Patents Assigned to OPOWER, INC.
  • Patent number: 11605140
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for an interactive analytics platform responsive to data inquiries. These aspects include identifying a request for energy consumption data of an energy user from a user in a live interaction with the energy user. A utility bill as well as energy consumption data associated with the second user may be retrieved using an authentication of the second user. Energy consumption factors that influence a billing amount of the utility bill may be identified based on the energy consumption data. An interface with specific billing insights that correspond to the energy consumption factors is generated. The specific billing insights provide an explanation as to why the billing amount of the utility bill exceeded a cost expectation of the second user. The interface mapped with the utility bill may be provided for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Han, Suryaveer Singh Lodha, Daniel Bloomfield Ramagem, Michael Ian Kristopher Eaton, Nowell Boardman Strite, Aaron Tsai Otani, Khanh Duc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11455666
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments are directed to methods and computer systems for reporting unusual or anomalous usage a commodity by consumers. A computer system retrieves a set of usage-information datasets corresponding to a set of consumers, each dataset including past usage of the commodity during at least one of a completed billing period and a current usage of the commodity during the current billing period. The computer system establishes a set of report-trigger conditions for the current billing period, each of the report-trigger conditions corresponding to a consumer. The computer system may monitor usage or spending of the set of consumers to determine, for each consumer, whether an estimated usage established for each consumer fulfills the consumer's report-trigger condition. Once the report-trigger condition is fulfilled, the computer system outputs a report to the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: OPower, INC.
    Inventors: Janet Yu, Tom Mercer, Eric Chang, Richard Tyler Curtis, Daniel J. Yates
  • Patent number: 11238545
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and computer systems for reporting a consumer's usage of a resource. A computer system retrieves consumer characteristic data and resource usage data for the first consumer and a set of second consumers including characteristic data related to each consumer. The computer system selects at least one consumer that is similar to the first consumer from the set of second consumers based upon a plurality of common criteria between the first consumer's characteristic data and a second consumer's characteristic data. The computer processes may be performing iteratively until the total number of similar consumers is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of consumers. Once a desired number of similar consumers is found, the computer system generates a report that displays the first consumer's resource usage data and the at least one similar consumers' resource usage data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Tyler Curtis, Kyle Yost
  • Patent number: 11188929
    Abstract: According to various aspects of the subject technology, systems and methods for identifying whether for a period of time, the weather is a cause for the consumption cost for a user exceeding a threshold cost. The determination can be made by comparing the received weather sensor data for the period of time to baseline weather data. If the weather is identified to be a cause for consumption cost for the user exceeding a threshold cost for the period of time, then a notification can be generated. The notification can indicate that the consumption cost for the user exceeds the threshold cost for the period of time and that weather is a reason for the consumption cost for the user exceeding the threshold costs. As such, the notification can warn the user that a high bill should be expected, thereby reducing bill shock and ensuing call center calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Sloss, Koorosh Nouri
  • Patent number: 11093950
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for calculating a customer activity score (CAS). In some aspects, a method of the subject technology includes steps including aggregating behavior information for each of a plurality of utility customers, the behavior information including historic consumption data for at least one consumable resource, and calculating, and using the behavior information, a customer activity score (CAS) for one or more of the utility customers. In some aspects, the method can also include steps for generating customer content for at least one of utility customers based on a corresponding CAS value. In some aspects, systems and computer-readable media are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Hersh, Daniel Bloomfield Ramagem, Suryaveer Lodha, Lawrence Han, Rachel Zuraw, Kristy Mayer
  • Patent number: 10885238
    Abstract: A method and system for calculating an estimated future indoor air temperature for a building receives information about the building, information about environmental conditions, and thermostat set point information, determines, using a processor, thermodynamic properties of the building based on the received information about the building, and calculates the estimated future indoor air temperature using the determined thermodynamic properties of the building, the received information about environmental conditions, and the received thermostat set point information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Packer, William Derose, Agustin Fonts, Ralph Niewmierzycki
  • Patent number: 10860615
