GB2480092A

GB2480092A - Combined power monitoring, control and networking device

Info

Publication number: GB2480092A
Application number: GB1007568A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark David Crosier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-06
Filing date: 2010-05-06
Publication date: 2011-11-09
Also published as: GB201007568D0

Abstract

A networked power monitoring device comprises electrical supply 3 and load 6 connections; a microprocessor controller 8; measurement means 4 between the supply and load connections; a network connection 10 for network cables; and a network switch or hub 12 having at least two channels connected to the network. The device can include relay and dimmer circuits 5 in series with the output and connected to the microprocessor; an internal or external power supply; an additional network connection or router 14; and a light emitting diode status indicator. The device can be sized and formed to fit into a cavity of an electrical outlet, a network connection outlet, wall back-box, floor box, trunking or a power strip and fitted to a bezel or cover plate. Controlling instruction files can be down-loaded from the network to modify control and consumption monitoring programs. The device can communicate with an external computer and with other network devices and act as a web server. The device reduces the network cables used between patch panels and network outlets and electricity waste by load devices that are left on by users.

Description

Combined Power Monitoring, Control and Networking Device

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a combined power monitoring, control and networking device for use in building wiring systems. Thus enabling autonomous monitoring and control of equipment and appliance power consumption, by using existing Information Technology ("IT") networking infrastructure, over which information can flow for the purposes of centralised and / or remote control, policy orchestration and communication.

Most modern commercial, industrial and even residential buildings, use IT networks as a means of carrying information between computer systems, telephony systems, printers, office equipment, building services, entertainment devices and mobile appliances. Theses IT networks are commonly based on Internet Protocol ("IP") and Transport and Control Protocol ("TCP"), standardised by the Internet Society, which is used to encode digital information for transport across frame based packet switched networks such as the popular Ethernet series of frame based network types. These networks are standardised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers ("IEEE") under the IEEE8O2.3 standards and also the popular wireless local area networks are standardised under the IEEE8O2.11 standards and trade marked Wi-Fi' by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Many types of networking technology have been developed over the years and will be known to those skilled in the art and in principle the present invention is applicable to many of them.

Often, building electrical infrastructure and its wiring, wiring devices and connection devices sit along-side, and in, close proximity to IT networking infrastructure within buildings. For example, it is common to find Ethernet wiring connection devices along side power outlets or sockets. These are often accommodated within the same electrical enclosures or trunking systems such as, floor-boxes for suspended computer floors, in perimeter dado or skirting trunking or within specialised connection posts' and pillars'.

It is now common place for buildings to be provided with so called structured cabling systems where, special twisted-pair cables are laid between central network patch cabinets and network connection devices in the floors or on the walls of buildings. Often the type of cable is chosen to facilitate its use for a variety of different applications. Typically, the speed of the network and its electrical bandwidth determine the quality and construction of the cables selected. For example, a common cable type used in 10/100 Base TX Ethernet networks is the so called Category 5' cable, standardised under ANSI/TIA/EIA- 568-A which has a number of twisted-pair wires within it (usually 4 pairs). This type of cable can easily carry analogue telephony signals to and from the desktop and can also carry low speed serial printer data, as well as up to l000Mbits / second data of the Ethernet network. With the move to IP telephony, the use of Ethernet networks to carry telephony signals is even taking over from analogue telephony signals of the past in many commercial buildings.

Layer 2 and 3 electronic network switch devices or electronic network hub or repeater devices like those used in IEEE8O2.3 Ethernet networks, are now common place and used in most building networks. These are well known in the art and are generally sited in central network cabinets or racks, with radial network cables laid to computers and other networked devices in a so called structured cabling system. In Small Office / Home Office ("SOHO") applications the functions of electronic network switches or electronic network hubs or repeater devices are often combined with Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line ("ADSL") routers or Wi-Fi routers into what are commonly called gateway' devices.

It is common place for two or four Category 5 cables to be laid to each network outlet location, floor-box or trunking location, where they are often terminated into four RJ-45 style network connectors. These sit along-side four power outlets to supply IT equipment such as, personal computers, printers, screens and the like. These so called home-runs' of network cable have a significant bearing on the deployed costs of structured cabling systems in modern buildings, where it is not uncommon for hundreds of meters of cable to be used to service one outlet location. The design of structured cabling systems, such as those used in Ethernet networks, is a so called point-to-point' based system and so called daisy-chaining' is not possible directly with twisted-pair wires alone.

It is well known in the art that remote network devices such as IP telephones and wireless access points may be powered over the wires in the network cable, either utilising the unused two twisted pairs or alternatively using the two data pairs of the network cable. These schemes have been standardised by the IEEE in their IEEE8O2.3af-2003 Power over Ethernet ("PoE") standard and their IEEE8O2.3at-2009 PoE+ standard.

In building power infrastructure, it is now common to distribute power more locally to the outlet point to avoid expensive home-runs' of power cable back to the central breaker panel and this is often achieved by using a form of bus- bar, especially adapted for the purpose with electrical tap-offs' to each floor-box, post or pillar. Similar systems are also available for perimeter trunking, where the trunking houses a similar, albeit smaller, bus-bar system. A similar approach is also commonly available for distributing power to lighting systems.

Today, power measurement devices in buildings are normally limited to those supplied by the utility company for billing purposes at the electrical service entrance but occasionally sub-metering devices are seen in industrial and heavy commercial applications or in multi-tenant buildings.

