Power monitoring and control system and method

• US 7,555,365 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kismet Family Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Kismet Family Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Bhakta, Minesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Application Number:
  US11/178,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/292, 700297-298, 323/284, 323/271, 323/285, 315/360, 361/3
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• 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: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• 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

Abstract

A system includes first and second controllers coupled together with a communication channel. The first controller provides a first signal to the second controller and the second controller provides a second signal to the first controller in response. The second signal includes information about an electrical load. At least one of the first and second controllers can be integrated with an electrical outlet.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

first and second controllers coupled to first and second electrical outlets, respectively;

a terminal device which flows a control signal to the first controller through the first electrical outlet;

a communication channel coupled between the first and second controllers;

an electrical load coupled to the second electrical outlet; and

the first controller providing a first signal to the second controller and the second controller providing a second signal to the first controller in response, the second signal including information about the operation of an electrical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second controllers are in different rooms.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal device receives information about the operation of the electrical device in response to the control signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller includes a switch for controlling the operation of the electrical device.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a wireless module included in at least one of the first and second controllers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal device communicates with the first controller through a data cable coupled to the first electrical outlet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second controllers are positioned in corresponding outlet housings included in the first and second electrical outlets.