Green Energy Database Including Verifiable Information for Implementing a National Level Green Energy Policy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring power usage by one or more appliances at each individual location within a group of locations, comprising:
- a master unit (MST) connected to a power distribution line, said MST in communication with a power switch unit (SW) and/or a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) via said power distribution line and configured for collection and compilation of power usage information from said SW and/or said ETH; and
said MST configured as a communication gateway to a wide area network (WAN) for a local area network (LAN);
wherein said collected and compiled power usage information is formatted for transmission over said WAN to at least one group power and utility consolidation unit for group level data and information compilation; and
further comprising at least one of;
a power switch unit (SW) connected to said power distribution line for monitoring and controlling power usage of at least one appliance connected to said SW; and
a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) connected to said power distribution line, said ETH configured to provide power line communication (PLC) and thereby from said (LAN) over said power distribution line;
wherein said ETH is configured for monitoring and control of power usage by appliances connected between said ETH and said power distribution line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A green energy, smart-grid residential system collects power usage information from a plurality of connected homes by progressively integrating information collected from each of the individual homes using a group of sensor devices. Such information is compiled to usable format using distributed computers. The in-home sensor devices include an intelligent master device, and one or more of a communication and power switch device, a ZigBee® enabled switch device, and a power control switch device, each of which typically operate over a power line communication network. The master device collects, compiles, and communicates the collected data to the Web or outside world. The information from a number of these homes in a local area is consolidated using local distributed processors on the Web and provided to a main processing unit for compilation and integration with other regional inputs for use in national policy decision making.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring power usage by one or more appliances at each individual location within a group of locations, comprising:
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a master unit (MST) connected to a power distribution line, said MST in communication with a power switch unit (SW) and/or a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) via said power distribution line and configured for collection and compilation of power usage information from said SW and/or said ETH; and said MST configured as a communication gateway to a wide area network (WAN) for a local area network (LAN); wherein said collected and compiled power usage information is formatted for transmission over said WAN to at least one group power and utility consolidation unit for group level data and information compilation; and further comprising at least one of; a power switch unit (SW) connected to said power distribution line for monitoring and controlling power usage of at least one appliance connected to said SW; and a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) connected to said power distribution line, said ETH configured to provide power line communication (PLC) and thereby from said (LAN) over said power distribution line; wherein said ETH is configured for monitoring and control of power usage by appliances connected between said ETH and said power distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for monitoring of power usage by one or more appliances at each individual location within a group of locations, comprising:
at least one group power and utility consolidation unit for group level data and information compilation of collected and compiled power usage information received over a wide area network (WAN) from each individual location within said group of locations, said collected and compiled power usage information received from each said location as collected over a local area network (LAN) from a master unit (MST) at each said location that is connected to a power distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of group power and utility consolidation units that are linked via a wide area network (WAN) to provide a green energy smart-grid, wherein; each said group power and utility consolidation unit is linked via said WAN with a national green energy planning unit; and each said group power and utility consolidation unit is linked via said WAN with an Internet gateway at each of a plurality of locations in a local area, said plurality of locations defining a home group, wherein; each said Internet gateway is connected to a master device via a power line communication (PLC) network at a corresponding one of said plurality of locations, the PLC network at each said location comprising one or more sensor devices that are configured for collecting, compiling, and storing power and utility usage information for said location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for monitoring power usage by one or more appliances at each individual location within a group of locations, comprising:
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providing a master unit (MST) connected to a power distribution line, said MST in communication with a power switch unit (SW) and/or a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) via said power distribution line and configured for collection and compilation of power usage information from said SW and/or said ETH; and said MST configured as a communication gateway to a wide area network (WAN) for a local area network (LAN); wherein said collected and compiled power usage information is formatted for transmission over said WAN to at least one group power and utility consolidation unit for group level data and information compilation; and further comprising providing at least one of; a power switch unit (SW) connected to said power distribution line for monitoring and controlling power usage of at least one appliance connected to said SW; and a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) connected to said power distribution line, said ETH configured to provide power line communication (PLC) and thereby from said (LAN) over said power distribution line; wherein said ETH is configured for monitoring and control of power usage by appliances connected between said ETH and said power distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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16. A method for monitoring of power usage by one or more appliances at each individual location within a group of locations, comprising:
effecting group level data and information compilation of collected and compiled power usage information received over a wide area network (WAN) from each individual location within a group of locations, said collected and compiled power usage information received from each said location as collected over a local area network (LAN) from a master unit (MST) at each said location that is connected to a power distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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linking a plurality of group power and utility consolidation units via a wide area network (WAN) to provide a green energy smart-grid, wherein; each said group power and utility consolidation unit is linked via said WAN with a national green energy planning unit; and each said group power and utility consolidation unit is linked via said WAN with an Internet gateway at each of a plurality of locations in a local area, said plurality of locations defining a home group, wherein; each said Internet gateway is connected to a master device via a power line communication (PLC) network at a corresponding one of said plurality of locations, the PLC network at each said location comprising one or more sensor devices that are configured for collecting, compiling, and storing power and utility usage information for said location. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification