Zone-Based Energy Management With Scalable Mobile Map Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems for residential areas lack transparency and active participation in energy conservation, relying on consumers to manually curtail usage and lacking real-time data infrastructure for utility companies to analyze demand and schedule energy production effectively.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that includes a database for storing site report data, a processor for analyzing energy usage, and a mobile application for users to monitor and control energy consumption, integrating with smart meters and thermostats to optimize energy use based on real-time pricing and user location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If passive energy display technologies are provided to show current energy prices, then consumers gain energy price awareness, but consumers still lack active engagement and must manually curtail their energy use
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables appliances and devices to automatically respond to energy pricing signals without manual user intervention. The energy management system autonomously makes curtailment decisions by analyzing real-time pricing data and controlling connected devices, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring consumers to manually curtail usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring energy consumption, comparing it against real-time pricing signals, and automatically adjusting device operation. This feedback mechanism transforms static price displays into dynamic control actions, where consumption data feeds back to the control system which then adjusts appliance operation to optimize energy costs.
2Productivity
If demand response systems force curtailment on customers to react to load levels, then utility load management is improved, but end users experience inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts curtailment strategies based on user-defined preferences, historical behavior patterns, and real-time conditions. Rather than forcing uniform curtailment, the system adapts its control actions to individual user needs and appliance characteristics, making load management flexible and user-friendly while maintaining productivity benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to pre-configure preferences, constraints, and priority settings for different appliances before demand response events occur. By establishing these parameters in advance, the system can automatically make informed decisions during load management events without requiring real-time user input or causing unexpected inconvenience.
3Measurement precision
If smart meters are deployed to measure and report consumption data, then real-time energy measurement capability is improved, but lack of communication and analytical infrastructure prevents effective demand analysis and energy scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines smart meter measurement capabilities with integrated communication modules and analytical processing in a unified energy management platform. By merging these previously separate functions into a single system, the patent eliminates the need for complex standalone communication and analytical infrastructure while fully utilizing real-time measurement data for demand analysis and energy scheduling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing energy use of a network device located at a site with a mobile device is provided. The method proceeds by determining a plurality of zones about the site and detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones. The method continues by altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed within the display screen of the mobile device. A map presenting the site location, the plurality of zones disposed about the site location, and the current location of the mobile device is displayed within the GUI along with a distance selector including selectable distance values. The method further includes automatically scaling the plurality of zones and the map in response to changing the selectable distance value using the distance selector.