Mesh-networked power control devices, systems and methods

Abstract

A platform services system communicating with and controlling a plurality of power distribution micro-networks is provided. Each power distribution micro-network has its own wireless mesh network and a master control unit for scheduling efficient power allocation to devices in the micro-network and communicating with the platform services system. Each device in the micro-network is controlled by its own satellite unit. Each satellite unit communicates with and receives tokens from its master control unit. Each wireless mesh network uses both a Zigbee protocol and a Dynamic Device Addressing (DDA) protocol. The DDA allows communication with a neighboring micro-network in the event that its master controller cannot communicate with the platform services system.

1 . A power distribution micro-network comprising:
 a plurality of satellites, each of the satellites controlling power allocation to a respective appliance or a control system;   a master controller configured to schedule the power allocation, the master controller comprising:
 a local area wireless transceiver, the master controller being configured to communicate with the plurality of satellites, 
 a memory storing processor-executable program code including:
 at least one function type representing a type of a function that is a power-consuming activity of at least one appliance, 
 at least one function priority associated with the function type, 
 at least one task representing a subtype of the at least one function type, 
 at least one task priority associated with the at least one task in which a user task type has a highest priority, and 
 a set of tasks to be performed comprising a last task of the at least one task, and 
 
 at least one processor configured to have access to the processor-executable program code and configured to execute the processor-executable program code; and 
   a local area wireless mesh network allowing communication between the master controller and the plurality of satellite units,   wherein, when the at least one processor executes the program code, the master controller is configured to:
 receive a plurality of power allocation requests via the local area wireless transceiver from the plurality of satellites forming part of the localized mesh network, each of the power allocation requests relating to a proposed power usage by the respective appliance which is controlled by a respective one of the satellites, each of the power allocation requests specifying a function type of the at least one function type and a task of the at least one task, 
 determine available power resources, 
 determine which of the power allocation requests to accommodate based on the available power resources, a priority level of the request, and an estimate of required power associated with the request, the priority level being determined by the at least one function priority and the at least one task priority associated with the request, and 
 respond to each of the power allocation requests to be accommodated by sending an approval message to each of the satellites from which the accommodated power allocation requests were received, indicating a designated time interval at or during which the requested power is to be allocated, the approval message comprising a resource allocation token defining a validity period corresponding to the designated time interval during which the respective power allocation request is considered valid to authorize performance of the function of the at least one appliance, 
   wherein, on receipt of the user task type for a respective one of the satellites, immediately granting power at a highest appliance priority to the appliance controlled by the respective satellites, regardless of the priority level of the function associated with the respective appliance,   wherein each of the satellites includes:
 a power control device configured to control power to one of the appliances, 
 a local area wireless transceiver configured to form part of the local area wireless mesh network, 
 at least one processor, and 
 a memory accessible to the at least one processor of the satellite and storing executable program code that, when executed by the at least one processor of the satellite, causes the satellite to:
 determine that the respective appliance requires power to perform an appliance function, 
 determine whether a valid resource allocation token is stored in the memory to authorize performance of the appliance function of the appliance, 
 when there is no valid resource allocation token stored in the memory of the satellite, transmit a resource allocation request to the master controller via the local area wireless transceiver of the satellite, and 
 when the valid resource allocation token is stored in the memory of the satellite, switch power to the respective appliance to perform the appliance function during the designated time interval. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The power distribution micro-network as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of satellites is coupled with a power usage monitor configured to collect power consumption information relating to the appliance with which the respective satellite is associated, and
 wherein the respective satellite is configured to output the power consumption information as part of the power allocation request.   
     
     
         3 . The power distribution micro-network as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of satellites is configured to perform critical control functions in an event of failure of the master controller. 
     
     
         4 . The power distribution micro-network as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 wherein control parameters comprising at least predictive parameters are cached within the plurality of satellites.   
     
     
         5 . A system comprising:
 the power distribution micro-network as claimed in  claim 4 ; and   a platform services system that is remote from the power distribution micro-network and communicable with the power distribution micro-network.   
     
