Power management system

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for managing a power system are described. A power management system may include multiple interconnected power supply and control units that plug directly into a standard residential power outlet. A power management system may include multiple interconnected power supply and control units that plug directly into a standard residential power outlet. Together, the interconnected power supply and control units may provide a distributed power backup system in the form of a home energy nano-grid. The power management system may provide backup power, power sharing, and device inter-connectivity while enabling efficient scalability and the robustness of a distributed system. The power management system may also include a power usage monitoring unit, which may gather data and use it to improve the efficiency of power usage throughout the home.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) unit configured to:
 electrically detachably couple to a separate electronic device; 
 supply backup power to the separate electronic device based on power settings; and 
 couple to and to receive power from a standard power outlet of a building; 
   a power usage monitoring unit configured to:
 identify usage patterns of consumed power within the apparatus; and 
 machine learn a configuration from the usage patterns; and 
   an energy optimization unit operable to determine the power settings for supplying the backup power to the separate electronic device based on the configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the energy optimization unit is configured to receive data from an external source via a communication unit operable to communicate over a computer network. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the data comprises one or more of time varying pricing data, tiered pricing data, power usage history, and user behavior data. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the configuration is further based one or more of on the time varying pricing data, the tiered pricing data, the power usage history, and the user behavior data. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power output unit; and   a power configuration unit operable to modify a power intake from the standard power outlet of the building and a power output of the power output unit based at least in part on one or more parameters of the power settings determined by the energy optimization unit.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a security configuration unit configurable for a plurality of modes based on a security configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a behavioral learning unit configured to monitor the usage patterns and update the security configuration of the security configuration unit based on the usage patterns.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of modes includes an away mode, a present mode, a night mode, a daytime mode, or a pet mode. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of power supply and control units in electronic communication with each other, the plurality of power supply and control units configured to selectively provide backup power to a plurality of appliances;   a power usage monitoring unit configured to:
 identify usage patterns of power consumed by the plurality of appliances; and 
 machine learn an energy usage configuration from the usage patterns; and 
   an energy optimization unit operable to determine an energy storage and discharge schedule for each of the plurality of power supply and control units based on the energy usage configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the energy optimization unit is configured to receive data from an external source via a communication unit operable to communicate over a computer network;   the data comprises one or more of time varying pricing data, tiered pricing data, power usage history, and user behavior data; and   the energy usage configuration is further based one or more of the time varying pricing data, the tiered pricing data, the power usage history, and the user behavior data.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of power supply and control units is connected to a power outlet, and is in electronic communication with the other power supply and control units via the power outlet.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the power supply and control units comprises a communication unit that is capable of communication with other power supply and control units.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the energy optimization unit is configurable according to a plurality of user preference modes, the plurality of user preference modes including a cost saving mode, a user comfort mode, a maximum power availability mode, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the energy optimization unit is configurable according to a plurality of user preference modes, the plurality of user preference modes including a cost saving mode, a user comfort mode, a maximum power availability mode, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 identifying usage patterns of consumed power within an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) apparatus;   machine learning a configuration from the usage patterns;   determining power settings for supplying backup power to a separate electronic device based on the configuration; and   selectively supplying the backup power from an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) unit to the separate electronic device based on the power settings.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving data from an external source via a communication unit operable to communicate over a computer network, wherein:
 the data comprising one or more of time varying pricing data, tiered pricing data, power usage history, and user behavior data; and 
 the configuration is further based one or more of on the time varying pricing data, the tiered pricing data, the power usage history, and the user behavior data. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving power from a standard power outlet of a building; and   modifying a power intake from the standard power outlet of the building and a power output to the separate electronic device based at least in part on one or more parameters of the power settings.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 configurable a security mode of a security configuration unit based on a security configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the security configuration unit is configurable for a plurality of modes including an away mode, a present mode, a night mode, a daytime mode, or a pet mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selectively supplying the backup power includes prioritizing between alternating current (AC) power and direct current (DC) power based on the configuration.