat, lighting, appliance, etc.) control and/or energy monitoring. A system monitors sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties and status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties. The system analyzes the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules and performs an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.