INTELLIGENT POWER PORT

• US 20080140565A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carl Jacobs, Vittorio G. Debenedetti
• Original Assignee: Carl Jacobs, Vittorio G. Debenedetti
• Inventors: Jacobs, Carl, DeBenedetti, Vittorio G.
• Application Number:
  US11/952,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140565A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/12 in which metering is on a time basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

An intelligent power port device comprising an outlet providing power and a controller located adjacent the outlet which monitors current and voltage at the outlet, and which is programmable to control power supplied by the outlet. The controller is in electrical communication with controllers of other intelligent power port devices, forming an intelligent power port network.

Claims

1. An intelligent power port device comprising, in combination:

an outlet providing power; and

a controller located adjacent the outlet which monitors current and voltage at the outlet, and which is programmable to control power supplied by the outlet.

2. The intelligent power port device of claim 1 wherein the controller is in electrical communication with controllers of other intelligent power port devices, forming an intelligent power port network.

3. The intelligent power port device of claim 2 wherein the controllers are in electrical communication with one another using broadband communication over a power line.

4. The intelligent power port device of claim 1 wherein the controller limits the time power is supplied by the outlet.

5. The intelligent power port device of claim 4 further comprising a financial collection device which receives financial remuneration from a user of the device in exchange for a limited period of access to at least one of the plurality of ports.

6. The intelligent power port device of claim 1 further comprising a data transmission port.

7. The intelligent power port device of claim 6 wherein the data transmission port is one of a USB port, a Fire-Wire port and an Ethernet port.

8. The intelligent power port device of claim 2 wherein at least one controller is wirelessly connected to at least one other controller.

9. The intelligent power port device of claim 2 wherein each controller measures the current at its corresponding outlet to determine an existing current, can receive a request for additional current, and compare the existing current with the request for additional current, and if the request for additional current is less than a limit grant the request at the outlet.

10. The intelligent power port device of claim 9 wherein the limit is set by continuously comparing a total amount of current from all of the outlets on the intelligent power port network and subtracting that current from a predetermined maximum current.

11. The intelligent power port device of claim 9 wherein the limit is a programmed maximum current limit at each outlet.

12. The intelligent power port device of claim 1 wherein the power supplied at the outlet is one of AC and DC.