Smart electrical outlets and associated networks

• US 9,160,168 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Chapel, Steve, Pachoud, William
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US13/763,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20140032003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700295-297, 700/11, 700/22, 702/57, 702 60- 62, 705/400, 705/412, 307/11, 307/31, 307/38, 307/39, 307/112, 307/113, 307/115, 307/139, 307/140, 340/1.1, 340/12.1, 340/12.15, 340/12.22, 340/12.31, 340/12.32, 340/12.33, 340/12.37, 34087001-87003, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• 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 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: 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: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 : State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 : Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• 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 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 : involving the use of Internet protocol

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 power distribution system, comprising:

a power grid for distributing power over a geographic distribution area;

one or more grid controllers for controlling distribution of power across said power grid; and

a number of customer premises controllers, each for controlling delivery of power within a particular customer premises based on

     1) a first policy set, of one or more policies, implemented in connection with a communication between said customer premises controllers and at least one of said grid controllers and

     2) a second policy set, of one or more policies, implemented independent of any communication between said customer premises controllers and any of said grid controllers.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first policy set includes a policy specific to said customer premises.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first policy set includes a grid policy communicated from at least one of said grid controllers.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said grid policy is executed in accordance with a local policy.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said customer premises controllers are associated with individual electrical receptacles of said customer premises.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first policy set is implemented with respect to a device without regard to what outlet is utilized.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of said customer premises controllers is operative to identify said device or type of device based on analysis of a power signal delivered to said device.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said local controllers is operative to control power delivery relative to at least three states including:

1) an off-state where no power is delivered;

     2) an on-state where full power is delivered; and

     3) a reduced power state where a power signal less than full power is delivered.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second policy set involves controlling time where power is delivered via one or more outlets independent of any communication between said custom premises controllers and any of said grid controllers.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second policy set involves monitoring an operating environment of a device or circuit.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said operating environment relates to a status of recharging of said device.

12. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said operating environment relates to a deterioration of said circuit.

13. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said operating environment relates to a potentially hazardous condition.

14. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system further includes logic for monitoring the operation of a device or circuit over time to develop a policy of one of said first and second policy sets.

15. A method power distribution, comprising:

providing a power distribution system including a power grid for distributing power over a geographic distribution area, one or more grid controllers for controlling distribution of power across said power grid and a number of customer premises controllers, each for controlling delivery of power within a particular customer premises; and

operating said customer premises controllers to control delivery of power based on

     1) a first policy set, of one or more policies, implemented in connection with a communication between said customer premises controllers and at least one of said grid controllers and

     2) a second policy set, of one or more policies, implemented independent of any communication between said customer premises controllers and any of said grid controllers.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first policy set includes a policy specific to said customer premises.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first policy set includes a grid policy communicated from at least one of said grid controllers.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said grid policy is executed in accordance with a local policy.

19. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said customer premises controllers are associated with individual electrical receptacles of said customer premises.

20. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first policy set is implemented with respect to a device without regard to what outlet is utilized.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein at least one of said customer premises controllers is operative to identify said device or type of device based on analysis of a power signal delivered to said device.

22. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least one of said local controllers is operative to control power delivery relative to at least three states including:

1) an off-state where no power is delivered;

     2) an on-state where full power is delivered; and

     3) a reduced power state where a power signal less than full power is delivered.

23. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said second policy set involves controlling time where power is delivered via one or more outlets independent of any communication between said custom premises controllers and any of said grid controllers.

24. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said second policy set involves monitoring an operating environment of a device or circuit.

25. A method as set forth in claim 24, wherein said operating environment relates to a status of recharging of said device.

26. A method as set forth in claim 24, wherein said operating environment relates to a deterioration of said circuit.

27. A method as set forth in claim 24, wherein said operating environment relates to a potentially hazardous condition.

28. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said system further includes logic for monitoring the operation of a device or circuit over time to develop a policy of one of said first and second policy sets.