Smart Breaker Power Assignment With Distributed Fallback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power distribution systems lack efficient management and assignment of power to smart appliances based on manufacturer-provided and user-provided data records, especially in scenarios where centralized control is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A power assignment system with smart breaker assemblies and outlet assemblies that exchange database records, managed by a master server, to selectively provide power to smart appliances based on manufacturer and user data, with distributed databases ensuring redundancy for fault tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a centralized master server manages power assignment, then power distribution efficiency is improved, but system reliability deteriorates when the central server is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized power management system into distributed intelligent units (smart breakers and smart outlets) that can independently make power assignment decisions. Each device contains local databases and processing capabilities, allowing the system to function autonomously when the central server is unavailable, thus resolving the contradiction between centralized efficiency and distributed reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading manufacturer-provided and user-provided data records into local databases of smart breakers and outlets before central server communication is needed. This allows devices to immediately make informed power assignment decisions without waiting for central server responses, maintaining system availability while preserving efficient power management.
2Reliability
If distributed databases are used for redundancy, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by replicating essential power management data (manufacturer-provided records, user-provided records, and cable size information) across multiple distributed devices. Each smart breaker and outlet maintains local copies of relevant data in its database, eliminating single points of failure while avoiding the need for complex distributed database synchronization protocols.
3Measurement precision
If smart outlets exchange database records with paired appliances, then power assignment accuracy is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having smart outlets and appliances exchange and store database records (manufacturer-provided power consumption data, user-provided usage patterns, and cable size information) during initial pairing and setup. This pre-exchange of information eliminates the need for continuous real-time communication during power assignment operations, reducing communication overhead while maintaining accurate power tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system for assigning power to a plurality of smart appliances. The system includes a plurality of smart outlet assemblies. Each of the smart outlet assemblies is paired to and in electrical communication with a respective one of the smart appliances. The system includes at least one smart breaker assembly in electrical communication with the smart outlet assemblies. The system includes a master server in communication with the smart breaker assembly. The system includes distributed databases used to exchange data among the smart outlet assemblies, the smart breaker assembly, and the master server. The master server selectively assign power to respective ones of the smart appliances via the smart breaker assembly based on the data. If the master server is unreachable, the smart breaker assembly is configured to selectively assign power to the smart appliances based on the data records.