Abstract: A gateway includes a processor operable to manage energy use at a site. The processor is configured to receive network device data from a long range communication network, wherein the network device data is initiated from at least one of a mobile device or a cloud service to alter an operating condition of a network device located at a site. The processor is also configured to detect an availability of the network device connected to a second network configured as a local network, and format the network device data to a message bus format configured to be output to a communication device configured to access the second network. The processor is further configured to receive response data from the network device formatted to be communicated using the second network, and translate the received response data to another format capable of being output over the long range communication network.

Abstract: A household electric appliance and a household electric system are provided which are capable of quickly responding to the electric power demand in which the peak cut of the power consumption is requested. The household electric appliance comprises: a receiving unit that receives a request for a peak cut of power consumption at a predetermined rate from a remote controller and a mobile terminal; a drive unit that drives a power-consuming object to be driven; and a control unit that controls an action of the drive unit. The control unit, in the case of reception of the peak cut request from the remote controller or the mobile terminal, controls the action of the drive unit so as to cut a maximum value of the power consumption within the appliance based on the requested rate.

Abstract: A controller for controlling energy consumption in a home includes a constraints engine to define variables for multiple appliances in the home corresponding to various home modes and persona of an occupant of the home. A modeling engine models multiple paths of energy utilization of the multiple appliances to place the home into a desired state from a current context. An optimal scheduler receives the multiple paths of energy utilization and generates a schedule as a function of the multiple paths and a selected persona to place the home in a desired state.

Abstract: A system to cool a module data center including a fluid cooling device to cool a first set of components of the module data center using a fluid cooling loop and an air cooling device to provide an air to cool a second set of components of the module data center. Also, a control apparatus to determine an air cooling temperature for the air cooling loop based on an environmental condition, determine a fluid cooling temperature for the fluid cooling loop based on the environmental condition, transmit an air signal to the air cooling device to set the air cooling temperature, and transmit a fluid signal to the fluid cooling device to set the fluid cooling temperature.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for developing a criticality profile of an industrial asset. The criticality profile describes the importance of the industrial asset to a system in terms of one or more criticality metrics and/or one or more confidence profiles. Such metrics may include an operational metric indicative of the operation impact of the industrial asset on a system if the industrial asset remains unchanged or enters a degraded or improved state, a restoration metric indicative of a complexity of restoring the industrial asset to an operational state from the unchanged or degraded state and/or complexity of improving the industrial asset to an improved state, and/or an interdependency metric indicative of a relationship between the industrial asset and one or more other industrial assets and/or between the industrial asset and one or more structures in an environment associated with the industrial asset.

Abstract: A controller of an air-conditioning system includes a feedback control unit configured to generate a state quantity command from a control parameter and a difference between a target value of a room temperature and a measured room temperature and control the room temperature to the target value on the basis of the state quantity command, a control target heat characteristic model calculation unit configured to calculate a parameter of a model regarding a heat characteristic of a control target from at least a state quantity regarding an amount of heat supplied to the control target or the state quantity command, and the measured room temperature during normal operation, and a control parameter determination unit configured to determine the control parameter by using the parameter and a formula derived from the model regarding the heat characteristic of the control target.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controller, a method of receiving signals from a keypad and an HVAC system incorporating the controller or the method. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a keypad having at least first and second banks, (2) a reference signal source configured to generate a time-varying untransformed reference signal and provide the untransformed reference signal to the first bank, (3) transformation circuitry configured to transform the untransformed reference signal into a transformed reference signal and provide the transformed reference signal to the second bank and (4) a processor having interrupt pins coupled to corresponding keys of both the first and second banks and a further interrupt pin coupled to receive one of the untransformed and transformed reference signal.

