Smart nema outlets and associated networks

Abstract

A control system ( 300 ) allows standard NEMA receptacles to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical appliances. The system ( 300 ) includes a number of smart receptacles ( 302 ) that communicate with a local controller ( 304 ), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller ( 304 ), in turn, communicates with a remote controller ( 308 ) via the internet.

1 . A method for use in power distribution, comprising the steps of:
 monitoring an electrical receptacle to determine load information regarding a loading of said electrical receptacle based on a digital analysis of an electrical signal transmitted via said electrical receptacle; and   controlling delivery of power via said receptacle based on said digital analysis.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of monitoring comprises sampling said signal and comparing said sampled signal to electrical signature information corresponding to device classifications. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of monitoring comprises processing a device identification code received at said receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of controlling comprises interrupting said delivery of power. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of controlling comprises reducing said delivery of power. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said reducing comprises eliminating individual cycles of a power signal waveform delivered via said receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said cycles are eliminated on a periodic basis to reduce power consumption. 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said receptacle is associated with a switch and logic for controlling said switch, and said step of eliminating comprises cycling said switch substantially in synchronization with zero potential crossings of said power signal. 
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of controlling is executed in response to instructions transmitted to said receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said instructions are transmitted via a power line. 
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said instructions are communicated according to the TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said instructions are transmitted via a WAN. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for use in supplying electricity to one or more electrical devices, comprising:
 a standard outlet receptacle for receiving a plug for powering said one or more devices; and   a receptacle controller, disposed proximate to said outlet receptacle, for controlling operation of said outlet receptacle, said receptacle controller including a TCP/IP module for enabling communication between said receptacle controller and an external control system in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said outlet is a NEMA standard 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said receptacle is associated with an outlet housing and said controller is disposed within said housing. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said communication is transmitted via a power line. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising a local controller is operative for transferring said communication between said power line and a WAN. 
     
     
         18 . A method for use in controlling the operation of an electrical device, comprising the steps of:
 operating said electrical device to process a communication transmitted across a power line, said communication being in accordance with a first protocol; and   operating a protocol gateway to process said communication for transmission between said power line and a WAN, wherein said WAN utilizes a second protocol the same as or different than said first protocol.   
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein each of said first protocol and said second protocol is the TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein only one of said first protocol and said second protocol is the TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         21 . A system for use in power distribution, comprising:
 an electrical device that receives power through electrical wiring of customer premises via an electrical receptacle;   a receptacle switch module, associated with said electrical receptacle, for controlling delivery of power to said electrical receptacle;   a receptacle controller for controlling operation of said switch module; and   a communication subsystem for allowing communication between said receptacle switch module and said controller via said electrical wiring using an internet communication protocol.   
     
     
         22 . A system as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said protocol is the TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         23 . A system as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said controller is operative for controlling said switch module for interrupting delivery of power via said receptacle. 
     
     
         24 . A system as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said controller is operative for controlling said switch module for reducing delivery of power via said receptacle. 
     
     
         25 . An electrical outlet apparatus, comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving a standard electrical plug so as to establish an electrical connection between a device, associated with the plug, and a premises wiring system associated with the receptacle; and   a digital processor, associated with the receptacle, for controlling delivery of power via the receptacle.   
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said digital processor controls delivery of power via the receptacle based on instructions transmitted to the processor from a local controller. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said digital processor controls delivery of power via the receptacle based on instructions transmitted to the processor from a remote controller. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said digital processor is operative for determining a type of said device and controlling delivery of power based on said determined type. 
     
     
         29 . A power distribution system, comprising:
 a power grid for distributing power over a geographic distribution area;   one or more grid controllers for controlling distribution of power across said power grid; and   a number of customer premises controllers, each for controlling delivery of power within a particular customer premises based on communication between said customer premises controller and at least one of said grid controllers.   
     
     
         30 . A system as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said defined polices include local policies specific to said customer premises. 
     
     
         31 . A system as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said defined policies include grid policies communicated from at least one of said grid controllers. 
     
     
         32 . A system as set forth in  claim 31 , Wherein said grid policies are executed in accordance with local policies. 
     
     
         33 . A system as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said customer premises controllers are associated with individual electrical receptacles of said customer premises. 
     
     
         34 . A power distribution method, comprising:
 identifying an over-capacity condition with respect to at least a portion of a power distribution grid, said over-capacity situation potentially requiring reduction of power provided to standard residential customers; and   addressing said over-capacity condition by controlling power distribution at a level finer than the finest distribution subdivision of said power distribution grid servicing said standard residential and commercial customers.   
     
     
         35 . A method as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein said step of addressing comprises one of reducing and interrupting power delivered to a subset less than the whole of the set of receptacles of a single customer premises. 
     
     
         36 . A method for use in controlling transmission of communication signals across a power line, comprising the steps of:
 defining a communications zone including at least a first device and a second device for communicating over a power line;   providing a transmitter for inserting communication signals onto said power line; and   providing an isolation element for substantially preventing transmission of said communication signals outside of said communications zone.   
     
     
         37 . A method as set forth in  claim 36 , further comprising the step of operating said isolation element to cancel said communications signals. 
     
     
         38 . A method as set forth in  claim 36 , further comprising the step of operating said isolation element to attenuate said communications signals. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for use in controlling transmission of communication signals across a power line, comprising:
 a first device and a second device, each disposed within a communications zone, for communicating over a power line;   a transmitter for inserting communication signals onto said power line; and   an isolation element for substantially preventing transmission of said communication signals outside of said communication zone.   
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein said isolation element comprises a signal canceller. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein said isolation element comprises a filter for filtering a power signal on a frequency dependent basis.