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a system that analyzes customers' AMI load curves, identifies evening peak users as defined by their load curves, and provides Energy Efficiency (EE) advice related to their periods of high use. For example, identified high evening users can be sent an email with normative comparisons on evening load use, along with tips to reduce energy usage. Other aspects relate to the additional targets/communications. Aspects of the subject technology relate to categorizing a user's energy consumption tendencies based on a user's load curve and providing customized content based on the user's category. By taking into consideration the user's actual energy consumption patterns, the system may be able to provide more relevant content to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Shilts, Garner Chung, Suelyn Yu, David Royer
  • Patent number: 10817789
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for recommending an energy storage device. In some aspects, a method of the subject technology can include steps for aggregating consumption data for a customer, receiving energy production data for each of a plurality of energy production sources, and determining a utilization efficiency score for each of the plurality of energy storage devices based on the consumption data and the energy production data. In some aspects, methods of the subject technology can also include steps for ranking two or more of the energy storage devices based on the utilization efficiency. In some aspects, machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Fischer
  • Patent number: 10796346
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and computer systems for reporting unusual or anomalous usage or spending of a commodity by consumers. A computer system retrieves a set of usage-information datasets corresponding to a set of consumers, each dataset including past usage of the commodity during at least one of a completed billing period and a current usage of the commodity during the current billing period. The computer system establishes a set of report-trigger conditions for the current billing period, each of the report-trigger conditions corresponding to a consumer. The computer system monitor usage or spending of the set of consumers to determine, for each consumer, whether an estimated usage established for each consumer fulfills the consumer's report-trigger condition. Once the report-trigger condition is fulfilled, the computer system outputs a report to the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Opower, Inc.
    Inventors: Janet Yu, Tom Mercer, Eric Chang, Richard Tyler Curtis, Daniel J. Yates
  • Patent number: 10754918
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for calculating a thermal sensitivity score. In some aspects, the method includes steps for receiving temperature information for a first geographic location, receiving resource consumption data for each of a plurality of similar consumption locations in the first geographic location, and generating, by the processors, a thermal sensitivity model based on the temperature information and the resource consumption data for each of the plurality of similar consumption locations. In some aspects, the steps can further include computing a thermal sensitivity score for each of the similar consumption locations using the thermal sensitivity model. Systems and machine readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Suelyn Yu, Garner Chung, Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts
  • Patent number: 10719797
    Abstract: Methods and computer systems report and track resource performance for business customers. The computer system receives usage data about a resource associated with a customer of a utility, including hourly usage information about the resource metered at a business premises of the customer. The computer system receives operational data associated with the business premises, including hours of operations information describing when the business premises is open to patrons. The computer system determines resource performance data for the business premises using the received usage data and the received operational data, including information about: (i) resource usage at the business premises during the hours when open to patrons, and (ii) resource usage at the business premises during the hours when closed to patrons. The computer system causes a reporting of this information to the customer of the resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: OPOWER, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin David Foster
  • Patent number: 10614532
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for an interactive analytics platform responsive to data inquiries. These aspects include identifying a request for energy consumption data of an energy user from a user in a live interaction with the energy user. A utility bill as well as energy consumption data associated with the second user may be retrieved using an authentication of the second user. Energy consumption factors that influence a billing amount of the utility bill may be identified based on the energy consumption data. An interface with specific billing insights that correspond to the energy consumption factors is generated. The specific billing insights provide an explanation as to why the billing amount of the utility bill exceeded a cost expectation of the second user. The interface mapped with the utility bill may be provided for display to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Han, Suryaveer Singh Lodha, Daniel Bloomfield Ramagem, Michael Ian Kristopher Eaton, Nowell Boardman Strite, Aaron Tsai Otani, Khanh Duc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10572889
