Controlling the Provision of Power to One or More Devices

• US 20170099518A1
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Hsueh, Tsung-Hsiang
• Granted Patent: US 10,057,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• 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 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for provisioning power to a power consumption device in a depowered state (e.g., a device not consuming current such as standby current). Aspects discussed herein relate to controlling a detector, switches, and/or an outlet such as a smart outlet. In some examples, a message may be sent to a powered controller. The controller may be configured to send a signal to activate a detector, which may be sent via a wireless signal and/or via generation of a resonance frequency via a tuned circuit (e.g., via resonant coupling). The signal may include “bootstrap” power that enables the detector to activate a switch to receive power from an additional or alternative power source. The detector may further receive and decode the signal to operate one or more outlets or switches, gates, relays, thyristors, transistors, or so on to provide power to a power-consumption device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a detector comprising a control circuit, a command signal;

actuating a first switch responsive to a resonance frequency on the command signal to enable powering the control circuit via an independent power source; and

controlling, by the control circuit, power to a consumption device responsive to instructions in the command signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector further comprises a tuned circuit and the receiving the command signal comprises receiving the command signal via the tuned circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling power to the consumption device comprises actuating a second switch that is different from the first switch.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first switch and the second switch each comprise a thyristor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling power to the consumption device comprises determining, by the control circuit and based on the instructions, the consumption device from a plurality of controllable consumption devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the detector, an additional command signal;

controlling, by the control circuit and responsive to instructions in the additional command signal, disabling power at the consumption device; and

actuating the first switch to disabling power of the control circuit via the independent power source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumption device is a digital video recorder and the command signal comprises an instruction for the digital video recorder to record content.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a command signal comprising a command for one or more power-consuming devices;

transmitting, via a tuned circuit, a power-enabling instruction signal to one or more detectors;

determining that the one or more power-consuming devices is powered; and

transmitting the command to the one or more power-consuming devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the power-enabling instruction signal to the one or more detectors comprises determining that the one or more power-consuming devices is not powered.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that the one or more power-consuming devices is powered comprises polling the one or more power-consuming devices.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that the one or more power-consuming devices is powered comprises determining a time period since the transmitting of the power-enabling instruction signal to the one or more detectors.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the power-enabling instruction signal comprises a resonant frequency.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the power-enabling instruction signal comprises an identifier identifying the one or more power-consuming devices.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more power-consuming devices comprises a digital video recorder, and the command comprises a recording command for the digital video recorder.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by a detector comprising a first tuned circuit and a first switch, from a controller comprising a second tuned circuit, a power-enabling instruction signal comprising a resonant frequency;

actuating, via the first tuned circuit and based on the resonant frequency, the first switch;

decoding, by the detector and in response to the actuating of the first switch, an instruction from the power-enabling instruction signal; and

actuating, based on the instruction, a second switch different from the first switch.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power-enabling instruction signal comprises an identifier of the second switch.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein decoding the instruction from the power-enabling instruction signal comprises selecting the second switch from a plurality of switches.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first switch and the second switch each comprise a thyristor.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein actuating the second switch causes power to be provided to a power-consumption device identified by the instruction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the power-consumption device is a digital video recorder and wherein the instruction comprises a recording instruction.