DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to a smart Alternating Current (AC) outlet, a system, and a method for device protection.
Background
A voltage fluctuation is a transient event, typically lasting tens of microseconds that may reach over 1,000 volts or may alternatively drops from the nominal supply voltage. Such fluctuations, especially the surges which include spiked electric power supply, may degrade wiring insulation, and destroy electronic appliances.
Surge refers to that spiked electric power supply which significantly exceeds the phenomenon of normal voltage at short notice. During operation, a conventional electrical power supply system may encounter surge or drop in supply voltages. This sudden fluctuation, i.e., sudden increase or decrease in the supply voltage may be harmful for the end electronic appliances connected to an electrical power line of the electrical power system. Due to surge, the electronic appliances may face quality problems affecting the performance and jeopardizing its useful life thus producing direct economic loss. The recurrent surge may adversely affect the electronic appliance’s life and may cause operational difficulty in its usage such as trembles as screen dodges, noisy sound, short-lived battery, processor performance degradation, circuit burnout etc. Surge may damage power consuming electronic appliances immediately or slowly, and sometime may also prove to be fatal in form of fire caused due to faulty electronic appliances.
Without adequate measures to monitor such surges leading to the electronic appliances malfunctioning attract maintenance or replacement. In either case additional cost implications are rendered onto users. Furthermore, the faulty appliances may add to electronic waste as well.
Generally, there are many voltage surge suppresser devices installed in power distribution panels, process control systems, communications systems, and other heavy-duty industrial systems, for the purpose of protecting against electrical surges and spikes. However, with the advent of internet of things, smart electronic appliances and smart homes, there is a requirement to invent dynamic solution for residential and commercial premises. Users would prefer to monitor voltage surges and install safety measure to counter the surge for protecting the electronic appliance.
Therefore, there is a need for solution to address the abovementioned deficiencies.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an example embodiment, a smart AC outlet coupled to an electrical supply system comprising a plurality of smart plugs coupled to a plurality of devices (high power-consumption appliance) is disclosed. The smart AC outlet comprises an Energy measurement (EM) Integrated Circuit (IC) that is configured to measure a voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system. The EM IC is further configured to detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold. The smart AC outlet includes an MCU configured to transmit a control signal to at least one smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the at least one smart plugs, based on the detecting.
The smart AC outlet as disclosed herein, where the EM IC is further configured to detect that a second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within a predefined operation range. Furthermore, the EM IC is configured to transmit another control signal to the at least one smart plug, based on the detecting.
In an embodiment, a device protection system is disclosed. The device protection system includes a plurality of smart plugs coupled to a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of smart plugs is coupled to an electrical supply line of an electrical supply system. The device protection system includes a smart AC outlet coupled to the electrical supply line of the electrical supply system such that the smart AC outlet is ahead in order to the plurality of smart plugs. The device protection system includes the smart AC outlet including an EM IC configured to measure a voltage on the electrical supply line of the electrical supply system; and detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold. The smart AC outlet includes a MCU configured to transmit a control signal to at least one smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the at least one smart plugs, based on the detection.
In yet another embodiment, a device protection method is disclosed. The method includes measuring a voltage on the electrical supply line of an electrical supply system. The method includes detecting whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold. The method includes transmitting a control signal to at least one smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power, based on the detection.
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a conventional electrical power supply system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates an electrical power supply system implementing a smart AC outlet, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram depicting constituent components of the smart AC outlet, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method of device protection, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skills in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates an environment for implementation of a conventional electrical power supply system 100. As shown in the figure, an AC power supply 102 may be delivered to a premises which may be a household or a commercial premise. The premises may include a plurality of devices which maybe high power-consumption electronic appliances 106, such as a fridge, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a heater, or a television receiving the AC power supply 102.
In an embodiment, each of these devices 106 is connected to the power supply 102 using a smart plug 104. The smart plug 104 is configured to receive the power supply 102 and deliver it to the device 106. This smart plug 104, in an example, includes a radio frequency transceiver. Accordingly, the smart plug 104 may be configured to connect to a gateway (not shown in the figure) and may exchange data with a cloud server (not shown in the figure). The data may include details of operation of the corresponding device 106 to which a given smart plug 104 is connected. In an example, such data may be transmitted to a user device (not shown).
