Zone based energy management system

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a zone based energy management system and method includes controlling at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device which may be based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. The network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances. Several of the steps of the method may be executed by the proximity detection module of the mobile device including detecting the boundary distances, detecting the zones, calculating the distance of the mobile device relative to the site, and changing the operating condition of the network device.

1 . A method of managing energy use at a site using a mobile device, comprising:
 initiating a proximity detection module of the mobile device;   detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site wherein the at least one network device has an operating condition;   detecting a site location of the site;   detecting a first boundary of the site having a first distance;   detecting a second boundary of the site having a second distance that is different than the first distance;   detecting a first zone including an area within the first boundary;   detecting a second zone including an area beyond the first boundary and within the second boundary;   detecting a current location of the mobile device;   calculating a distance of the mobile device relative to the site wherein the distance of the mobile device relative to the site is calculated by the proximity detection module of the mobile device using the site location and the current location of the mobile device;   initiating a change to the operating condition of the network device at the site in response to detecting the change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the first boundary and the second boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the change to the operating condition of the energy consuming device is initiated by the proximity detection module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first boundary and the second boundary are determined by the proximity detection module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first boundary and the second boundary are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first zone and the second zone are determined by the proximity detection module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first zone and the second zone are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the site location and the current location of the mobile device are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one network device at the site includes a first network device and a second network device, the method further comprising:
 detecting a third boundary of the site having a third distance that is different than the first distance and the second distance; 
 detecting a fourth boundary of the site having a fourth distance that is different than the first distance and the second distance and the third distance; 
 detecting a third zone including an area within the third boundary; 
 detecting a fourth zone including an area beyond the third boundary and within the fourth boundary; 
 associating the first network device with the first zone and the second zone and the second network device with the third zone and the fourth zone; 
 determining the location of the mobile device with respect to the zones using the distance of the mobile device relative to the site calculated by the proximity detection module of the mobile device; and 
 initiating a change to the operating condition of the first network device in response to detecting a change in the location of the mobile device relative to the first zone and the second zone and initiating a change to the operating condition of the second network device in response to detecting a change in the location of the mobile device relative to the third zone and the fourth zone. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first network device is a first thermostat at the site and the second network device is a second thermostat at the site. 
     
     
         10 . A method of managing energy use at a site using a mobile device, comprising:
 initiating a proximity detection module of the mobile device;   detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site wherein the at least one network device has an operating condition;   detecting a site location of the site;   detecting a first boundary of the site having a first distance;   detecting a second boundary of the site having a second distance that is different than the first distance;   detecting a first zone including an area within the first boundary;   detecting a second zone including an area beyond the first boundary and within the second boundary;   detecting a current location of the mobile device;   calculating a distance of the mobile device relative to the site wherein the distance of the mobile device relative to the site is calculated using the site location and the current location of the mobile device;   initiating a change to the operating condition of the network device at the site in response to detecting the change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the first boundary and the second boundary wherein the change to the operating condition of the energy consuming device is initiated by the proximity detection module of the mobile device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first boundary and the second boundary are determined by the proximity detection module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first boundary and the second boundary are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first zone and the second zone are determined by the proximity detection module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first zone and the second zone are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the site location and the current location of the mobile device are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . A method of managing energy use at a site using a mobile device, comprising:
 initiating a proximity detection module of the mobile device;   detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site wherein the at least one network device has an operating condition;   detecting a site location of the site;   detecting a first boundary of the site having a first distance wherein the first boundary of the site is detected by the proximity detection module of the mobile device;   detecting a second boundary of the site having a second distance that is different than the first distance wherein the second boundary of the site is detected by the proximity detection module of the mobile device;   detecting a first zone including an area within the first boundary;   detecting a second zone including an area beyond the first boundary and within the second boundary;   detecting a current location of the mobile device;   calculating a distance of the mobile device relative to the site wherein the distance of the mobile device relative to the site is calculated using the site location and the current location of the mobile device;   initiating a change to the operating condition of the network device at the site in response to detecting the change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the first boundary and the second boundary.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first boundary and the second boundary are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first zone and the second zone are determined by the proximity detection module of the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first zone and the second zone are stored in the memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the site location and the current location of the mobile device are stored in the memory of the mobile device.