POWER MONITORING AND SIGNAL UNIT

1 . A power monitoring and signal unit; said unit provided with projecting connectors at a first face and sockets for receiving like connectors in a second opposite face; said unit provided with circuitry for monitoring power flow through said unit when said projecting connectors are plugged into a mains power outlet; said unit further provided with transceiver circuitry for:

a. Transmission of data including command and control data

b. Reception of data including command and control data

2 . The unit of claim 1 incorporating a communication device for transmission of power use data to a remote receiving unit.

3 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said unit includes one or more sensors for detection of proximate environmental parameters.

4 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said transceiver circuitry includes short range wireless communication protocols.

5 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said remote receiving unit is a mobile phone.

6 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said remote receiving unit is an individual signal unit.

7 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said remote receiving unit is a Wi-Fi router in communication with one or more nominated receiving entities over the Internet.

8 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said remote receiving unit is a like monitoring unit configured as a slave unit under control of a designated master said monitoring unit.

9 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said unit is provided with relay circuitry for on/off control of power flow through said monitoring unit.

10 . The monitoring unit of claim 9 wherein said power flow is mains power flow.

11 . The monitoring unit of claim 2 wherein said parameters include proximate ambient temperature.

12 . The monitoring unit of claim 2 wherein said parameters include proximate lighting levels.

13 . The monitoring unit of claim 2 wherein said parameters include motion sensing.

14 . The monitoring unit of claim 1 wherein said unit transmits power usage data of a power consuming appliance or device connected to said sockets.

15 . A power monitoring and signaling unit registered by an owner of said unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system; each said unit including;

(a) a transceiver module,

(b) a power monitoring circuit,

(c) a logic circuit,

(d) at least one event sensor,

(e) connector pins for connection of said unit to a mains power outlet,

(f) sockets for receiving like connector pins of a power plug for connection to said power monitoring and signaling unit

16 . The power monitoring and signaling unit of claim 15 wherein data from a said unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute a registered owner-assembled schedule of one or more predefined steps; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by said owner of said unit from said web site; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties as applications or subroutines and made available for selection on said web site; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties; said predetermined steps including notification of receipt of a said signal or data from said unit to recipients nominated by said owner.

17 . A power monitoring and signal unit as claimed in claim 1 in communication with an individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system; each said individual signal unit including;

(a) a transceiver module,

(b) a power supply,

(c) a logic circuit,

(d) at least one of a number of event sensors,

and wherein a signal from a said individual signal unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute one or more predefined steps; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties; said predetermined steps including notification to recipients nominated by said owner, of receipt of a said signal from said individual signal unit.

18 . A power monitoring and signal unit as claimed in claim 1 in communication with a monitoring system; said monitoring system including an individual signal unit; said individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility; said individual signal unit communicating with said central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit; said central control facility executing a number of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties; said predetermined steps including notification to recipients nominated by said owner, of receipt of a said communication from said individual signal unit.

19 . The system of claim 18 wherein a communication between said individual signal unit and said central control facility is not limited by distance,

20 . The system of claim 18 wherein said individual signal unit may be located at any location relative said central control facility.