As is known, in the conventional electrical power supply system 100, in the event of a sustained overvoltage or sustained undervoltage, one or more of the devices may get broken. This, as may be understood, may result in accumulation of electronic waste, as the consumer may simply replace the broken device. Also, if not broken, then device may underperform. For example, in the event of sustained undervoltage a device may not perform optimally, and such underperformance is not desirable.
Figure 2 illustrates an electrical power supply system 200, hereinafter interchangeably referred to as the system 200, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
As shown in the figure, the system 200 may include a smart AC outlet 202, the plurality of smart plugs 104, the plurality of devices 106 which may be high power-consumption electronic appliances receiving the AC power supply 102.In an example, the smart AC outlet 200 is an outlet for charging electric vehicles, and accordingly may also be referred to as Electric vehicle (EV) outlet 202.
In an embodiment, the smart AC outlet 202 may include an Energy measurement (EM) Integrated circuit (IC).
In an example, the EM IC may be configured to measure voltage received from the AC power supply 102. In the example, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to determine if the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold, for a first predetermined number of consecutive samples. In an example, five samples may be taken as the threshold. In an example, the sampling frequency may be configurable. As a default, the sampling frequency may be set at two hundred milliseconds.
In the event where the voltage is determined to be greater than the first threshold or less than the second threshold for the predetermined number of samples, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to transmit a control signal to one or more smart plugs 104 corresponding to one or more of the devices, for switching OFF of the supply of electricity to the one or more devices. For instance, consider a case where the first threshold is 265V and samples are 230, 231, 295, 296, 294, 292, 295, i.e., 5 consecutive samples exceed the set overvoltage threshold. In another case, presume that the second voltage is 180V and samples are 230, 231, 176, 178, 176, 179, 171, i.e., 5 consecutive samples are below the set under voltage threshold.
In either of the above case, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to transmit the control signal to the one or more smart plugs 104. In an example, the AC outlet 202 may simply broadcast the control message and the devices 106 which are ON may be switched OFF. In an example, the control signal may be received by one or more of the smart plugs 104. Accordingly, the one or more smart plugs 104 may restrict the flow of electricity to the one or more devices 106. In addition to transmitting the control signal, the smart AC outlet 202 may also restrict its own functions, so as to avoid any harm to any device 106 that may be connected with the smart AC outlet 202.
In an alternate embodiment, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to notify a user when the voltage is determined to be less than the second threshold for the predetermined number of samples. In such a case, the smart AC outlet 202 may not directly transmit a control signal. Herein, the smart AC outlet 202 may, at first, transmit a notification to the user device, for example, a smartphone or a tablet, registered with the smart AC outlet 202. The notification may include information about the undervoltage. In case the user responds with a confirmation message to switch OFF the device, the smart AC outlet 202 may accordingly then transmit the control signal to the smart plugs 104.
In an example embodiment, after the transmission of the control signal, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to continue the measurement of the voltage. For this end, the smart AC outlet 202 may include a battery that may be connected to one or more components that are configured to measure the voltage and transmit the control signals. In an example, these components may include at least the EM IC, a microcontroller unit, and a radio transceiver unit.
In case a second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within a predefined operation range, the smart AC outlet 202 may transmit another control signal to the one or more smart plugs 104. Accordingly, on receiving the other control signal, the one or more smart plugs 104 may permit the flow of electricity to the one or more devices.
In an example embodiment, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to transmit a notification to the registered user device, when the voltage is determined to be greater than the first threshold or less than the second threshold for the predetermined number of samples. Accordingly, the user of the user device may be notified of the abnormal supply condition. In said example embodiment, the notification may also include a list of devices that have been switched OFF. Furthermore, another notification may be transmitted to the user when the supply becomes normal, and this notification may include a list of devices that are switched ON.
Figure 3 illustrates a systematic block diagram 300 of the smart AC outlet 202, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in the figure, the smart AC outlet 202 may include a fuse 302, a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) 304, an AC to DC converter 306. The smart AC outlet 202 may further include a battery 308, an EM IC 310, and a microcontroller unit (MCU) 312. In an example, the battery may be a 3V battery. In an example, MCU 312 may also include or be coupled with a RF transceiver (not shown in the figure).