With the continuing expansion in use of electrical devices within buildings and the ever increasing cost of electricity supplies, it is becoming highly desirable to provide centralised management of power consumption within individual buildings and more complex estates or campuses' of buildings. This is either for the benefit of the owner or occupier or in some cases for the benefit of the utility company supplying power to the building. Such a system could reduce waste and control energy bills, but could also reduce the use of fossil fuels and the carbon dioxide emissions produced by electricity generation in the atmosphere.

At the moment building owners, occupiers and users have to rely on manual methods of controlling their power consumption and have to simply remember to turn equipment and appliances off when they are not needed. Basic human behaviour tends to mean we forget to undertake these tedious and often unrewarding tasks (at least when its not our own bill) and so it is very typical to find that building power consumption includes over 20% of waste in many cases. Also, building users are simply unaware of the consumption going on around them and have little if any tangible information available from which to make informed decisions and act. In many cases, seemingly innocuous devices like the chargers for mobile devices and laptops can over a period of time, waste significant amounts of power unnecessarily when they are left powered on with no device attached or when the device in question is fully charged.

Similarly, many pieces of office equipment and lighting systems are left on unnecessarily when office staff or occupiers have gone home or left the building.

Previously, no real alternative to manual intervention was available at an affordable price or in a suitable form-factor for retro-fitting into existing building infrastructure and IT systems and power systems had never really been joined together before to provide a power monitoring, control and networking solution.

It is the object of the present invention to solve this problem and provide a device or devices which can be applied to new buildings or retro-fitted into existing buildings either inside, adjacent or behind existing network outlets, power sockets or their electrical housings, floor-boxes or trunking systems.

Furthermore, it is the secondary object of this invention to reduce the cost of IT network cable home-runs' between the central patch cabinet and the network outlet points in new buildings or refurbishment projects and to enable effective daisy-chaining' and multiple network node connections to one network cable.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a combined power monitoring, control and networking device comprising: electrical supply connection means and electrical load connection means for the connection of at least one or a plurality of electrical supplies and at least one or a plurality of electrical loads; network connection means for the connection of at least one or a plurality of network cables; an internal microprocessor control circuit means; at least one or a plurality of electrical measurement means interposed between the said electrical supply connection means and the said electrical load connection means; and, an internal electronic network switch circuit means or electronic network hub circuit means having a plurality of channels at least two of which are connected to the network connection means.

DESCRIPTION

According to the present invention there is provided, a combined power monitoring, control and networking device which is equipped with: a) Electrical supply connection means for the connection of a plurality of electrical supplies and electrical load connection means for the connection of a plurality of electrical loads; b) Network connection means for the connection of a plurality of IT networks; c) An internal microprocessor control circuit means to: I) Receive and store information from a plurality of internal electrical power measurement or metering means; ii) Control load power consumption via a plurality of internal electrical relay switching means and / or internal electrical dimming means; iii) Communicate using an internal electronic network switch circuit means or an electronic network hub circuit means connected to an external primary IT system via one or more of the said network connection means; iv) Follow the policies downloaded electronically by the user via one or more of the said network connection means and / or according to an internal operating program stored in its memory, which operates to communicate using one or a number of network communication protocols or languages such as Hyper Text Transport Protocol ("HTTP"), Hyper Text Markup Language ("HTML"), eXtensible Markup Language ("XML"), or various scripting languages such as Java from Sun Microsystems or via a Command Line Interface ("CLI") or via the common Telnet' TCP protocol, which the microprocessor control circuit means is programmed to interpret or use; d) A plurality of the said electrical relay switching means and / or the said electrical dimming means connected internally and in series with a plurality of the said electrical measurement or electrical metering means, interposed between the said electrical supply connection means and the said electrical load connection means, with the said electrical relay switching means or electrical dimming means and the said electrical measuring or metering means, connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means; e) A said internal electronic network switch circuit means or electronic network hub circuit means, having a plurality of channels, each connected to one of the said network connector means, but with at least one of the said network switch circuit channels or electronic network hub circuit channels or their control circuit connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means; f) A power supply circuit means operative to convert and supply low voltage power to the various internal circuits of the present invention devices whereby, the power supply circuit can draw power from the line or main building supply via the said electrical supply connection means or from the network cable via the said network connection means, if it is provided with low voltage power over the network cable in a PoE schema; and g) Optionally, a second network connection means for the addition of a second network bridge or router means (such as for Wi-Fi' or another network type) whereby, one of the said internal network switch circuit channels or electronic network hub circuit channels or the said microprocessor control circuit, is connected internally to the said second network connection means, so as to allow the present invention devices to communicate over a secondary network, whilst acting as a network bridge between the internal network, the primary network and that secondary network; and h) Optionally, one or a plurality of internal signal relay switching means and associated external connection means, in substitution for, or in addition to, the said electrical relay switching means and / or the said electrical dimming means, with the said signal relay switching means connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means such that, the signal relay switching means can be used to operate an external contactor, power switch or other ancillary device; and i) Optionally one or a plurality of internal Input -Output ("10") control circuit means and associated external connection means, in substitution for, or in addition to the said electrical relay switching means and / or the said electrical dimming means, with the said 10 control circuit means connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means, such that the 10 control circuit means can be used to operate or receive inputs from an external circuit or system.

In one embodiment, the present invention is provided in the form of a small device suitable for placing behind an electrical power outlet or network connection outlet, either inside a standard back-box, a floor-box or perimeter dado or skirting trunking cavity or for placement inside or behind a lighting tray or ceiling fitting or the like.

