Patent ID: 8639391

Claim:
A building automation system, comprising: a controller; at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to a first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to a second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy; at least one sensor for detecting at least one characteristic of the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and of the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of electrical noise and power consumption detected for the respective first and second electrical devices; and a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and at least one other component of the system, wherein the controller is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein controlling delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet includes permitting uninterrupted delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, and, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, reducing a quantity of electrical energy delivered from the at least one outlet, wherein the system is configured to determine that the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy and that the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the determination is based on the at least one characteristic of the first and second electrical devices detected by the at least one sensor, wherein, based on the determination, the system is further configured to deliver a reduced quantity of electrical energy to the first electrical device and not to the second electrical device, and wherein the system is further configured to ignore an instruction from the controller to reduce a quantity of electrical energy delivered without terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the second electrical device based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of the second electrical device detected by the at least one sensor.