    Abstract: According to various aspects of the subject technology, systems and methods for analyzing consumption data associated with a user to determine a projected consumption cost for the user. The projected consumption cost can indicate an expected monetary cost that the user will be required to pay for resource consumption during a specified time period. If it is determined that the projected consumption cost exceeds a threshold consumption cost indicating that the projected consumption cost of the user will be high, the user can be provided with one or more use reports notifying the user that the user's projected consumption cost will be high for the time period. The use reports can warn the user that a high bill should be expected, thereby reducing bill shock and ensuing call center calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Sloss, Koorosh Nouri
  • Patent number: 10559044
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for calculating a peak consumption threshold, and for using the peak consumption threshold to determine the likelihood of future peak resource consumption events. In some aspects, methods of the subject technology include steps for receiving resource consumption data for a plurality of utility customers, wherein the resource consumption data comprises an indication of an amount of electric power used by each of the plurality of utility customers, and calculating, using the one or more processors, a plurality of consumption averages for the resource consumption data. In some aspects, the method can further include steps for calculating a peak consumption threshold based on the consumption values for the resource consumption data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandra Liptsey-Rahe
  • Patent number: 10552856
    Abstract: According to various aspects of the subject technology, systems and methods for qualifying solar leads are described. In certain implementations, data about utility customers and/or other information are used to identify high-quality solar leads, thus reducing the amount of extraneous work for installers and resulting in an overall reduction of the total cost of solar implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Turfboer, Steven Blumenfeld, Anna Lising, Alex Kinnier, Daniel Yates, Alexander Laskey
  • Patent number: 10504081
    Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for interactive analytics platform responsive to data inquiries. These aspects include initiating, on one or more computing devices, a follow-up communication to an energy user based on one or more interactions between a billing advisor user and a billing advisor interface to a utility bill associated with an energy user. Content associated with the one or more interactions can be identified using the one or more computing devices. The content may identify information responsive to a data inquiry from the energy user. The follow-up communication can be generated with the identified content using the one or more computing devices for transmission to the energy user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Han, Suryaveer Singh Lodha, Daniel Bloomfield Ramagem, Michael Ian Kristopher Eaton, Leslie Marie Zacharkow, Aaron Tsai Otani, Khanh Duc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10467249
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a system that analyzes customers' AMI load curves, identifies evening peak users as defined by their load curves, and provides Energy Efficiency (EE) advice related to their periods of high use. For example, identified high evening users can be sent an email with normative comparisons on evening load use, along with tips to reduce energy usage. Other aspects relate to additional targets/communications. Aspects of the subject technology relate to categorizing a user's energy consumption tendencies based on a user's load curve and providing customized content based on the user's category. By taking into consideration the user's actual energy consumption patterns, the system may be able to provide more relevant content to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Erik Shilts, Garner Chung, Suelyn Yu, David Royer
  • Patent number: 10410130
    Abstract: A residential home characteristics inferring method and system that receives information about energy usage by an energy user, determines using a processor and the received information about energy usage average daily usage during a heating season and average daily usage during a shoulder season, and identifies the fuel type used for heating by the energy user using the determined average daily usage during the heating season and the determined average daily usage during the shoulder season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Joanna Kochaniak, Arhan Gunel, Rajesh Nerlikar, Yoni Ben-Meshulam, Jan Rubio, Anton Vattay, Randall Benjamin Siemon, Erik Shilts
  • Patent number: 10371861
    Abstract: Notification techniques for reducing energy usage include detecting a weather event for a location of at least one consumer, determining, based on the weather event, at least one modified behavior to reduce energy usage for the at least one consumer, and providing a notification to the at least one consumer regarding the at least one modified behavior for the weather event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Suelyn Yu, Garner Chung, David Royer
  • Patent number: 10235662
    Abstract: Techniques for unusual usage alerts without smart meter data are provided. The computing device can determine a set of climate control disaggregation coefficients and obtain weather data corresponding to at least a portion of a billing period. In turn, the computing device can determine first forecasted usage data for the at least a portion of the billing period based on the set of climate control disaggregation coefficients and the weather data, and determine second forecasted usage data for a length of the billing period based at least in part on the first forecasted usage data. In some aspects, the computing device can project unusual energy usage for the billing period based on the second forecasted usage data determined to be greater than usage data for a prior time period. The computing device can generate an alert notification including an indication of the unusual energy usage projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Tyler Curtis