Low cost home energy manager adaptor

Abstract

A home energy management (HEM) device for use in a HEM system including a plurality of energy consuming devices and a HEM gateway adaptor module connectable to a host device. The home energy gateway (HEG) module is configured to utilize services/components of existing household electronics. Accordingly, a HEM device for controlling a plurality of energy consuming devices in a HEM network comprises a host device having hardware for performing at least one service, and a HEG adaptor module connectable to the host device, the HEG module including at least a home energy usage database for storing data related to usage of energy consuming devices in the home energy management network. The HEG module is configured to utilize at least one service of the host to carry out at least one function related to controlling the plurality of energy consuming devices.

1 . A home energy management device for controlling a plurality of energy consuming devices in a home energy management network comprising:
 a host device having hardware for performing at least one service;   a home energy gateway adaptor module connectable to the host device, the home energy gateway adaptor module including at least a home energy usage database for storing data related to usage of energy consuming devices in the home energy management network:   wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module is configured to utilize at least one service of the host to carry out at least one function related to controlling the plurality of energy consuming devices.   
     
     
         2 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module further comprises a controller for controlling the plurality of energy consuming devices. 
     
     
         3 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module includes a communication interface for communicating with the plurality of energy consuming devices. 
     
     
         4 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the communication interface includes a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         5 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module is configurable via the host device. 
     
     
         6 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the host device is a wireless network device, and wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module is accessible through the host device via a personal computing device. 
     
     
         7 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a display associated with the host device for displaying information from the home energy gateway adaptor module. 
     
     
         8 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the host device is at least one of a personal computer, a wireless router, a cable television box, a satellite television box, and a television, a smart phone, purpose-built devices, an internet tablet, and a book reader. 
     
     
         9 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module includes a standard connector for connecting to the host device. 
     
     
         10 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the standard connector includes at least one connector of the type NIC, PCMIA, PC-Card, USB, Ethernet, RS-232 serial port. 12C, RS-485, and Firewire. 
     
     
         11 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one service of the host includes at least one of a power supply, a processor, a radio, a display, a user interface and a wired network connection. 
     
     
         12 . A home energy management device, as set forth in  claim 1 , in a home energy management network including at least one energy consuming appliance. 
     
     
         13 . A home energy management device for use in a home energy management system including a plurality of energy consuming devices comprising:
 a home energy gateway adaptor module connectable to a host device, the home energy gateway adaptor module including at least a home energy usage database for storing data related to usage of the energy consuming devices, and being configured to utilize at least one service of the host device.   
     
     
         14 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one service of the host includes at least one of a power supply, a processor, a radio, a display, a user interface and a wired network connection, Zigbee radio. 802.15.4 radio, Wi-Fi radio, program storage memory and combined or separate data storage memory, user interface LEDs, and a reset button. 
     
     
         15 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module further comprises a controller for controlling the plurality of energy consuming devices. 
     
     
         16 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 12 . wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module includes a communication interface for communicating with the plurality of energy consuming devices. 
     
     
         17 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the communication interface includes a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         18 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module is configurable via the host device when connected thereto. 
     
     
         19 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the home energy gateway adaptor module includes a standard connector for connecting to the host device. 
     
     
         20 . A home energy management device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the standard connector includes at least one connector of the type NIC, PCMIA, PC-Card, USB, Ethernet, RS-232 serial port, 12C, RS-485, and Firewire.