Patent ID: 9569647
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: G06K,G08C,H04L,Y02B,Y04S

Claim:
1. A method for remotely controlling a supply of power to a plurality of electrical appliances that are connected to a main power supply via one or more sockets, the method comprising: detecting, via a control system, an activation of a transceiver located at a first one of a first socket of the one or more sockets and a plug of a first electrical appliance, wherein the transceiver is automatically activated responsive to inserting the plug of the first electrical appliance in the first socket, wherein the transceiver is communicatively connected to the control system; the control system stimulating, via the transceiver, a tag located at a second one of the first socket and the plug of the first electrical appliance, wherein the tag is in close proximity to the transceiver and is capable of receiving communication from the transceiver, wherein the tag includes an inductor that is coupled to a first relay switch in one of the first socket and the plug of the first electrical appliance, wherein the first relay switch, when closed, connects the first electrical appliance and the main power supply in series, and wherein the inductor holds the first relay switch closed while the tag is being stimulated by the transceiver; the control system interrogating, via the transceiver, the tag to determine a unique identifier of the tag, wherein the unique identifier enables the control system to control whether power is applied to the transceiver; the control system receiving, from the transceiver, the unique identifier of the tag; in response to receiving an instruction to disconnect power to the first electrical appliance, the control system deactivating the transceiver, wherein deactivation of the transceiver deactivates the plug of the first electrical appliance at the first socket and disconnects the main power supply from the first electrical appliance; and in response to the control system receiving an instruction to connect power to the first electrical appliance, activating the transceiver, wherein activation of the transceiver stimulates the tag, activates the plug of the first electrical appliance at the first socket, and connects the main power supply to the first electrical appliance.