In an example, if the supply voltage exceeds the set over voltage threshold/Undervoltage for five continuous samples, the smart AC outlet 202 may set a sustained over voltage/under voltage flag. In an example, the sampling frequency is configurable. Once the flag is set, the smart AC outlet 202 switches OFF all the running devices until the sustained overvoltage/under voltage flag resets.
In an example, the smart AC outlet 202 has a secondary backup, i.e., the batter 308 of 3v battery for detecting the sustained overvoltage/undervoltage, or normalization of the voltage.
As would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, each of the smart plug units 104, the ECM IC 310, and the MCU 312 may include, but is not limited to, a processor, memory, modules, and data. The modules and the memory may be coupled to the processor.
The processor can be a single processing unit or several units, all of which could include multiple computing units. The processor may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor is configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions and data stored in the memory.
The memory may include any non-transitory computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes.
The modules, amongst other things, include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform particular tasks or implement data types. The modules may also be implemented as, signal processor(s), state machine(s), logic circuitries, and/or any other device or component that manipulate signals based on operational instructions.
Further, the modules can be implemented in hardware, instructions executed by a processing unit, or by a combination thereof. The processing unit can comprise a computer, a processor, such as the processor, a state machine, a logic array, or any other suitable devices capable of processing instructions. The processing unit can be a general-purpose processor which executes instructions to cause the general-purpose processor to perform the required tasks or, the processing unit can be dedicated to performing the required functions. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the modules may be machine-readable instructions (software) which, when executed by a processor/processing unit, perform any of the described functionalities.
Further, the data serves, amongst other things, as a repository for storing data processed, received, and generated by one or more of the modules.
Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart depicting a device protection method 400, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 400 may be a computer-implemented method executed, for example, by various processors of the system 200 as explained above. For the sake of brevity, constructional and operational features of the system 200 that are already explained in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3 are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 4.
At block 402, the method 400 includes monitoring the voltage received from the AC power supply 102. In an example, the smart AC outlet 202 including the EM IC 310 may be configured to measure said voltage.
At block 404, the method 400 includes detecting whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold. In an example, five samples may be taken as the threshold. In an example, the sampling frequency may configurable. As a default, the sampling frequency may be set at two hundred milliseconds.
At block 406, the method 400 includes transmitting the control signal to the one or more smart plugs 104. In an example, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to transmit said control signal. In an example, the AC outlet 202 may simply broadcast the control message and the devices 106 which are ON may be switched OFF. In the example, the control signal may be received by one or more of the smart plugs 104 so that the flow of electricity is restricted to the one or more devices 106.
In another example, in addition to transmitting the control signal, the smart AC outlet 202 may also restrict its own functions, so as to avoid any harm to any device 107 that may be connected with the smart AC outlet 202.
In an embodiment, the method 400 includes notifying the user when the voltage is determined to be less than the second threshold for the predetermined number of samples. In an example, the method 400 includes transmitting a notification to the user device, say, a smartphone or a tablet, registered with the smart AC outlet 202. In the example, the notification may include information about the undervoltage.
In the example, if the user responds with a confirmation message to switch OFF the device, the smart AC outlet 202 may accordingly then transmit the control signal to the smart plugs 104.
In another embodiment, the method 400 includes transmitting a notification to the registered user device, when the voltage is determined to be greater than the first threshold or less than the second threshold for the predetermined number of samples. Accordingly, the user of the user device may be notified of the abnormal supply condition. In an example, the notification may also include a list of devices that have been switched OFF. Furthermore, another notification may be transmitted to the user when the supply becomes normal, and this notification may include a list of devices that are switched ON.
In an alternative embodiment, the method 400 includes determining a second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage to be within a predefined operation range. In an example, the smart AC outlet 202 may transmit another control signal to the one or more smart plugs 104. Accordingly, on receiving the other control signal, the one or more smart plugs 104 may permit the flow of electricity to the one or more devices.

