Premises power signal monitoring system
AssigneeZonit Structured Solutions, LLC
InventorsSteve Chapel, William Pachoud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.
Claims30
A method for use in monitoring power usage, comprising:
- a) first obtaining power signal information, associated with operation of each of a number of electrical devices, reflecting one or more effects on a power signal associated with said operation of each of said number of electrical devices;
- b) processing said power signal information to obtain electrical signature information for each of said number of electrical devices;
- c) monitoring a power signal of an electrical system of a premises to obtain first power signal information associated with operation of a first electrical device;
- d) operating a processing system for:
- i) second obtaining said first power signal information
- ii) accessing said electrical signature information;
- iii) comparing said first power signal information to said electrical signature information to determine first device data for said first electrical device, said first device data comprising at least one of an identity, a type, and a state of said first electrical device;
- iv) accessing rules related to said first device data;
- and
- v) controlling the operation of a premises monitoring device based on the first device data and said rules.
An apparatus for use in monitoring power usage, comprising:
- storage for storing power signal information representing electrical signatures of a number of electrical devices, said electrical signatures relating to effects on a power signal associated with operation of each of said number of electrical devices;
- a power signal monitoring device for monitoring, over one or more time periods associated with operation of a first electrical device, a premises power signal transmitted via power lines of a premises and providing power signal information reflecting one or more characteristics of said premises power signal;
- a signature recognition module for obtaining said power signal, accessing said storage, and comparing said premises power signal to said electrical signatures to determine first device data comprising at least one of an identity, a type and a state of said first electrical device;
- and
- an output module, operatively associated with said signature recognition module, for controlling operation of a premises monitoring device based on said first device data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.