Patent ID: 8255090

Claim:
A system for controlling and monitoring a power network, comprising: a power network interface remote from a power generation source, the power network interface receiving and distributing power from a power network; a data network interface configured to receive and transmit data over a data network; a node interface in communication with the data network interface, the node interface identifying, monitoring, and controlling a plurality of individual power-consuming devices through a network of nodes deployed in relation with the individual power-consuming devices, the monitoring further comprising detecting at least a switch state and/or a power consumption level for each individual power-consuming device; a controller in communication with the power network interface, the data network interface, and the node interface, the controller interpreting the received identifying and monitoring data which comprise switch state and/or power consumption level information of the individual power-consuming devices and controlling the individual power-consuming devices through the network of nodes based on at least the information and any user preference or user command; and a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface presenting received data to a user and for receiving commands from the user.