         Case: 23-1101                   Document: 15                 Page: 134              Filed: 05/09/2023




                                                     US 8,738,327 B2
                           3                                                                    4
munication may in the form of a signal sent over the power            By using these multiple data streams to compare the per
lines themselves, or a wireless communication over a data           formance of one system versus another, and one system ver
network arranged by the utility. These meters allow utilities to    sus the same system at other times, the server is able to
accomplish a number of goals, including offering pricing that estimate the effective thermal mass of the structure, and
varies by time of day in order to encourage customers to move thereby predict the expected thermal performance of a given
consumption away from peak demand hours. These Smart structure in response to changes in outside temperature. Thus,
meters can cost hundreds of dollars, however, and require for example, if the air conditioning is shut off on a hot after
both a “truck roll' a visit from a trained service person— noon, given a known outside temperature, it will be possible
and most likely the scheduling of an appointment with the 10 to predict how quickly the temperature in the house should
occupants, because Swapping the meter will require turning rise. If the actual temperature change is significantly different
off power to the house.                                            from the predicted rate of change, or does not change at all, it
   If the utility installs a smart meter at each house that con is possible to infer that the air conditioning has not, in fact
tracts to participate in a PDR program, it may be possible to been shut off.
verify that the NC is in fact switched off. But this approach 15 This and other advantages of the present invention are
requires two separate pieces of hardware, two separate com explained in the detailed description and claims that make
munications systems, and the ability to match them for veri reference to the accompanying diagrams and flowcharts.
fication purposes.
   It would be desirable to have a system that could both                BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
implement and verify residential peak demand reduction with
reduced expenses.                                                    FIG. 1 shows an example of an overall environment in
                                                                   which an embodiment of the invention may be used.
              SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION                               FIG. 2 shows a high-level illustration of the architecture of
                                                                   a network showing the relationship between the major ele
   At least one embodiment of the invention that includes 25 ments of one embodiment of the subject invention.
system for predicting the rate of change in temperature inside       FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the website to be used as
a structure comprising at least one thermostat located inside part of the subject invention.
the structure and controlling an HVAC system in said struc           FIG. 4 shows a high-level schematic of the thermostat used
ture; at least one remote processor that is in communication as part of the Subject invention.
with said thermostat; at least one database for storing data 30 FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of the database structure
reported by said thermostat; at least one processor that com used as part of the Subject invention
pares outside temperature at at least location and at least one      FIGS. 6A and 6B show a graphical representation of the
point in time to information reported to said remote processor manner in which the subject invention may be used to verify
from said thermostat, and wherein said processor uses the that a demand reduction event has occurred.
relationship between the inside temperature and the outside 35 FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the steps involved in
temperature over time to derive a first prediction for the rate of generating a demand reduction event for a given Subscriber.
change in inside temperature assuming that the operating             FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the steps involved in
status of the HVAC system is “on”; and said processor uses confirming that a demand reduction event has taken place.
the relationship between the inside temperature and the out          FIG.9 is a representation of the movement of messages and
side temperature over time to derive a second prediction for 40 information between the components of the subject inven
the rate of change in inside temperature assuming that the tion.
operating status of the HVAC system is “off”; and said pro
cessor compares at least one of the first prediction and the          DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
second prediction to the actual inside temperature recorded                             EMBODIMENTS
inside the structure to determine whether the actual inside 45
temperature is closer to the first prediction or the second      FIG. 1 shows an example of an overall environment 100 in
prediction.                                                    which an embodiment of the invention may be used. The
   In one embodiment, the invention comprises a thermostat environment 100 includes an interactive communication net
attached to an HVAC system, a local network connecting the work 102 with computers 104 connected thereto. Also con
thermostat to a larger network Such as the Internet, one or 50 nected to network 102 are one or more server computers 106,
more additional thermostats attached to the network and to         which store information and make the information available
other HVAC systems, and a server in bi-directional commu to computers 104. The network 102 allows communication
nication with the thermostats. The server logs the ambient between and among the computers 104 and 106.
temperature sensed by each thermostat vs. time and the sig        Presently preferred network 102 comprises a collection of
nals sent by the thermostats to the HVAC systems to which 55 interconnected public and/or private networks that are linked
they are attached. The server preferably also logs outside to together by a set of standard protocols to form a distributed
temperature and humidity data for the geographic locations      network. While network 102 is intended to refer to what is
for the buildings served by the connected HVAC systems.         now commonly referred to as the Internet, it is also intended
Such information is widely available from various sources to encompass variations which may be made in the future,
that publish detailed weather information based on geo 60 including changes additions to existing standard protocols.
graphic areas such as by ZIP code. The server also stores other   When a user of the subject invention wishes to access
data affecting the load upon the system, Such as specific information on network 102, the buyer initiates connection
model of HVAC system, occupancy, building characteristics,      from his computer 104. For example, the user invokes a
etc. Some of this data may be supplied by the individual users browser, which executes on computer 104. The browser, in
of the system, while other data may come from commercial 65 turn, establishes a communication link with network 102.
Sources such as the electric and other utilities who supply Once connected to network 102, the user can direct the
energy to those users.                                          browser to access information on server 106.




                                                           Appx99
