Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysing utility consumption at a utility supply location is described. The method comprises the steps of: receiving utility consumption data corresponding to utility consumption at the utility supply location over a time period to be analysed; generating a recurring consumption model indicative of repeating consumption patterns in the utility consumption data; identifying divergences between the utility consumption data and the recurring consumption model; computing a diagnostic measure indicative of irregular consumption based on the identified divergences; and outputting the diagnostic measure. The diagnostic measure may be used to identify flexibility or irregularities in consumption and/or to control supply of the utility. The utility may be e.g. electricity, gas or water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to environmental control systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring the performance of environmental control systems arranged to control at least one environmental characteristic in an environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a flow determination with respect to a flow through a fluid conduit is described. The apparatus comprises a first temperature sensor arranged to generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the outer surface of the fluid conduit, a second temperature sensor arranged to generate a temperature signal indicative of the ambient temperature outside of the fluid conduit; and a processor arranged to make the flow determination. The flow determination is made by determining the first and second temperatures at a first time; predicting a predicted first temperature at a second time; determining the first temperature at the second time; and comparing the predicted first temperature with the determined first temperature at the second time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a platform that enables devices, services and applications to be connected together. An in-home gateway device provides the hub for this connectivity, by connecting and coordinating in-home (and/or in-office) devices and cloud-based services. Creating a “connected environment” via this platform requires coordinating multiple device manufacturers and service providers, and multiple standards/protocols. Advantageously, the platform removes the requirement for different manufacturers of different devices to adopt common protocols to enable device connection, and further, the platform removes the burden of configuration away from the consumer.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices for attaching a temperature sensor to a pipe, comprising a first and second jaw for contacting the pipe; and a head slidably mounted between the jaws and having a third engaging portion for contacting the pipe and for retaining a first temperature sensor, the head being moveable between a closed position and an open position, in which the third engaging portion is closer to the first and second jaws in the closed position than in the open position. The jaws are moveable between closed and open configurations, in which the jaws are closer to one another in the closed configuration than in the open configuration. Motion of the jaws and the head is coupled so that the open configuration of the jaws corresponds to the open position of the head and the closed configuration of the jaws corresponds to the closed position of the head. The device may be arranged to bias the first temperature sensor against the pipe in the closed configuration.

Abstract: There is described a device and method for automatically controlling a lighting system including at least two lighting devices. The method comprises the steps of: determining a set of lighting devices to be controlled in an automated mode; determining a start reference time and an end reference time; and determining that one or more criteria for operating in the automated mode are met. Then a lighting device to be the first activated lighting device is selected from deactivated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices; and the first activated lighting device is activated during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time. Subsequently a lighting device to be the first deactivated lighting device is selected from activated lighting devices; and the first deactivated lighting device is deactivated during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time.

Abstract: An environmental controller arranged to control an environmental control system and a method of setting the operational configuration of such an environmental controller are described. The method comprises: displaying a user query from a series of user queries on a display of a user interface on the environmental controller, receiving in response to the at least one user query, a user input at the user interface, the user input relating to at least one of the one or more appliances intended to be controlled by the environmental controller, determining an expected connection configuration for physical connection terminals on the environmental controller based on the user input, and then detecting by the controller connections at the plurality of physical connection terminals; and validating the user input by comparing the detected connections to the physical connection terminals with the expected connection configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a platform that enables devices, services and applications to be connected together. Creating a “connected environment” via this platform requires co-ordinating multiple device manufacturers and service providers, and multiple standards/protocols. Advantageously, the platform removes the requirement for different manufacturers of different devices to adopt common protocols to enable device connection, and further, the platform removes the burden of configuration away from the consumer. Time-dependent behaviors, and time-dependent behaviors of groups of devices, may be tested in a simulated environment to identify emergent behaviors and software bugs before they are implemented via the platform, to enhance the user experience.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a system for estimating fuel consumption of a boiler in a building and to a method of estimating fuel consumption, in particular for estimating gas consumption. A system is disclosed for estimating fuel consumption of a boiler in a building, the system comprising at least boiler operating model configured to perform said estimating on the basis of at least one ON time of the boiler.

Abstract: The present invention provides a platform that enables devices, services and applications to be connected together. An in-home gateway device provides the hub for this connectivity, by connecting and co-ordinating in-home (and/or in-office) devices and cloud-based services. Creating a “connected environment” via this platform requires co-ordinating multiple device manufacturers and service providers, and multiple standards/protocols. Advantageously, the platform removes the requirement for different manufacturers of different devices to adopt common protocols to enable device connection, and further, the platform removes the burden of configuration away from the consumer.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a flow determination with respect to a flow through a fluid conduit such as a domestic water pipe, the fluid conduit comprising a wall having an inner surface surrounding a flow space through which the fluid flows and an outer surface, the apparatus comprising: a first temperature sensor arranged to be mounted on the outer surface of the fluid conduit and arranged to generate a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature being the temperature of the outer surface; a second temperature sensor arranged to be positioned spaced apart from the first temperature sensor and to generate a second temperature signal indicative of a second temperature being the ambient temperature outside of the fluid conduit; and a processor having inputs for the first and second temperature signals; in which the processor has an output for the flow determination and is arranged to make the flow determination by determining a measure of the convergence of the first and second temperatures over tim

Abstract: Described herein are techniques and systems for controlling, from a mobile device, an environmental control system including at least one appliance for influencing one or more environmental parameters at a premises. The mobile device comprising a user-interactive application for sending commands to the environmental control system. The application having a foreground state for controlling the environmental control system based on user-adjustable parameters; and a background state, in which user notifications are generated. A method can comprise: when the application is in a background state: determining the mobile device has crossed a geolocation threshold; determining an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition; displaying a notification to a user, comprising an option to initiate a command to control an appliance; detecting the user has selected an option; and sending a message to effect the command to the environmental control system.

Abstract: A system to provide feedback for energy saving to a user of a property comprising a plurality of appliances, the system comprising: at least one sensor monitoring energy consumption of one or more appliances within the property; a user interface to provide feedback to the user; and a processor configured to receive input data from an energy bill for the property covering a predetermined period; receive input regional average statistics regarding energy consumption for a set of predetermined categories of energy usage; generate a model of energy usage within a plurality of categories over the predetermined period by combining the input data, energy consumption data from the at least one sensor and generic statistics regarding energy consumption and output, via the user interface, feedback to the user based on the generated model.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the detection of degradation in climate control system performance, in particular to the detection of degradation in heating system performance or air-conditioning system performance that is an indicator of impending heating system failure or air-conditioning system failure in domestic properties. In particular, the present invention provides a method for detecting such degradation comprising: receiving climate control data indicative of a climate control system in a property (location) being turned on and turned off; receiving an energy consumption signal indicative of the energy consumption of the property; correlating the received signal with the received data to determine an energy consumption signature of the climate control system when being turned on and turned off; comparing the determined signature with previously obtained energy consumption signatures to detect differences in the determined signature that are indicative of degradation.