     
         6 . A plurality of power distribution micro-networks, each of the power distribution micro-networks according to  claim 1 , each of the power distribution micro-networks being configured to connect to a platform services system that is remote from the power distribution micro-networks and communicable with power distribution micro-networks, each of the power distribution micro-networks having a cellular transceiver configured to receive and send cellular messages from or to a person associated with a specific one of the power distribution micro-network to control one or more appliances in the specific power distribution micro-network. 
     
     
         7 . The plurality of power distribution micro-network as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the platform services system comprises
 a learning module configured to predict future power consumption activity, 
 a database service that retains a record of power consumption, 
 a listener service configured to collect and transmit data to at least one of the master controllers, and 
 an alert service that records any system failures and is configured to generate fault state alerts. 
   
     
     
         8 . The plurality of power distribution micro-networks as claimed in  claim 7 ,
 wherein at least some of the power distribution micro-networks are neighbors and in range of the localized mesh network of each of the neighboring power distribution micro-networks, and the platform services system has a cellular transceiver.   
     
     
         9 . The plurality of power distribution micro-networks as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the satellites is configured to transfer data outside of one of the power distribution micro-networks and temporarily join the neighboring power distribution micro-network such that data is still able to be exchanged with the platform services system, when the respective satellite ceases to receive communications from the master controller of the one power distribution micro-network. 
     
     
         10 . The plurality of power distribution micro-networks as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of the power distribution micro-networks is configured to allow communication between the satellites of the respective power distribution micro-network and the master controller of the respective power distribution micro-network using both a Zigbee protocol and a Dynamic Device Addressing (DDA) protocol. 
     
     
         11 . A method for scheduling power allocation within a plurality of power distribution micro-networks, each of the power distribution micro-networks having a master controller configured to communication with a platform services system via cellular transceivers, each of the power distribution micro-networks having a plurality of satellites in a localized mesh network, the master controller having a local area wireless transceiver, each of the plurality of satellites having a local area wireless transceiver, each of the satellites controlling the power allocation to an appliance or a control system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the master controller of one of the plurality of power distribution micro-networks, a plurality of power allocation requests, each of the power allocation requests relating to proposed power usage by the appliance to which the respective satellite is coupled, each of the power allocation requests comprising at least a function and a task, the power allocation requests being received via the local area wireless transceiver from the plurality of satellites forming part of the localized mesh network;   determining available power resources;   determining which of the power allocation requests to accommodate based on the available power resources, a priority level of the request, and an estimate of required power associated with the request, the priority level being determined by a function priority and a task priority corresponding to the function and the task associated with the request; and   responding to each of the power allocation requests to be accommodated by sending an approval message or token to each of the satellites from which the accommodated power allocation requests were received, indicating a designated time interval at or during which the requested power is to be allocated, the approval message comprising a resource allocation token defining a validity period corresponding to the designated or time interval during which the respective power allocation request is considered valid to authorize performance of the function of the at least one appliance,   wherein any appliance manually activated by a user is immediately granted power, regardless of the priority level of the function and the task for which the appliance is manually activated.   
     
     
         12 . The method for scheduling power allocation as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 when one of the satellites within a specific one of the power distribution micro-networks stops receiving communication from the master controller of the respective power distribution micro-network,
 transferring data, by the satellite, outside of the power distribution micro-network of the respective satellite, and 
 temporarily joining, by the satellite, a neighboring one of the power distribution micro-networks such that data is still able to be exchanged with the platform services system. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method for scheduling power as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 when data is sent from a first one of the power distribution micro-networks via a neighboring one of the power distribution micro-networks to the platform services system, marking, by a listener service of the platform services system, the first power distribution micro-network with a fault state; and   keeping a record of the satellites currently in neighboring power distribution micro-networks.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating an alert, by the platform services system, when one of the power distribution micro-networks remains in the fault state for more than a predetermined time.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 when the master controller resumes operation after the one satellite stops receiving communication from the master controller of the respective power distribution micro-network, updating, by a listener service of the platform services system, an availability of the master controller to alert services.