Internet/intranet-connected apparatus
First Claim
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1. An electrical apparatus, comprising:
- a housing comprising a control unit configured to control a distribution of electrical energy to an additional apparatus;
an energy receiving unit configured to receive electrical energy, the energy receiving unit being electrically connected to the control unit;
a communication unit configured to communicate with a client device across a network, the communication unit being based on a corresponding communications protocol;
a monitoring unit configured to monitor a load of electrical energy in the additional apparatus;
a web server unit configured to;
receive an inquiry from the client device;
generate a web page comprising first and second information, the first information being associated with at least the electrical energy load at the additional apparatus, the first information being received from a first sensor, and the second information being received from a second sensor configured to detect motion; and
transmit, in response to the inquiry, the web page to the client device in accordance with the communications protocol; and
a switch configured by the control unit to provide at least a portion of the received electrical energy to the additional apparatus in response to the second information,wherein in response to the transmitted web page, the communications unit is further configured to;
receive at least one of (i) a first instruction from the client device to control the distribution of electrical energy to the additional apparatus or (ii) a second instruction from the client device to modify at least a portion of the information presented within the web page;
receive, from the client device, a third instruction to modify at least one sensing characteristic of the second sensor; and
transmitting, to the second sensor, a fourth instruction to modify the at least one sensing characteristic in accordance with the received third instruction.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus that uses the Internet protocol, TCP/IP, for a home control network. The invention also provides embedded servers, email clients at the electrical boxes. The invention integrates the Internet to the electrical outlet, switch, or appliance boxes using a low cost embedded web server.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electrical apparatus, comprising:
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a housing comprising a control unit configured to control a distribution of electrical energy to an additional apparatus; an energy receiving unit configured to receive electrical energy, the energy receiving unit being electrically connected to the control unit; a communication unit configured to communicate with a client device across a network, the communication unit being based on a corresponding communications protocol; a monitoring unit configured to monitor a load of electrical energy in the additional apparatus; a web server unit configured to; receive an inquiry from the client device; generate a web page comprising first and second information, the first information being associated with at least the electrical energy load at the additional apparatus, the first information being received from a first sensor, and the second information being received from a second sensor configured to detect motion; and transmit, in response to the inquiry, the web page to the client device in accordance with the communications protocol; and a switch configured by the control unit to provide at least a portion of the received electrical energy to the additional apparatus in response to the second information, wherein in response to the transmitted web page, the communications unit is further configured to; receive at least one of (i) a first instruction from the client device to control the distribution of electrical energy to the additional apparatus or (ii) a second instruction from the client device to modify at least a portion of the information presented within the web page; receive, from the client device, a third instruction to modify at least one sensing characteristic of the second sensor; and transmitting, to the second sensor, a fourth instruction to modify the at least one sensing characteristic in accordance with the received third instruction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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monitoring a load of electrical energy at an electrical apparatus; receiving an inquiry from a client device over a communications network, the inquiry being associated with the electrical apparatus; generating, using a processor, a web page comprising first and second information, the first information being associated with at least the electrical energy load at the electrical apparatus, the first information being received from a first sensor, and the second information being received from a second sensor configured to detect motion; transmitting, in response to the inquiry, the web page to the client device across the communications network, the transmission being based on a corresponding communications protocol; activating a switch in response to the second information, the activated switch providing electrical energy to the electrical apparatus; in response to the transmitted web page, receiving; at least one of (i) a first instruction from the client device to control a distribution of electrical energy to the electrical apparatus or (ii) a second instruction from the client device to modify at least a portion of the information within the web page; and a third instruction to modify at least one sensing characteristic of the second sensor; and transmitting, to the second sensor, a fourth instruction to modify the at least one sensing characteristic in accordance with the received third instruction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method, comprising:
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monitoring a load of electrical energy at an electrical apparatus; receiving an inquiry from a client device over a communications network, the inquiry being associated with the electrical apparatus; generating, using a processor, a web page comprising first and second information, the first information being associated with at least the electrical energy load at the electrical apparatus, the first information being received from a first sensor, and the second information being received from a second sensor configured to detect motion; transmitting, in response to the inquiry, the web page to the client device across the communications network, the transmission being based on a corresponding communications protocol; activating a switch in response to the second information, the activated switch providing electrical energy to the electrical apparatus; in response to the transmitted web page, receiving; at least one of (i) a first instruction from the client device to control a distribution of electrical energy to the electrical apparatus or (ii) a second instruction from the client device to modify at least a portion of the information within the web page; and a third instruction to modify at least one sensing characteristic of the second sensor; and transmitting, to the second sensor, a fourth instruction to modify the at least one sensing characteristic in accordance with the received third instruction.
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Specification