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 20120065799A1
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: XIA, Mingyao, Grubel, Eric, Castellano, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,755,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 monitoring and control of power usage of one or more appliances, comprising 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 and control of power usage by appliances connected between said ETH and said power distribution line; and

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

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 at least one appliance from within said LAN or remotely from said WAN through said communication gateway via said MST.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said MST and at least one are configured for communication and streaming media delivery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one SW configured for monitoring and controlling power usage and at least one ETH configured for establishing LAN, for monitoring and controlling power usage of said at least one appliance, and for transferring said collected and compiled power usage information over said power distribution line.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said MST is configured for both narrowband and broadband transfer of collected power usage and control information over said power distribution line.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said MST is configured for broadband transfer of collected power usage and control information over said power distribution line.

7. An apparatus for communication over a power line (PLC), comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured for collecting power usage information for corresponding appliances, each of said appliances receiving operating power from said power 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 slave sensors comprising any of a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch 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;

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 sensors are collectively configured to provide integrated sensing and control of appliance power usage and power management and to establish a local area network over said power line having communication capability and that supports streaming media delivery.

7-1. (canceled)

8. 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 and control of power usage by appliances connected between said ETH and said power distribution line; and

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

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 at least one appliance from within said LAN or remotely from said WAN through said communication gateway via said MST.