Patent ID: 8054598

Claim:
A current limiting device for operation in a dynamic current allocation system having a plurality of current limiting devices on a supply branch, the device comprising: a current sensor arranged to sense a current level through a first load branch; a current interrupter to limit the current level through the first load branch according to a first load branch current allocation setting; a communication interface to automatically communicate messages with one or more other current limiting devices on the supply branch relating to the sensed current level and sensed current levels on one or more other load branches; memory storing instructions to negotiate adjustments to the first load branch current allocation setting, the negotiation being made with the one or more other current limiting devices configured to limit a corresponding one or more other load branch currents according to corresponding one or more other load branch current allocation settings, wherein a result of the negotiation yields an allocation of the first and one or more of the other load branch current allocation settings such that the current limiting device and the one or more other current limiting devices maintain a supply branch current substantially at or below a predetermined available current capacity of the supply branch; and a processor operatively coupled to execute the instructions stored in the memory to control the current interrupter and the communication interface.