Abstract: A wireless lighting control system includes a remote server system connected to a wide area network and having software for configuring, monitoring, and controlling lighting fixtures at an installation site. The site includes wireless devices in communication with a gateway via a local wireless network and at least some of the wireless devices are configured to control lighting fixtures, including a configurable user control device, such as a wall dimmer switch, having user interface elements configurable to activate specific lighting effects, such as power, dimming, and scene control. A user computer device is connected to the wide area network and has a graphical user interface enabling virtually mapping of user interface elements to lighting effects. Configuration can advantageously be done without physical access to either the user control device or to the lighting controllers, fixtures, or other devices at the installation site.

Abstract: A building control system includes a hybrid controller which receives measurements from sensors and provides control signals to building equipment. The hybrid controller includes a state transition controller, a state history tracker, and an adaptive user interface generator. The state transition controller transitions between multiple discrete operating states by executing state transitions. The state history tracker records a state history including a sequence of state transitions executed by the state transition controller and/or a sequence of operating states resulting from the state transitions. The adaptive user interface generator generates an adaptive user interface including a representation of the multiple discrete operating states and the state transitions therebetween. The adaptive user interface includes state history controls operable to navigate the state history and select an operating state defined by the state history.

Abstract: A system includes an energy production device, a tampering detection system comprising a plurality of sensors, and a control system in communication with the plurality of sensors. The control system is configured to detect a candidate for a tampering event, determine if the candidate is a tampering or a normal operational error by comparing a first order condition to a predetermined threshold, and, when the predetermined threshold is not met, comparing the candidate to a subsequent order condition until the threshold is met, and direct an undertaking of a countermeasure when the candidate is a determined tampering or undertaking a maintenance when the candidate is a determined normal operational error.

Abstract: A system and process of adjusting units coupled to a control element which includes, installing the unit at a selected location. A parameter can be entered from a displaced user operable device. The unit can be directed to carry out a selected function. Performance can be evaluated whether an additional parameter alteration is required based on a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A lighting device control system for controlling one or more lighting devices includes a first lighting device comprising an optical radiation source, and a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a processor, a user interface, and a memory device. The memory device includes programming instructions to cause the processor of the portable electronic device to: cause the user interface to output a plurality of candidate optical characteristics for the optical radiation source and a user-selectable setting for at least some of the candidate optical characteristics, receive a selection of at least one of the candidate optical characteristics and an associated setting for each of the selected optical characteristics, generate a light operation request that comprises each of the one or more selected optical characteristics and its associated setting and an account identifier, and transmit the light operation request to the first lighting device.

Abstract: An energy consumption alerting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors deployed at different locations of at least one monitored site, the sensors being able to provide location-specific energy consumption values. The system further includes a data aggregation facility so as to sum up location-specific energy consumption values associated with at least two corresponding predetermined sensors of the plurality of sensors to obtain an aggregated energy consumption value. The system further includes an alerting facility this is able to compare the aggregated energy consumption value with an user-defined threshold level and notify a user if the at least one aggregated energy consumption value exceeds the at least one user-defined threshold level. A cloud-based energy consumption alerting platform and an energy consumption alerting method are also provided.

Abstract: An air quality monitoring and management system adapted to be mounted between an existing thermostat and a wall in which the thermostat was previously mounted, or directly at the HVAC system. The air quality monitoring and management system contains various wires for connecting to both a thermostat and HVAC system, thereby effectively intercepting the signal between the thermostat and HVAC system. The air quality monitoring and management system includes air quality measuring sensors, a housing for mounting between the wall and thermostat, and a controller that supplies electrical signals to the HVAC system through use of the aforementioned wires to supplement the control of the HVAC fan in conjunction with the thermostat to help increase air flow in the affected area. The air quality monitoring and management system may include an air quality management controller mounted to an HVAC air handling unit, and wirelessly connected to sensors.