The present disclosure has some advantages which are as follows:
a) The present invention provides the user to measure and monitor the voltage received. Thus accordingly, the user may be notified of the surge.
b) The present invention provides a real-time monitoring of the power received by the electronic appliance and can control the power supply received by the appliances.
c) As the user is aware of the surge in voltage, the user may operate the electronic appliances remotely and prevent them from malfunctioning.
d) The present invention may provide the electronic appliances from malfunctioning thus saving a lot of cost and complexity for the user.
e) The present invention provides a robust, fault tolerant system is provided which has low maintenance costs, as less electronic devices break down due to overvoltage or undervoltage.
f) The present invention may provide a data to the power grid or electric supply companies about the power surge so that corrective measures can be taken.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A smart Alternating Current (AC) outlet (202) coupled to an electrical supply system (102) comprising a plurality of smart plugs (104) coupled to a plurality of devices (106), the smart AC outlet (202) comprising:
an Energy measurement Integrated Circuit (EM) IC (310) configured to:
measure a voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system (102); and
detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold; and
a Microcontroller Unit (MCU) (312) configured to transmit a control signal to at least one of the plurality of smart plugs (104) for controlling supply of electric power to the at least one smart plug (104), based on the detection.

2. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EM IC is configured to:
detect that a second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within a predefined operation range; and
transmit another control signal to the at least one smart plug (104) for controlling supply of electric power, based on the detection.

3. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a battery operably coupled to the EM IC (310) and the MCU (312).

4. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a radio frequency transceiver.
5. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a sampling frequency of the smart AC outlet (202) is configurable.
6. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smart AC outlet (202) is an electric vehicle charging outlet.
7. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MCU (312) is configured to transmit a notification to a registered user device when the first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is detected to be greater than the first threshold or less than the second threshold, wherein the notification comprises a list of devices that are switched OFF.
8. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the MCU (312) is configured to:
receive a confirmation message from the registered user device; and
transmit the control signal to at least one of the plurality of smart plugs (104) for controlling supply of electric power to the at least one smart plug (104).
9. The smart AC outlet (202) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the MCU (312) is configured to transmit a notification to a registered user device when the second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within the predefined operation range, wherein the notification comprises a list of devices (106) that are switched ON.
10. A device protection system (200), the system (200) comprising:
a plurality of smart plugs (104) coupled to a plurality of devices (106), wherein the plurality of smart plugs (104) is coupled to an electrical supply line of an electrical supply system (102); and
a smart AC outlet (202) coupled to the electrical supply line of the electrical supply system (102) such that the smart AC outlet (202) is ahead in order to the plurality of smart plugs (104), the smart AC outlet comprising:
an EM IC (310) configured to:
measure a voltage on the electrical supply line of the electrical supply system (102); and
detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold; and
a MCU (312) configured to transmit a control signal to at least one of the plurality of smart plugs (104) for controlling supply of electric power to the at least one smart plug (104), based on the detection.

11. The device protection system (200) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the EM IC (310) is further configured to:
detect that a second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within a predefined operation range; and
transmit another control signal to the at least one smart plugs (104), for controlling supply of electric power based on the detection.

12. The device protection system (200) as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the one or more smart plugs (104) is configured to:
receive the control signal from the smart AC outlet (202); and
control supply of the electrical power to a high power-consumption appliance (106), based on the control signal.
13. The device protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the MCU (312) is configured to transmit a notification to a registered user device when the first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is detected to be greater than the first threshold or less than the second threshold, wherein the notification comprises a list of devices that are switched OFF.
14. The device protection system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the MCU (312) is configured to receive a confirmation message from the registered user device; and transmit the control signal to at least one of the plurality of smart plugs (104) for controlling supply of electric power to the at least one smart plug (104).
15. The device protection system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the MCU (312) is configured to transmit a notification to the registered user device when the second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within the predefined operation range, wherein the notification comprises a list of devices that are switched ON
16. A method (400) for device protection comprising:
measuring a voltage on an electrical supply line of an electrical supply system (102);
detecting whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold; and
transmitting a control signal to at least one smart plug (104) for controlling supply of electric power, based on the detection.
17. The method (400) as claimed in claim 16, comprising:
detecting that a second predetermined number of consecutive samples of the voltage is determined to be within a predefined operation range; and
transmitting another control signal to the at least one smart plug (104), for controlling supply of electric power based on the detecting.
18. The method (400) as claimed in claim 16, comprising:
receiving the control signal from the smart AC outlet (202); and
controlling supply of the electrical power to a high power-consumption appliance (106), based on the control signal.