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.

1 . 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:
 a. Transmission of data including command and control data   b. Reception of data including command and control data   
     
     
         2 . The unit of  claim 1  incorporating a communication device for transmission of power use data to a remote receiving unit. 
     
     
         3 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said unit includes one or more sensors for detection of proximate environmental parameters. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said transceiver circuitry includes short range wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said remote receiving unit is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said remote receiving unit is an individual signal unit. 
     
     
         7 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said remote receiving unit is a Wi-Fi router in communication with one or more nominated receiving entities over the Internet. 
     
     
         8 . The monitoring unit of  claims 1  wherein said remote receiving unit is a like monitoring unit configured as a slave unit under control of a designated master said monitoring unit. 
     
     
         9 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said unit is provided with relay circuitry for on/off control of power flow through said monitoring unit. 
     
     
         10 . The monitoring unit of  claim 9  wherein said power flow is mains power flow. 
     
     
         11 . The monitoring unit of  claim 2  wherein said parameters include proximate ambient temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The monitoring unit of  claim 2  wherein said parameters include proximate lighting levels. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring unit of  claim 2  wherein said parameters include motion sensing. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1  wherein said unit transmits power usage data of a power consuming appliance or device connected to said sockets. 
     
     
         15 . A power monitoring and signaling unit registered by an owner of said unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system; each said unit including;
 (a) a transceiver module,   (b) a power monitoring circuit,   (c) a logic circuit,   (d) at least one event sensor,   (e) connector pins for connection of said unit to a mains power outlet,   (f) sockets for receiving like connector pins of a power plug for connection to said power monitoring and signaling unit   
     
     
         16 . The power monitoring and signaling unit of  claim 15  wherein data from a said unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute a registered owner-assembled schedule of one or more predefined steps; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by said owner of said unit from said web site; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties as applications or subroutines and made available for selection on said web site; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties; said predetermined steps including notification of receipt of a said signal or data from said unit to recipients nominated by said owner. 
     
     
         17 . A power monitoring and signal unit as claimed in  claim 1  in communication with an individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system; each said individual signal unit including;
 (a) a transceiver module, 
 (b) a power supply, 
 (c) a logic circuit, 
 (d) at least one of a number of event sensors, 
 
       and wherein a signal from a said individual signal unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute one or more predefined steps; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties; said predetermined steps including notification to recipients nominated by said owner, of receipt of a said signal from said individual signal unit. 
     
     
         18 . A power monitoring and signal unit as claimed in  claim 1  in communication with a monitoring system; said monitoring system including an individual signal unit; said 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 an event sensor activates said individual signal unit; said central control facility executing a number of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties;
 at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties; said predetermined steps including notification to recipients nominated by said owner, of receipt of a said communication from said individual signal unit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein a communication between said individual signal unit and said central control facility is not limited by distance, 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said individual signal unit may be located at any location relative said central control facility. 
     
     
         21 - 50 . (canceled)