Scalable Zone Map Interface for Proximity-Based Energy Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems lack real-time transparency and active participation in residential energy management, relying on consumers to manually curtail usage and lacking infrastructure for utility companies to analyze and schedule energy demand 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 proximity.
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 energy management and must manually curtail usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables appliances and devices to automatically adjust their operation based on real-time energy pricing and user-defined preferences. The energy management system autonomously makes curtailment decisions without requiring manual user intervention, while still achieving energy conservation goals through automated load management and scheduling
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors energy consumption, pricing signals, and load conditions, then provides real-time feedback to automatically adjust appliance operation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables dynamic energy management that responds to changing energy prices and consumption patterns without manual intervention
2Productivity
If demand response systems force curtailment on customers to manage load levels, then utility load management is improved, but end user convenience is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts energy management strategies based on real-time conditions including user presence, appliance priorities, and energy pricing. Rather than forcing fixed curtailment schedules, the system adapts its load management approach to balance utility productivity goals with user convenience preferences through flexible, condition-based control
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies differentiated curtailment strategies to different appliances and time periods based on user-defined preferences and appliance priorities. Critical appliances maintain normal operation while non-essential loads are managed, allowing load management to proceed without uniformly impacting user convenience across all devices
3Measurement precision
If smart meters are deployed to measure and report consumption data, then real-time energy measurement capability is provided, but communication and analytical infrastructure remains lacking for effective demand analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex analytical infrastructure into distributed components, with intelligence embedded at multiple levels including smart meters, local energy management systems, and utility servers. This segmentation allows real-time measurement capabilities to be leveraged without requiring a monolithic complex infrastructure, as analysis is performed locally and aggregated centrally
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary energy management platform that bridges smart meters and utility systems, providing the necessary communication and analytical capabilities. This intermediary layer handles data aggregation, analysis, and translation between different systems, reducing the complexity burden on both utility infrastructure and individual smart meters
4Loss of information
If monthly billing is used to inform consumers of energy consumption, then consumers receive consumption information, but real-time energy awareness and transparency into consumption causes are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors and reports energy consumption in real-time rather than providing periodic monthly updates. This continuous information flow maintains constant energy awareness, allowing users to understand consumption patterns and causes as they occur rather than receiving delayed monthly summaries
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time consumption information and pricing signals before billing cycles conclude, enabling users to make informed energy management decisions throughout the month rather than reacting to monthly bills. This preliminary information provision allows proactive energy conservation actions to be taken based on current consumption trends
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a mobile energy management system includes controlling at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. Various features may be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device including a map which may present the location of the site, the current location of the mobile device, and the plurality of zones. The graphical user interface may further include a zone size setting presenting selectable distance values enabling the user to set the distance between the site and the boundary of each zone. In response to the selection of a distance value, the mobile device may automatically scale the map to simultaneously present the boundary of each zone and the current location of the mobile device within the display screen of the mobile device.