Energy-smart home system

• US 20030050737A1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Osann Jr
• Inventors: Osann, Robert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,993,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/06 by electronic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

An “Energy-Smart” Home System is described where the existing proliferation of electrical junction boxes in the typical home or building are used for a unique combination of purposes, supporting diverse functionalities that heretofore have not been combined, and enabling ease of installation with no new wiring. Typically, this system relies on powerline communication and uses electrical wiring for energy distribution, monitoring, and control as well as security, audio/video communications and entertainment, and general network communications such as file transfers and Internet connectivity. An underlying theme in this “Energy-Smart” Home System allows energy-related information to be gathered by way of EMAC (Energy Monitoring And Control) points typically installed at convenient locations such as electrical junction boxes used for power plug receptacles and wall switches. In addition to being visually displayed at the point of energy use or measurement, energy-related information—electrical and thermal—is typically communicated through a powerline data link to a centrally located intelligent device such as a PC, Residential Gateway or Smart Thermostat where it may be monitored, analyzed, profiled, viewed, and also used to enable energy-related control functions. Energy consumption can be alternately displayed in terms of cost-per-time. Energy monitoring is also added to the electrical breaker box, offering an easy way to supplement distributed EMAC points. In general, this Energy-Smart Home System creates a form of “Bio-Feedback for Home Energy”, making the consumer far more aware, enabling more effective and efficient energy usage, while at the same time creating an electrical power distribution and communications infrastructure that enables significant advancements in security, communications, and comfort, in addition to enhanced energy control and conservation.

Claims

1. An assembly designed for attachment to an electrical junction box including:

a current sensor capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to the junction box;

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form; and

a digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information, including said level of electrical current consumption, to and from a remote device.

2. The assembly of claim 1, where said digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device does so by way of the power line connection available at the junction box.

3. The assembly of claim 2, further including at least one electrical power switch.

4. The assembly of claim 2, further including at least one power plug receptacle.

5. The assembly of claim 2, further including:

a sensor for measuring the ambient temperature at the assembly; and

a circuit for providing said ambient temperature information in digital form and making said digital ambient temperature information available to said digital communications circuit and/or an integral display.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further including:

placing said temperature sensor in a position within said assembly, and adding insulating material as required, so as to minimize any thermal influence on said temperature sensor by any heat producing device also contained within the assembly.

7. The assembly of claim 2, further including an integral digitally controlled display.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further including the capability to display:

the ambient temperature at the assembly;

or

the power level consumed by any electrical loads connected to the junction box in terms of units of power consumption (e.g. Watts);

or

the power level consumed by any electrical loads connected to the junction box in terms of Cost-per-Time (e.g. $/Month).

9. The assembly of claim 2, further including:

a motion detector, and

a circuit interfacing with said motion detector for providing motion detection information to said digital communications circuit.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further including:

a video camera powered by the electrical power available at the electrical junction box.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further including:

a circuit for broadcasting said video camera output signal in analog video form.

12. The assembly of claim 10, further including:

a circuit for digitizing said video camera output signal, and;

a circuit for compressing said digitized video signal, and;

a power line communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connection available at the junction box, said digitized and compressed video signal being made available to said power line communications circuit.

13. The assembly of claim 2, further including:

a standard network access connection jack; and

a network interface circuit connected to said standard network connection jack, said network interface circuit supporting digital network communication in compliance with an industry standard, and interfacing with said digital communications circuit.

14. The assembly of claim 2, further including:

an audio intercom circuit with digital capability for transmitting and receiving audio information by way of said digital communications circuit.

15. The assembly of claim 14, further including:

speech recognition capability implemented as software running on a processor within the assembly or alternately running on a processor, PC, or Gateway connected as a remote device.

16. The assembly of claim 2, further including:

a circuit for controlling the power applied to an electrical load connected to said electrical junction box.

17. The assembly of claim 16, further including:

the capability for controlling the power applied to an electrical load such that the power may be applied fully on or off, or alternately applied at some arbitrary intermediate level.

18. An assembly designed for attachment to an electrical junction box including:

a digitally controlled panel display capable of displaying full motion video; and

a circuit for driving said panel display with information received from a remote source.

19. The assembly of claim 18, further including:

an audio intercom circuit with digital capability for transmitting and receiving audio information by way of a digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device.

20. The assembly of claim 19, further including:

speech recognition functionality implemented as;

software running on a processor within the assembly;

or

software running on a processor, PC, or Gateway connected as a remote device where said speech recognition functionality communicates with said assembly by way of said digital communications link.

