| 20100276482 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITHIN AN UNOCCUPIED ROOM - A system for reducing energy consumption in an unoccupied room is disclosed in which a battery-powered card reader placed inside a room has a keycard switch adapted to be activated upon insertion of a keycard and to be deactivated substantially upon its removal. The card reader also has a controller and a transceiver and is adapted to transmit an insertion signal substantially upon activation of the keycard switch, a removal signal after the deactivation of the keycard switch, and a periodic status signal indicating the activation state of the keycard switch. At least one secondary unit comprising a means to connect to a power source, a means to connect to a room appliance, a transceiver, and a controller, is adapted to cause a room appliance to enter a powered mode substantially upon receipt of the insertion signal or receipt of a periodic status signal indicating the keycard switch is activated, and to cause that room appliance to enter an energy-saving mode after receiving the removal signal. A gateway connected to a system controller is also provided. The gateway comprises a transceiver adapted to communicate wirelessly with the secondary units, and the system controller is adapted to determine the mode of the secondary units and to cause one or more of said secondary units to change mode if necessary. | 11-04-2010 |
