ELECTRICAL POWER REGULATING AND MONITORING SYSTEMS AND OUTLET SYSTEMS THEREFOR
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a plurality of outlet systems receivable in respective electrical boxes in a building and connected via electrical wires to an electric power supply. The plurality of outlet systems include at least one electrical receptacle connectable to an electrical appliance, a computing unit operable to monitor the electrical appliance, a switch for interrupting electrical power to the electrical appliance in response to the computing unit. The at least one electrical receptacle, the computing unit, and the switch are configured to be receivable within and connectable to the electrical box and covered by a cover plate having at least one opening for accessing the at least one electrical receptacle. A network device is operable for communicating with the plurality of outlet systems and for communicating with a global communications network.
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Citations
88 Claims
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1-63. -63. (canceled)
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64. An electrical outlet system receivable in an electrical box in a building and operably electrically connected via electrical wires to an electric power supply, said outlet system comprising:
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at least one electrical receptacle connectable to an electrical appliance; a computing unit operable to monitor the electrical appliance connected to the at least one electrical receptacle; a switch for interrupting electrical power to the electrical appliance in response to said computing unit; a housing for containing and electrically connected to said at least one electrical receptacle, said computing unit, and said switch; and wherein said housing is receivable within the electrical box and electrically connectable to the electrical wires in the electrical box and coverable by a cover plate having at least one opening for accessing said at least one electrical receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A computerized method for use in monitoring and reducing the use of electrical power, the method comprising at least one of:
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a) monitoring operation of an electrical appliance connected to an outlet system disposed in an electrical box in a building and operably electrically connected to an electrical power supply, and disconnecting, in the electrical box, the electrical power supply to the electrical appliance in response to the electrical appliance being disposed in a standby mode; b) monitoring operation of a plurality of electrical appliances connected to a plurality of outlet systems disposed in a respective plurality of electrical boxes disposed in a building, and forwarding data regarding the monitoring from the plurality of outlet systems to a local network device operable for communicating with a global communications network; and c) receiving data via a first local communications link regarding a plurality of outlet systems connected to respective electrical appliances disposed in a building, and forwarding information regarding the data via a second communications link for display on a display for a customer. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A system for use in monitoring and reducing the use of electrical power, the system comprising:
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a network device for receiving data via a first communication link regarding a plurality of outlet systems connected to respective electrical appliances disposed in a building; and said network device operable for forwarding the data via a second communications link for display on a display observable by a customer. - View Dependent Claims (85)
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86. A system receivable in an electrical box in a building and operably electrically connected via electrical wires to an electric power supply, said system comprising:
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at least one electrical device connectable to an electrical appliance; a computing unit operable to monitor the electrical appliance connected to the at least one electrical receptacle; a switch for interrupting electrical power to the electrical appliance in response to said computing unit; a housing for containing and electrically connected to said at least one electrical device, said computing unit, and said switch; and wherein said housing is receivable within the electrical box and electrically connectable to the electrical wires in the electrical box and coverable by a cover plate having at least one opening for accessing said at least one electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88)
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Specification