Light switch apparatus, control system, and control method thereof

Abstract

A light switch apparatus includes a network communication unit and an output unit. The network communication unit is configured to receive electricity price rate server information from a server, and generate a first high range electricity price output data and a second low range electricity price rate data according to the electricity price rate server information. The output unit is configured to display at least a first output color in response to receiving the first high range electricity price output data from the network communication unit, and a second output color in response to receiving the second low range electricity price rate data from the network communication unit.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrical appliance switch system, comprising:
 a computer-readable memory having stored thereon executable instructions;   a processor in communication with the computer-readable memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the system to at least:
 receive electricity price rate information from a server, the electricity price rate information comprising at least a first server data indicative of a high range of a current electricity price rate and a second server data indicative of a low range of the current electricity price rate that is lower than the high range of the current electricity price rate; and 
 output information according to the electricity price rate information; 
   a power switch member switchable between an on state and an off state and having an outer surface configured for switching the power switch member between the on state and the off state upon actuation contact by a user, wherein the power switch member emits at least a first output color and a second output color different than the first output color in response to receiving a control signal; and   a controller configured to send a first control signal and a second control signal to the power switch member in response to receiving the electricity price rate information; the controller configured to send to the power switch member the first control signal corresponding to the first output color in response to receiving a first set of data from the processor indicating a first electricity price and to send the second control signal to the power switch member corresponding to the second output color in response to receiving a second set of data from the processor indicating a second electricity price different from the first electricity price.   
     
     
         22 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , wherein the power switch member is moveable between an on position and an off position. 
     
     
         23 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to compare the first server data indicative of the high range and the second server data indicative of the low range to a predetermined electricity rate price and to determine that the first server data corresponds to a higher range electricity price rate when the first server data is indicative of an electricity rate price that is higher than the predetermined electricity rate price and to determine that second server data corresponds to a lower range electricity price rate when the second server data is indicative of an electricity rate price that is lower than the predetermined electricity rate price. 
     
     
         24 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor further receives server information that includes data indicative of specific events; the processor being configured to generate output color data according to the data indicative of the specific events; and the power switch member is configured to display colors according to the output color data. 
     
     
         25 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , wherein the power switch member is further configured to display at least one of a text or an icon according to the first server data indicative of an energy price. 
     
     
         26 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a power control circuit, wherein the power control circuit is configured to turn on, turn off, maintain, increase, and decrease power delivered to an electrical appliance according to the server information. 
     
     
         27 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , wherein the system is further configured to sound an alarm in response to the current electricity price rate being within the highest electricity price range or the lowest electricity price range. 
     
     
         28 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the system is further configured to detect a change in the current electricity price rate from being in the highest electricity price range to being in the lowest electricity price range, and sound an alarm in response to the current electricity price rate changing from the highest electricity price range to the lowest electricity price range.   
     
     
         29 . An electrical appliance switch system, comprising:
 a wall plate configured to surround a light switch;   a computer-readable memory having stored thereon executable instructions;   a processor in communication with the computer-readable memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the electrical appliance switch system to at least:   receive electricity price rate information from a server, the electricity price rate information comprising at least a first server data indicative of a high range of a current electricity price rate and a second server data indicative of a low range of the current electricity price rate that is lower than the high range of the current electricity price rate; and   output a first high range electricity price rate output data when the current electricity price rate is in the high range and to output a second low range electricity price rate output data when the current electricity price rate is in the low range;   a display that illuminates at least a portion of an outer surface of the wall plate, with at least a first output color and a second output color that is different from the first output color, the color emitted determined by a control signal; and   a controller that sends the control signal to the display directly in response to receiving the first high range electricity price rate output data and the second low range electricity price rate output data.   
     
     
         30 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein the processor is configured to compare the first server data indicative of the high range and the second server data indicative of the low range to a predetermined electricity rate price and to determine that the first server data corresponds to a higher range electricity price rate when the first server data is indicative of an electricity rate price that is higher than the predetermined electricity rate price and to determine that second server data corresponds to a lower range electricity price rate when the second server data is indicative of an electricity rate price that is lower than the predetermined electricity rate price. 
     
     
         31 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein the display is further configured to determine a highest electricity price range and a lowest electricity price range and corresponding output colors based upon electricity price information received from the server. 
     
     
         32 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein the display is further configured to receive output information from the server based on a determination of highest and lowest electricity price information as determined by the server. 
     
     
         33 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein the display is further configured to display at least one of a text or an icon according to the electricity price rate server information. 
     
     
         34 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein the system is further configured to sound an alarm in response to the current electricity price rate being within the highest electricity price range or the lowest electricity price range. 
     
     
         35 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the system is further configured to detect a change in the current electricity price rate from being in the highest electricity price range to being in the lowest electricity price range, and sound an alarm in response to the current electricity price rate changing from the highest electricity price range to the lowest electricity price range.   
     
     
         36 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , further comprising a removable power source. 
     
     
         37 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , further comprising a rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         38 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate wirelessly with the server. 
     
     
         39 . The electrical appliance switch system according to  claim 29 , further comprising a power control circuit, wherein the power control circuit is configured to turn on, turn off, maintain, increase, and decrease the power of an external electrical appliance according to the current electricity price rate.