A power control device 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.

The device, method, and system embodiments described in this disclosure (i.e., the teachings of this disclosure) enable an authorization circuit having at least one authorization mechanism to cooperate with an access circuit having at least one key mechanism. Upon successfully authorizing at least one datum communicated from the key mechanism of the access circuit, the authorization circuit is arranged to deliver power having determined characteristics to the access circuit. In at least one embodiment, the authorization circuit is arranged as a circuit wired or wirelessly coupled to a power infrastructure in a building. In at least one embodiment, the access circuit is arranged as a smart power plug arranged to temporarily deliver power to a mobile computing device or other electrically powered device. In some cases, power is only delivered after a user consumes certain multimedia information. In some cases, power that is delivered is delivered for only a short time and is measured.

An appliance management method is designed to make power distribution equipment, provided on a power supply channel, control and/or monitor an appliance to be electrically connected to the power distribution equipment. The appliance management method includes an authentication step and a management step. The authentication step includes allowing a high-order system to perform authentication on the power distribution equipment by making the power distribution equipment access the high-order system via a public network after the power distribution equipment has been energized. The management step includes making the power distribution equipment that has been authenticated in the authentication step control and/or monitor the appliance.

In an embodiment, an auxiliary-power-supply unit includes a connector and a controller configured to power a microgrid from a battery in response to determining that the connector is plugged into an outlet of the microgrid, and that the microgrid is uncoupled from a power grid. For example, the connector plugs into a wall outlet of a microgrid in, e.g., a home, and provides, from the battery during a power outage, auxiliary power to the microgrid and, therefore, provides auxiliary power to one or more devices, such as appliances, lights, computers, or televisions, that are connected to the microgrid.

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.

An electric energy supply management method includes having a certifier system define a reference electric power profile for an electric apparatus, and having the certifier system provide a device coupled to the electric apparats and to a socket that delivers electric energy provided by an electric energy supplier. The device is associated only to the electric apparatus through the reference electric power profile. The method also includes having a user of the electric apparatus couple the electric apparatus to the socket through the device, and having the device check that the electric apparatus is coupled to the socket by comparing a measured electric power profile of the electric apparatus to the reference electric power profile. If the check has a positive outcome, the method has the device collect measurements about the electric power used by the electric apparatus and certify them as energy consumptions of the electric apparatus.

A control and monitoring device integrated in an intermediary coupling unit, said intermediary coupling unit being configured to couple an electrical appliance to a power supply, said control and monitoring device comprising a control module configured to change a status of the electrical appliance; a sensor configured to monitor a condition of said electrical appliance and/or an environment thereof; and a processor configured to instruct the control module to change a status of the electrical appliance based on an output of the sensor. Complementary devices and methods of operating such devices are also presented herein.

Electrical equipment includes a housing and serves as power distribution equipment provided on a power supply channel. The electrical equipment further includes an execution unit and a processing unit. The execution unit controls and/or monitors an appliance to be electrically connected to the electrical equipment. The processing unit performs information processing related to the appliance. The execution unit and the processing unit are held by the housing. The execution unit controls and/or monitors the appliance based on a result of the information processing performed by the processing unit.

An in-line device for controlling a ventilation system for an enclosed space is featured. The ventilation system is configured to produce a first airflow from an external environment to the enclosed space and a second airflow from the enclosed space to the external environment. The in-line device includes a first electrical interface configured to connect to an electrical outlet, a second electrical interface configured to receive a power plug for the ventilation system, and a controller configured to control the ventilation system based on a first parameter of the first airflow and a second parameter of the second airflow.

A method for evaluation, measurement and verification of energy savings achieved by an installation of an energy saving device, such as an advanced power strip or energy hub device. The method includes an installer installing an energy saving device in a premises supplied with electricity by an energy supplier. Installation information is recorded and to a monitoring entity, usage data describing the ongoing use and power consumption of the energy saving device is then transmitted to the monitoring entity.