Patent Publication Number: US-2013253724-A1

Title: System and methods for use in operating energy consuming devices using load shedding override schedules

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to energy consuming device networks and, more specifically, to systems and methods for use in operating one or more energy consuming devices based on a load shedding schedule and a load shedding override schedule. 
     At least some known energy management devices receive a load shedding schedule from an energy provider. Such an energy management device may enable and/or disable one or more energy consuming devices based on the load shedding schedule. Accordingly, energy use by energy consuming devices may be reduced during periods of elevated energy demand indicated by a load shedding schedule. 
     In some circumstances, however, the user of an energy consuming device, such as a window-mounted air conditioning unit, may wish to operate the device regardless of the load shedding schedule. The user may defeat the load shedding response feature by, for example, configuring the energy management device and/or the energy consuming device to disregard the load shedding schedule. However, such actions prevent the energy consuming device from responding to a load shedding schedule until the energy management device and/or the energy consuming device is re-configured, inconveniencing the user by requiring additional manual configuration. Such inconvenience may be exacerbated when multiple energy consuming devices must be manually configured. Further, manual configuration may not allow a user to fully achieve a desired system behavior, such as operating an energy consuming device based on the load shedding schedule in the morning and disregarding the load shedding schedule in the afternoon, especially if the user is not physically present between such periods. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a system to operate one or more energy consuming devices is provided. The system includes a memory device and a processor coupled with the memory device. The memory device is configured to store a plurality of computer-executable instructions, data indicative of a load shedding schedule representing one or more periods of elevated energy demand, and data indicative of a load shedding override schedule associated with an energy consuming device. The processor is configured to read and execute the computer-executable instructions, and to access the data indicative of the load shedding schedule and/or the data indicative of the load shedding override schedule. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by the processor, the processor is programmed to enable the one or more energy consuming devices during any portion of the load shedding schedule that coincides with the load shedding override schedule, and to disable the one or more energy consuming devices during any portion of the load shedding schedule that does not coincide with the load shedding override schedule. 
     In another aspect, a method for use in operating one or more energy consuming devices is provided. The method includes receiving, by a computing device, a load shedding schedule representing one or more periods of elevated energy demand. The computing device also receives a load shedding override schedule associated with an energy consuming device. The computing device enables the energy consuming device during any portion of the load shedding schedule that coincides with the load shedding override schedule, and disables the energy consuming device during any portion of the load shedding schedule that does not coincide with the load shedding override schedule. 
     In yet another aspect, one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon are provided. When executed by a processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to determine a load shedding schedule representing one or more periods of elevated energy demand, to determine a load shedding override schedule associated with an energy consuming device, to compare the load shedding schedule with the load shedding override schedule, to enable the energy consuming device during any portion of the load shedding schedule that coincides with the load shedding override schedule, and to disable the energy consuming device during any portion of the load shedding schedule that does not coincide with the load shedding override schedule. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-3  show exemplary embodiments of the system and methods described herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device that may be used to communicate with an energy management device; 
         FIG. 2  is block diagram of an exemplary system that includes an energy management device coupled in communication with an energy service interface and a user device by a network; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an exemplary method that may be used in operating the energy consuming devices shown in  FIG. 2  using the energy management device shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments described herein facilitate automatically disabling energy consuming devices according to a load shedding schedule except during periods defined by a user-provided override schedule. In exemplary embodiments, an energy management device receives a load shedding schedule representing periods of elevated energy demand from an energy provider. The energy management device provides a load shedding response feature, generally disabling one or more energy consuming devices during such load shedding periods. 
     A user may opt out of the load shedding response by providing to the energy management device one or more load shedding override schedules, each of which indicates one or more periods during which the energy consuming device(s) is/are not to be disabled. For example, the user may override load shedding with respect to all devices for several hours while the user is entertaining guests. As another example, the user may override the load shedding response with respect to a single device, such as an air conditioning unit, during a recurring period corresponding to the times at which the user is typically at home each day. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system  100  with a computing device  105 , such as a user device, an energy management device, and/or an energy service interface, that includes a memory device  110  and that may be used to communicate with an energy management device. Computing device  105  includes a processor  115  coupled to memory device  110  for executing programmed instructions. Processor  115  may include, but is not limited to, a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic circuit (PLC), and/or any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein. Processor  115  may include one or more processing units (e.g., in a multi-core configuration). The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term processor. 
     Memory device  110  is one or more devices allowing information such as executable instructions and/or other data to be stored and retrieved. Memory device  110  may include one or more non-transitory computer readable media, such as, without limitation, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), a solid state disk, and/or a hard disk. Memory device  110  may be configured to store, without limitation, executable instructions and/or any other type of data suitable for use with the methods described herein. 
