METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING PLC-BASED SENSOR UNITS FOR COMMUNICATION AND STREAMING MEDIA DELIVERY, AND FOR MONITORING AND CONTROL OF POWER USAGE OF CONNECTED APPLIANCES

摘要

A group of sensors use power line communication (PLC) technology to collect power usage information and enable power management and control, as well as provide local area networking. The sensors include an intelligent master sensor and one or more slave devices, such as a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch sensor. The master collects and compiles power usage data from the slaves and communicates this data via the web or other communication means to the outside world. The master also receives and distributes instructions for controlling power usage via associated switches in the home or office. These sensors provide integrated sensing and control of home power usage and power management and establish a LAN that has communication capability and that supports streaming media delivery.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a master switch unit (MST) including a processor, a broadband communication module coupled between the processor and a power distribution line, and a memory associated with the processor; and a communication enabled switch unit (ETH) coupled to the power distribution line, wherein the ETH is configured for any of monitoring, collection, or control of power usage of an appliance connected through the ETH, via a power plug having a noise filter, to the power distribution line; wherein a local area network (LAN) is established between the ETH and the MST over the power distribution line, the LAN having a broadband communication frequency; wherein the broadband communication module is configured to modulate signal frequencies between the MST and the LAN; wherein the MST is coupled to a wide area network (WAN) gateway; wherein the processor is configured to
receive any of data, power monitoring, or control information from the ETH through the broadband communication module from the LAN,store the received data, power monitoring or control information in the memory,process the stored data, power monitoring or control information, andtransmit the processed data, power monitoring or control information over the WAN gateway; wherein the processor is further configured to
receive any of a data signal, a control command, or a streaming media signal over the WAN gateway,process the received data signal, command signal, or streaming media signal, andtransmit the received data signal, command signal, or streaming media signal to the ETH over the LAN.