Energy Management System

Abstract

Feedback is received from a plurality of devices. External data is also received. Statistical patterns of the plurality of devices are determined based on the feedback. A policy is determined based on the statistical patterns, the feedback, and the external data. The policy may include a set of rules dictating the operation of each of the plurality of devices and reducing energy consumption at the plurality of devices. Control data based on the policy is transmitted to the plurality of devices. The control data may be operative to transform the operation of the plurality of devices according to the set of rules.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy management system, comprising:
 a plurality of lighting devices, each of the lighting devices comprising a communications device and a sensor; and   a controller coupled to the plurality of lighting devices over a network, the controller operative to (i) receive feedback data from the plurality of lighting devices, through the communications device, (ii) receive external data, (iii) determine statistical patterns of the plurality of lighting devices based on the feedback data, (iv) determine a policy based on the statistical patterns, the feedback data, and the external data, the policy comprising a set of rules dictating the operation of each of the plurality of lighting devices, and (v) transmit control data based on the policy to the plurality of lighting devices through the communications device, the control data operative to transform the operation of the plurality of lighting devices according to the set of rules;   wherein the external data comprises marketing data associated with a product, and wherein the control data is operative to increase or decrease the output of one or more of the plurality of lighting devices associated with the product.   
     
     
         2 . The energy management system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lighting devices is operative to (i) receive the control data from the controller, (ii) set values on a device driver according to the control data, the values operative to transform the operation of the device controlled by the device driver, (iii) collect the feedback data from the device-embedded sensor, and (iv) transmit the feedback data to the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The energy management system of  claim 2 , wherein the values on the device driver may be manually changed by a user changing the policy. 
     
     
         4 . The energy management system of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback data comprises energy consumption data and thermal output data. 
     
     
         5 . The energy management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database coupled to the controller, the database operative to store the policy, the feedback data, and the external data. 
     
     
         6 . The energy management system of  claim 1 , wherein the external data comprises device-independent data from an external sensor; and wherein the device-independent data from the external sensor comprises data at least one of temperature, light level, humidity, gas, pressure, motion, smoke, sound, or occupancy. 
     
     
         7 . The energy management system of  claim 1 , wherein the external data comprises at least one of historical usage data, power cost schedule, non-controllable factors, device information, and carbon credit data. 
     
     
         8 . The energy management system of  claim 7 , wherein the non-controllable factors comprise time of day, date, season, and geography. 
     
     
         9 . An energy management system, comprising:
 a plurality of lighting devices, each of the lighting devices comprising a communications device and a sensor; and   a controller coupled to the plurality of lighting devices over a network, the controller operative to (i) receive feedback data from the plurality of lighting devices, through the communications device, (ii) receive energy accounting data, (iii) determine statistical patterns of the plurality of lighting devices based on the feedback data, (iv) determine a policy based on the statistical patterns, the feedback data, and the energy accounting data, the policy comprising a set of rules dictating the operation of each of the plurality of lighting devices, and (v) transmit control data based on the policy to the plurality of lighting devices through the communications device, the control data operative to automatically reduce an amount of lighting associated with the plurality of lighting devices to maintain compliance with the energy accounting data.   
     
     
         10 . The energy management system of  claim 9 , wherein the energy accounting data comprises energy allowances and energy credits. 
     
     
         11 . The energy management system of  claim 9 , wherein the energy allowances specify an amount of energy that a given user has been allocated. 
     
     
         12 . The energy management system of  claim 11 , wherein the energy credits specify one or more credits that offset a limit of the energy allowances. 
     
     
         13 . The energy management system of  claim 12 , wherein the energy credits account for an amount of renewable energy in the renewable energy storage. 
     
     
         14 . The energy management system of  claim 9 , wherein the energy accounting data comprises carbon credit data. 
     
     
         15 . The energy management system of  claim 14 , wherein the carbon credit data comprises a carbon credit policy that specifies a carbon emissions limit above which a penalty is enforced and a carbon footprint. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus configured to:
 receive control data from a controller;   set values on a device driver according to the control data, the values operative to transform the operation of a device controlled by the device driver;   collect feedback data from a device-embedded sensor; and   transmit the feedback data to the controller.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the values are operative to switch the device or dim the device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the feedback data comprises data of at least one of energy consumption or thermal output. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to authenticate the device by reading data from an identification chip on the device and verifying the data on the identification chip. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to receive external data comprising at least one of historical usage data, power cost schedule, non-controllable factors, device information, or carbon credit data.