Power monitoring and signal unit

Abstract

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 the transmission of data including command and control data and the reception of data including command and control data.In a further form there is disclosed a power monitoring and signal unit in communication with a programmable sensor device; the device comprising an 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 and event sensor activates said individual signal unit; said central control facility executing a user-assembled schedule of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit; said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit from a web site; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties and made available for selection on said web site; at least some predefined steps configurable or reconfigurable by said independent third parties; said method comprising permitting said independent parties to provide said steps to said central control facility via said web site; permitting said owner to register with said central control facility via said web site so as to become a registered owner; permitting said registered owner to select one or more said steps via said web site for execution by said central control facility responsive to communication received from said individual signal unit.

Description

[0001]The present invention relates to control and monitoring of electrical and electronic devices and, more particularly, to intelligent power monitoring and signal transmitting and receiving devices.BACKGROUND[0002]The need to conserve electrical power and use it more efficiently has become a pressing social issue as the impact of fossil fuel based generation becomes more widely understood and economies move towards renewable energy sources.[0003]Energy conservation and use efficiency requires accurate power use monitoring and appropriate action based upon the monitored data. Monitoring devices are known but these generally require specialist installation and, while providing a user with data, are not readily integrated with other smart energy controlling, or general use communication equipment.[0004]It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.Notes[0005]1. The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a power monitoring and signal unit that can be used in a monitoring system. The unit has projecting connectors for power and can be connected to a mains power outlet. It also has circuitry for monitoring power usage and can transmit data about power usage to a central control facility. The unit can be used in conjunction with other individual signal units registered with the central control facility. The power monitoring and signal unit can be programmed and can be integrated into products as an OEM module. The central control facility can maintain a database and web site for monitoring assets. The technical effects of this patent include improved power monitoring and control for individual or groups of assets in a monitoring system.

Problems solved by technology

The need to conserve electrical power and use it more efficiently has become a pressing social issue as the impact of fossil fuel based generation becomes more widely understood and economies move towards renewable energy sources.

Monitoring devices are known but these generally require specialist installation and, while providing a user with data, are not readily integrated with other smart energy controlling, or general use communication equipment.

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