Abstract: A control panel is used to control and/or monitor an automation system. The automation system may also be used in connection with one or more enhanced services, such as a remote access service. The remote access service may allow a user to control or monitor some or all aspects of the automation system through a remote computing device. To use the remote access service, or other enhanced services, the user may register to associate the user with the control panel of the automation system. If it is determined that the user has not registered, the service provider may send a message to the control panel. The message may prompt the user to register for the enhanced service. Optionally, contact information may be requested to allow a message to be sent to a personal device of the user to facilitate registration or use of the enhanced service.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for energy consumption modeling are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to assign energy consumption data to an on state and an off state of a device, generate a model configured to predict a future state of the device and a duration of the future state based on a duration of a current state of the device, a duration of a previous state of the device, and operating conditions of the device, and predict a future energy consumption of the device using the assigned energy consumption data and the generated model.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is provided. The monitoring system includes a monitoring server and a monitoring client. The monitoring server is configured to receive an aggregate current value from a monitoring device, wherein the aggregate current value represents a total current flowing through the HVAC system, determine a commanded operating mode of the HVAC system in response to the aggregate current value, wherein operating modes of the HVAC system include at least one of an idle mode and an ON mode, and analyze a system condition of the HVAC system based on the determined commanded operating mode. The monitoring client is configured to command the monitoring server to execute validation testing based on data received from monitoring the HVAC system, display results of validation testing, display real-time system performance data, and display an alert during a system malfunction.

Abstract: A building management system includes connected equipment and a predictive diagnostics system. The connected equipment is configured to measure a plurality of monitored variables. The predictive diagnostics system includes a communications interface, a steady state detector, a controller. The communications interface is configured to receive samples of the monitored variables from the connected equipment. The steady state detector is configured to recursively update a mean and a variance of the samples each time a new sample is received, identify whether each of the samples reflects a steady state or a transient state of operation of the connected equipment using the mean and the variance, and associate each of the samples to the steady state or the transient state as identified. The controller is configured to adjust an operation of the connected equipment based on the steady state or the transient state as identified.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.

Abstract: An air conditioning system has an air conditioner, which includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that configure a refrigerant circuit, and a controller, which controls the running of the air conditioner. The controller does not allow operation of the air conditioner to start in a case where a signal from a ventilation unit that includes a ventilation fan for ventilation and ventilates a target space or a refrigerant leak sensor that detects refrigerant leakage in the target space is not input to the controller. Because of this, even in a configuration where an air conditioner and a ventilation unit are installed independently of each other, operation of the air conditioner can be performed in a state in which there is reliably established a countermeasure such as the ventilation unit being operated when the refrigerant has leaked, and safety and security with respect to refrigerant leakage are reliably ensured.

Abstract: A method is described for acquiring data for relay-based controller tuning of a controller controlling a system. The method includes determining, based on controller output constraint, a relay amplitude representing an amplitude of a relay signal to be added to steady state controller output to obtain a sum signal to be fed to the system as system input during the acquiring data for relay-based controller tuning; and starting acquiring controller output data and system output data when detecting a steady state of system output while controller output is fed to the system as system input.

Abstract: An automation system may include a smart doorman. The system may observe one or more guests to a residence, predict a user profile associated with the guest, and invite an administrator of the automation system to create the suggested profile of the guest. The system may store one or more biometric identifiers with a visitation pattern to determine if the guest requires a profile. In one embodiment, a method for security and/or automation systems may be described. The method may include detecting the presence of one or more guests at an entrance to a residence and comparing the presence of a guest to one or more profile parameters. A guest profile associated with the guest may be predicted based at least in part on the comparing.

Abstract: A electronic device includes a pyroelectric element that senses a thermal change, a detector, and a controller. The detector detects the movement of the subject based on a detection signal output from the pyroelectric element. The controller sets detection sensitivity of the detector based on a result of the detection by the detector. The detection sensitivity is set to low sensitivity or high sensitivity. The controller sets the detection sensitivity to the high sensitivity when the detector has detected the movement of the subject. The controller sets the detection sensitivity to the low sensitivity when a predetermined period has elapsed without the detector detecting the movement of the subject in the state where detection sensitivity is the high sensitivity.

