Zone based energy management system

Abstract

A method of managing a site in a mobile environment including detecting an availability of at least one network device having an operating condition at a site. First and second boundaries of the site having respective first and second boundaries, which are different, are detected. A plurality of zones including an on-site zone having 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 are each detected. A predetermined operating condition of the at least one network device at the site is implemented in response to detecting a relative location of the mobile device with respect to the on-site zone, the first zone and the second zone. An on-site operating condition corresponding to the on-site zone is implemented.

What is claimed: 
     
         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 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;   detecting a plurality of zones including an on-site zone having 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;   implementing a predetermined operating condition of the at least one network device at the site in response to detecting a change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the on-site zone, the first zone and the second zone;   initiating an on-site operating condition corresponding to the on-site zone;   implementing a first zone operating condition corresponding to the first zone that is different from the on-site operating condition;   implementing a second zone operating condition corresponding to the second zone that is different from the on-site operating condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a distance of a mobile device relative to the site.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 altering the second zone operating condition such that it is different from the first zone operating condition.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , 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 the 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 4 , wherein the on-site operating condition is one of an on condition or an off condition for the at least one network device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the on-site operating condition is an on-site set-point for the at least one network device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , 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.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first zone operating condition is one of on condition or an off condition for the at least one network device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first zone operating condition is a first zone set-point for the at least one network device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , 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.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second zone operating is one of an on condition or an off condition for the at least one network device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second zone operating condition is a second zone set-point for the at least one network device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , 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 set-point in response to detecting the mobile device within the first zone wherein the first zone set-point is higher than the on-site temperature set-point.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , 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 set-point in response to detecting the mobile device within the second zone wherein the second zone set-point is higher than the first zone temperature set-point.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating condition of the network device is a set-point and further comprising:
 initiating altering an on-site set-point corresponding to the on-site zone;   initiating altering the on-site set-point to a first zone set-point corresponding to the first zone that is different from the on-site set-point; and   initiating altering the on-site set-point to a second zone set-point corresponding to the second zone that is different from the on-site set-point and the first zone set-point.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , 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.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , 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.   
     
     
         18 . 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.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network device includes at least one of a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router, a tinted window system, a window shade system, or a garage door system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the network device is a thermostat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is an alarm system and further comprising:
 turning on the alarm system when the mobile device is detected crossing the first boundary into the first zone.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is an alarm system and further comprising:
 turning off the alarm system when the mobile device is detected crossing the first boundary into the on-site zone.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is a lighting system and further comprising:
 turning off the lighting system when the mobile device is detected crossing the first boundary into the first zone.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is a lighting system and further comprising:
 turning on the lighting system when the mobile device is detected crossing the first boundary into the on-site zone.   
     
     
         24 . A system for managing a site in a mobile environment, comprising:
 at least one network device located at the site, the at least one network device having an operating condition;   a processor associated with the site and configured to:
 detect a first boundary of the site having a first boundary distance with respect to the site; 
 detect a second boundary of the site having a second boundary distance that is different than the first boundary distance; 
 detect a plurality of zones, including an on-site zone having 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; 
 implement a predetermined operating condition of the at least one network device at the site in response to detecting a change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the on-site zone, the first zone and the second zone; 
 initiating an on-site operating condition corresponding to the on-site zone; 
 implementing a first zone operating condition corresponding to the first zone that is different from the on-site operating condition; 
 implementing a second zone operating condition corresponding to the second zone that is different from the on-site operating condition. 
   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the network device and the processor communicate using one or more of a cloud service, a mobile device, and a cellular gateway. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one network device and the processor communicate according to one or more of a wireless protocol and a wired protocol. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one network device includes at least one of a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router, a tinted widow system, a window shade system, or a garage door. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the processer is further configured to:
 alter the second zone operating condition such that it is different from the first zone operating condition.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the network device is an alarm system and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 turn off the alarm system when the mobile device is detected crossing the first boundary into the on-site zone.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the network device is a lighting system and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 turn off the lighting system when the mobile device is detected crossing the first boundary into the first zone.