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Smart grid appliance control

  • US 9,883,257 B2
  • Filed: 08/14/2013
  • Issued: 01/30/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • receiving, at a power controller at a first location, one or more requests from a plurality of electrical appliances to join a first network of appliances, the one or more requests including unique identification numbers of local controllers associated with respective appliances, wherein the plurality of electrical appliances are plugged into outlets at the first location;

    assigning, by the power controller, unique encryption codes corresponding to the unique identification numbers to the respective appliances;

    transferring, by the power controller, the encryption codes to respective local controllers of the appliances;

    communicating with one or more appliances using the encryption codes;

    receiving, at the power controller, consumption data from the plurality of electrical appliances;

    evaluating the received consumption data of the plurality of electrical appliances;

    obtaining stored data related to power consumption preferences of the plurality of electrical appliances at the first location, the power consumption preferences including different states of operation of the plurality of electrical appliances and preselected conditions that trigger remote control of at least a first appliance of the plurality of electrical appliances, the preselected conditions comprising at least threshold power consumption values of the first appliance corresponding to different states of operation of the first appliance and associated time periods at which remote control of the first appliance is authorized;

    based at least in part on evaluating the received consumption data, determining that one or more of the preselected conditions are satisfied for the first appliance; and

    based at least in part on the determining, providing a first communication from the power controller to the first appliance to control power consumption,wherein the first communication includes a first secure communication, and wherein providing the first communication includes generating the first communication using an encryption code corresponding to the first appliance.

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