An information processing apparatus includes: an interface; a battery; and a controller. The controller is configured to: determine whether a reduction notification indicating reduction in the electric power is received from an external device when the interface is receiving the electric power of a first power amount from the external device; and request the external device via the interface to supply the electric power of a second power amount that is less than the first power amount and greater than or equal to an amount of the electric power consumed in self-discharge of the battery.

The invention relates to a DC-power supply device (400) for supplying operational DC-power to one or more DC-powered devices that have respective DC-power requirements, that comprises a power interface (402) for providing, via a single twisted-pair wired bus (401), DC output power, a DC-power-supply network communication unit (404) configured to receive DC-power requirement information indicative of a DC-voltage requirement and a DC-current requirement for operation of the respective connected DC-powered devices, and a DC-power-supply control unit (406) configured to drive, in an initialization supply mode, delivery of initialization DC-output power amount, that is suitable for transmission by the DC-powered devices of respective DC-power requirement information, to determine, using the DC-power requirement information and a power-determination rule, and provide an operational DC output power for powering operation of at least one the DC-powered devices in its regular operation mode, thus enabling a powering of multiple DC-powered devices having different DC-power requirements.

An electronic device that has control electronics that have at least one program memory with a computer program stored therein and a processor for executing the computer program. The computer program has software control functions for controlling functions of the electronic device. The electronic device has at least one communication unit coupled to the control electronics, by means of which the electronic device is equipped for data communication with an external computer device. The communication unit is designed as a replaceable communication module. The communication module has a gateway functionality via which a bidirectional conversion takes place between an external communication protocol and/or physical layer used by the external computer device and an internal communication protocol and/or physical layer used between the communication module and the processor. The communication module supports either exactly one external communication protocol or multiple external communication protocols.

A custom outlet module is contained within a housing and has an electric current sensor configured to measure current passing through an electric outlet during a time period, a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance of an object relative to the electric outlet during the time period, a relay switch that can open or close to stop or conduct current through a circuit in the electric outlet in response to a command, and a wireless network interface in communication with the electric current sensor and the proximity sensor, the wireless network interface configured to transmit and receive data from the current sensor and the proximity sensor, to transmit commands to the relay switch, transmit the data to a computing device, and receive commands from the computing device.

A system for registering power outlets to charge electrical and electronic devices includes a database for storing subscriber data relating to subscribers registered with the system and power outlet data relating to registered outlets. A server receives the power outlet data for a power outlet from the subscriber, registers the power outlet with a power outlet management system if the power outlet has not previously been registered and stores the power outlet data for the power outlets in the database. The server receives a search request for a power outlet from the subscriber. The search request includes location information defining an area of search for the power outlet. The server locates at least one power outlet within the area of search that is registered with the power outlet management system and provides a location of the at least one power outlet located within the area of search to the subscriber.

A region-based electrical intelligence system is used to configure and control electrical usage within regions, for example, within certain areas of a floor of a building or within certain floors of a building. A number of network-enabled electric plugs are deployed in a region. Each of the network-enabled electric plugs is configured to deliver electricity from an electricity source to one or more powered devices located in the region. A server runs a web application used to monitor electrical usage information for the region based on electrical usage by each of the one or more powered devices. The web application generates rules for selectively controlling the delivery of electricity from the network-enabled electric plugs to the powered devices based on the monitored electrical usage information.

A method and system for contraband detection is provided that allows for the determining whether devices are authorized to receive power from an outlet. A power adapter and/or an outlet authenticate a device when it is connected to the outlet through the power adapter. On the basis of this authentication, a determination is made whether the devices are to receive power from the outlet. If the device is authorized, the outlet is activated, transitioning from inactive state (where no power is relayed through the outlet) to an active state (where power is relayed through the outlet).

A redundant power supply system for aircraft seats, includes: a first power supply module having a first AC to DC power converter configured to supply power to a first auxiliary board, the first auxiliary board being configured to supply power to a plurality of aircraft seats via a plurality of communication bus channels; a second power supply module having a second AC to DC power converter configured to supply power to a second auxiliary board, the second auxiliary board being configured to supply power to the plurality of aircraft seats via the plurality of communication bus channels; and a power supply link configured to connect the first auxiliary board and the second auxiliary board enabling the first AC to DC power converter to power the second auxiliary board via the power supply link.

Smart electricity monitors with unique identities placed at individual power outlets within a building communicate frequent power measurements to a service which determines, from this power usage data, which outlets are associated with occupied seats within the building. This occupancy information can be used to update an occupancy model for the building that is used to forecast the building's occupancy. Based on present occupancy, projected occupancy, and other data, in some instances, the building's thermostats can be controlled and unoccupied seats can be assigned dynamically.

A remote automatic control power supply system is disclosed, comprising a power supply control device and an electronic device having a control circuit, in which the power supply control device is configured to control whether the power supply is to be outputted, and the control circuit can set the GPS coordinate and the starting distance value close to the power supply control device; afterwards, it is possible to operate the control circuit via the backend of the electronic device such that, when the distance between the real-time GPS coordinate of the electronic device and the GPS coordinate of the power supply control device is equivalent to the starting distance value, the control circuit can transmit a power control signal to the power supply control device thereby allowing the power supplying control device to output the electric power to the receiving end.