Mobile energy management system

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a mobile 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. Various features may be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device including a proximity control feature for enabling and disabling proximity detection, a set location setting for associating the current location of the mobile device with the location of the site, a set travel distance feature enabling the user to enter a travel distance within the graphical user interface, and a map which may present the location of the site, the current location of the mobile device, and the plurality of zones. The network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances.

1 . A method of managing a site in a mobile environment, comprising:
 detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site wherein the at least one network device has an operating condition;   detecting at least one boundary of the site;   presenting a proximity control selector within a user interface of a mobile device associated with the site, wherein the proximity control selector has a setting that can be toggled to enable and disable proximity detection using the mobile device;   detecting a distance of the mobile device relative to the site in response to enabling proximity detection on the mobile device; and   initiating a change to the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting a change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the at least one boundary of the site and the setting of the proximity control selector.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 detecting a first boundary of the site having a first boundary distance; 
 detecting a second boundary of the site having a second boundary distance that is different than the first boundary distance; and 
 initiating the change to the operating condition of the energy consuming 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. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 detecting a plurality of zones including,
 an on-site zone including an area within the first boundary, 
 a first zone including an area beyond the first boundary and within the second boundary, and 
 a second zone including an area beyond the second boundary; and 
 
 initiating the 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 on-site zone and the first zone and the second zone. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 detecting the mobile device within the on-site zone in response to the distance of the mobile device relative to the site being less than or equal to the first boundary distance; and, 
 initiating an on-site operating condition of the network device at the site in response to detecting the mobile device within the on-site zone. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 detecting the mobile device within the first zone in response to the distance of the mobile device relative to the site being greater than the first boundary distance and less than or equal to the second boundary distance; and 
 initiating a first zone operating condition of the network device at the site in response to detecting the mobile device within the first zone. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 detecting the mobile device within the second zone in response to the distance of the mobile device relative to the site being greater than the second boundary distance; and 
 initiating a second zone operating condition of the network device at the site in response to detecting the mobile device within the second zone. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the operating condition of the network device is a temperature set-point of a thermostat at the site further comprising the steps of:
 initiating altering an on-site temperature set-point corresponding to the on-site zone; 
 initiating altering the on-site temperature set-point to a first zone temperature set-point corresponding to the first zone that is different from the on-site temperature set-point; and 
 initiating altering the on-site temperature set-point to a second zone temperature set-point corresponding to the second zone that is different from the on-site temperature set-point and the first zone temperature set-point. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 detecting a new distance of the mobile device; 
 comparing the new distance to at least one of the plurality of zones; 
 detecting if a zone change has occurred; 
 initiating communication of a control message if the zone change has occurred; and 
 not initiating a communication of a control message if the zone change has not changed. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 detecting an availability of a first thermostat of a first manufacturer; 
 detecting an availability of a second thermostat of second manufacturer; and 
 enabling proximity control of the first and second thermostat using the same mobile application accessible by a user of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising;
 detecting the availability of a first network location and a second network location, wherein the second network location is different than the first network location; 
 initiating access of the first network location to detect the operating condition of the network device; 
 initiating access to a second network location to store the distance of the mobile device relative to the site; and 
 initiating a communication of a control action to the first network location to alter the operating condition of the network device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 detecting an availability of a WIFI network including a device connected to the WIFI network; 
 accessing the device using the WIFI network to detect an operating condition of the device; and 
 initiating an altering of the operating condition of the network device using the WIFI network. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site wherein the at least one network device has an operating condition; 
 presenting a set location setting within a user interface of the mobile device; 
 detecting a selection of the set location setting; 
 detecting a current location of the mobile device in response to selection of the set location setting; 
 associating the current location of the mobile device with the site; 
 detecting a new location of the mobile device; 
 detecting a distance of the mobile device relative to the site by calculating a distance between the current location and the new location of the mobile device; and 
 initiating a change to the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting a change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the site. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of managing energy use in a mobile environment comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including a set location setting;   determining a site location in response to a selection of the set location setting;   storing the site location within a memory of the mobile device;   detecting a location change of the mobile device relative to the site location; and   altering the operating condition of the network device in response to a detection of the location change of the mobile device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 enabling a user to set a travel distance within the GUI; 
 determining a plurality of zones using the travel distance including a first zone and a second zone; 
 detecting when the mobile device changes between the first zone and the second zone; and 
 altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 detecting a setting of the travel distance; and 
 displaying the plurality of zones as a graphic within the GUI. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 displaying a map within a GUI, wherein the map includes a graphic presenting the site location and the plurality of zones disposed about the site location; 
 detecting the current location of the mobile device; 
 displaying a graphic within the map presenting the current location of the mobile device; and 
 wherein at least one of the zones is determined using geofencing. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 detecting a change in the setting of the travel distance; 
 automatically scaling the plurality of zones in response to the change in the setting of the travel distance wherein at least one of the zones is enlarged in response to an increase in the travel distance; and 
 storing the zones within the memory of mobile device. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 detecting a first distance defining a boundary of the first zone; 
 displaying a graphic presenting the first zone and the boundary of the first zone within the GUI; 
 detecting a second distance defining a boundary of the second zone; 
 displaying a graphic presenting the second zone and the boundary of the second zone within the GUI; 
 detecting a location of the mobile device with respect to the first or second zone; and 
 displaying within the GUI a reference to the location of the mobile device with respect to the first or second zone. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 detecting a first distance defining a boundary of the first zone; 
 detecting a second distance defining a boundary of the second zone; 
 displaying a graphic presenting the first zone, the second zone, and a site location within the GUI; and 
 wherein the first distance and the second distance is less than the setting of the travel distance. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 determining a boundary of the first zone as being less than half the travel distance; and 
 determining a boundary of the second zone as being greater than half the travel distance.