Abstract: A virtual thermostat system and method are provided. The method accepts commands via a virtual thermostat interface for establishing temperature set points for a plurality of zones. Energy consumption information is also accepted from a plurality of energy consumption units. Each unit consumes energy at an associated peak power to supply a controlled temperature medium to a corresponding zone. The method also accepts temperature measurements for each zone. Then, consumption commands are sent to each energy consumption unit in response to associated zone temperature set points, while insuring that a combined peak power of the energy consumption units is less than a maximum peak power threshold. In one aspect, the virtual thermostat accepts temperature measurements from a plurality of physical thermostats, each associated with an energy consumption unit. Then, consumption commands are relayed to the energy consumption units via associated physical thermostats.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for calculating power using a voltage waveform shape measurement from a contactless sensor. An electrically conductive medium carries alternating current (AC) electrical current, associated with an AC voltage, from a source node to a destination node. AC current is measured through the electrically conductive medium. Using a contactless sensor, an AC voltage waveform shape is measured. The power usage at the destination node is calculated in response to the AC current measurement, the measurement of the AC voltage waveform shape, and an AC voltage potential. For simplicity, the AC current and AC voltage waveform shape may both be measured at a first node located between the source node and the destination node. The AC voltage potential used in the power usage calculation may be an estimate, an actual measurement, or a value supplied by an external source (e.g., the power utility).

Abstract: A multi-dimensional energy control system is provided with an energy management software application that organizes the consumption of energy by a device as an n-dimensional energy space, where n is an integer greater than 2, and each axis in the energy space represents an energy consumption characteristic. The energy management application generates instructions for a device in response to calculating a compromise operating point in the energy space. A user interface (UI) connected to the energy management application has a display to receive a graphical representation of the energy space and compromise operating point, and an input to receive user commands for moving the represented compromise operating point in the represented energy space. The energy management application calculates the compromise operating point in the energy space to match the displayed compromise operating point.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for calculating power using a voltage waveform shape measurement from a contactless sensor. An electrically conductive medium carries alternating current (AC) electrical current, associated with an AC voltage, from a source node to a destination node. AC current is measured through the electrically conductive medium. Using a contactless sensor, an AC voltage waveform shape is measured. The power usage at the destination node is calculated in response to the AC current measurement, the measurement of the AC voltage waveform shape, and an AC voltage potential. For simplicity, the AC current and AC voltage waveform shape may both be measured at a first node located between the source node and the destination node. The AC voltage potential used in the power usage calculation may be an estimate, an actual measurement, or a value supplied by an external source (e.g., the power utility).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of diagnostic and detection assays. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and reagents including biochips for detecting the presence of, or distinguishing between, one or more analytes in a sample.

Abstract: Systems and devices for, and methods of, energy management via prompted response options based on detected anomalous conditions.

Abstract: Systems and devices for, and methods of, adaptive local energy storage capacity by changing operating set points of regulated energy load devices based on the presence, or absence, of an excess of available, generated energy.

Abstract: A thermostat user interface (UI) is provided for presenting calculated set point ranges. The thermostat UI has a major thermostat scale for presenting a current temperature and an overall range of feasible temperatures. A set point indictor indicates a set point input (e.g., desired temperature) with respect to the major thermostat scale. A minor thermostat scale presents a set point range, where the set point range is a range of permitted temperature measurement variations from the set point input. The set point range brackets the set point indicator with a maximum temperature value representing a highest temperature in the set point range, and a minimum temperature value representing a lowest temperature in the set point range. If high and low temperature set point indictors are used, then there are first and second minor thermostat scales bracketing, respectively, the high and low temperature set point indicators.