In another embodiment, the present invention is provided in the form of a wall mountable electrical power outlet whereby, the said electrical load connection means is one or plurality of standard international electrical power outlets known in the art. In this embodiment, the present invention device can be integral with the traditional mounting bezel or cover plate or can be manufactured to snap into a separate bezel or cover plate.

In another embodiment, the present invention is provided in the form of a electrical power outlet strip supplied by an electrical cord-set whereby, the said electrical load connection means are one or a plurality of standard international electrical power outlets known in the art.

In another embodiment, the present invention is provided in the form of a wall mountable network connection outlet whereby, the said network connection means is one or a plurality of standard international network connectors known in the art, such as the popular Ri-45 type. In this embodiment, the present invention device can be integral with the traditional mounting bezel or cover plate or can be manufactured to snap into a separate bezel or cover plate.

In another embodiment, the present invention is provided in the form of a panel mounted device whereby, the device can be mounted behind a metal or plastic enclosure panel such as a lighting tray or desk fitting, either with or without protruding network connection means or electrical load connection means or both.

In any of the above embodiments, the present invention devices can be provided with light emitting diode indicator means or other common display device means known in the art such as Liquid Crystal Displays ("LCD"), to indicate the status of its network connections and I or the status of its electrical circuits.

In any of the above embodiments, the present invention devices can be provided with said electrical supply connection means or said electrical load connection means of a variety of types well known in the art such as, screw terminals, cage clamp terminals, spring clamp terminals, spade' or blade type terminals or any of the common international standard power connector types available. Figure 6 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where spring clamp terminals are used for example.

In any of the above embodiments, the present invention devices can be provided with network connection means of a variety of types well known in the art such as, screw terminals, cage clamp terminals, spring clamp terminals and Insulation Displacement Terminals ("IDT") or any of the common international standard network connector types available, such as the commonly used Ri-45 type. Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention where such Ri-45 connectors are used for example.

The present invention device can be used in a stand-alone mode whereby, it communicates and receives its setup and operational policy information via an external computer system means operative as a client' to respond to the present invention device's Web server' transmissions of so called Web pages in HTML or XML or another suitable language or protocol.

Alternatively, and more often, the present invention devices can be used in a community mode with others of the same type or of similar capabilities within a building or complex of buildings. Each one a Web server' whereby, a separate computer means -a policy orchestrator' operates as both a client' to this community of devices and also as a Web server' in its own right, where it presents an aggregated view of the community of devices to one or more users, whose Web browsers can connect and view its Web pages or subscribe to its other Web services. By this method, large numbers of the present invention devices can be managed in buildings across, even, intercontinental geographies using the Internet as a means of network infrastructure for accessing the buildings and their present invention devices.

By this client / server' method the present invention devices can each receive operating policies or user instructions, whereby, they initiate various energy saving actions using their electrical relay switching means or electrical dimming means, to control the load consumption when a particular set of conditions or policy' set by the user have been met. Alternatively, they can routinely transmit their power consumption information measured, using their electrical measurement or electrical metering means, including, but not limited to, the following information -RMS line voltage, RMS line current, Instantaneous voltage, instantaneous current, power consumption (resistive and reactive), phase angle of the current etc. to the policy orchestrator means whereupon, the policy orchestrator means can transmit messages over the network to initiate an individual or series of policies across its community of present invention devices.

It is believed that, the method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention devices, at least, addresses the problems of energy wastage outlined in the Introduction, above, and further advantageously, can effectively reduce the number of home-runs of network cable needed conventionally, by moving the central network switch or central network hub infrastructure closer to the network outlet. It is believed that in many cases, the savings made from reductions in the network cable used and installed in new buildings or building refurbishment projects, will help offset the cost of providing the present invention devices themselves, further increasing the savings that can accrue from managing power consumption.

It will be obvious by those skilled in the art that variations to the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention can be used other than just as described herein.

A specific non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la illustrates the present invention internal architecture; Figure lb illustrates the present invention devices external connections; Figure 2 illustrates the optional second network connection means and how it connects to the internal architecture; Figure 3a illustrates the optional relay switching means and how it connects to the internal architecture; Figure 3b illustrates the optional relay switching circuit external connections; Figure 4 illustrates the optional 10 control circuit means and how it connects to the internal architecture; Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention where it is provided as a small device for use behind electrical and / or network outlets or sockets; Figure 6 illustrates one embodiment of present invention where it is provided as a multi-way device for use behind electrical and / or network outlets or sockets particularly to reduce network and electrical power cable home-runs.

Figure 7a illustrates the basic systems architecture of present invention devices in use in a typical commercial building application; Figure 7b illustrates the basic systems architecture of multi-way present invention devices in use in a typical commercial building application; Figure 8 illustrates the general process architecture of the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the present invention devices are composed of a number of circuitry and connectivity blocks depicted in Figure la. These are arranged in a typical external electrical and network system depicted in Figure lb wherein, one or a plurality of electrical power measurement or metering means 4, are connected internally to electrical supply connection means 3, which in turn are connected to the line or main supply in the building 100 by conventional installation wires. The electrical power measurement or electrical metering means 4, are typically electronic power meter circuits commonly composed of a current sensor and a voltage divider or sensor and an integrated circuit metering device, well know in the art for use in conventional utility power meters and the like. Such devices are routinely able to measure RMS line voltage, RMS line current, instantaneous voltage, instantaneous current, power consumption (resistive and reactive), the phase angle of the current etc and convey their measurement data in a serial data stream to the microprocessor control circuit means 8. The present invention device is provided with internal neutral and earth conductors 1 and 2, which pass from the electrical supply connection means 3 to the electrical load connection means 6, directly or in some embodiments, the neutral conductor may also be interrupted by an electrical relay switching means similar, or identical to, that proposed for electrical relay switching means 5. The electrical supply and load connection means 3 and 6 respectively are connection terminal devices, suitable to fasten and electrically connect conventional single or multi-strand insulated electrical wires or plugs / sockets, used to connect the present invention device to a socket outlet 104 and / or load 103, and the line or main supply in the building 100. The microprocessor control circuit means 8 is a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller well known in the art. It operates to receive the serial measurement or metering data from electrical power measurement or metering means 4 whereupon, it may store this data in its memory, transmits this data over the electronic network switch circuit means or electronic network hub circuit means 12, via a suitable network protocol or file transfer method.

