Smart power strip

Abstract

A power strip includes a controller that controls the transfer of electricity to one or more outlet electrical connectors based at least in part on a set of rules and certain status information. Some embodiments provide for apparatuses and methods of controlling the transfer of electricity to one or more outlet electrical connectors of a power strip based on various status information, such as cost, personal preferences, time information, power consumption.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power strip comprising:
 a first inlet electrical connector configured to be plugged into a first electrical socket and to receive an input of electricity from the first electrical socket;   one or more outlet electrical connectors electrically coupled to the first inlet electrical connector and configured to receive a second inlet electrical connector of an energy consuming device for transmission of at least a portion of the electricity from the first inlet electrical connector to the energy consuming device; and   a controller configured to control the transfer of electricity from the first inlet electrical connector to the one or more outlet electrical connectors based at least in part on a set of rules and status information related to the set of rules.   
     
     
         2 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the status information comprises electricity rate information. 
     
     
         3 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the status information comprises information related to personal preferences of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the status information comprises energy demands of the energy consuming device. 
     
     
         5 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the status information comprises time of day and/or day of week information. 
     
     
         6 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive information from a smart meter and to control the input of electricity to the one or more outlet electrical connectors based on the information. 
     
     
         7 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive feedback information from the energy consuming device and to control the input of electricity to the one or more outlet electrical connectors based on the feedback information. 
     
     
         8 . The power strip of  claim 1 , configured to receive information from a smart grid electrical system. 
     
     
         9 . The power strip of  claim 8 , wherein the status information comprises information received from the smart grid electrical system. 
     
     
         10 . The power strip of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmable by a user. 
     
     
         11 . A method of regulating the distribution of electrical energy comprising:
 providing a power strip comprising:
 a first inlet electrical connector configured to be plugged into a first electrical socket and to receive an input of electricity from the first electrical socket; and 
 one or more outlet electrical connectors electrically coupled to the first inlet electrical connector and configured to receive a second inlet electrical connector of an energy consuming device for transmission of at least a portion of the electricity from the first inlet electrical connector to the energy consuming device; and 
   controlling the transfer of electricity from the first inlet electrical connector to the one or more outlet electrical connectors based at least in part on a set of rules and status information related to the set of rules.