Abstract: A virtual thermostat system and method are provided. The method accepts commands via a virtual thermostat interface for establishing temperature set points for a plurality of zones. Energy consumption information is also accepted from a plurality of energy consumption units. Each unit consumes energy at an associated peak power to supply a controlled temperature medium to a corresponding zone. The method also accepts temperature measurements for each zone. Then, consumption commands are sent to each energy consumption unit in response to associated zone temperature set points, while insuring that a combined peak power of the energy consumption units is less than a maximum peak power threshold. In one aspect, the virtual thermostat accepts temperature measurements from a plurality of physical thermostats, each associated with an energy consumption unit. Then, consumption commands are relayed to the energy consumption units via associated physical thermostats.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional energy control system is provided with an energy management software application that organizes the consumption of energy by a device as an n-dimensional energy space, where n is an integer greater than 2, and each axis in the energy space represents an energy consumption characteristic. The energy management application generates instructions for a device in response to calculating a compromise operating point in the energy space. A user interface (UI) connected to the energy management application has a display to receive a graphical representation of the energy space and compromise operating point, and an input to receive user commands for moving the represented compromise operating point in the represented energy space. The energy management application calculates the compromise operating point in the energy space to match the displayed compromise operating point.

Abstract: A method and system for access-controlled customer data offloading uses a blind public utility-managed device. A customer-managed device encrypts collected customer data using per-type, per-period keys and transmits the encrypted customer data to the utility-managed device. The customer-managed device further encrypts the per-type, per-period keys using a master key and transmits the encrypted per-type, per-period keys to the utility-managed device. When the current period ends (e.g., each day at midnight), the customer-managed device generates new per-type, per-period keys and continues the above customer data offloading using the new per-type, per-period keys. As a result, the customer offloads storage of customer data to the public utility without relinquishing control over access to the customer data. Moreover, the fact that the customer data are encrypted by data type and period allows the customer to access and expose the customer data in highly granular fashion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for establishment and modification of network allocation parameters.

Abstract: Method and system for maintaining concurrent membership in multiple networks from a single wireless modem on a wireless networking device. The device time-multiplexes between the networks according to time slots allocated to each network that are shorter than the membership timeout period for the other network. Moreover, whenever the device switches between the networks, the device resets the modem and rejoins the other network using configuration information stored in a nonvolatile memory when the network being rejoined was previously quit. Each network remains unaware of the device's membership in the other network and regards the absence of transmission from the device during the time slot allocated to the other network as a temporary loss of radio contact rather than a membership termination event. The invention enables a single-modem wireless networking device to maintain concurrent ZigBee sessions on a smart energy network and a home automation network.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of diagnostic and detection assays. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and reagents including biochips for detecting the presence of, or distinguishing between, one or more analytes in a sample.

Abstract: Methods and systems for powering auxiliary devices in photovoltaic (PV) systems address shortcomings of conventional PV systems by harvesting unused electricity generated by the PV system to power the auxiliary devices. The methods and systems use PV panel power that is below the PV system inverter's harvesting threshold to charge rechargeable batteries in the auxiliary devices. The invention offers significant advantages over conventional PV systems, including full-time operability of auxiliary devices by virtue of rechargeable batteries that are charged using below threshold PV panel power, reduced field maintenance requirements for auxiliary devices (e.g., battery pack replacement), and elimination of bias in PV system performance data caused by parasitic load of auxiliary devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for detecting and applying network channel characteristic measurements.

Abstract: Systems and devices for, and methods of, energy management via prompted response options based on detected anomalous conditions.

Abstract: Systems and devices for, and methods of, adaptive local energy storage capacity by changing operating set points of regulated energy load devices based on the presence, or absence, of an excess of available, generated energy.

Abstract: A wireless client device (e.g. a WSD) discovers vacant DTV channels using location information acquired from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. In one aspect of the invention, a wireless client device discovers vacant DTV channels through direct communication with a local DHCP server and a remote primary user database server. In another aspect of the invention, a wireless client device discovers vacant DTV channels from an access device that communicates with a local DHCP server and a remote primary user database server.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for network connection setup and bandwidth allocation comprising negotiable and non-negotiable modulation allocation procedures.