January 15, 2010
Apple Patent Suggests Move Into Smart-Home Energy Management
Following the footsteps of Microsoft, Google and Intel, Apple is getting into the smart-home energy management sector.
Apple has filed a patent application for a system that relies on HomePlug Powerline Networking, which turns ever power outlet in a building into a conduit for data, as well as audio and video, reports MacDailyNews.
The technology may be applicable to small businesses too.
Apple’s Smart Home Energy Management Dashboard System would feature an illustrative touch-screen display for managing power consumption, including defining power consumption of new processes and representing power costs, reports Patently Apple.
Intel just last week introduced its Home Energy Management Dashboard, reports Patently Apple.
Last June, Microsoft launched Hohm, its online application that helps consumers better understand their energy usage and get recommendations for energy savings.
Last February, Google unveiled Google PowerMeter, a prototype Web application that displays home energy consumption broken down by appliance. The software requires “smart” meters that provide real-time information to both the utility and the customer.
Here’s a video illustrating the Home Plug Powerline Networking concept.
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Reader Comments
With the low baud rate limitation on PLC, how high speed internet or voice, data communication is possible
Martin Sharifi | January 17th, 2010
Displaying energy consumption (something that’s been done for decades, although not popular in the past) and moving the data over a well-established technology is not even close to be innovative enough to patent.
This is almost as bad as Microsoft patenting the use of the tab-key to cycle between links on a web-page after every other browser had already implemented it.
The USPTO really has to do something about these junk patents that hinder innovation, rather than fostering it.
bempey | January 20th, 2010
How this patented, or put in a patent approval procedure patent , correlates with the NES of Echelon
DimDragoev | February 18th, 2010