Sensor having an integrated zigbee® device for communication with zigbee® enabled appliances to control and monitor zigbee® enabled appliances

Abstract

A sensor device integrates ZigBee® technology into power switch device to provide monitoring and control of power usage, as well as operational control of connected devices. The sensor device uses a power line communication (PLC) network to transfer collected data and to provide remote control capability to connected appliances. The sensor device, in conjunction with a master switch device, a communication enabled switching device, and the power switch device, provides an integrated home environment for communication, streaming media, monitoring, and remote control of power usage, as well as remote operational monitoring and control of connected appliances in the home.

1 . A method implemented by a sensor including a processor, the method comprising:
 establishing a power line communication (PLC) network over an AC power distribution line between the sensor and one or more networked devices;   collecting power usage information for a connected associated ZigBee® technology enabled appliance;   executing a power management regimen for the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance; and   coordinating wireless communication over a wireless link with the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance, including any of
 transferring information over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance based on information received over the PLC network, and 
 transferring information over the PLC network based on information received over the wireless link from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving operational information from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance over the wireless link.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting the received operational information over the PLC network.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encrypting and modulating the collected power usage information; and   sending the encrypted and modulated collected power usage information over the AC power distribution line.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encrypting and modulating the information received over the wireless link from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance;   wherein the information transferred over the PLC network is encrypted and modulated.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 decrypting and modulating information received over the AC distribution line;   wherein the information transferred over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance is decrypted and modulated.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information transferred over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance includes any of command instructions and control instructions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured for any of narrowband communication and broadband communication over the PLC network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured for any of remote monitoring and remote control of the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance includes any of a water meter, a temperature controller, a light controller, a security apparatus, a smart appliance, and a gas meter. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a sensor including a processor; and   a power line communication (PLC) network established over an AC power distribution line between the sensor and one or more networked devices   wherein the sensor includes instructions for implementing with the processor, a method comprising:
 collecting power usage information for a connected associated Zig Bee® technology enabled appliance; 
 executing a power management regimen for the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance; and 
 coordinating wireless communication over a wireless link with the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance, including any of
 transferring information over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance based on information received over the PLC network, and 
 transferring information over the PLC network based on information received over the wireless link from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes instructions for receiving operational information from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance over the wireless link. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor includes instructions for transmitting the received operational information over the PLC network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes instructions for encrypting and modulating the collected power usage information, and sending the encrypted and modulated collected power usage information over the AC power distribution line. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes instructions for encrypting and modulating the information received over the wireless link from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance, wherein the information transferred over the PLC network is encrypted and modulated. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes instructions for decrypting and modulating information received over the AC distribution line, wherein the information transferred over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance is decrypted and modulated. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the information transferred over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance includes any of command instructions and control instructions. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is configured for any of narrowband communication and broadband communication over the PLC network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is configured for any of remote monitoring and remote control of the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance includes any of a water meter, a temperature controller, a light controller, a security apparatus, a smart appliance, and a gas meter. 
     
     
         21 . A sensor, comprising:
 a processor;   a mechanism for establishing a power line communication (PLC) network between the sensor and other networked devices;   a mechanism for collecting power usage information for a connected associated ZigBee® technology enabled appliance;   a mechanism for executing a power management regimen for the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance;   a mechanism for establishing a wireless communication link with the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance, for any of
 transferring information over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance based on information received over the PLC network, and 
 transferring information over the PLC network based on information received over the wireless link from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance. 
   
     
     
         22 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the processor includes instructions for receiving operational information from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance over the wireless link. 
     
     
         23 . The sensor of  claim 22 , wherein the processor includes instructions for transmitting the received operational information over the PLC network. 
     
     
         24 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the processor includes instructions for encrypting and modulating the collected power usage information, and sending the encrypted and modulated collected power usage information over the AC power distribution line. 
     
     
         25 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the processor includes instructions for encrypting and modulating the information received over the wireless link from the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance, wherein the information transferred over the PLC network is encrypted and modulated. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the processor includes instructions for decrypting and modulating information received over the AC distribution line, wherein the information transferred over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance is decrypted and modulated. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the information transferred over the wireless link to the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance includes any of command instructions and control instructions. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the sensor is configured for any of narrowband communication and broadband communication over the PLC network. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor of  claim 21 , wherein the processor includes instructions for any of remote monitoring and remote control of the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor of  claim 29 , wherein the ZigBee® technology enabled appliance includes any of a water meter, a temperature controller, a light controller, a security apparatus, a smart appliance, and a gas meter.