     Computing device  105  is programmable to perform one or more operations described herein by programming processor  115 . For example, processor  115  may be programmed by encoding an operation as one or more executable instructions and embodying the executable instructions in a non-transitory computer readable medium, including, without limitation, a storage device and/or a memory device (e.g., memory device  110 ). Such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least a portion of the methods described herein. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, computing device  105  includes a presentation interface  120  coupled to processor  115 . Presentation interface  120  is configured to output (e.g., display, print, and/or otherwise output) information, such as, but not limited to, utility equipment information, available utility capacities, desired amounts of a utility, and/or fault conditions, to a user  125 . For example, presentation interface  120  may include a display adapter (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) that is coupled to a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic LED (OLED) display, and/or an “electronic ink” display. In some embodiments, presentation interface  120  includes more than one display device. In addition, or in the alternative, presentation interface  120  may include a printer. 
     In some embodiments, computing device  105  includes a user input interface  130  that receives input from user  125 . For example, user input interface  130  may be configured to receive load shedding override schedules, associations of energy consuming devices with load shedding override schedules, and/or any other information suitable for use with the methods and systems described herein. 
     In exemplary embodiments, user input interface  130  is coupled to processor  115  and may include, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a mouse, a stylus, a touch sensitive panel (e.g., a touch pad or a touch screen), an accelerometer, a position detector, and/or an audio user input interface. A single component, such as a touch screen, may function as both a display device of presentation interface  120  and as user input interface  130 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, computing device  105  includes a communication interface  135  that is coupled to processor  115 . Communication interface  135  is coupled in communication with a remote device, such as another computing device  105 . For example, communication interface  135  may include, without limitation, a wired network adapter, a wireless network adapter, and/or a mobile telecommunications adapter. In some embodiments, communication interface  135  is configured to receive data that are input by a user at a remote device (e.g., using a user input interface  130  of a remote computing device  105 ) and transmitted by the remote device. Accordingly, both user input interface  130  and communication interface  135  may be referred to as input interfaces. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, computing device  105  stores in memory device  110 , and/or is operable to access using communication interface  135  (e.g., from another device similar to computing device  105 ), data for use in communicating with energy consuming devices. For example, such data may include and/or be indicative of load shedding schedules, load shedding override schedules, identifiers and/or network addresses associated with computing devices, and/or any other data suitable for use with the methods described herein. 
       FIG. 2  is block diagram of an exemplary system  200  that includes an energy management device  205  coupled in communication with an energy service interface  210  and a user device  215  by a network  220 . In exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205  receives energy information, such as load shedding schedules, from energy service interface  210 , which is coupled in communication with an energy provider system (not shown). Energy service interface  210  may be a discrete computing device  105  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) or, alternatively, may be integrated with another device, such as smart meter (not shown), energy management device  205 , and/or user device  215 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205  monitors and/or controls a plurality of energy consuming devices  225  that are selectively coupled with an energy source  230 . For example, energy management device  205  may monitor energy consumption by energy consuming devices  225 , control whether energy is supplied to energy consuming devices  225 , and/or instruct energy consuming devices  225  to enable and/or disable themselves, either individually or collectively. A first energy consuming device  235 , a second energy consuming device  240 , and a third energy consuming device  245  are shown in  FIG. 2 . However, it is contemplated that system  200  may include any quantity of energy consuming devices  225 , such as appliances, climate control devices, lighting devices, pumps, alarm systems, and/or any other device capable of consuming energy. 
     In exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205 , energy service interface  210 , user device  215 , switches  250  and  255 , and/or energy consuming devices  225  are and/or include computing devices  105  that are configured to communicate with each other using a communication interface  135  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). While certain operations are described below with respect to particular devices, it is contemplated that any computing device  105  may perform any of the described operations. Network  220  may include, without limitation, a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a home area network (HAN), and/or a mesh network. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an exemplary method  300  that may be used in operating energy consuming devices  225  using energy management device  205  (both shown in  FIG. 2 ). Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205  determines  305  one or more load shedding schedules. This determination is accomplished in some embodiments, by the energy management device  205  receiving a load shedding schedule outputted from energy service interface  210  and storing the load shedding schedule in memory device  110  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), from which the load shedding schedule may be accessed subsequently. The load shedding schedule may be included in demand response data that an energy provider outputs to energy service interface  210   
     Load shedding schedules represent one or more periods, either single or recurring, of elevated energy demand. As an example, during hot weather, energy demand may be elevated each afternoon due to widespread use of cooling systems. In some scenarios, an energy user may significantly reduce total energy cost by reducing energy consumption during such elevated demand periods and, optionally, shifting such energy consumption to other periods. For example, the per-unit cost of energy may be greater during elevated demand periods than during other periods. In addition, or alternatively, the energy provider may provide financial incentives for participating in load shedding during elevated demand periods. 