Abstract: A method and system of optimally adjusting the environment of a predetermined location based upon the movement of a mobile communication device using location-based services.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) includes building equipment configured to provide samples of one or more data points in the building management system and a timeseries service. The timeseries service is configured to identify a first timeseries processing workflow that uses an input timeseries as an input and defines processing operations to be applied to the samples of the input timeseries, perform the processing operations defined by the first timeseries processing workflow to generate a first derived timeseries comprising a first set of derived timeseries samples, identify a second timeseries processing workflow that uses the first derived timeseries as an input and defines processing operations to be applied to the samples of the first derived timeseries, and perform the processing operations defined by the second timeseries processing workflow to generate a second derived timeseries comprising a second set of derived timeseries samples.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for controlling appliances. One apparatus includes a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to detect a usage history of multiple types of appliances in a building. The code is executable by the processor to determine changes to operation of the multiple types of appliances based on the usage history. The code is executable by the processor to control the multiple types of appliances based on the determined changes to the operation of the multiple types of appliances.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for energy reduction are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving data from a thermostat, an HVAC system, and one or more temperature sensors associated with a property. The actions further include generating an HVAC performance model based on the received data from the thermostat, the HVAC system, and the one or more temperature sensors associated with the property. The actions further include receiving user data indicating user presence and user preferences. The actions further include identifying an energy penalty score. The actions further include receiving weather data. The actions further include creating an energy routine based on the HVAC performance model, the user data, the identified energy penalty score, and the received weather data. The actions further include transmitting an instruction including the energy routine to one or more devices.

Abstract: A method for operating a thermal system, wherein a component of a facility or building has to be heated and/or cooled by the thermal system, includes selecting a control mode of the thermal system for bringing and/or maintaining the component to or at a definable temperature value or to or within a definable temperature value range. The control mode is dynamically selected from multiple different control modes under consideration of at least one boundary condition of the component and/or at least one environmental context parameter and under consideration of data regarding learnt/adapted thermal behavior of the component.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a temperature based on scheduling of an indoor temperature are provided. The apparatus obtains set temperature history information of an air handling unit from previously stored information. The set temperature history information is mapped to weather factor history information about at least one weather factor. The apparatus also obtains weather factor information regarding a scheduling target time. Based on the obtained set temperature history information and the obtained weather factor information, the apparatus schedules a set temperature of the air handling unit with regard to the scheduling target time.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for forecasting air pollution. One or more air-pollution monitoring stations correlated to a forecasting point from a plurality of air-pollution monitoring stations are identified. For the one or more air-pollution monitoring stations that correlate to the forecasting point, one or more patterns of the forecasting point, historical patterns of the forecasting point relating to the one or more patterns of the forecasting point, and one or more patterns of the air-pollution monitoring stations that relate to the one or more patterns of the forecasting point are identified. Based on the one or more patterns of the forecasting point, the historical patterns of the forecasting point relating to the one or more patterns of the forecasting point, and the one or more patterns of the air-pollution monitoring stations that relate to the one or more patterns of the forecasting point, a pollution forecast is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a communication apparatus, display apparatus and method of controlling the same. A communication apparatus includes a communication unit including a plurality of communication modules, each communication module comprising communication circuitry, the communication unit supporting different wireless communication methods; and a communication controller configured to sequentially activate each of the plurality of communication modules in a predetermined order.

Abstract: Systems for coupling the operations of an environmental modifying unit and a smart appliance are described. In one form the system includes a central communication unit, a baby monitor, and a dispenser for modifying the environment in which the baby monitor exists. The central communication unit, the baby monitor, and the dispenser are wirelessly connected to one another.