21. The assembly of claim 18, further including:

An electrical power switch.

22. The assembly of claim 21, further including:

a current sensor capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to said electrical power switch; and

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form; and

a digital communications circuit capable of sending said digital information regarding said level of electrical current to a remote device.

23. The assembly of claim 18, further including:

a circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connection available at the junction box.

24. A circuit breaker box, including:

a plurality of current sensing elements for sensing the levels of electrical current passing through a plurality of circuit breakers; and

a circuit for providing said levels of electrical current in digital form; and

a digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information, including said levels of electrical current consumption, to and from a remote device.

25. The circuit breaker box of claim 24, where said circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device does so by way of the power line connections available at the circuit breaker box.

26. The circuit breaker box of claim 24, further including:

a display and a keypad for entering and displaying information sent and received by way of said digital communications circuit.

27. The circuit breaker box of claim 24, further including:

a circuit capable of measuring the voltage level at the power line input to the breaker box, and

a circuit for providing said voltage level in digital form to said digital communications circuit.

28. The circuit breaker box of claim 24, where said breaker box is a standard breaker box and said current sensing elements, said circuit for providing, and said digital communications circuit, are designed to be retrofitted on said standard breaker box sometime after the initial installation of said standard breaker box.

29. The circuit breaker box of claim 24, where said breaker box is an enhanced design breaker box and said current sensing elements, said circuit for providing, and said digital communications circuit are designed to be integral with said standard breaker box prior to the time of the initial installation of said breaker box.

30. A circuit breaker suitable for installation in a standard circuit breaker box, including:

a current sensing element for sensing the level of electrical current passing through said circuit breaker; and

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form; and

a digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information, including said levels of electrical current consumption, to and from a remote device by way of the power line connections available at said circuit breaker box.

31. A temperature sensor assembly, including:

a temperature sensor; and

a circuit for digitizing the temperature information produced by said temperature sensor; and

a communications circuit for transferring said temperature information through a network communications link to a remote device.

32. The assembly of claim 31, where said network communications link supports digital network communication in compliance with an industry standard such as Ethernet.

33. The assembly of claim 31, where said assembly is designed to be attached to an electrical junction box or be plugged into a power plug receptacle attached to an electrical junction box;

and

where said network communications link transfers information by way of the power line connections available at said electrical junction box.

34. The assembly of claim 31, where said remote device is a thermostat capable of receiving temperature information from a plurality of similar temperature sensor assemblies.

35. A thermostat assembly, controlling a heating or cooling system, said thermostat assembly being capable of receiving temperature information from a plurality of remote temperature sensors by way of a network communications link.

37. A method of operation for the thermostat assembly of claim 35, comprising:

collecting the temperatures from each of said plurality of remote temperature sensors;

controlling said heating or cooling system so as to produce a predetermined temperature average when said collected temperatures are numerically averaged.

38. A method of operation for the thermostat assembly of claim 35, comprising:

collecting the temperatures from each of the plurality of remote temperature sensors;

controlling said heating or cooling system so as to seek to produce a predetermined temperature profile across the locations of said remote temperature sensors.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

altering said temperature profile according to the time of day.

36. The thermostat assembly of FIG. 35 where the mode of operation reverts to that of a conventional thermostat, observing only the temperature at the location of said thermostat assembly, if communication with a predetermined number of said remote temperature sensors is lost.

40. The thermostat assembly of FIG. 35 where said network communications link transfers information by way of power lines.

41. A motion detector assembly, including:

a motion detector capable of producing motion detection information indicating that motion has been detected; and

a communications circuit for transferring said motion detection information through a network communications link to a remote device.

42. The assembly of claim 41, where said network communications link supports digital network communication in compliance with an industry standard such as Ethernet.

43. The assembly of claim 41, where said assembly is designed to be attached to an electrical junction box or to be plugged into a power plug receptacle located at an electrical junction box;

and

where said network communications link transfers information by way of the power line connections available at said electrical junction box.

44. A method for profiling electrical energy use in a home or building, comprising:

gathering electrical power consumption information from remote current sensors located at circuit breaker boxes and/or electrical junction boxes distributed throughout said home or building;

creating a multi-dimensional display of a floor plan for said home or building indicating the location of said current sensors;

annotating at each of said sensor location indications, the power consumption measured by the corresponding sensor.

45. The method of claim, 44, further comprising:

obtaining power cost information from the Internet;

converting the power consumption measured by said current sensors to a cost per unit time format;

annotating at each of said sensor location indications, the power consumption measured by the corresponding sensor in terms of cost per unit time.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

annotating each of said sensor location indications in a color shade and/or intensity according to the power consumption measured by the corresponding sensor.