     Energy management device  205  also determines  310  (e.g., receives and/or accesses) one or more load shedding override schedules. This determination is accomplished in some embodiments by energy management device  205  receiving a load shedding schedule from an input interface (e.g., user input interface  130  and/or communication interface  135 , shown in  FIG. 1 ) and storing the load shedding override schedule in memory device  110 , from which the load shedding override schedule may be accessed subsequently. In exemplary embodiments, user device  215  receives a load shedding override schedule outputted from user input interface  130  and transmits the load shedding override schedule to energy management device  205  through network  220 . A user may input the load shedding override schedule into user device  215  via the user input interface  130 . 
     Load shedding override schedules are associated with one or more energy consuming devices  225 . For example, a load shedding override schedule may be associated with only a single energy consuming device  225  (e.g., first energy consuming device  235 ), a plurality of specific energy consuming devices  225  (e.g., first energy consuming device  235  and second energy consuming device  240 ), or all energy consuming devices  225  that energy management device  205  is capable of disabling and enabling. 
     A load shedding override schedule includes one or more single periods of time and/or one or more recurring periods of time. A single period of time includes a start time and an end time, such as, but not limited to: 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on 1 Dec. 2011, or 9:00 a.m. on 22 Nov. 2011 to 2:00 p.m. on 27 Nov. 2011. A recurring period of time includes, for example, a start time, an end time, a recurrence frequency, and, optionally, a recurrence start time and/or a recurrence end time. The recurrence frequency indicates on which dates the recurring period is effective. For example, a recurrence frequency may include, without limitation, every day, one or more specific days of every week, every weekday, one or more specific days of every month, and/or one or more specific days of every year. 
     In some embodiments, energy management device  205  receives outputs from user interface  130  that associate an identifier (e.g., a name) with one or more of the energy consuming devices  225 , switches  250  and  255 , and/or load shedding override schedules. For example, first energy consuming device  235  may be associated with the name “Bedroom A/C” to indicate an air conditioning unit in a bedroom, and second energy consuming device  240  may be associated with the name “Pool pump” to indicate a filtration pump for a swimming pool. Similarly, a load shedding override schedule may be associated with a name such as “Workday” or “Birthday party,” such that the association between energy consuming devices  225  and events represented by override schedules is apparent to a user. An exemplary list of load shedding override schedules and associated energy consuming devices  225  is shown in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Override Schedule 
                 Devices 
                 When 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Workday 
                 Bedroom A/C, 
                 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Entry lights 
                 Every Mon-Fri 
               
               
                   
                 Birthday party 
                 All 
                 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Thu, 1 Dec 2011 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In some embodiments, a list such as that shown in Table 1 may be output by the energy management device  205  to the user interface  130 . The energy management device  205  may receive data from the user interface  130  indicative of edits made to the list by a user. In exemplary embodiments, the user views such a list using a client application and/or a web browser executed by user device  215 , which exchanges load shedding override schedule data with energy management device  205 . 
     Energy management device  205  is operatively coupled with one or more energy consuming devices  225 , either directly or indirectly, such that energy management device  205  is operable to adjust the power consumption of, disable, and/or enable energy consuming devices  225  based on load shedding schedules and load shedding override schedules. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , first energy consuming device  235  is associated with a first switch  250  that selectively couples first energy consuming device  235  with energy source  230  in response to a signal outputted from the energy management device  205 . Second energy consuming device  240  is associated with a second switch  255  that selectively couples second energy consuming device  240  with energy source  230  in response to a signal outputted from the energy management device  205 . The signal outputted from the energy management device  205  to the switches  250 ,  255  produces a tangible, physical result—e.g., the opening or closing of the switches  250 ,  255 , each of which is a physical apparatus—and is both different and derived from other data and/or signals received by and/or processed by the energy management device  205 . Further, opening or closing the switches  250 ,  255  produces another physical result by preventing or allowing, respectively, the flow of energy to energy consuming devices  235 ,  240 , as described below. 
     Energy management device  205  is operatively coupled with first switch  250  and second switch  255 . In exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205  disables first energy consuming device  235  by opening first switch  250 , which decouples first energy consuming device  235  from energy source  230 , preventing the flow of electrical energy from energy source  230  to first energy consuming device  235 . Similarly, energy management device  205  enables first energy consuming device  235  by closing first switch  250 , which couples first energy consuming device  235  with energy source  230 , allowing the flow of electrical energy from energy source  230  to first energy consuming device  235 . In some embodiments, first switch  250  includes a computing device  105 , and energy management device  205  operates first switch  250  by transmitting commands (e.g., a disable command and/or an enable command) to first switch  250 . In other embodiments, first switch  250  includes a relay, and energy management device  205  operates first switch  250  by actuating the relay. Other methods of operating switches are also contemplated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , energy management device  205  is directly coupled with third energy consuming device  245 , which is capable of enabling and disabling itself. Energy management device  205  disables third energy consuming device  245  by transmitting a disable command to third energy consuming device  245  and enables third energy consuming device  245  by transmitting an enable command to third energy consuming device  245 . In response to such commands, third energy consuming device  245  configures itself to operate in a power state corresponding to the received command. For example, in response to a disable command, third energy consuming device  245  enters a low-power or “sleep” state in which the primary function(s) of third energy consuming device  245  are disabled, but in which third energy consuming device  245  remains capable of communicating with energy management device  205 , such that an enable command may be received and acted upon. In response to an enable command, third energy consuming device  245  enters a normal state in which the primary functions of third energy consuming device  245  are enabled. 
