Patent ID: 7400493

Claim:
A power distribution unit of the type useable to distribute power from a power input to a plurality of electronic apparatus, the power distribution unit comprising: (A) a power distribution unit housing having at least one power input passage formed in the power distribution unit housing; (B) a power input penetrating the power distribution unit housing through the at least one power input passage; (C) a plurality of outlets accessible through the power distribution unit housing which may supply power to electronic devices attachable to the plurality of outlets; (D) a first circuit breaking link disposed in the housing and in communication with at least a first outlet of the plurality of outlets and the power input; (E) a circuit breaking link status determination and reporting system comprising: (a) a first sensor in communication with a first circuit comprising the first outlet, the first sensor configured to detect whether power is being supplied to the first circuit; (b) a first processor in communication with the first sensor, the first processor configured to receive information from the first sensor and determine whether power is being supplied to the first circuit; (c) a communications bus coupled to the first processor and configured to transmit signals from the first processor; (d) a second processor in communication with the communications bus and connectable to an external network, the second processor configured to send information to and receive information from the first processor and the external network; (F) a second circuit breaking link disposed in the housing and in communication with at least a second outlet of the plurality of outlets and the power input; and (G) a second circuit comprising a second sensor disposed in the housing and in communication with the second outlet and the second circuit breaking link, wherein the first outlet is part of a first branch of outlets, the first circuit breaking link, the first circuit, and the first sensor in communication with the first branch of outlets and the second outlet is part of a second branch of outlets, the second circuit breaking link, the second circuit, and the second sensor in communication with the second branch of outlets.