Smart-Home Energy Monitoring for Usable Device-Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy usage measurement systems are cryptic and not user-friendly for average consumers, as they provide measurements in complex units like kilowatts per hour without context, making it difficult for consumers to understand and manage energy usage effectively across devices and households.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that monitors and compares energy usage data from various devices and the household, generating instructions to modify energy profiles based on pre-programmed rules or demand-response calls from utility companies, enabling efficient energy management by correlating device usage with overall household energy policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If energy usage measurements are provided in standard units (kilowatts per hour), then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because average consumers cannot understand or contextualize these measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that converts raw energy measurements into contextualized information. The system compares actual energy usage against reference data, device specifications, and usage patterns to generate meaningful insights about what the measurements mean for the consumer, bridging the gap between precise technical data and consumer understanding
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the parameter representation from raw physical units (kilowatts per hour) into multiple contextual parameters including cost implications, environmental impact, comparison with similar devices, and usage recommendations. This multi-parameter transformation makes the same energy data meaningful in different contexts for the consumer
2Measurement precision
If detailed energy usage data is collected from all devices, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple sensors and processing components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal energy management platform that can monitor multiple devices through a single integrated system. The platform performs multiple functions including data collection, analysis, comparison, and user notification through one centralized interface, eliminating the need for separate complex monitoring systems for each device while maintaining precise measurement capabilities
3Productivity
If real-time energy monitoring is implemented, then productivity is improved through immediate feedback, but use of energy increases due to continuous measurement and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption, drawing power from the same electrical infrastructure it monitors without requiring separate high-power measurement devices. The processing architecture prioritizes and schedules computational tasks to minimize peak energy usage, and the system provides immediate feedback only when energy-saving opportunities are detected, balancing real-time productivity with energy efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Accessing an energy management policy for a plurality of devices is described, wherein the devices are coupled with a first structure. The energy usage of the devices is monitored. An energy usage rule and energy usage is then compared. The energy management policy and energy usage is also compared. Based on the comparing, an instruction is generated to modify an energy usage profile of said device to correlate with the energy usage rule associated with the devices and the energy management policy, thereby enabling efficient energy management.