WIRELESS POWER, LIGHT AND AUTOMATION CONTROL

• US 20140163751A1
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kortek Industries Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kortek Industries Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Davis, Barrie, Davis, Benjamin, Davis, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,465,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A power control unit and method of use thereof for varying the supply of electricity to an electrical apparatus using a peer-to-peer wireless communications link between a controller and the power control unit. The communications link may be established using Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth communications technology.

Claims

1. A power control device for controlling an electrical apparatus through a peer-to-peer link with a controller so as to control a supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the controller having a processor, a memory, a user interface, and a wireless communications transceiver, said device comprising:

a microprocessor having a memory;

a power control circuit configured to implement a command from said microprocessor to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus; and

a wireless communications transceiver operable for two-way, peer-to-peer communication with the controller, said microprocessor being configured to open a peer-to-peer wireless communications link with the controller by either;

simulating a Wi-Fi access point if said controller is a legacy Wi-Fi device;

or

negotiating with said controller as to which of said microprocessor or said controller will assume a group owner role if said controller is a Wi-Fi Direct device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device utilizes Wi-Fi Direct technology.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device utilizes Bluetooth technology.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device utilizes near-field communication technology.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is operable to completely shut off electricity to the electrical apparatus after receiving instructions from the controller.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control circuitry is configured as a dimmer control.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device includes an active plug terminal for plugging into an electrical wall socket.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device includes an active socket terminal for plugging electrical appliances or equipment.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is mountable behind a faceplate of a light switch.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is mountable behind a faceplate of the electrical socket.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is mountable behind a faceplate of a on/off switch.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is integrated with the electrical apparatus.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is programmed with time dependent functions by the controller.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor includes a clock dependent on a timing circuit in the controller.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device includes an independent battery backed clock and calendar circuit.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is programmed to shut off electricity to the electrical apparatus when the controller travels out of range of said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is programmed to power the electrical apparatus when the controller travels into range of said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said power control devices forming a power strip, said power strip including a plurality of electrical sockets, each electrical socket being individually controllable by the controller.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device is configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a second controller, said microprocessor of said power control device being configured to decode the radio frequency signal.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said microprocessor of said power control device is configured to save the radio frequency signal.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein said wireless communications transceiver of said power control device is configured to transmit a signal identical to the signal received from the second controller to a remote electrical apparatus controlled by the second controller.

22. The device in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor is configured to receive and save the parameters of a plurality of radio frequency signals from the controller.

23. The device in claim 19, wherein said wireless transceiver of said power control device is configured to transmit a signal identical to the signal defined by the parameters of one of the plurality of stored radio frequency signals to a remote electrical apparatus controlled by the second controller.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is configured to measure voltage being applied across and the current passing to the electrical apparatus electrically coupled to said power control device.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is programmed to monitor power being consumed by the electrical apparatus electrically coupled to said power control device, and to disconnect said electrical apparatus if a predetermined maximum power is exceeded.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control device is programmed to connect electrical power during time periods specified by the controller.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control device is programmed not to disconnect electrical power if the connected device is in use.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor includes a non-volatile re-writeable memory configured to store a sub-program transmitted by the controller.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein said power control device is configured for manual operation by a user.

30. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second wireless communications transceiver.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said second wireless communications transceiver is configured for transmitting and/or receiving signals no greater than 1 GHz.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein said second wireless communications transceiver is configured to support a wireless specification selected from one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and near field communications

33. The device of claim 1, wherein said memory of said microprocessor is a non-volatile re-writable memory, said microprocessor being configured to store in said non-volatile re-writable memory operating parameters associated with the electrical apparatus.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrical apparatus includes a plug, said device further comprising a socket and a plug, said socket being configured to receive the plug of the electrical apparatus.

35. A method for remotely controlling an electrical apparatus to control a supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the method comprising:

opening a secure two-way, peer-to-peer wireless communications link between a wireless controller and a power control device, the power control device controlling the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the opening of the peer-to-peer wireless communications link including;

assigning a Wi-Fi access point role to the power control device if the controller is not utilizing Wi-Fi Direct to communicate with the power control device;

or

if the controller is utilizing Wi-Fi Direct to communicate, negotiating between the power control device and the controller which of the power control device and controller will assume a Wi-Fi Direct group owner role;

displaying on a user interface of the wireless controller a status of the power control device;

transmitting a command with the wireless controller over the peer-to-peer wireless communications link to the power control device to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus;

receiving the command at the power control device; and

varying the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus in accordance with the command.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the link is opened using Bluetooth technology.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the link is opened using near-field communication technology.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the link is opened using Wi-Fi Direct communication technology.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the displaying includes displaying the status of a plurality of power control devices, further comprising selecting one of the power control devices for receiving a command.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the transmitting of the command includes transmitting a program with time dependent functions by the controller.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the varying of the supply of electricity includes completely shutting off electricity to the electrical apparatus.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising transmitting a second command with the wireless controller over the wireless peer-to-peer communications link to the power control device, the second command overwriting a prior command transmitted by the wireless controller.

43. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving a user voice command and converting the user voice command into the command transmitted to the power control device.

44. The method of claim 35, further comprising manually varying the supply of electricity to the active terminal of the electrical socket without using any command transmitted by the wireless controller.

45. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving a second command at the power control device, and transmitting the second command via a radio frequency to a remote electrical apparatus.

46. The method of claim 35, further comprising measuring power being consumed by the device.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising terminating the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus when the power being consumed by the electrical apparatus reaches a predetermined maximum limit.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein the power control device is programmed to connect electrical power during time periods specified by the controller.

49. The method of claim 35, wherein the power control device is programmed not to disconnect electrical power if the connected device is in use.

50. The method of claim 35, further comprising sending a discovery message from the power control device to ascertain whether one or more controllers are in range of the power control device.

51. The method of claim 35, wherein the communications link between the power control device and the wireless controller is the only communications link opened with the power control device.

52. A power control device for controlling an electrical apparatus through a peer-to-peer link with a controller so as to control a supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the controller having a processor, a memory, a user interface, and a wireless communications transceiver, said device comprising:

a microprocessor having a memory;

a power control circuit configured to implement a command from said microprocessor to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus; and

a wireless communications transceiver operable for two-way, peer-to-peer communication with the controller, said microprocessor being configured to always send a discovery message to initiate contact with the controller to open a peer-to-peer wireless communications link with the controller.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is configured to send the discovery message at a predetermined interval of time to ascertain whether the controller is in radio range of said device.

54. The device of claim 52, wherein the controller utilizes Wi-Fi Direct to communicate, said microprocessor being configured to receive an inquiry message from the controller to begin negotiating with the controller as to whether the controller or said device will assume a group owner role between the controller and said device.

55. The device of claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is configured to communicate only to the controller once the secure link has been opened between said microprocessor and the controller.

56. A method for remotely controlling an electrical apparatus to control a supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the method comprising:

opening a secure two-way, peer-to-peer wireless communications link between a wireless controller and a power control device, the power control device controlling the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the power control device always send a discovery message to initiate contact with the wireless controller to open the peer-to-peer wireless communications link with the controller;

displaying on a user interface of the wireless controller a status of the power control device;

transmitting a command with the wireless controller over the peer-to-peer wireless communications link to the power control device to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus;

receiving the command at the power control device; and

varying the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus in accordance with the command.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the communications link between the power control device and the wireless controller is the only communications link opened with the power control device.

58. A power control device for controlling an electrical apparatus through a peer-to-peer link with a controller so as to control a supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the controller having a processor, a memory, a user interface, and a wireless communications transceiver, said device comprising:

a microprocessor having a memory;

a power control circuit configured to implement a command from said microprocessor to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus; and

a wireless communications transceiver operable for two-way, peer-to-peer communication with the controller, said microprocessor being configured to negotiate with the controller whether the controller or said microprocessor will assume a group owner role while said device is linked to the controller.

59. The device of claim 58, wherein said microprocessor is configured to send the discovery message at a predetermined interval of time to ascertain whether the controller is in radio range of said device.

60. A method for remotely controlling an electrical apparatus to control a supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the method comprising:

opening a secure two-way, peer-to-peer wireless communications link between a wireless controller and a power control device, the power control device controlling the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus, the opening of the peer-to-peer wireless communications link including negotiating with the controller whether the wireless controller or the power control device will assume a group owner role while the wireless controller and the power control device are linked to each other;

displaying on a user interface of the wireless controller a status of the power control device;

transmitting a command with the wireless controller over the peer-to-peer wireless communications link to the power control device to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus;

receiving the command at the power control device; and

varying the supply of electricity to the electrical apparatus in accordance with the command.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the communications link between the power control device and the wireless controller is the only communications link opened with the power control device.