Patents by Inventor Benjamin Packer

Benjamin Packer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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: 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: 10229464
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relate to a method for calculating a wind sensitivity score. In some aspects, a method of implementing the technology can include steps for receiving wind speed information for a first geographic location over a first time period, receiving resource consumption data for each of a plurality of similar consumption locations in the first geographic location over the first time period; and generating a wind sensitivity model based on the wind speed information and the resource consumption data for each of the plurality of similar consumption locations. In some aspects, the method may further include steps for computing a wind sensitivity score for each of the similar consumption locations using the wind sensitivity model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Suelyn Yu, Garner Chung, Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts
  • Patent number: 10198483
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for classifying businesses according to an open-hours classification category, for example, based on resource consumption data. In some implementations, methods of the subject technology include steps for receiving a plurality of operating hours categories, wherein each of the operating hours categories is associated with at least one usage profile, and receiving business information for an unclassified business, wherein the business information comprises resource consumption data for the unclassified business. In some aspects, methods of the subject technology can further include steps for determining if the unclassified business should be associated with one of the operating hours categories based on the resource consumption data for the unclassified business. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts, Madhanmohan Raju, Natalie Musick
  • Patent number: 10074097
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for classifying businesses based on various types of information, such as resource consumption information. In some implementations, methods of the subject technology include steps for receiving a plurality of business categories, wherein each of the business categories is associated with at least one category profile, and receiving business information for an unclassified business, wherein the business information comprises behavioral attribute information corresponding with the unclassified business. In some implementations, the methods disclosed herein can further include steps for comparing the business information to one or more of the category profiles to determine if the unclassified business should be associated with at least one of the plurality of business categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts, Madhanmohan Raju, Natalie Musick
  • Patent number: 10019739
    Abstract: Techniques for energy usage alerts for a climate control device are provided. A computing device can determine a target budget for a specified budget period. The target budget may relate to a desired energy usage amount for a corresponding utility customer. The computing device can obtain usage data relating to actual energy usage by a property associated with the corresponding utility customer or a component of the property. The computing device can determine a projected use relating to an estimated energy usage for remaining days in the specified budget period based on the usage data. The computing device can generate a message including a projected bill for the corresponding utility customer based on the usage data and the projected use. The computing device can send the message to a climate control device associated with the corresponding utility customer based on the projected bill being greater than the target budget.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Packer, Agustin Fonts
  • Publication number: 20170242939
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relate to a method for calculating a wind sensitivity score. In some aspects, a method of implementing the technology can include steps for receiving wind speed information for a first geographic location over a first time period, receiving resource consumption data for each of a plurality of similar consumption locations in the first geographic location over the first time period; and generating a wind sensitivity model based on the wind speed information and the resource consumption data for each of the plurality of similar consumption locations. In some aspects, the method may further include steps for computing a wind sensitivity score for each of the similar consumption locations using the wind sensitivity model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Suelyn Yu, Garner Chung, Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts
  • Publication number: 20170242940
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for calculating a solar sensitivity score. In some implementations, a method of the subject technology may include steps for receiving solar exposure information for a first geographic location over a first time period, receiving resource consumption data for each of a plurality of similar consumption locations in the first geographic location over the first time period, and generating a solar sensitivity model based on the solar exposure information and the resource consumption data for each of the plurality of similar consumption locations. In some aspects, the method may further include steps for computing a solar sensitivity score using the solar sensitivity model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Suelyn Yu, Garner Chung, Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts
  • Publication number: 20170242938
    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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Suelyn Yu, Garner Chung, Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts
  • Publication number: 20160224634
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for classifying businesses according to an open-hours classification category, for example, based on resource consumption data. In some implementations, methods of the subject technology include steps for receiving a plurality of operating hours categories, wherein each of the operating hours categories is associated with at least one usage profile, and receiving business information for an unclassified business, wherein the business information comprises resource consumption data for the unclassified business. In some aspects, methods of the subject technology can further include steps for determining if the unclassified business should be associated with one of the operating hours categories based on the resource consumption data for the unclassified business. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts, Madhanmohan Raju, Natalie Musick
  • Publication number: 20160224994
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for classifying businesses based on various types of information, such as resource consumption information. In some implementations, methods of the subject technology include steps for receiving a plurality of business categories, wherein each of the business categories is associated with at least one category profile, and receiving business information for an unclassified business, wherein the business information comprises behavioral attribute information corresponding with the unclassified business. In some implementations, the methods disclosed herein can further include steps for comparing the business information to one or more of the category profiles to determine if the unclassified business should be associated with at least one of the plurality of business categories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin Packer, Erik Shilts, Madhanmohan Raju, Natalie Musick