COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL FOR INTELLIGENT OUTLETS

• US 20150066227A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Chapel, Steve, Pachoud, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,588,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• 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: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0833 for reduction of network energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• 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 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.

Claims

1. A method for use in power distribution, comprising the steps of:

monitoring an electrical receptacle to determine load information regarding a loading of said electrical receptacle based on a digital analysis of an electrical signal transmitted via said electrical receptacle; and

controlling delivery of power via said receptacle based on said digital analysis.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises sampling said signal and comparing said sampled signal to electrical signature information corresponding to device classifications.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises processing a device identification code received at said receptacle.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling comprises interrupting said delivery of power.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling comprises reducing said delivery of power.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said reducing comprises eliminating individual half cycles, or integer multiples thereof, of a power signal waveform delivered via said receptacle.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said half cycles are eliminated on a periodic basis to reduce power consumption.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said receptacle is associated with a switch and logic for controlling said switch, and said step of eliminating comprises cycling said switch substantially in synchronization with zero potential crossings of said power signal.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling is executed in response to instructions transmitted to said receptacle.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said instructions are transmitted via a power line.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said instructions are communicated according to the TCP/IP protocol.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said instructions are transmitted via a WAN.

13. An apparatus for use in supplying electricity to one or more electrical devices, comprising:

a standard outlet receptacle for receiving a plug for powering said one or more devices; and

a receptacle controller, disposed proximate to said outlet receptacle, for controlling operation of said outlet receptacle, said receptacle controller including a TCP/IP module for enabling communication between said receptacle controller and an external control system in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said outlet is a National Electrical Manufactures Association (NEMA) or other (e.g., CEE, BS, etc.) standard outlet.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said receptacle is associated with an outlet housing and said controller is disposed within said housing.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said communication is transmitted via a power line.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a local controller is operative for transferring said communication between said power line and a Wide Area Network (WAN).

18. A method for use in controlling the operation of an electrical device, comprising the steps of:

operating said electrical device to process a communication transmitted across a power line, said communication being in accordance with a first protocol; and

operating a protocol gateway to process said communication for transmission between said power line and a WAN, wherein said WAN utilizes a second protocol the same as or different than said first protocol.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein each of said first protocol and said second protocol is the TCP/IP protocol.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein only one of said first protocol and said second protocol is the TCP/IP protocol.

21. A system for use in power distribution, comprising:

an electrical device that receives power through electrical wiring of customer premises via an electrical receptacle;

a receptacle switch module, associated with said electrical receptacle, for controlling delivery of power to said electrical receptacle;

a receptacle controller for controlling operation of said switch module; and

a communication subsystem for allowing communication between said receptacle switch module and said controller via said electrical wiring using a network communication protocol.

22. A system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said protocol is the TCP/IP protocol.

23. A system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said controller is operative for controlling said switch module for interrupting delivery of power via said receptacle.

24. A system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said controller is operative for controlling said switch module for reducing delivery of power via said receptacle.

25-41. -41. (canceled)