Alternatively, it may compare these measurements to those stored in its memory and determine to instigate a policy previously saved in its memory by a user. Such a policy may be preset to operate the electrical relay switching or electrical dimming means 5, whereupon, either the contacts of the electrical relay switching means 5 may open, turning off the electrical load 3 connected to the electrical load connection means 6 via conventional wires and plugs and sockets 104, alternatively it may instigate a particular dimming level, via the electrical dimming means 5, and thereby the electrical load 103 may be adjusted to a reduced, or increased, power setting under the autonomous control of a user's policy. A plurality of the electrical relay switching means and / or the electrical dimming means 5, maybe connected in series between the electrical power measurement or metering means 4 and the electrical load connection means 6, such that, multiple electrical circuits can me measured or metered and controlled. The microprocessor control circuit means 8, is connected to a conventional integrated circuit network switch means 12, which operates semi-autonomously of the microprocessor control circuit means 8 such that, network traffic received in packets' on one channel of the network switch means 12 (marked Ni in Figure la), is say, connected to the desired other channel (marked Nfl in Figure la). When the microprocessor control circuit means 8, has measurement or metering data to transmit over the network 101 or 102, to a user's Web browser via a Web page 210 (Figure 8) or to the policy orchestrator 111 (Figure 7a) elsewhere in the building or on the Internet via another file type 214 (Figure 8) such as an XML file, it can transmit this over an internal serial data connection encoded in a data packet to the network switch means 12 whereupon, it will switch' this data packet to the appropriate channel, depending on the desired destination address encoded into the data packet'. Advantageously, thereby allowing the original network cable 101 / 102 to be interposed or intersected by the present invention device in the installation, without it requiring its own dedicated network cable or home-run' to the central network switch 109 (Figure 7a) or electronic network hub 110 (Figure 7a) elsewhere in the building. The network switch means 12 is connected to one or a plurality of network connection means 10 via a similar number of network physical interconnection (PHY) circuits 11. Such PHY circuits 11 are well known in the art and conventionally may contain miniature isolation transformers and other line balancing circuits suitable for the network type contemplated. The present invention device also conveniently contains a Power Supply Unit (PSU) circuit 7 (and / or maybe connected to an external low voltage power supply by a suitable connection means), which is connected to the electrical supply connection means 3, the neutral 2 and the earth 1 and / or the PHY circuits ii, enabling it to convert and draw low voltage power primarily for supplying the present invention device's internal circuits or a small external device via a separate connector 13 for example a Universal Serial Bus ("USB") connector, either directly from the electrical line or mains supply 100, typically via an internal conventional off-line switched mode power supply and / or advantageously, via the network connection means 10 and PHY circuits 11 through a simple POE and / or POE+ circuit, all of which are well known in the art. The present invention device may optionally include light emitting diode indicators 9 or other common display devices such as LCD devices, connected to the microprocessor control circuit means 8 enabling it to indicate the status of its network connections and / or its electrical circuits to the installer or user.

Referring to Figure 2 which depicts an optional additional or second network connection circuit means 14 for fitting inside the present invention device or arranged as a plug-in or snap-on module. One of the channels of the internal network switch means or electronic network hub means 12 and / or the microprocessor control circuit means 8, are connected internally to the second network connection means 14, so as to allow the present invention device to communicate over another network type whilst acting as a network bridge' or router' between the primary network connected to the network connection means 10, itself and that secondary network either connected to the secondary network connection means 15 or connected wirelessly. Such circuits are well known in the art and widely used in conventional networking devices. The second network connection circuit means 14 may be one of several types for different media' such as for IEEE8O2.11 wireless or for IEEE8O2.3 fibre optic networks or may be one of many popular, so called, field busses'. The remaining system components function similarly to that described for Figure la above.

Referring to Figure 3a which depicts one or a plurality of optional internal signal relay switching means 16 and associated external connection means 17 for the present invention device, which are arranged in a typical external electrical and network circuit depicted in Figure 3b. Optional internal signal relay switching means 16 and associated external connection means 17 can be fitted in substitution for, or in addition to, the electrical relay switching means and I or the electrical dimming means 5, with the said signal relay switching means 16 connected internally to the microprocessor control circuit means 8, such that, the signal relay switching means 16 can be used to operate an external contactor or power switch or other ancillary device, when required to do so by the microprocessor control circuit means 8. If the internal signal relay switching means 16 and associated external connection means 17 are fitted in substitution for the electrical relay switching means and / or the electrical dimming means 5, then additional electrical load connection means 18 can also be fitted to facilitate connection of the electrical load directly to the measurement or metering means 4 as depicted in Figure 3a. The circuit of Figure 3a can typically be utilised in applications where higher load currents may require measuring, switching or controlling than the present invention device can facilitate internally and such an arrangement is depicted in Figure 3b. Typically, this is facilitated via an external electrical contactor 105 or semiconductor power switch of a conventional type known in the art, connected to the signal relay switching means 16 via associated external connection means 17, which acts to operate its external control circuit or coil.

