Method and apparatus for using PLC-based sensor units for communication and streaming media delivery, and for monitoring and control of power usage of connected appliances

• US 8,755,946 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Xia, Mingyao, Grubel, Eric, Castellano, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/032,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/19, 700/22, 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 340/12.32
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 Planning or developing urban green infrastructure
• 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: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A group of sensors use power line communication (PLC) technology to collect power usage information and enable power management and control, as well as provide local area networking. The sensors include an intelligent master sensor and one or more slave devices, such as a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch sensor. The master collects and compiles power usage data from the slaves and communicates this data via the web or other communication means to the outside world. The master also receives and distributes instructions for controlling power usage via associated switches in the home or office. These sensors provide integrated sensing and control of home power usage and power management and establish a LAN that has communication capability and that supports streaming media delivery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing voice and data communication within a premises and monitoring and control of power usage of one or more appliances therein, comprising:

a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) connected to a power distribution line, said ETH is configured for monitoring, collection, and control of power usage of appliances connected through said ETH, via a power plug having a noise filter, to said power distribution line;

said ETH comprising a first broad band communication module under control of a first CPU;

said first broadband communication module coupled to the power line distribution via a first filter coupler that is a band pass filter enabled to pass broad band inputs between said first broad band communication module and the power distribution line;

the apparatus further comprising;

a master unit (MST) connected to said power distribution line, said MST in communication with said ETH via said power distribution line and configured for collection and compilation of power usage information from said ETH;

said MST comprising a second broadband communication module under control of a second CPU;

said second broadband communication module coupled to the power line distribution via a second filter coupler that is a band pass filter enabled to pass broad band inputs between the second broadband communication module and the power distribution line;

said MST further configured as a communication gateway to a wide area network (WAN) for a local area network (LAN);

wherein said MST and said ETH are configured for voice, data communication, and streaming media delivery using broad band transfer over said power distribution line, using the broad band communication modules that are coupled to the power distribution line by the first filter coupler and the second filter coupler that act as pass filters for the broadband frequency;

wherein said MST is further configured for a narrowband transfer of collected power usage and control information over said power distribution line, using a communication module coupled to said power distribution line using a third filter coupler that is a bandpass filter for the narrow band frequency used for said transfer of said collected power usage and control information;

wherein a particular ETH monitors power usage for a particular individual appliance of the one or more appliances and sends corresponding power usage information to said MST;

wherein said collected and compiled power usage information is applied either by said ETH when controlling said particular individual appliance from within said LAN or remotely from said WAN through said communication gateway via said MST.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one power switch unit (SW) configured for monitoring and controlling power usage of one or more of said appliances within said premises.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one MST configured for collecting and compiling said collected and compiled power usage information for transmission to at least one remote site in said WAN, and configured as a gateway to provide a connection for communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first appliance of the one or more appliances sends media to a second appliance of the one or more appliances using the broad band transfer over said power distribution line.

5. An apparatus for communication over a power line distribution, comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured for collecting power usage information for corresponding appliances, each of said appliances receiving operating power from said power distribution line;

said sensors configured for effecting power management and control and for providing local area networking;

said sensors comprising at least an intelligent master sensor and one or more slave devices;

said one or more slave devices comprising at least one communication and power management sensor;

said master sensor configured for collecting and compiling power usage data provided by said slave sensors with regard to said slave sensors'"'"' corresponding appliances, and configured for communicating said data to a wide area communication network;

wherein a particular power management sensor monitors power usage for a particular individual appliance of the corresponding appliances and sends corresponding power usage information to said master sensor;

wherein said master sensor is configured for both narrowband and broadband transfer of collected power usage and control information over said power distribution line, using a communication module coupled to said power distribution line using a coupler filter module that is a high pass filter for allowing broad band frequencies to pass through the high pass filter and blocking frequencies below the broad band range from passing through the high pass filter or a band pass filter for allowing only narrow band frequencies to pass through the band pass filter;

wherein said master sensor is configured for a broadband reception and transfer;

said master sensor configured for receiving and distributing instructions for controlling power usage of said appliances via switches associated with corresponding slave sensors;

wherein said at least one communication and power management sensor is configured to provide integrated sensing and control of appliance power usage and power management and to establish a local area network over said power distribution line having communication capability and that supports streaming media delivery;

wherein the particular individual appliances connects through said at least one communication and power management sensor to said power distribution line via a power plug having a noise filter.

6. A method for monitoring and control of power usage of one or more appliances, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one of;

a power switch unit (SW) connected to a power distribution line for monitoring and controlling power usage of at least one appliance connected to said SW; and

a communication enabled power switch unit (ETH) connected to said power distribution line, said ETH configured to provide power line communication (PLC) and thereby form a local area network (LAN) over said power distribution line;

wherein said ETH is configured for monitoring, collection, and control of power usage of appliances connected through said ETH, via a power plug having a noise filter, to said power distribution line;

wherein said ETH comprises a first broad band communication module under control of a first CPU;

said first broadband communication module coupled to the power distribution line via a first filter coupler that is a band pass filter enabled to pass broad band inputs between said first broad band communication module and the power distribution line;

providing a master unit (MST) connected to said power distribution line, said MST in communication with said ETH, via said power distribution line and configured for collection and compilation of power usage information from ETH;

wherein said ETH monitors power usage for a particular individual appliance and sends corresponding power usage information to said MST;

said MST comprising a second broadband communication module under control of a second CPU;

said second broadband communication module coupled to the power line distribution via a second filter coupler that is a band pass filter enabled to pass broad band inputs between the second broadband communication module and the power distribution line;

wherein said MST and ETH are further configured for of a narrowband transfer of collected power usage and control information over said power distribution line, said ETH using a first narrow band communication module coupled to said power distribution line using a third filter coupler that is a bandpass filter for the narrow band frequency used, and said MST using a second narrow band communication module coupled to said power distribution line using a fourth filter coupler that is a bandpass filter for the narrow band frequency used, for said transfer of said collected power usage and control information;

wherein said MST and said ETH are configured for broadband transfer of voice and data communication and streaming media delivery within said LAN;

said MST configured as a communication gateway to a wide area network (WAN) for said LAN;

wherein said collected and compiled power usage information is applied either by said ETH when controlling said particular individual appliance from within said LAN or remotely from said WAN through said communication gateway via said MST.