47. The method of claim 44 where said gathering of electrical power consumption information from remote current sensors is performed by the transmission of digital information by way of electrical power lines.

48. A method for profiling the temperature in a home or building, comprising:

gathering temperature information from remote temperature sensors distributed throughout the home or building;

creating a multi-dimensional display of a floor plan for said home or building indicating the location of said temperature sensors;

annotating at each of said sensor location indications, the temperature measured by the corresponding sensor.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

annotating each of said sensor location indications in a color shade and/or intensity according to the level of temperature measured by the corresponding sensor.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

annotating said multi-dimensional display with extrapolated temperature gradient information similar to that shown for temperature profiling on weather maps.

51. The method of claim 48, where said remote temperature sensors are part of an assembly designed to be attached to an electrical junction box or to be plugged into a power plug receptacle located at an electrical junction box;

and

where said network communications link transfers information by way of the power line connections available at said electrical junction box.

52. The method of claim 48, where said gathering of temperature information from remote temperature sensors is performed by the transmission of digital information by way of a communications link that supports digital network communication in compliance with an industry standard such as Ethernet.

53. A method for measuring the relative positions of locations within a home or building structure, comprising:

sending wireless signals from a plurality of beacons to a position locating device designed to receive said signals, said beacons and position locating device having synchronized clocks, and the transmission frequency and strength of said signals selected to allow said signals to penetrate said structure'"'"'s walls;

recording the time when each signal is received at said position locating device relative to a synchronized time at all of said beacons;

computing the distance from each beacon to said position locating device;

determining, by triangulation, the position of said position locating device.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

Entering into said position locating device information for identifying a particular EMAC point that is temporarily connected to, or in close proximity to, said position locating device;

using said information for identifying to aid in the construction of a multidimensional plan of the home or building structure showing said EMAC point locations.

55. A method for measuring the relative positions of locations within a home or building structure, comprising:

sending initial wireless signals, where the transmission frequency and strength of said signals have been selected to allow said signals to penetrate said structure'"'"'s walls, from multiple beacons to a position locating device designed to receive said initial signals;

said position locating device automatically returning said signals to said beacons after a specific time delay period;

each of said beacons measuring the distance to said position locating device by measuring the time or phase difference of the returning signal relative to the corresponding initial signal that was previously sent;

communicating said distance to a central location, which may be the position locating device.

determining, by triangulation, the position of said position locating device.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising:

Entering into said position locating device information for identifying a particular EMAC point that is temporarily connected to, or in close proximity to, said position locating device;

using said information for identifying to aid in the construction of a multi-dimensional plan of the home or building structure showing said EMAC point locations.

57. A portable EMAC point designed to plug into a standard power plug receptacle at an electrical junction box, including:

a plurality of power plug receptacles; and

current sensors capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to any of said power plug receptacles;

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form; and

a digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information, including said level of electrical current consumption, to and from a remote device; and

a digitally controlled display.

58. The assembly of claim 57, where said digital communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device does so by way of the power line connection available at the junction box.

59. The assembly of claim 58, further including:

a sensor for measuring the ambient temperature at the assembly; and

a circuit for providing said ambient temperature in digital form and making said digital ambient temperature available to said digital communications circuit and/or an integral display.

60. The assembly of claim 58, further including:

a video camera powered by the AC power available at said junction box; and

a circuit for digitizing the video camera output signal; and

a circuit for compressing the digitized video signal; and

making this digitized video signal available to said digital communications circuit.

61. The assembly of claim 58, further including:

a motion detector; and

a circuit interfacing with said motion detector for providing motion detection indication to said digital communications circuit.

62. The assembly of claim 58, further including:

a standard network access connection jack; and

a network interface circuit connected to said standard network connection jack, said network interface circuit supporting digital network communication in compliance with an industry standard, and interfacing with said digital communications circuit.

63. The assembly of claim 58, further including:

an ambient light detector; and

a circuit for providing ambient light level information from said ambient light detector in digital form and making said digital light level information available to said digital communications circuit.

64. The assembly of claim 58, further including:

a circuit for controlling the power applied to an electrical load connected to said portable EMAC point.

65. An assembly designed for attachment to an electrical junction box including:

a power line communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connection available at said junction box; and

a wireless communications circuit capable of communicating with other, compatible wireless communications circuits, said wireless communications circuit also capable of sending digital information to a remote device by way of said power line communications circuit.