In this case, an external current transformer 106 of a conventional type can also be connected in parallel to the present invention device between the electrical supply connection means 3 and the additional electrical load connection means 18, with the electrical supply terminal means 3 also connected to the line or mains electrical supply 100. The internal current sensor in the electrical measurement or electrical metering means 4 is thus arranged as a current sensor in its secondary electrical winding, where a current will flow in direct proportion to that flowing in its primary electrical winding. Advantageously, the typical low resistance shunt' current sensor used in the electrical measurement or electrical metering means 4 provides a very low impedance to the external current transformer 106 and this causes it to operate close to ideal transformer' operating characteristics with Improved frequency response and linearity etc. Additionally, to prevent damage to the electrical measurement or electrical metering means 4, external back-to-back voltage clamping diodes (not shown) may be connected across the terminals of the current transformer 106 in a configuration well known in the art for this purpose. The remaining system components function similarly to that described for Figures la and lb above.

Referring to Figure 4 which depicts an optional 10 control circuit means 19 and associated external connection means 20, which can be fitted inside the present invention device or arranged as a plug-in or snap-on module. The 10 control circuit means 19, and associated external connection means 20, can be fitted in substitution for, or in addition to, the electrical relay switching means and / or the electrical dimming means 5, with the 10 control circuit means 19 connected internally or via suitable connectors to the microprocessor control circuit means 8 such that, the 10 control circuit means 19 can be used to operate or interface with an external circuit or system. Various types and configurations of analogue or digital electronic 10 circuits well known in the art can be fitted in the 10 control circuit means 19, to facilitate the connection of various types of sensors and actuators to the microprocessor control circuit means 8, via its 10 data input process inputs 205 (Figure 8) or 10 data output process 200 (Figure 8). The present invention device (configured as depicted in Figure 4) is especially useful in applications where the load device requires extra interfacing circuits, as well as measurement and switching by the present invention device or where an external sensor is required to act as a policy trigger' to the trigger engine process 204 (Figure 8) for the present invention device, this sensor can be connected to associated external connection means and measured by an analogue 10 circuit of the ID control circuit means 19. It is also possible to have a Boolean logic function performed with its input, by trigger engine process 204 (Figure 8), thereby the sensor can be used as a policy trigger' or can simply be reported to the user by the microprocessor control circuit means via the network connection means 10. The remaining system components function similarly to that described for Figure la above.

Referring to Figure 5, which depicts one complete embodiment of the present invention where it is provided as a small device for use behind electrical and / or network outlets, the present invention device is conveniently provided with live, neutral and earth electrical supply connection means 3 and electrical load connection means 6. In this case, comprised of 3 spring clamp terminals of a type well know in the art, arranged on both sides of the present invention device, to facilitate interposing the present invention device in an existing wire run of supply cables within trunking, a floor-box or such like. The present invention device is also conveniently provided with 2 network connection means 10, arranged again on both sides of the present invention device to facilitate interposing the present invention device in an existing wire run of network cable within trunking, a floor-box or such like. The present invention device also advantageously, is provided with several snap-on mounting lugs 21 with which to fasten the present invention device to the base plate of trunking or floor-boxes. The present invention device is also provided with light emitting diode indicator means 9, to enable the installer to establish that the present invention device and its network are functioning correctly before mounting the cover on the trunking or floor box.

Referring to Figure 6 which depicts one embodiment of a present invention where it is provided as a multi-way device for use behind electrical and / or network outlets, particularly to reduce network and electrical power cable home-runs. The present invention device is conveniently provided with live, neutral and earth electrical supply connection means 3 and four electrical load connection means 6, comprised in this case of 9 spring clamp terminals of a type well know in the art, arranged on both sides of the present invention device to facilitate it acting as an electrical distribution device within trunking, a floor-box or such like. The present invention device is also conveniently provided with 5 network connection means 10, arranged again on both sides of the present invention device to facilitate acting as a network distribution device within trunking, a floor-box or such like. Advantageously, by these two means the present invention device can reduce the amount of home-run power and network cabling to a minimum, often achieving a reduction of 75%.

The present invention device also advantageously is provided with several snap-on mounting lugs 21 with which to fasten the present invention device to the base plate of trunking or floor boxes. The present invention device is also provided with light emitting diode indicator means 9, to enable the installer to establish that the present invention device and its network are functioning correctly before mounting the cover on the trunking or floor box.