     Given a load shedding schedule and a load shedding override schedule that is associated with first energy consuming device  235 , energy management device  205  enables first energy consuming device  235  during any portion of the load shedding schedule that coincides with the load shedding override schedule and disables first energy consuming device  235  during any portion of the load shedding schedule that does not coincide with the load shedding override schedule. Similarly, if the load shedding schedule override schedule is also associated with second energy consuming device  240 , energy management device  205  enables second energy consuming device  240  during any portion of the load shedding schedule that coincides with the load shedding override schedule and disables second energy consuming device  240  during any portion of the load shedding schedule that does not coincide with the load shedding override schedule. 
     In exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205  applies load shedding override schedules, as described above, by determining  315  whether the current time is within any load shedding schedule previously determined  305  (e.g., received and/or stored) by energy management device  205 . If the current time is not within any load shedding schedule, energy management device  205  enables  320  energy consuming devices  225 . 
     If the current time is within a load shedding schedule, energy management device  205  determines  325  whether the current time is also within any load shedding override schedule. If the current time is not within any load shedding override schedule, no energy consuming devices  225  are exempt from the load shedding schedule, and energy management device  205  disables  330  energy consuming devices  225 . 
     If the current time is within a load shedding override schedule, the energy consuming devices  225  associated with the load shedding override schedule are exempt from the load shedding schedule. Energy management device  205  enables  335  energy consuming devices  225  that are exempt (e.g., first energy consuming device  235 ) and proceeds to determine  325  whether the current time is within any other load shedding override schedule, as described above. As represented by block  340 , the energy management device  205  determines whether there are more load shedding override schedules (LSOS′S). If yes, the method loops back to the block  325 . If not, the method proceeds as follows. When energy management device  205  has determined  325  whether the current time is within each load shedding override schedule, energy management device  205  disables  330  all energy consuming devices  225  that are not exempt from the load shedding schedule. 
     In exemplary embodiments, energy management device  205  repeatedly (e.g., continuously, periodically, and/or upon request) determines  315  whether the current time is within any load shedding schedule and proceeds as described above. Accordingly, as a load shedding schedule becomes ineffective (e.g., the current time is no longer within any period included in the load shedding schedule), energy consuming devices  225  are enabled  320 . Further, even if a load shedding schedule is still effective, an energy consuming device  225  that was previously disabled  330  will be enabled  335  when a load shedding override schedule associated with the energy consuming device  225  becomes effective. Such embodiments enable a user to configure energy management device  205  to ensure an air conditioning unit, for example, is enabled  335  before the user expects to arrive from work, while allowing the energy management device  205  to disable  330  the air conditioning unit at other times to lower total energy cost. 
     In some embodiments, determining  315  whether the current time is within a load shedding schedule and determining  325  whether the current time is within a load shedding override schedule are accomplished at least in part by comparing a load shedding schedule to a load shedding override schedule. For example, an override-adjusted version of the load shedding schedule corresponding to a set of energy consuming devices  225  may be created by subtracting from the load shedding schedule any periods defined by a load shedding override schedule associated with the set of energy consuming devices  225 . 
     Embodiments described herein may be performed using a computer-based or computing-device-based operating environment as described below. A computer or computing device may include one or more processors or processing units, system memory, and some form of non-transitory computer-readable media. Exemplary non-transitory computer-readable media include flash memory drives, hard disk drives, digital versatile discs (DVDs), compact discs (CDs), floppy disks, and tape cassettes. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer-readable storage media are non-transitory and store information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
     Although described in connection with an exemplary computing system environment, embodiments of the invention are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, mobile computing devices, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, gaming consoles, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, mobile telephones, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. 
     Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. The computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more computer-executable components or modules. Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the figures and described herein. Other embodiments of the invention may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein. 
     Aspects of the invention transform a general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computing device when that general-purpose computer reads and/or executes the computer-readable instructions described herein. 
     The system and methods described herein are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. For example, components of each system and/or steps of each method may be used and/or practiced independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. In addition, each component and/or step may also be used and/or practiced with other apparatus and methods. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.