Abstract: A building analysis system includes a communications interface that receives energy consumption data for a building site including energy-consuming building equipment. A processing circuit of the building analysis system calculates first and second regression statistics indicating a fit of an energy use model to the energy consumption data under a null hypothesis that the energy use model has a first parameter order and an alternative hypothesis that the energy use model has a second parameter order different from the first parameter order. The processing circuit generates a test statistic indicating an improvement between the first regression statistic and the second regression statistic, compares the test statistic to a threshold value to determine whether the improvement warrants rejecting the null hypothesis, and determines an appropriate parameter order for the energy use model based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for parameter standardization. At least one embodiment of a system includes a first determining component configured to determine at least one business rule associated with at least one environment and a second determining component configured to determine settings for a plurality of assets associated with the at least one environment to enforce the determined at least one business rule. Some embodiments include a sending component configured to send a signal to the plurality of assets to implement the business rule.

Abstract: A method for cooling components of an information handling system (IHS) includes detecting, via a thermal control system, at least one pressure reading, at least one temperature reading and at least one current cooling device setting of the IHS. At least one new cooling device setting is calculated based on the pressure reading and the temperature reading. The new cooling device setting is compared to the current cooling device setting associated with one or more cooling devices of the IHS. In response to the new cooling device setting being different from the current cooling device setting, one or more of the corresponding cooling devices are triggered to adjust its/their current cooling device setting to the new cooling device setting corresponding to the respective cooling device.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller is disposed at a site and includes a communication device capable of establishing a WIFI network to communicate with a mobile device. The controller is further configured to detect the mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network, alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection and alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection. A method of proximity control using a WIFI connection includes detecting a mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network, altering an operating condition of a site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection and altering an operating condition of the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection.

Abstract: A device may include a processor and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for forwarding a sensor data packet. The operations may include receiving the sensor data packet. In one example, the sensor data packet includes a sensor identification, a sensor classification, and sensor data. The operations may further include forwarding the sensor data packet to a second device based upon the sensor identification and the sensor classification.

Abstract: Using information available from the controller or controllers of air-handling units, a remote server uses a heuristic model to determine settings for the air-handling units. Rather than just using rules for each air-handling unit, a model-based solution determines the settings. The model is used to optimize operation of the air distribution. In additional or alternative embodiments, measurements are gathered and used to derive analytics. The measurements may include data not otherwise used for rule-based control of the air handling unit. The analytics are used to predict needs, as inputs to the modeling, identify problems, and/or identify opportunities.

Abstract: A management device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to collect measurement data from sensors installed in respective measurement locations including outside an installation room in which an information processing device is installed, in a gas path in an air-conditioning system of the installation room, and inside the installation room, the measurement data being data measured by the respective sensors. The processor is configured to store the measurement data in the memory. The processor is configured to delete unnecessary data from the measurement data stored in the memory. The processor is configured to calculate a predicted value in at least one measurement location of the measurement locations on basis of the measurement data from which the unnecessary data is deleted. The predicted value is a value of data predicted to be measured by any of the sensors.

Abstract: A system including a natural language processing interface to configure a user interface of a device to receive an input, understand an intent from the input, and send a second set of instructions to the device to operate the device to configure the user interface to display a feedback request and receive a second input, and a control system to select a model to transform the intent to an action to influence physical conditions of a building, determine a state of one or more components to perform the action, and send instructions to the one or more components to alter their operations to achieve the state.

Abstract: A system and method includes a power control circuit for controlling first power from a power supply provided to a first circuit includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage includes a low power energy detector and a first power switch. The low power energy detector is configured to provide second power via the first switch in response to energy. The second stage includes a signal detector configured to detect a characteristic of a signal associated with the energy in response to the second power. The signal detector is configured have the first power provided to the first circuit in response to the characteristic being detected.

Abstract: An energy cost optimization system for a building includes HVAC equipment and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a cost function defining a cost of operating the HVAC equipment as a function of one or more energy load setpoints. The controller is configured to modify the cost function to account for both an initial purchase cost of a new asset to be added to the HVAC equipment and an effect of the new asset on the cost of operating the HVAC equipment. Both the initial purchase cost of the new asset and the effect of the new asset on the cost of operating the HVAC equipment are functions of one or more asset size variables. The controller is configured to perform an optimization using the modified cost function to determine optimal values for decision variables including the energy load setpoints and the asset size variables.