Referring to Figure 7a which depicts the basic systems architecture of present invention device's 114, in use in a typical commercial building application -in this typical application, the present invention device's 114 are installed inside electrical perimeter trunking, under electrical or network outlets in floor-boxes and in ceiling lighting trays. A single phase power bus-bar system 120 or discreet electrical cables (not shown), supply power from the line mains supply in the building to the supply connection means 3 (Figure 5) of the present invention device's 114 and a further electrical cable connects from the load connection means 6 (Figure 5) of the present invention device's 114 to the electrical outlets or sockets (not shown). These are mounted on the trunking facia or floor boxes (not shown), which the various load devices (by example in Figure 7a -the PC, the laptop, the photocopiers, the printer and the coffee machine) are connected to by their electrical cord-sets. In the case of ceiling lighting fittings 117 and 118, these are hard-wired directly to the present invention device's electrical load connection means 6 (Figure 5). Each structured wiring network cable 122, is connected between a single network connector, mounted in the central network patch panel 108 and one of the present invention device's 114 network connection means 10 (Figure 5). The remaining present invention device's 114 network connection means 10 (Figure 5) are typically connected to the network outlets (not shown) mounted on the trunking facia or floor boxes (not shown), where the various load devices (by example in Figure 7a -the PC, the laptop, the photocopier and the printer) are connected to by network patch cables. In the case of the present invention device's controlling ceiling lighting fittings 117 and 118, these are connected together by daisy-chained' network patch cables 119. This method facilitates the use of a single run of network patch cables 119, to control a whole bank of lighting fittings. The central network switch 109 and / or central network hub contain multiple network channels and network connectors, each of which are connected via multiple single network patch cables 121, to a single network connector each mounted in the central network patch panel 108. The central network switch 109 and / or central network hub 110 are similarly connected together via a single network patch cable 121. The central file server 112 is similarly connected to one or both the central network switch 109 and the central network hub 110, to enable the load devices to connect with it over the structured network cabling 122. The present invention devices 114 are able to communicate over the structured network cabling 122, through the central network patch panel 108, the network patch cables 121, the central network switch 109 and / or the central network hub 110, to the policy orchestrator 111 whereupon, the policy orchestrator 111 is able to serve' Web pages to the load devices able to receive them (by example in Figure 7a -the PC 115 and the laptop 116). By example, the Web browsers or other software applications of the PC 115 and the laptop 116, thereby allow their users to configure the system, set policies and view the resulting savings etc. The policy orchestrator 111 is also able to communicate wirelessly via the network patch cables 121, the central network switch 109 and / or the central network hub 110 and the wireless access point 107 to the cell phone 113. This can also view its Web pages on its Web browser or other application. By this method local but roaming' users can access the system as though they were physically connected, thus facilitating the enacting of policies or simple remote control over the devices in their building. The policy orchestrator 111 is also similarly able to communicate over the Internet 125, to another computer network or remote cell phone etc. via the network patch cables 121, the central network switch 109 and / or the central network hub 110 and a router / Internet gateway device (not shown). By this method remote users can access the system as though they were physically connected within the building.

Referring to Figure 7b, which depicts the basic systems architecture of a multi-way present invention device 123, in use in a typical commercial building application -in this typical application, the present invention device 123 is installed inside electrical perimeter trunking or under electrical or network outlets in a floor-box. A single phase power bus-bar system 120 or discreet electrical cables (not shown), connect from the line mains supply in the building to the supply connection means 3 of the present invention device 123 and a further electrical cable connects from the load connection means 6 of the present invention device 123, to the electrical outlets or sockets (not shown) mounted on the trunking facia or floor-box (not shown), which the various load devices (by example in Figure 7b -the PC, the laptop, the photocopier and the printer) are connected to by their electrical cord-sets. The single structured wiring network cable 124, is connected between a single network connector mounted in the central network patch panel 108 and one of the present invention device 123 network connection means 10 (Figure 6). The remaining present invention device 123 network connection means 10 (Figure 6), are typically connected to the network outlets (not shown) mounted on the trunking facia or floor-box (not shown), which the various load devices (by example in Figure 7b -the PC, the laptop, the photocopier and the printer) are connected to by network patch cables. Advantageously, this method reduces the number of structured wiring cables 122 / 124 by three in this case -a reduction of 75% and many tens of meters of network cable, which may significantly offset the cost of the present invention device 123, whilst retaining all of the network benefits for the users. The remaining system components function similarly to that described for Figure 7a above.

Referring to Figure 8, which depicts the general process architecture of the present invention devices -it can be seen that several major software processes are used to manage the functionality of the present invention devices; the event engine 201; the trigger engine 204; the First In First Out ("FIFO") queue 207; the compression engine 208; the maths engine 213; and the web server 211. Serial data from the electrical power measurement or metering means 4 (Figure la) is first conditioned by the measurement data input process 206, whereupon it is entered into one or a plurality of FIFO queue processes 207. The FIFO queue process 207 is clocked (or advanced) by Real Time Clock (RTC) process 212. As the RTC process 212 advances, so the data already entered into the FIFO queue process 207 advances down the queue until it falls out of the front of the queue (if not collected before that). Each time the RTC process 212 is advanced, new data is added to the back of the queue from the measurement data input process 206. At any time the trigger engine process 204 can halt the queue and / cause the start of a new FIFO queue process 207 to start, whereupon the entire contents of the FIFO queue can be rapidly read out to the compression engine 208, where it can be compressed into a waveform file 209. Waveform file 209 can take the form of a number of fixed or variable formats ranging from, compressed binary files through to humanly readable XML files for example. The type of compression performed, or indeed whether any compression is performed at all by the compression engine 208 and the format of the waveform file 209 generated, is controlled by the trigger file 203. The trigger file 203 is ideally of a human readable type such as XML format and contains the trigger or arming' instructions for the trigger engine process 204 and the compression engine process 208. Once the waveform file 209 is full and ready for sending, the compression engine process 208 operates to inform the Web server 211 that a file is ready for collection whereupon, it sends a routine request to fetch' message to the policy orchestrator 111 (Figure 7a). Waveform file 209 may contain one or a plurality of individual tracks' of waveform data, all correlated in real-time and stamped' by a beginning of record' timestamp and an end of record' timestamp, recorded when the FIFO queue process 207 was halted.

