Patent ID: 8315896
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
Classification: G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of validating hydrocarbon consumption through a digital network having a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising: validating, by a network device, a remote location of a remote access point using location information provided by a location-aware device of a user that is authenticated by the remote access point, wherein validating the remote location includes determining an occupancy state of the user at the remote location and a primary location, based on one or more of (i) whether a wireless connection or a wired port is actively used by the user at the primary location, (ii) whether an access controlled entry is granted to the user or a vehicle associated with the user at the primary location, and (iii) using presence information or wireless triangulation to ensure that the user is at the primary location; calculating, by the network device, a distance from the validated remote location to a primary location associated with the user; deriving, by the network device, hydrocarbon consumption savings from the user working at the remote location rather than the primary location based on the distance, the derived hydrocarbon consumption savings are based on at least one of (i) avoiding travel between the remote location and the primary location, and (ii) office energy savings from having the user working away from the primary location associated with the user; and generating a report, by the network device, that includes at least the derived hydrocarbon consumption savings and utilizing the report for pollution credit sharing between an owner or user of the primary location or an owner or user of the remote location, wherein the pollution credit sharing includes trading or splitting credits with the owner or user of the primary location.