Patent ID: 8560138
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: H02J,H04B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use in controlling power usage over a power line network, comprising: a central controller comprising means for receiving, from over a local power line communication (PLC) network at the central controller of and within the local PLC network, a local current usage level of current delivered from the local PLC network to a consumer product coupled with the local PLC network, where the local current usage level is received from a device within the local PLC network and remote from the central controller, such that the local current usage level is communicated from the device over the local PLC network to the central controller, wherein the local PLC network comprises multiple PLC power lines that are distributed through different portions of a building providing communication paths, and wherein the local PLC network is electrically coupled with an external power line that delivers electrical power to the local PLC network, wherein the central controller is not part of a circuit breaker and the device is not part of a circuit breaker; means for determining at the central controller whether there is a predetermined relationship between the local current usage level and a threshold; means for communicating from the central controller an interrupt command over the local PLC network in response to determining at the central controller that there is a predetermined relationship between the local current usage level and the threshold; and means for communicating from the central controller a reconnect command over the local PLC network as a result of the communicating the interrupt command and at a time after the communicating the interrupt command.