These timestamps are ideally recorded directly from the RTC process 212 which may be a high accuracy clock maintained by the microprocessor control circuit means 8 (Figure la) using Network Time Protocol ("NTP") or the 1EEE1588 Precision Time Protocol ("PTP") or the like. Thus by using this FIFO queue process 207, a fully programmable, digital data-logger' is provided and as the FIFO queue process 207 contains waveform data both before and after the trigger conditions were met, it gives an ideal recording' of the waveform leading up to, during and after the triggering event. Furthermore, by enabling the FIFO queue depth' (time, sample or memory depth of the whole queue) and the amount of pre-trigger' (the time the FIFO queue process waits before halting when a trigger event is detected by the trigger engine process 204) to be established by the trigger file 203, the amount of data in front of and behind the triggering event can be determined making it particularly useful for later analysis or for concatenation purposes with the contents of another waveform file 209 to build a longer data record. In this way many waveform files 209 can be sent around a network or between software applications elsewhere on the Internet, where they can be concatenated or joined to form longer more complete records of electrical events or can be cut' and re-time stamped to focus on or investigate only a specific portion of the record. Data from the measurement data input process 206 is also provided to the maths engine process 213, whereupon it can be manipulated mathematically according to the instructions provided in meta-data input file 215 again commonly of a XML format. Meta-data input file 214 may contain instructions on how the maths engine process 213 is to calculate new values from the raw data provided from measurement data input process 206. For example, the meta-data input file 215 may instruct the maths engine process 213 to calculate the value of the instantaneous current i', squared, multiplied by the time t' (it) and to provided this value routinely, say every 10 seconds to the meta-data output file 214 along with a request to fetch' message to the policy orchestrator 111 (Figure 7a). 10 data input process 205 conditions inputs received from the optional 10 control circuit means 19 (Figure 4), whereupon it provides inputs to the trigger engine process 204 and the Web server process 211. By this means, the external events captured by the 10 control circuit means 19 (Figure 4) can provide an external trigger input to prompt the capturing of a waveform by the FIFO queue process 207, or the serving of a particular feature of a Web page 210 via the Web server process 211. The trigger engine 204 also takes an input from the measurement data input process 206, so that threshold' detection events can be used to trigger a waveform capture by the FIFO queue process 207. In a similar manner, the trigger engine process 204 also takes an input from the RTC process 212, so as to enable time based triggers to prompt the capture of waveform files. The trigger engine process 204 can operate using its data input process 205 inputs, its measurement data input process 206 inputs and its RTC process 212 inputs together, or in combination within logical Boolean expressions prescribed by its trigger file 203. These three input methods when coupled together with the highly configurable trigger file 203 and the multi-state trigger engine process 204 provides the present invention devices with a very comprehensive data-capture / data-logging capability to rival many professional instruments of a far higher cost and much larger size.

