Abstract: A demand supply management system for an appliance receives information related to cost of energy use and communicates data to the associated appliance in response thereto. A single chip, light emitting diode (LED) device is preferably associated with a module or portion of the home appliance. The LED device conveys information relating to at least two of cost of energy use, signal strength, and module status. The LED device is preferably a single chip, single color solid-state LED device that is selectively actuated between “illuminated” and “non-illuminated” states, steady on, slow flash, fast flash, varying duration, intermittent “illuminated” and “non-illuminated”, etc. to convey information to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of controlling an appliance comprising: profiling at least one appliance including one or more power consuming functions connected with a home energy management system (HEM); defining an energy event corresponding to each of the one or more power consuming functions; developing a home energy profile in the HEM of all the energy events including a calendar of energy events; manipulating the home energy profile by a user wherein the user cancels, delays, reschedules, or enables processing of the calendar of energy events; and, communicating through a translator board wireless communication between the HEM and the at least one appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments of an appliance and method utilize data keys to facilitate the exchange of data and information among devices as part of an energy management system. The data keys contain and/or encode information particular to the appliance. This information helps to distinguish data that originates from one appliance from data that originates from other appliances in the household. In one embodiment, the data keys are stored locally, either on devices (e.g., memory) incorporated into the appliance or on a communication device (e.g., a wireless radio) that can connect to the appliance to permit the exchange of inputs and outputs. Exemplary configuration of the appliance can sense the connection with the communication device and provide an input to the communication device to determine the data key that is associated with the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.

Abstract: A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that determines a sleep schedule for reduced function devices on a home network. The devices have various sleep schedules in which to operate in an active state or a reduced function state. The controller determines the different schedules by sending communication messages to each device via a communication module. A timer is used to determine a sleep schedule for reduced function devices (RFDs) on the network. The sleep schedule is used to monitor when the devices are communicating on the network and are no longer able to communicate with the controller.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory.

Abstract: An energy management system for an appliance comprising an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode; and a controller connected to the interface, the control, and the mode selecting device. The controller is arranged such that upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller initiates the operation when a majority of the energy consumption of the operation is within the off-peak time segment; and upon selection of the immediate start mode, the controller initiates the operation immediately.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that selects a frequency channel for a communication module joining a network of a home. Each module is assigned by the controller a frequency channel to communicate on that excludes channels already being used by a network of the home. Separate networks of a home are joined without communicating on the same frequency channel.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a central controller that takes energy data available from a power/energy measuring device, such as a “smart” meter that is located on a primary network and makes that data available to devices over a secondary network. The central controller is a home energy gateway that includes two communication modules, one of which is used to bind a meter as a router or end point on the primary network, and one which is used to form a secondary network here the central controller operates as network coordinator. The central controller also operates as an energy service portal for devices on the secondary network.

Abstract: An energy management system for an appliance comprising an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode; and a controller connected to the interface, the control, and the mode selecting device. The controller is arranged such that upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller initiates the operation when a majority of the energy consumption of the operation is within the off-peak time segment; and upon selection of the immediate start mode, the controller initiates the operation immediately.

Abstract: A household energy management system and method for managing multiple appliances is provided comprising: a central controller for managing power consumption of multiple appliances within a household, each appliance including an appliance controller; and, a communication network connecting the central controller to one or more of a utility meter and/or a demand server. The central controller maintains in a memory the managing of power consumption of the multiple appliances. The central controller instructs one or more appliances to shed load demand in response to inputs from the utility meter or demand server. Each appliance controller is configured to respond to shed load instructions from the central controller directed to it or directed to at least one other associated appliance by changing its load demand.

Abstract: A system and method for managing energy of a home or other structure are disclosed. An energy management system for a home network comprises a central device controller configured to communicate with energy consuming devices, energy generation devices and storage devices at a home. Power/energy measuring devices provide consumption measurements for the home and each device to the controller. A home network router routes communications among various networks for the home. The router provides for a 6LowPan/Zigbee network to communicate with WiFi, Ethernet and the like networked devices of the home.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a home energy management system for receiving data indicative of a current demand state of an associated utility supplying energy and transmitting data in response. The energy management system comprising at least one home energy consuming system and a controller being configured and arranged to communicate with the at least one home energy consuming system, the controller is capable of automatically responding to the demand signal adopting an opt-in or an opt-out status for the home energy consuming system in compliance or in noncompliance with the demand signal. The controller includes an interface allowing optional programming by an associated user to automatically provide an opt-out response wherein the demand for limiting energy consumption is not recognized.

Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller adjusts the temperature of the refrigerator and/or freezer from a normal setting to a higher point during an energy saving mode and then back to a normal temperature. The transition between low and high is controlled to reduce energy consumption.

Abstract: A household energy management system is provided comprising a controller for managing power consumption of multiple devices within a household wherein the controller monitors energy usage data from a utility. The system further provides a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage by the household and a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of the energy usage. The system yet further provides a local generator for generating energy for one or more of the energy consuming devices wherein the controller initiates the generator and changes at least some of the energy usage from the utility to the local generator when the energy usage level is within a predetermined percentage range of the parameter.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system.

Abstract: A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet.

Abstract: A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device.