# US 9,438,492 B2 · Self-organized multiple appliance network connectivity apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,492 B2 - Document ID: US9438492B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/886,014 - Filed: 2015-10-17 - Published: 2016-02-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-02 - Assignees: Tenrehte Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Tenrehte Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Mark Allen Indovina; Jennifer Marie Indovina; Russell Dean Priebe; Carlos Antonio Barrios; Steven Lee Boggs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438492B2 ## CPC - H02J 13/14: the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] - G01R 19/16528: {using digital techniques or performing arithmetic operations (using digital techniques to measure a voltage or a current, see G01R19/25)} - G01R 19/2513: {Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging} - G01R 21/133: by using digital technique - G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - H02J 13/12: Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status - H02J 13/1337: {involving the use of Internet protocols} - H04L 43/065: related to network devices - H04L 43/08: Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H02J 2105/42: Home appliances - H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture - H04Q 2209/43: using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth® or Zigbee® - H04Q 2209/84: Measuring functions - H04Q 2209/86: Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device - H04Q 2209/88: Providing power supply at the sub-station - Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) - Y04S 40/128: involving the use of Internet protocol - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - 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) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) - 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 An appliance network connectivity apparatus includes a voltage sensor that generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the appliance. A current sensor generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a current flowing through the appliance. A processor determines the electrical characteristics of power consumed by the appliance and executes web server software for communicating data through a network. A relay controls power from the power source to the appliance. A memory stores the electrical characteristics. A network interface provides the electrical characteristics to the network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An appliance network connectivity apparatus comprising: a) a first appliance network connectivity apparatus comprising: i. a first voltage sensor electrically coupled to an output of a first power source providing power to a first appliance, the first voltage sensor generating a signal at a first voltage sensor output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the first appliance; ii. a first current sensor electrically coupled to the output of the first power source, the first current sensor generating a signal at a first current sensor output that is proportional to a current flowing through the first appliance; iii. a first processor having a first sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the first voltage sensor and a second sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the first current sensor, wherein the first processor monitors performance of the first appliance by comparing voltage and current waveforms received by the first and second sensor inputs to stored known records of proper functioning appliances, generates first performance data, and executes web server software for communicating the first performance data through a network; iv. a first relay having an electrical input coupled to the first power source, an electrical output coupled to the first appliance, and a first relay control input that is electrically coupled to an output of the first processor, the first relay controlling power from the first power source to the first appliance; and v. a first network interface electrically connected to the first processor, the first network interface providing the first performance data to the network; and b) a second appliance network connectivity apparatus comprising: i. a second voltage sensor electrically coupled to an output of a second power source providing power to a second appliance, the second voltage sensor generating a signal at a second voltage sensor output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the second appliance; ii. a second current sensor electrically coupled to the output of the second power source, the second current sensor generating a signal at a second current sensor output that is proportional to a current flowing through the second appliance; and iii. a second processor having a first sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the second voltage sensor and a second sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the second current sensor, wherein the second processor monitors performance of the second appliance by comparing voltage and current waveforms received by the first and second sensor inputs to stored known records of proper functioning appliances, generates second performance data, and executes web server software for communicating the second performance data through the network; iv. a second relay having an electrical input coupled to the second power source, an electrical output coupled to the second appliance, and a second relay control input that is electrically coupled to the output of the processor, the second relay controlling power from the second power source to the second appliance; and v. a second network interface electrically connected to the second processor, wherein the second network interface automatically detects the presence of the first appliance network connectivity apparatus on the network for the purpose of sharing data and control information comprising first and second appliance performance data and diagnostic functionality between the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus, wherein the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus self-organize by automatically designating one of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus on the network as an access point to other of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus on the network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the web server software communicates the first and second performance data to at least one appliance vendor through the network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first appliance network connectivity apparatus comprises an electrical receptacle that is adapted to receive a power plug of the first appliance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second appliance network connectivity apparatus comprises an electrical receptacle that is adapted to receive a power plug of the second appliance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first appliance network connectivity apparatus is electrically connected between the first appliance and the first power source with a hardwired connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second appliance network connectivity apparatus is electrically connected between the second appliance and the second power source with a hardwired connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first processor determines electrical characteristics of the first appliance that comprises energy consumed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second processor determines electrical characteristics of the second appliance that comprises energy consumed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first processor determines electrical characteristics of the first appliance that comprises appliance usage data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second processor determines electrical characteristics of the second appliance that comprises appliance usage data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first processor provides internet access to at least one of electrical characteristics, performance data, processed electrical characteristics, and diagnostics analysis of the electrical characteristics through the first network interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second processor provides internet access to at least one of electrical characteristics, performance data, processed electrical characteristics, and diagnostics analysis of the electrical characteristics through the second network interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first network interface provides remote access to the first processor so that a remote user can control the first relay. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second network interface provides remote access to the second processor so that a remote user can control the second relay. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first appliance network connectivity apparatus further comprises: a) a plurality of voltage sensors, each of the plurality of the voltage sensors being electrically coupled to one of a plurality of appliances and generating a signal at an output that is proportional to a voltage applied to a corresponding one of the plurality of appliances; b) a plurality of current sensors, each of the plurality of the current sensors being electrically coupled to one of the plurality of appliances and generating a signal at an output that is proportional to a current flowing through a corresponding one of the plurality of appliances; c) the first processor having a first plurality of sensor inputs electrically coupled to the outputs of the plurality of voltage sensors and a second plurality of sensor inputs electrically coupled to the outputs of the plurality of current sensors, wherein the first processor monitors performance of the plurality of appliances by comparing voltage and current waveforms received by the first and second plurality of sensor inputs to stored known records of proper functioning appliances, generates performance data, and executes web server software for communicating the performance data to an appliance vendor through a network; and d) a plurality of relays, each of the plurality of relays having an electrical input coupled to the first power source and an electrical output coupled one of the plurality of appliances, and a control input that is coupled to an output of the first processor, the plurality of relays controlling power from the first power source to the plurality of appliances. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first appliance network connectivity apparatus comprises a plurality of electrical receptacle adaptors that each receives one of a plurality of appliance power plugs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first appliance network connectivity apparatus is electrically connected between the plurality of appliances and the first power source with a hardwired connection. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first processor determines electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of appliances that comprises energy consumed by the at least one of the plurality of appliances. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the performance data comprises appliance diagnostics information for at least one of the plurality of appliances. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first processor determines electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of appliances that comprises appliance usage data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first processor provides internet access to at least one of electrical characteristics, the performance data, processed electrical characteristics, and diagnostics analysis of the electrical characteristics through the first network interface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first network interface provides remote access to the first processor so that a remote user can control at least one of the plurality of relays.