Patent ID: 8219505
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. An energy controller for controlling energy usage, the energy controller comprising: an energy predictor for calculating an initial energy prediction of energy to be used by devices associated with the energy controller based on an initial prediction of how the devices will be used at a point in the future; a transmitter for transmitting the initial energy prediction for the point in the future to an energy company such that energy purchases can be made in advance for the point in the future based on the initial energy prediction; and a receiver for receiving changes to the initial prediction of how the devices will be used at the point in the future, wherein the received changes are communicated to the energy predictor to calculate a revised energy prediction for the point in the future based on the received changes, and wherein the transmitter transmits the revised energy prediction for the point in the future to the energy company, wherein the transmitter transmits the revised energy prediction for the point in the future to the energy company in conjunction with a request for a revised cost representing a cost differential between the initial and revised energy predictions for the point in the future, the controller further comprising a feedback controller (1) for receiving the revised cost from the energy company, (2) for determining if the devices should be used according to the initial energy prediction or the revised energy prediction based on the revised cost from the energy company, and (3) for notifying the energy company if the devices will be used according to the initial energy prediction or the revised energy prediction.