System, method, mobile terminal and computer software for providing electric energy to users

A method of delivering electric energy to users via a set of supply nodes, wherein each supply node of said set of supply nodes is configured to receive electric energy from an external power source and based thereon, provide output energy via at least one remote-controlled outlet associated with the supply node, the method comprising:

• repeatedly sending instruction inquiries from each of said supply nodes of said set of supply nodes to a server node;
• receiving in the server node an activation request from a mobile terminal, the activation request specifying a particular one of said remote-controlled outlets and a user identity designating a user of the mobile terminal;
• checking, in response to the activation request, that the user identity is authorized to activate the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request;
• provided that said user identity is found to be authorized, sending, in response to an instruction inquiry from a first supply node of said set of supply nodes in which the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request is included, an activation accept to the first supply node, the activation accept being configured to, upon receipt by the first supply node, cause the first supply node to enable output of electric energy from the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request;
• registering an impedance measure in respect to each remote-controlled outlet associated with the first supply node;
• and
• generating an inquiry in response to a registered impedance measure indicative of an electric plug being inserted into a particular one of said remote-controlled outlet associated with the first supply node, the inquiry specifying said particular remote-controlled outlet.

A mobile terminal for communication with a server node over a wireless interface, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to:

• receive user input specifying a particular remote-controlled outlet associated with a supply node, which supply node is configured to receive electric energy from an external power source and, based thereon, provide output energy via said remote-controlled outlet, the supply node being connected to the server node via at least one communication network;
• and
• send an activation request to the server node based on said user input, the activation request specifying said remote-controlled outlet and a user identity designating a user of one of the mobile terminals, and the activation request being configured to cause the server node to check that the user identity is authorized to activate the specified remote-controlled outlet, and provided that the user identity is found to be authorized, send an activation accept to the supply node in which the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request is included, the activation accept being configured to, upon receipt by the supply node, cause the supply node to enable output of electric energy from the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request, wherein the supply node comprises:
• circuitry configured to register an impedance measure in respect to the remote-controlled outlet associated with the supply node;
• and
• a first trigger module configured to generate an inquiry in response to a registered impedance measure indicative of an electric plug being inserted into said remote-controlled outlet associated, the inquiry specifying said remote-controlled outlet.

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium associated with a mobile terminal, said computer program product is used for for providing electric energy to users, said computer program code comprising computer instructions to cause one or more computer processors to perform the operations of:

• presenting a user interface configured to receive user input specifying a particular remote-controlled outlet associated with a supply node, wherein the supply node is configured to receive electric energy from an external power source and based thereon provide output energy via said remote-controlled outlet, the supply node being connected to the server node via at least one communication network;
• and
• sending, in response to user input entered via said user interface, an activation request to the server node over a wireless interface, the activation request specifying said remote-controlled outlet and a user identity designating a user of one of the mobile terminal, and the activation request being configured to cause the server node to check that the user identity is authorized to activate the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request, and provided that the user identity is found to be authorized, send an activation accept to the supply node, the activation accept being configured to, upon receipt by the supply node, cause the supply node to enable output of electric energy from the specified remote-controlled outlet specified in the activation request;
• wherein the supply node comprises:
• circuitry configured to register an impedance measure in respect to the remote-controlled outlet associated with the supply node;
• and
• a first trigger module configured to generate an inquiry in response to a registered impedance measure indicative of an electric plug being inserted into said remote-controlled outlet associated, the inquiry specifying said remote-controlled outlet.