Web-Based Energy Management Interface for Demand Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for managing electric power consumption are cumbersome and lack a unified approach to remotely control thermostats and devices on a scheduled or rule-driven basis, failing to expose intuitive graphical interfaces to end customers for effective energy usage monitoring and reduction.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface for demand-side energy management that allows users to create energy schedules and rule-sets for thermostats and circuits, enabling remote control through a web-based system with scalable sliders, directional buttons, and graphical widgets, enabling users to manage energy usage intuitively and programmatically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual energy management methods are used, then users can control energy consumption, but the process is cumbersome and cannot be performed remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web-based user interface as an intermediary between the user and the energy management system. This interface allows users to remotely configure and control energy management rules for multiple devices without direct physical interaction with each device, simplifying the operation while maintaining system complexity through centralized web-based management
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides a universal web-based interface that can manage multiple types of electrical loads (thermostats, appliances, circuits) through a single unified platform. This multi-functional approach allows users to control diverse devices remotely through one interface, improving ease of operation without requiring separate control mechanisms for each device type
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate control solutions are used for different devices, then each device can be controlled individually, but there is no unified approach to manage multiple devices in concert
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control of multiple electrical loads (thermostats, appliances, circuits) into a single unified energy management system accessible through one web interface. This consolidation allows users to manage all devices in concert through centralized rule-based control, achieving versatility without the complexity of managing separate control systems for each device
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal energy management platform that can handle multiple device types and control scenarios through a single interface. The web-based system provides adaptable control for thermostats, appliances, and circuits using consistent rule-based logic, enabling flexible management of diverse devices without requiring device-specific control mechanisms
3Extent of automation
If current utility demand response programs are used, then energy management is implemented, but the interface and control are not exposed to end customers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a customer-facing web-based interface as an intermediary that exposes utility demand response capabilities to end users. This interface allows customers to directly interact with and control automated energy management rules for their devices, making previously hidden utility programs accessible and controllable by consumers through an intuitive browser-based system
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables customers to self-manage their energy consumption by allowing them to directly configure, monitor, and control energy management rules through the web interface. Users can independently create and modify rules for their devices without requiring utility company intervention, placing control in the hands of consumers while maintaining automated backend processing
4Productivity
If traditional programming interfaces are used, then energy schedules can be set, but the process lacks intuitive graphical controls for quick and easy programming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional text-based or button-heavy programming interfaces with intuitive graphical widgets including scalable range sliders, thumb sliders, and directional button controls. These graphical elements allow users to quickly and intuitively configure energy schedules by visually dragging sliders or clicking directional buttons, dramatically speeding up the programming process while maintaining precision through the web-based implementation
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface is visibly displayed on a display device operatively connected to a first computer. The user interface enables an end user to enter at least one energy management rule for each of a plurality of electrical loads at a location, each rule including a command to be transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule if a condition is met. The energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads are received by a second computer. An energy management profile containing the energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads at the location is created and stored using a second computer. The energy management profile is activated using the second computer. For each of the energy management rules where the condition has been met, the command associated with the rule is transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule.