Self-Organized Multiple Appliance Network Connectivity Apparatus

• US 20160344598A1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenrehte Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tenrehte Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Indovina, Mark Allen, Indovina, Jennifer Marie, Priebe, Russell Dean, Barrios, Carlos Antonio, Boggs, Steven Lee
• Granted Patent: US 10,462,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16528 using digital techniques or performing arithmetic operations using digital techniques to measure a voltage or a current, see G01R19/25
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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 40/128 involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

An appliance network connectivity apparatus includes a voltage sensor that generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the appliance. A current sensor generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a current flowing through the appliance. A processor determines the electrical characteristics of power consumed by the appliance and executes web server software for communicating data through a network. A relay controls power from the power source to the appliance. A memory stores the electrical characteristics. A network interface provides the electrical characteristics to the network.

Claims

1-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A method of connecting an appliance to a network for performance monitoring and power control, the method comprising:

a) recognizing at an access point connected to a network a presence of a plurality of appliances connected to the network;

b) collecting at the access point power data, voltage data, current data, and diagnostics information from the plurality of appliances using the network;

c) determining at the access point electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances using the collected power data, voltage data, current data, and diagnostics information;

d) accessing at the access point a network resource using the internet to gather manufacturers or power utility company information;

e) determining at the access point demand response or cost optimization schemes based on the manufacturers or power utility company information and based on the electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances;

a) controlling from the access point application of power from one or more power sources to at least one of the plurality of appliances based on the determined demand response or cost optimization schemes; and

b) presenting data for electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances to an end user.

56. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the access point comprises an appliance.

57. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the plurality of appliances comprise electrically powered equipment.

58. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the plurality of appliances comprise consumer appliances.

59. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the plurality of appliances comprise consumer electronic devices.

60. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the network comprises a wireless network.

61. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the recognizing the presence of the plurality of appliances connected to the network at the access point is performed manually.

62. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the recognizing the presence of the plurality of appliances connected to the network at the access point is performed automatically.

63. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the recognizing the presence of the plurality of appliances connected to the network at the access point comprises recognizing a unique identifier that is presented by the plurality of appliances.

64. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the recognizing at the access point connected to the network the presence of the plurality of appliances connected to the network comprises analyzing collected power data, voltage data, current data and diagnostics information to identify certain of the plurality of appliances.

65. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the presenting data for electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances to the end user comprises presenting data in a web page.

66. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein determining at the access point electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances using the collected power data, voltage data, current data and diagnostics information comprises determining electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances as a function of time.

67. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 66 further comprising comparing the determined electrical characteristics, performance and function of the plurality of appliances to known records of properly functioning appliances.

68. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 66 wherein the electrical characteristics comprise at least one of instantaneous power, resistive power, reactive power, total power, power factor, and line voltage as a function of time.

69. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the end user is selected from the group consisting of a consumer, a manufacturer, a power utility company, an appliance vendor and an automated demand response system.

70. The method of connecting an appliance to the network for performance monitoring and power control of claim 55 wherein the controlling from the access point application of power from one or more power sources to at least one of the plurality of appliances comprises using controlling with a relay.