Mesh-networked power control devices, systems and methods

A power distribution micro-network comprising:

• a plurality of satellites, each of the satellites controlling power allocation to a respective appliance or a control system;
• a master controller configured to schedule the power allocation, the master controller comprising:
• a local area wireless transceiver, the master controller being configured to communicate with the plurality of satellites,
• a memory storing processor-executable program code including:
• at least one function type representing a type of a function that is a power-consuming activity of at least one appliance,
• at least one function priority associated with the function type,
• at least one task representing a subtype of the at least one function type,
• at least one task priority associated with the at least one task in which a user task type has a highest priority, and
• a set of tasks to be performed comprising a last task of the at least one task, and
• at least one processor configured to have access to the processor-executable program code and configured to execute the processor-executable program code;
• and
• a local area wireless mesh network allowing communication between the master controller and the plurality of satellite units,
• wherein, when the at least one processor executes the program code, the master controller is configured to:
• receive a plurality of power allocation requests via the local area wireless transceiver from the plurality of satellites forming part of the localized mesh network, each of the power allocation requests relating to a proposed power usage by the respective appliance which is controlled by a respective one of the satellites, each of the power allocation requests specifying a function type of the at least one function type and a task of the at least one task,
• determine available power resources,
• determine which of the power allocation requests to accommodate based on the available power resources, a priority level of the request, and an estimate of required power associated with the request, the priority level being determined by the at least one function priority and the at least one task priority associated with the request, and
• respond to each of the power allocation requests to be accommodated by sending an approval message to each of the satellites from which the accommodated power allocation requests were received, indicating a designated time interval at or during which the requested power is to be allocated, the approval message comprising a resource allocation token defining a validity period corresponding to the designated time interval during which the respective power allocation request is considered valid to authorize performance of the function of the at least one appliance,
• wherein, on receipt of the user task type for a respective one of the satellites, immediately granting power at a highest appliance priority to the appliance controlled by the respective satellites, regardless of the priority level of the function associated with the respective appliance,
• wherein each of the satellites includes:
• a power control device configured to control power to one of the appliances,
• a local area wireless transceiver configured to form part of the local area wireless mesh network,
• at least one processor, and
• a memory accessible to the at least one processor of the satellite and storing executable program code that, when executed by the at least one processor of the satellite, causes the satellite to:
• determine that the respective appliance requires power to perform an appliance function,
• determine whether a valid resource allocation token is stored in the memory to authorize performance of the appliance function of the appliance,
• when there is no valid resource allocation token stored in the memory of the satellite, transmit a resource allocation request to the master controller via the local area wireless transceiver of the satellite, and
• when the valid resource allocation token is stored in the memory of the satellite, switch power to the respective appliance to perform the appliance function during the designated time interval.