Power monitoring and signal unit

Abstract

A power monitoring and signal unit provided with projecting connectors at a first face and sockets for receiving like connectors in a second opposite face, and circuitry for monitoring power flow through said unit when projecting connectors are plugged into a mains power outlet; said unit further provided with transceiver circuitry for the transmission and reception of data including command and control data. The power monitoring and signal unit may be in communication with a programmable sensor device comprising an individual signal unit registered by an owner of individual signal unit with a central control facility; The individual signal unit communicates with central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit; central control facility executing a user-assembled schedule of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from individual signal unit, predefined steps configured or re configurable by an owner of said individual signal unit from a web site.

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  claim 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.