66. A system including the assembly of claim 65, further including:

a plurality of closure detection devices suitable for detecting the open or closed position of windows or doors, each of said closure detection devices including;

a circuit for providing closure detection information; and

a wireless communication circuit for sending said closure detection information to the assembly of claim 65.

67. An assembly designed for attachment to an electrical junction box including:

a power line communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connection available at said junction box

a video camera powered by the AC power available at said junction box; and

a circuit for digitizing said video camera output signal; and

a circuit for compressing said digitized video signal;

said assembly constructed so as to make said digitized and compressed video signal available to said power line communications circuit.

68. The assembly of claim 67, further including:

a motion detector; and

a circuit interfacing with said motion detector for providing motion detection indication to said power line communications circuit; and

a circuit for controlling the power applied to an electrical load connected to said assembly, said circuit for controlling receiving commands by way of said power line communications circuit.

69. The assembly of claim 68, further including:

a current sensor capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to said junction box;

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form; and

a sensor for measuring the ambient temperature at the assembly; and

a circuit for providing ambient temperature information in digital form;

where said digital ambient temperature information and said digital level of electrical current are made available to said power line communications circuit and/or an integral display.

70. The assembly of FIG. 67, further including:

a re-creation of an electrical junction box interface such that any electrical assembly that might normally attach to an electrical junction box can be attached to the assembly of FIG. 67.

71. The assembly of FIG. 67, further including:

an integral light assembly.

72. The assembly of FIG. 68, further including:

an electrical power switch.

73. The assembly of FIG. 72, further including:

a current sensor capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to said junction box;

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form; and

a sensor for measuring the ambient temperature at the assembly; and

a circuit for providing said ambient temperature in digital form; and

making said digital ambient temperature and said digital level of electrical current to said power line communications circuit and/or an integral display.

74. An assembly designed for attachment to an electrical junction box including:

a power plug receptacle; and

a power line communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connection available at said junction box; and

a motion detector; and

a circuit interfacing with said motion detector for providing digital motion detection information; and

a sensor for measuring the ambient temperature at the assembly; and

a circuit interfacing with said ambient temperature sensor for providing ambient temperature information in digital form;

said assembly constructed so as to provide said digital ambient temperature information and said motion detection information to said power line communications circuit.

75. The assembly of FIG. 74, further including:

a circuit for controlling the power applied to an electrical load connected to the assembly of FIG. 74, said circuit for controlling receiving commands for controlling by way of said power line communications circuit; and

a current sensor capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to said junction box;

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current information in digital form;

said assembly constructed so as to provide said level of electrical current information to said power line communications circuit and/or an integral display.

76. The assembly of FIG. 75, further including:

a physical mechanism for overriding or bypassing said circuit for controlling such that the maximum allowable electrical current level for said plug receptacle is not artificially lowered by the inclusion of said circuit for controlling.

77. The assembly of FIG. 75, wherein said integral display is a digitally controlled display having the capability to display:

the ambient temperature at the assembly;

or

the power level consumed by any electrical loads connected to the junction box in terms of units of power consumption (e.g. Watts);

or

the power level consumed by any electrical loads connected to the junction box in terms of Cost-per-Time (e.g. $/Month).

78. A method of collecting and managing video information from a plurality of video cameras located throughout a home or building, where each video camera has associated with it a plurality of motion detectors, and digitized video and motion detection information are provided to a digital communications network, comprising:

polling each motion detector to determine if motion activity is occurring in the area observed by corresponding video cameras;

storing at a central location, short samples or still versions of video information when no motion is detected;

storing at a central location, continuous running video information when motion is detected.

79. The method of claim 78, further including:

automatically transmitting said video information to an offsite location where it is stored;

80. The method of claim 79, where said video information is encrypted before being transmitted offsite to protect the privacy of the occupant.

81. A method for utilizing the circuit breaker box of FIG. 24 to allow identification of the power consumed by individual devices connected to a particular circuit breaker where multiple devices are connected to said particular circuit breaker, comprising:

turning off all power consuming devices connected to said particular circuit breaker;

turning on, one at a time, each power consuming device connected to said particular circuit breaker;

measuring, one at a time, the level of electrical current consumed by each of said power consuming devices, utilizing one of said current sensing elements;

providing said levels of electrical current in digital form;

communicating by way of said digital communications circuit, said level of electrical current consumption, to a remote device;

storing, at said remote device, the level of current consumed by each of said power consuming devices;

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

analyzing the waveforms representing said levels of electrical current consumed by each of said power consuming devices at moment of application of power to said power consuming devices;

storing, at said remote device, the results of said analysis as a form of power signature;

comparing, each time additional power consumption is observed by said current sensing elements, the observed power signature with said stored power signatures;

determining which power consuming device has just been activated;

83. A method for automatically controlling a light, comprising;

gathering motion detection information from a plurality of motion detectors placed within and/or near the area of a home or building to be illuminated by said light;

turning said light on or off in response to said motion detection information.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising;

gathering said motion detection information by way of a communications network.