The trigger engine 204 is able to provide trigger stimuli not only to the FIFO queue process 207, but also to the event engine process 201 which can act in a similar fashion to the trigger engine 204 to provide outputs to the 10 data output process 200. The ID data output process 200 can by example, operate the optional 10 control circuit means 18 outputs (Figure 4) to operate external equipment or can operate the electrical relay switching means or electrical dimming means 5 (Figure la) or the optional internal signal relay switching means 16 (Figure 3a). The event engine process 201 draws its instructions from the event file 202. This file instructs the event engine process 201 about what to do when each type of pre-configured event takes place. In the following scenario -the event file 202 has instructions that the event engine process 201 is to switch the load off' when it is after 19.00 hours in the evening AND the power consumption has fallen on the monitored circuit below a certain level indicating the users PC say is no longer being used but is in standby' mode. In this scenario the event engine process 201 receives the event file 202, whereupon it configures its inputs to receive the average instantaneous power consumption in Watt's P' from the maths engine process 213 and the time of day T' from the RTC process 212. These two inputs form a simple Boolean AND expression where:-Event output = P< standby va/AND T> 19.00.00.00.00 When this expression becomes true the 10 output process 200 causes the electrical relay switching means 5 (Figure la) to open its contacts turning off the load. The various files that control the operation of the present invention devices process form collectively what the user might perceive as a policy' or set of policies many of which are established by simple operations on the present invention devices own Web page 210 or via the policy orchestrator 111 (Figure 7a). In this was relatively simple clicks' of buttons or menu selections on the Web page construct what may in some cases be highly elaborate and complex policies spanning multiple present invention devices and even multiple buildings.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device comprising: electrical supply connection means and electrical load connection means for the connection of at least one or a plurality of electrical supplies and at least one or a plurality of electrical loads; network connection means for the connection of at least one or a plurality of network cables; an internal microprocessor control circuit means; at least one or a plurality of electrical measurement means interposed between the said electrical supply connection means and the said electrical load connection means; and, an internal electronic network switch circuit means or electronic network hub circuit means having a plurality of channels at least two of which are connected to the network connection means.
2. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 1, having one or a plurality of electrical relay switching means, connected internally, and in series with, the said electrical measurement or electrical metering means and also interposed between the said electrical supply connection means and the said electrical load connection means.
3. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 2, wherein the said electrical relay switching means is connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
4. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 1, having one or a plurality of electrical dimming means connected internally, and in series with, the said electrical measurement or electrical metering means and also interposed between the said electrical supply connection means and the said electrical load connection means.
5. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 4, wherein the said electrical dimming means is connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
6. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein, an additional one or a plurality of said electrical dimming means is provided connected internally, and in series with, the said electrical measurement or electrical metering means and the said electrical relay switching means and also interposed between the said electrical supply connection means and the said electrical load connection means.
7. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, the said electrical measuring or metering means is connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
8. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 1 wherein, the said electronic network switch circuit means or the said electronic hub circuit means is connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
9. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, controlling policies' or instruction files can be downloaded electronically by the user via one or more of the said network connection means, to effect the control of the load's power consumption or the reporting of such consumption to another networked device or a user, whereupon it's internal operating program, stored in the memory of the said microprocessor control circuit means is modified or adapted in accordance with the user's wishes.
10. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 9 which operates to communicate with another network device or the user via one or more of the said network connection means, using one or a number of standard network communication protocols or languages, which the said microprocessor control circuit means is programmed to interpret or use.
11. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 1. wherein, the said electronic network switch circuit means or the said electronic network hub circuit means, having a plurality of said channels is connected internally by at least one of the said channels or its control circuit, to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
12. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 1 wherein, there is provided an internal power supply circuit means operative to convert and supply low voltage power to the various internal circuits of the device.
13. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 12 wherein, there is provided an internal power supply circuit means operative to convert and supply low voltage power to an external device via a suitable connector.
14. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 12 wherein, the said internal power supply circuit can draw and convert power; from the line or mains supply, connected via the said electrical supply connection means; and / or, from the network cable connected via the said network connection means.
15. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 1 wherein, there is provided power supply circuit connection means operative to receive a connector from an external power supply unit, in substitution or in addition to the said internal power supply circuit means.
16. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding claims wherein, an additional network connection, bridge or router means is provided whereby, one of the said electronic network switch circuit channels or the said electronic network hub circuit channels and / or the said microprocessor control circuit means, is connected internally to this second network connection, bridge or router means.
17. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 16 wherein, the said second network connection, bridge or router means is provided as a plug-in or snap-on module or the like, suitable to be connected or received into or received onto a connection means built into the device.
18. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, one or a plurality of internal signal relay switching means and associated external connection means are provided.
19. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 18 wherein, the said signal relay switching means is connected internally to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
20. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, one or a plurality of internal Input -Output (10) control circuit means and associated external connection means is provided and connected to the said microprocessor control circuit means.
21. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims, provided in the size, form and construction making it suitable for placing behind an standard electrical outlet or standard network connection outlet, inside a standard back-box, a floor-box, a perimeter dado or skirting trunking cavity, or for placement inside or behind a standard lighting tray or ceiling fitting or the like.
22. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 21 wherein, there is provided a built-in or snap-on mounting device or devices operative to provide a method of securing the device to a panel, trunking or enclosure, by the use of small screws or other fasteners.
23. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims, provided in the form of a standard wall mountable electrical power outlet, whereby the said electrical load connection means is one or a plurality of standard international electrical power outlet types available.
24. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 23, where it is provided integral with a mounting bezel or cover plate designed to affix to a standard back-box, a floor-box, a perimeter dado or skirting trunking facia or the like, using small screws or other fasteners.
25. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 23, where it is manufactured to snap into or be affixed to a separate bezel or cover plate, by small screws or other fasteners.
26. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims, provided in the form of a standard electrical power outlet strip supplied by an electrical cord-set or cable, whereby the said electrical load connection means are one or a plurality of standard international electrical power outlet types available.
27. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims, provided in the form of a standard wall mountable network connection outlet whereby, the said network connection means is one or a plurality of standard international network outlet types available.
28. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 27 where it is provided integral with a mounting bezel or cover plate designed to affix to a standard back-box, a floor-box, a perimeter dado or skirting trunking facia or the like, using small screws or other fasteners.
29. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 27, where it is manufactured to snap into or be affixed to a separate bezel or cover plate, by small screws or other fasteners.
30. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims, provided in the form of a panel mounted device whereby, the device can be mounted behind a metal or plastic enclosure panel by clips, small screws or other fasteners.
31. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 30, having a protruding feature designed to pass through an opening in the said metal or plastic enclosure panel and a separate mounting bezel for snapping onto or affixing to the front of the said metal or plastic enclosure panel or the device itself, by clips, small screws or other fasteners.
32. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to Claim 31, provided with said network connection means or said electrical load connection means on the said protruding feature.
33. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, the device is provided with light emitting diode indicator means or other display device means, operative to indicate the status of its network connections and / or the status of its electrical circuits.
34. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, the said electrical supply connection means or the said electrical load connection means provided are, screw terminals, cage clamp terminals, spring clamp terminals, spade' or blade type terminals or any of the international standard power connector types available.
35. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, the said network connection means provided are, screw terminals, cage clamp terminals, spring clamp terminals, insulation displacement terminals or any of the international standard network connector types available.
36. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, the device can be used in a stand-alone mode' whereby, it communicates and receives its setup, operational policy information or operating instructions via an external computer system means, operative as a client' to respond to the device's Web server' transmissions of so called Web pages in HTML or XML or another suitable language or protocol.
37. A combined power monitoring, control and networking device according to any of the preceding Claims wherein, the device can be used in a community mode' with other such devices, each one a Web server' whereby, a separate computer means or policy orchestrator' operates as both a client' to this community of devices and also as a Web server in its own right whereby, it presents an aggregated view of the community of devices to one or more users whose Web browsers can connect and view its Web pages or subscribe to its other Web services.