# US 2014/0195063 A1 · Network power control module

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- Number: US 2014/0195063 A1
- Document ID: US20140195063A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/927,083
- Filed: 2013-06-25
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08
- Inventors: LAI-FU WU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195063A1

## CPC

- H02J 13/1321: {using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus}
- 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 1/3209: Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
- H02J 4/25: for transfer of electric power between AC and DC networks, e.g. for supplying the DC section within a load from an AC mains system
- H02J 13/1333: {by means of mobile telephony}
- H02J 13/1335: {involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi®, ZigBee® or Bluetooth®}
- H04L 12/12: Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
- H04L 12/2818: {from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007)}
- H04L 12/2825: {Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002)}
- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)}
- H02J 2105/42: Home appliances
- Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
- Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- Y04S 20/221: General power management systems
- Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- Y04S 20/242: Home appliances
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A network power control module includes a switch and a processor installed in at least one electronic device within an area. The switch is electrically coupled to a first external power supply and the electronic device, and the processor includes a communication module in electrical communication with a control device at a remote end via a router of the area for receiving a control signal and then switching the switch to output or stop outputting voltage of the first external power supply to the electronic device, so that users can control the electronic devices at a remote control freely without requiring complicated network configurations to facilitate the schedule management for household affairs and improve the users' comfortability and home security effectively.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A network power control module, installed in at least one electronic device within an area, and in electrical communication with a control device at a remote end through a router in the area, for receiving a control signal transmitted from the control device to control the operating status of the electronic device, comprising:
a switch, electrically coupled to a first external power supply and the electronic device;
a power supply, electrically coupled to the first external power supply for converting an AC voltage of the first external power supply into a DC operating voltage; and
a processor, in electrical communication with the switch, and electrically coupled to the power supply, for accessing the operating voltage, and the processor having a communication module for automatically connecting the router during the operation and automatically obtaining an internet protocol (IP) address via a wireless network or an Ethernet, wherein the processor supports at least one of the Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) interface, Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, Audio Interface and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) function, such that when the processor receives the control signal through the communication module, the control signal is analyzed to produce an operation request and operation data to trigger the switch to be turned on or off to output the first external power supply to the electronic device according to the operation request, or execute the operation data through the Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) interface, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, the Audio Interface or the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) function according to the operation request.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The network power control module of claim 1, wherein the communication module has a wireless access point function, and supports at least one of the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) functions to expand the wireless network range in the area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The network power control module of claim 2, wherein one of the communication modules has a group list stored therein when plural electronic devices are used and controlled in groups, such that when a search signal transmitted from another communication module is received, the communication module is compared with the group list to feed back an acknowledge signal and automatically connecting the other communication module and allow the control device to have the capability of providing a one-time reading and controlling of the operating status of the electronic devices of the same group.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The network power control module of claim 1, further comprising an AC/DC converter and a power switch, and the AC/DC converter is electrically coupled to the first external power supply to convert an AC voltage of the first external power supply into a DC voltage, and an end of the power switch is electrically coupled to the AC/DC converter, and an trigger end of the power switch is in electrical communication with the processor for outputting or stopping outputting the DC voltage from the other end of the power switch when the processor switches the power switch according to the operation request.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The network power control module of claim 4, wherein the power switch has an end electrically coupled to an external power converter, and the external power converter is electrically coupled to a second external power supply for converting the voltage of the second external power supply into the DC voltage to improve the stability of the power supply.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The network power control module of claim 4, wherein the area has at least one wall switch electrically coupled between the first external power supply and the electronic device for controlling the power supply status of the electronic device by using the wall switch when the switch is turned off to allow outputting the first external power supply to the electronic device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The network power control module of claim 4, wherein the area has at least one wall switch electrically coupled to both ends of the switch for controlling the power supply status of the electronic device by using the wall switch when the switch is turned off to allow outputting the first external power supply to the electronic device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The network power control module of claim 4, wherein the area has at least one wall switch electrically coupled between the first external power supply and the power supply for controlling the power supply status of the electronic device by using the wall switch when the switch is turned off to allow outputting the first external power supply to the electronic device.