85. The method of claim 84, where said communications network transfers information by way of power lines.

86. A method for controlling a heating or cooling system in order to achieve certain desired temperatures at specific locations within a home or building, comprising;

gathering temperature information from a plurality of temperature sensors placed in a plurality of locations throughout said home or building;

communicating said temperature information through a data communications network to a central controller;

controlling a central heating or cooling source and a plurality of electrically controlled vents, ducts, or registers having controllable, variable air flow capability, such that said desired temperatures are achieved at said specific locations.

87. The method of claim 86, where a plurality of temperature sensors are placed within at least one room.

88. The method of claim 86, where said data communications network transfers information by way of power lines.

89. The method of claim 86, where a plurality of temperature sensors are placed within at least one room and where said data communications network transfers information by way of power lines.

90. A modular communications hub assembly for power line digital communications, including:

a power plug connection that carries both communications signals and power to supply the energy required to operate said hub; and

a plurality of plug receptacles or connection slots, each capable of attaching to digital power line communication circuit modules, said circuit modules including a circuit for transferring digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connections within the home or building and said power plug connection; and

a host interface circuit connecting to and communicating with each of said plurality of plug receptacles or connection slots, said host interface circuit capable of transferring digital information to and from a local PC, Residential Gateway, or device located on the Internet.

91. The modular communications hub assembly of claim 90 where said power line communication circuit modules may each communicate according to different communications standards.

92. The modular communications hub assembly of claim 90 where said power line communication circuit modules may each communicate at different data rates.

93. A video security system for a home or building including:

a centrally located Personal Computer or Residential Gateway capable of communicating via the Internet; and

a plurality of video camera assemblies located throughout a home or building, each video camera assembly including;

a video camera; and

a circuit for digitizing said video camera output signal; and

a circuit for compressing said digitized video signal; and

a digital communications circuit for sending said compressed video signal to said Personal Computer or Residential Gateway;

a home security system capable of generating an intruder detection indication signal upon detecting a potential intruder, said Personal Computer or Residential Gateway allowing said compressed video signals from said plurality of video cameras to be sent through the Internet to a security monitoring company or the Police only upon the occurrence of said intruder detection indication signal.

94. The system of claim 93 where said video camera assemblies are mounted at electrical junction boxes and are powered by said junction boxes.

95. The system of claim 94 where said digital communications circuit for sending said compressed video signal from said camera assembly to said Personal Computer or Residential Gateway sends said signal by way of the power line connection available at said junction box.

96. A method for profiling the temperature in a home or building, comprising:

gathering temperature information from remote temperature sensors distributed throughout the home or building;

creating a display indicating zones within said home or building;

annotating for each of said zones, the temperature measured by the corresponding sensor.

97. The method of claim 96, where said remote temperature sensors are part of an assembly designed to be attached to an electrical junction box or to be plugged into a power plug receptacle located at an electrical junction box;

and

where said network communications link transfers information by way of the power line connections available at said electrical junction box.

98. The method of claim 96, where said gathering of temperature information from remote temperature sensors is performed by the transmission of digital information by way of a standard communications link that supports digital network communication in compliance with an industry standard such as Ethernet.

99. The method of claim 96, where said display is implemented on a local PC, Residential Gateway, or smart thermostat.

100. An assembly designed for attachment to an electrical junction box including:

a digitally controlled panel display capable of displaying full motion video; and

a powerline communications circuit capable of sending and receiving digital information to and from a remote device by way of the power line connection available at the junction box; and

a circuit for driving said panel display with information received from a remote source by way of said powerline communications circuit; and

buttons or keys that can be used to initiate commands sent by way of said powerline communications circuit, said commands capable of causing;

specific areas of the home to be illuminated by remote control; and

specific areas of the home to be viewed by video cameras where signals derived from said video cameras are transmitted by way of a powerline communications network and are received by said powerline communications circuit for display on said digitally controlled panel display; and

an electrical power switch for controlling an electrical power circuit not directly related to the functions heretofore described for said assembly.

101. The assembly of claim 100, further including:

a current sensor capable of determining the level of electrical current consumed by an electrical load connected to said electrical power switch; and

a circuit for providing said level of electrical current in digital form to said powerline communications circuit.