# US 11,307,625 B2 · Power distribution units, systems, and related methods for controlling relay switches of electrical cords > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,625 B2 - Document ID: US11307625B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/017,266 - Filed: 2020-09-10 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-10 - Assignees: Gateview Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Gateview Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Mark Germagian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307625B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 2200/261: PC controlled powerstrip - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Power distribution units, power distribution systems, and related methods for controlling relay switches of electrical cords are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a PDU includes multiple electrical plug receptacles for operatively connecting to one or more electrical cords for providing power to the electrical cord(s) to transmit power to connected electronic devices. The electrical cord(s) each include a switching relay configured to control transmission of power via the respective electrical cord. The switching relay is configured to receive a control signal for controlling the transmission of power. The PDU includes a connector to a power source configured to supply power to the electrical plug receptacles. Further, the PDU includes a communications module configured to individually route control signals to the switching relays for individually controlling transmission of power via the respective electrical cord(s). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power distribution unit comprising: a plurality of electrical plug receptacles for operatively connecting to one or more electrical cords for providing power to the one or more electrical cords to transmit power to connected electronic devices, wherein the one or more electrical cords each includes a switching relay configured to control transmission of power via the respective electrical cord; a power source configured to supply power to the plurality of electrical plug receptacles; and a communications module comprising a wired connection and an antenna, and wherein the communications module is configured to; receive, via the wired connection, the control signal from another electronic device for controlling the transmission of power; and individually route control signals, via the antenna, to the switching relays for individually controlling transmission of power via the respective one or more electrical cords. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the electronic devices are computing devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical cords each include a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to operatively interface with an electrical receptacle, wherein the second end is configured to operatively interface with an electronic device, and wherein the electrical cord includes a conductive path between the first end and the second end, wherein the switching relays are each configured to controllably open or close the respective conductive path between the respective first end and the respective second end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the switching relays are configured to be individually addressable by a unique identifier for communication of a control signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to receive the control signals from another electronic device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein two or more of the switching relays are configured to be addressable by a single identifier for communication of a control signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to route a control signal comprising a unique identifier and an instruction to enable or disable power transmission via a respective switching relay that is addressable by the unique identifier. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to wirelessly communicate the control signals to the switching relays via the antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising an input module for receipt of commands for controlling transmission of power via one or more of the electrical cords, and wherein the communications module is configured to: receive the commands; and communicate the controls signals to the switching relays based on the received commands. ### Claim 10 A power distribution system comprising: an electrical cord for transmitting power to an electronic device, wherein the electrical cord includes a switching relay configured to receive a control signal for controlling the transmission of power via the electrical cord; and a power distribution unit comprising: a plurality of electrical plug receptacles, wherein the electrical cord is operatively connected to one of the electrical plug receptacles for providing power to the electrical cord; a power source configured to supply power to the plurality of electrical plug receptacles; and a communications module comprising a wired connection and an antenna, and wherein the communications module is configured to; receive, via the wired connection, the control signal from another electronic device for controlling the transmission of power; and route the control signal, via the antenna, to the switching relay of the electrical cord for controlling transmission of power via the electrical cord. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a computing device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein the electrical cord includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to operatively interface with the one of the electrical receptacles, wherein the second end is configured to operatively interface with the electronic device, and wherein the electrical cord includes a conductive path between the first end and the second end, wherein the switching relay is configured to controllably open or close the conductive path between the first end and the second end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein the switching relay is configured to be addressable by a unique identifier for communication of a control signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein the communications module is configured to send a control signal comprising a unique identifier and an instruction to enable or disable power transmission via the switching relay that is addressable by the unique identifier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein the communications module is configured to wirelessly communicate the control signal to the switching relay via the antenna. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The power distribution system of claim 10, further comprising an input module for receipt of commands for controlling transmission of power via the electrical cord, and wherein the communications module is configured to: receive the commands; and communicate the controls signals to the switching relay based on the received commands. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: providing a power distribution unit comprising: a plurality of electrical plug receptacles for operatively connecting to one or more electrical cords for providing power to the one or more electrical cords to transmit power to connected electronic devices, wherein the one or more electrical cords each includes a switching relay configured to control transmission of power via the respective electrical cord; and a power source configured to supply power to the plurality of electrical plug receptacles; and receiving, via a wired connection of a communications module of the power distribution unit, the control signal from another electronic device for controlling the transmission of power; and individually communicating control signals, via an antenna of the communications module, to the switching relays for individually controlling transmission of power via the respective one or more electrical cords. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising at one of the switching relays: controllably opening or closing a respective conductive path between a first end and a second end of the respective electrical cord. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising individually addressing the switching relays by a unique identifier for communication of a control signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a control signal comprising a unique identifier and an instruction to enable or disable power transmission via a respective switching relay that is addressable by the unique identifier. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein individually communicating control signals comprises individually and wirelessly communicating the control signals via the antenna.