REMOTELY CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL SOCKETS WITH PLUGGED APPLIANCE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION

• US 20140101346A1
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laith A. Naaman
• Original Assignee: Laith A. Naaman
• Inventors: Naaman, Laith A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,304,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a remotely controllable electrical socket. Such sockets may include an electrical conductor for receiving a plug of an electrical device. The plug may be associated with a tag for receiving identifying information that corresponds to the electrical device. Exemplary sockets may further include a tag reader for obtaining identifying information from the tag, a sensor for detecting if the plug is inserted in the outlet, and a communications interface for wirelessly sending information to a computing device regarding the identifying information and whether the plug is inserted in the outlet. The communications interface may also receive operational instructions from the computing device (e.g., to turn the power to the plug/electrical device ON or OFF).

Claims

1. A remotely controllable electrical socket comprising:

an electrical conductor for receiving a plug of an electrical device, the plug associated with a tag for receiving identifying information that corresponds to the electrical device;

a tag reader for obtaining identifying information from the tag associated with the plug of the electrical device;

a sensor for detecting if the plug is inserted in the outlet; and

a communications interface communicatively coupling the tag reader with the computing device, the communications interface for sending information to the computing device regarding the identifying information and whether the plug is inserted in the outlet.

2. The socket of claim 1, wherein the computing device uses the identifying information to look up stored records regarding the plug.

3. The socket of claim 1, further comprising a switch coupling the electrical conductor to a power supply, the switch being selectively controllable from a computing device.

4. The socket of claim 3, wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive instructions from the computing device regarding operation of the socket.

5. The socket of claim 4, wherein the instructions comprise a command regarding whether to turn the power supply to the socket ON or OFF.

6. The socket of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to determine or estimate an amount of current consumed by the electrical device.

7. The socket of claim 1, further comprising one or more indicators to signal a status of the plug or electrical device.

8. The socket of claim 1, further comprising one or more manual switches for controlling a status of the plug or electrical device.

9. The socket of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects signals selected from the group consisting of optical, acoustic, magnetic, capacitive, and tactile signals.

10. The socket of claim 1, wherein the communications interface additionally sends the computing device information regarding a status of the plug or electrical device.

11. A method for providing a remotely controllable electrical socket, the method comprising:

connecting an electrical conductor to a plug of an electrical device, the plug associated with a tag for receiving identifying information that corresponds to the electrical device;

obtaining identifying information from the tag associated with the plug of the electrical device;

detecting if the plug is inserted in the outlet; and

sending information to the computing device regarding the identifying information and whether the plug is inserted in the outlet.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the computing device uses the identifying information to look up stored records regarding the plug.

13. The method of claim 11, further coupling the electrical conductor to a power supply via a switch, the switch being selectively controllable from a computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving instructions from the computing device regarding operation of the socket.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the instructions comprise a command regarding whether to turn the power supply to the socket ON or OFF and further comprising executing the command.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining or estimating an amount of current consumed by the electrical device.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising signaling a status of the plug or electrical device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling a status of the plug or electrical device via one or more manual switches.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting signals selected from the group consisting of optical, acoustic, magnetic, capacitive, and tactile signals.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending the computing device information regarding a status of the plug or electrical device.