Patent ID: 8738195

Claim:
A method for determining the identity of an electric energy consuming device, comprising, capturing values for voltage supplied by an electric power delivery line in a building as a function of time from an electrical power usage monitor attached to a socket outlet of the electric power delivery line wherein the electrical power usage monitor is capable of detecting a voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line and wherein the electrical power usage monitor is operably connected to a processor wherein the processor is capable of directing the capture of voltage values by the electrical power usage monitor and is capable of causing the storage of data in a memory device, creating a voltage signature for an unknown electric energy consuming device that is connected to the electric power delivery line wherein the voltage signature comprises detected values in the voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line as a function of time during the operation of the unknown electric energy consuming device and wherein the unknown electric energy consuming device is directly connected to the electric power delivery line through a socket outlet and is not connected through the electrical power usage monitor, determining the identity of the unknown electric energy consuming device based on the similarity of the voltage signature of the unknown electric energy consuming device to the voltage signature of a known electric energy consuming device.