Abstract: A difference module determines differences between an outdoor ambient temperature and an indoor temperature, determines a first average of the differences, and determines a second average of the differences. A storing module stores a first data point, the first data point including the first average and a first total run time of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, and stores a second data point, the second data point including the second average and a second total run time of the HVAC system. A fitting module fits a line to the first and second data points. An envelope grading module generates a grade for an exterior envelope of a building based on a first characteristic of the line. An interior grading module generates a grade for an interior of the building based on a second characteristic of the line. A reporting module generates a displayable report for the building including the grade of the exterior envelope and the grade of the interior of the building.

Abstract: An energy consumption alerting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors deployed at different locations of at least one monitored site, the sensors being able to provide location-specific energy consumption values. The system further includes a data aggregation facility so as to sum up location-specific energy consumption values associated with at least two corresponding predetermined sensors of the plurality of sensors to obtain an aggregated energy consumption value. The system further includes an alerting facility this is able to compare the aggregated energy consumption value with an user-defined threshold level and notify a user if the at least one aggregated energy consumption value exceeds the at least one user-defined threshold level. A cloud-based energy consumption alerting platform and an energy consumption alerting method are also provided.

Abstract: A power demand estimating apparatus includes a demand data memory, a demand estimator, and a display. The demand data memory stores plural power demand patterns and power demand amount data. The demand estimator selects, from the demand data memory, the demand pattern matching the environmental condition on an estimation day, obtains the maximum value of an power demand amount and the minimum value thereof at an expected temperature on the estimation day, calculates, using those pieces of information, the power demand amount per a unit time on the estimation day, and creates a demand estimating model. The display displays, together with the power demand pattern selected by the demand estimator, the demand estimating model.

Abstract: Various arrangements for detecting an object using a passive infrared (PIR) sensor module of a sensor device. A PIR data stream may be received from the PIR sensor module indicative of measurements performed by the PIR sensor module. An indication may be received from a transceiver that identifies a beginning of the data transmission. A portion of the PIR data stream may be blanked in response to receiving the indication of the beginning of the data transmission, the portion of the PIR data stream corresponding to a defined time duration. A presence of an object may be determined using the PIR data stream, excluding the blanked portion.

Abstract: A communication system and method for the utilization of social networks to provide computing devices operational information. The computing devices access one or more social networks and associate with an account of a specified user. The computing devices can maintain social network profiles that provide configuration information of the computing device. The computing devices can process information provided profile updates to cause a configuration of the client device. The computing devices can also process social network communications to process operational parameters of the client device.

Abstract: A highly efficient combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system is capable of providing 100% utilization of an energy generator used by the system by distributing thermal and electrical outputs of the energy generator to loads and/or other storage apparatuses. The CCHP system includes an energy generator, which can be a fuel cell and a waste heat recovery unit that assists in recovering thermal energy from the energy generator and returning it to the energy generator, and/or providing it to a thermal load, or a storage as needed or desired.

Abstract: A framework for centrally controlling a plurality of building automation systems. The architecture and method automates a plurality of existing and new building automation systems comprising access control, HVAC, fire safety etc. in such a way that the plurality of building automation systems can be monitored and controlled from a central dashboard. The central dashboard effectively monitors, takes right decisions and remotely controls the buildings across the globe from a centralized location.

Abstract: A power optimization system including an optimization processing unit and a plurality of air conditioning's air-side apparatuses is disclosed. The system obtains a target comfort value when people enter a zone, and calculates an improving demand for the zone's indoor environment to approach the target comfort value. The system then collects an improving capacity of each air-side apparatus by operating in different working modes in the current indoor environment. After that, the optimization processing unit calculates multiple working combinations according to the improving demand and the improving capacities of the air-side apparatuses for the indoor environment to approach the target comfort value, and chooses a most power-saving working combination according to the basic power consumption of the air-side apparatuses.