Adaptive and user location-based power saving system

Abstract

An adaptive, user-centric system and network for controlling power consumption by an appliance is described. The appliance may be any type of powered apparatus, such as A/C units, heaters, computers, lights, kitchen appliances, home media centers, and so on. The power to these appliances is based on an estimated arrival time of the user to the destination where the appliance is located. It may also be based on previous performance data for the particular appliance, that is, given the current conditions (e.g., various environment temperature readings), how long has it taken in the past for the appliance to reach a certain level of operation. The location of the user is determined by a device that has some location-based services and is able to transmit this location/position data in a message to a power-control server. The server applies rules contained in the message to derive an estimated arrival time for the user which is used to power appliances at the user's destination.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving a location message from a power-control enabled device, the location message containing position data consisting of longitudinal data, latitude data, arrival time, and duration and device data, wherein the location message utilizes the a REST protocol and API; 
 retrieving a power-related profile relating to a user using the device data, wherein the power-related profile includes a profile name, one or more device names, a user location process module, a protocol indicator, one or more conditions involving user location, and one or more rules involving the conditions; 
 determining which appliances are related to the power-related profile; and 
 controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance utilizing the position data, wherein timing of appliance operation is determined based on a user location as indicated by the longitudinal data and the latitude data, arrival time, and duration of time between specific destinations under certain traffic conditions. 
 
     
     
       2. A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprises executing power-related rules. 
     
     
       3. A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising receiving sensor component data. 
     
     
       4. A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein controlling operation of the appliance further comprises retrieving previous power-related performance data relating to the power-consuming appliance. 
     
     
       5. A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprises examining condition outcome data resulting from execution of the power-related rules. 
     
     
       6. A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising identifying the power-consuming appliance in the power-related profile. 
     
     
       7. A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprising examining sensor component data. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the apparatus comprising:
 a network interface for receiving a location message from a power-control enabled device, the location message containing position consisting of longitudinal data, latitude data, arrival time, and duration and device data, wherein the location message utilizes the a REST protocol and API; 
 means for retrieving a power-related profile relating to a user using the device data in the location message, wherein the power-related profile includes a profile name, one or more device names, a user location process module, a protocol indicator, one or more conditions involving user location, and one or more rules involving the conditions; and 
 means for controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance utilizing the position data in the location message, wherein timing of appliance operation is determined based on a user location as indicated by the longitudinal data and the latitude data arrival time, and duration of time between specific destinations under certain traffic conditions. 
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein the means for controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprises means for executing power-related rules. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a means for receiving sensor component data. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein the means for controlling operation of the appliance further comprises a means for retrieving previous power-related performance data relating to the power-consuming appliance. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a means for parsing the location message. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a means for identifying the power-consuming appliance in the power-related profile. 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the computer-readable medium computer instructions executed by a processor to perform a method of controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the method comprising:
 computer code for receiving a location message from a power-control enabled device, the location message containing position data consisting of longitudinal data, latitude data, arrival time, and duration and device data, wherein the location message utilizes the a REST protocol and API; 
 computer code retrieving a power-related profile relating to a user using the device data, wherein the power-related profile includes a profile name, one or more device names, a user location process module, a protocol indicator, one or more conditions involving user location, and one or more rules involving the conditions; and 
 computer code for controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance utilizing the position data, wherein timing of appliance operation is determined based on a user location as indicated by the longitudinal data and the latitude data, arrival time, and duration of time between specific destinations under certain traffic conditions.