SET OF SENSOR UNITS FOR COMMUNICATION ENABLED FOR STREAMING MEDIA DELIVERY WITH MONITORING AND CONTROL OF POWER USAGE OF CONNECTED APPLIANCES

• US 20130184879A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: XIA, Mingyao, GRUBEL, Eric, Castellano, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00012 using an auxiliary transmission line
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

A group of sensor devices is connected to the power line and configured for collecting power usage information and enabling power management to reduce the carbon foot print of the home, as well as to provide local area networking. In one embodiment of the invention, the devices include an intelligent master sensor and its sub-sets, such as a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch sensor. The master device is configured to collect, compile, and communicate the collected data via the web or other communication medium to the outside world. The master device also receives and distributes control instructions that are used to control the power usage via the associated switches in the home or office. The sensors are used in the home or office environment to provide integrated sensing and control of home power usage and power management, while establishing a LAN having communication capability, including streaming media delivery capability.

Claims

1. A power switch (SW) coupled to a processor and comprising:

a power plug that is connected to a power line communication (PLC) network through a relay and provides power to one or more appliances;

a power meter that monitors and stores power consumption information of the one or more appliances connected to the power plug; and

a communication module configured to receive information over the PLC network;

wherein the PLC network is configured as a local area network (LAN);

wherein the SW has the capability to open the relay to switch off power to the power plug and the capability to close the relay to switch on power to the power plug;

wherein the communication module is configured to receive over the LAN a command for controlling the power supply, and send over the LAN power consumption information of the one or more appliances;

in response to receiving a command to control the power supply, the SW configured to open or close the relay according to the received command.

2. The SW of claim 1, wherein:

the LAN uses the PLC within a particular premise;

the communication module is further connected to a WAN that exists outside of the premise; and

the communication module sends information to outside of the premise and receives information from outside of the premise.

3. The SW of claim 1, wherein said SW provides remote control of an appliance connected to the power plug by responding to control commands received by the communication module, the control commands originating from outside of the premise.

4. The SW of claim 1, wherein the SW provides the power consumption information for the one or more appliances connected to the SW to the communication module that sends the power consumption information over the WAN to a device outside the premise.

5. A communication enabled power switch (ETH) coupled to a processor and comprising:

a power plug that is connected to a power line communication (PLC) network through a relay;

a communication unit configured to send and receive information over the PLC network; and

a voice and data communication unit;

wherein the PLC network is configured as a local area network (LAN) and enabled to provide communication and streaming media capabilities within the LAN through the voice and data communication unit.

6. The ETH of claim 5, wherein:

the LAN uses the PLC within a particular premise;

the communication module is further connected to a WAN that exists outside of the premise; and

the communication module sends information to outside of the premise and receives information from outside of the premise.

7. The ETH of claim 6, wherein the ETH provides the power consumption information for the one or more appliances connected to the ETH to the communication module that sends the power consumption information over the WAN to a device outside the premise.

8. The ETH of claim 5, wherein said ETH provides remote control of an appliance connected to the power plug by responding to control commands received by the communication module, the control commands originating from outside of the premise.

9. The ETH of claim 5, wherein said ETH is configured for providing broadband PLC based data communication, where the data and communication devices are connected to said power line through a communication port;

and wherein multiple ETH units are connected via said power line to establish a PLC based LAN.

10. A PLC network based system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors connected to a power line and to an associated controlled appliance, each appliance powered by power from said power line under control of said sensor, each sensor configured to;

collect power usage information of said connected associated appliance;

switch power on and off to said connected associated appliance in response to control commands received at the sensor; and

connect to a local area network (LAN) among said sensors and other networked devices, wherein the LAN is based on the power line communication (PLC) network;

said sensors comprising any one or more, in any combination, of;

an intelligent master sensor (MST) configured to;

collect, compile, and communicate said collected information via a communication medium; and

receive instructions and distribute control commands for effecting control of said controlled appliance via said associated sensors;

a communication and power management sensor (ETH); and

a power control switch sensor (SW);

wherein said sensors are configured to provide integrated sensing and control of appliance power usage and power management, while establishing a LAN having communication capability, including streaming media delivery capability.

11. The MST of claim 10, wherein:

the LAN uses the PLC within a particular premise;

the MST is further connected to a WAN that exists outside of the premise; and

the MST sends information to outside of the premise and receives information from outside of the premise.

12. The MST of claim 10, wherein:

said MST receives control commands that originate from outside of the premise, delivers the control commands to the SW that responds to the remote control commands by switching on or switching off an appliance connected to the power plug.

13. The MST of claim 10, wherein the MST sends the power consumption information for the one or more appliances under the control of a sensor, the information sent over the WAN to a device outside the premise.

14. The MST of claim 10, wherein:

the MST is configured for modulating said collected information to a communication data stream for transmission over a broadband communication frequency band to effect power line communication (PLC) over said power line within said local area network (LAN); and

the MST is configured for demodulating a broadband communication stream that is received over said power line to provide command and control instructions for power control of a power flow to said associated appliance.

15. The MST of claim 10, wherein:

the MST is configured for modulating said collected information to a communication data stream for transmission over a narrow band communication frequency band to effect power line communication (PLC) over said power line within said local area network (LAN); and

the MST is configured for demodulating a narrow band communication stream that is received over said power line to provide command and control instructions for power control of a power flow to said associated appliance.

16. The MST of claim 10, wherein said MST comprises a processor and memory;

wherein said MST is configured for collecting and compiling power consumption information and for connecting an appliance to said power line;

wherein said MST is configured for monitoring power consumption by, and to effect remote control of, an appliance connected thereto; and

wherein said MST is configured for connection to said SWs and ETHs.