Premises power signal monitoring system
A control system ( 300 ) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. 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 monitoring power usage, comprising:
a) receiving, at a first processing system, first power signal information associated with operation of each of a number of electrical devices, reflecting one or more effects on a first power signal associated with said operation of each of said number of electrical devices;
b) generating, by said first processing system, electrical signature information for each of said number of electrical devices based on said first power signal information;
c) storing said electrical signature information in a signature database;
d) monitoring a second power signal, the same as or different than the first power signal, using a current transformer in operative communication with an electrical system of a premises to obtain second power signal information associated with operation of a first electrical device powered by said electrical system; and
e) operating a second processing system, the same as or different than said first processing system, to perform steps of:
i) second obtaining said second power signal information;
ii) accessing said electrical signature information from said signature database;
iii) performing a comparison of said second power signal information to said electrical signature information to identify a portion of said electrical signature information in said signature database associated with said second power signal information to determine first device data for said first electrical device, said first device data comprising at least one of an identity, a type, and a state of said first electrical device;
iv) accessing, from a rules database based on said comparison, rules for operating said premises monitoring device based on said first device data; and
v) controlling the operation of a premises monitoring device based on the first device data and said rules.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said effects comprise time-dependent characteristics of said first power signal associated with said operation of each of said electrical devices, and said step of receiving comprises sensing said first power signal during operation of each of said electrical devices, alone or in combination.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said generating comprises using heuristic logic to learn an electrical signature for each of said number of electrical devices based on said first power signal information.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises determining the type of said first electrical device associated with said second power signal information.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises identifying effects on said second power signal associated with concurrent operation of two or more electrical devices.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises determining state information regarding one of said state and a change of state of said first electrical device.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said state information concerns one of an on state, an off state, an idle state, and active state and a status of a defined operation of said first electrical device.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises identifying a potentially hazardous condition based on said second power signal information.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises identifying a potential malfunction of said first electrical device based on said power signal information.
10. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises identifying a power usage outside of a defined range based on said second power signal information.
11. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said operating comprises identifying a deviation from a known power usage pattern based on said second power signal information.
12. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said rules define alert conditions for said first electrical device and said controlling comprises generating an alert for transmission to a user.
13. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said alert is provided to said user via an electronic message.
14. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said alert is provided to a home security system.
15. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said controlling comprises automating control of said first electrical device by employing a network interface which communicates with a component in operative communication with said first electrical device.
16. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said second obtaining is executed at least in part at a circuit breaker panel of said premises.
17. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said second obtaining is executed at least in part at a power outlet of said premises.