Smart grid appliance control
Systems and methods for controlling small grids of appliances are described. One sample method includes receiving consumption data from a plurality of electrical appliances that are plugged into outlets at a first location and monitoring power usage at the first location. The method includes evaluating the received consumption data to identify one or more predetermined conditions in one or more of the plurality of electrical appliances and evaluating stored data related to power consumption preferences at the first location. The power consumption preferences define conditions when a consumer associated with the first location has agreed to enable remote control of at least one designated appliance upon an occurrence of one or more predetermined conditions. The method includes determining that the one or more conditions are satisfied and to provide a first secure communication to the first appliance to control the power consumption.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a power controller, one or more requests from a plurality of electrical appliances at a first location to join a network of appliances, the one or more requests including unique identification numbers corresponding to the plurality of electrical appliances;
in response to receiving the one or more requests including the unique identification numbers, assigning, by the power controller, encryption codes to the appliances, wherein assigning encryption codes to the appliances comprises generating, by the power controller for each appliance, an encryption code corresponding to the unique identification number of the respective appliance;
communicating with one or more appliances using respective encryption codes;
receiving, at the power controller, consumption data from a first electrical appliance of the plurality of electrical appliances;
evaluating, by the power controller, the received consumption data;
and in response to evaluating the received consumption data, transmitting a first secure communication from the power controller to the first electrical appliance with instructions to control power consumption, wherein the first secure communication is encrypted using an encryption code assigned to the first electrical appliance.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the received consumption data comprises:
obtaining stored data related to power consumption preferences of the first electrical appliance, the power consumption preferences including different states of operation of the first electrical appliance and preselected conditions that trigger remote control of the first electrical appliance; and
comparing the received consumption data with the stored data related to the power consumption preferences of the first electrical appliance.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the preselected conditions includes one or more of threshold power consumption values of the first electrical appliance corresponding to the different states of operation of the first electrical appliance, or one or more time periods at which remote control of the first electrical appliance is authorized.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
in response to the comparison, determining that one or more of the preselected conditions are satisfied for the first electrical appliance; and
in response to the determination, transmitting, with the first secure communication, a command to perform at least one of turning off the first electrical appliance, or adjusting a power usage of the first electrical appliance.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving, from a user associated with the first location, specifications for the preselected conditions.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the consumption data includes one or more of an input voltage of AC power to the first electrical appliance, a current drawn by the first electrical appliance, a power used by the first electrical appliance, a power factor associated with the first electrical appliance, an integral power for the first electrical appliance, or a power state of the first electrical appliance.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the consumption data includes receiving the consumption data through a power grid associated with the first location.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the consumption data includes receiving the consumption data through the network of appliances, the network coupling the plurality of electrical appliances at the first location to the power controller.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the received consumption data comprises detecting an anomaly in a power signature of the first electrical appliance and, and
wherein transmitting the first secure communication includes providing a command to turn off the first electrical appliance in response to detecting the anomaly.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the received consumption data comprises detecting a fault in the first electrical appliance, and
wherein transmitting the first secure communication includes providing a command to turn off the first electrical appliance in response to detecting the fault.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a second secure communication to one or more authorized users using a second network, wherein the authorized users receive the consumption data and send commands to control power consumption.
12. An apparatus, comprising:
functionality to perform power control operations, the power control operations comprising:
receiving one or more requests from a plurality of electrical appliances at a first location to join a network of appliances, the one or more requests including unique identification numbers corresponding to the plurality of electrical appliances;
in response to receiving the one or more requests including the unique identification numbers, assigning encryption codes to the appliances, wherein assigning encryption codes to the appliances comprises generating, by the power controller for each appliance, an encryption code corresponding to the unique identification number of the respective appliance;
communicating with one or more appliances using respective encryption codes;
receiving consumption data from a first electrical appliance of the plurality of electrical appliances;
evaluating the received consumption data; and
in response to evaluating the received consumption data, transmitting a first secure communication to the first electrical appliance with instructions to control power consumption, wherein the first secure communication is encrypted using an encryption code assigned to the first electrical appliance.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein evaluating the received consumption data comprises:
obtaining stored data related to power consumption preferences of the first electrical appliance, the power consumption preferences including different states of operation of the first electrical appliance and preselected conditions that trigger remote control of the first electrical appliance; and
comparing the received consumption data with the stored data related to the power consumption preferences of the first electrical appliance.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the preselected conditions include one or more of threshold power consumption values of the first electrical appliance corresponding to the different states of operation of the first electrical appliance, or one or more time periods at which remote control of the first electrical appliance is authorized.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the power control operations further comprise:
in response to the comparison, determining that one or more of the preselected conditions are satisfied for the first electrical appliance; and
in response to the determination, transmitting, with the first secure communication, a command to perform at least one of turning off the first electrical appliance, or adjusting a power usage of the first electrical appliance.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the power control operations further comprise:
receiving, from a user associated with the first location, specifications for the preselected conditions.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the consumption data includes one or more of an input voltage of AC power to the first electrical appliance, a current drawn by the first electrical appliance, a power used by the first electrical appliance, a power factor associated with the first electrical appliance, an integral power for the first electrical appliance, or a power state of the first electrical appliance.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein receiving the consumption data includes receiving the consumption data through a power grid associated with the first location.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein receiving the consumption data includes receiving the consumption data through the network of appliances, the network coupling the plurality of electrical appliances at the first location to the power controller.
20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein evaluating the received consumption data comprises detecting an anomaly in a power signature of the first electrical appliance and, and
wherein transmitting the first secure communication includes providing a command to turn off the first electrical appliance in response to detecting the anomaly.
21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein evaluating the received consumption data comprises detecting a fault in the first electrical appliance, and
wherein transmitting the first secure communication includes providing a command to turn off the first electrical appliance in response to detecting the fault.
22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the power control operations further comprise:
providing a second secure communication to one or more authorized users using a second network, wherein the authorized users receive the consumption data and send commands to control power consumption.