Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrical socket device and, in particular, to an electrical socket device which is configured to limit the electrical power passing therethrough.

Mains electrical sockets are suitable for powering a variety of loads, from those which use little electrical power, like automatic air-freshener dispensers or mobile (i.e. cellular) telephone chargers, to those which use a comparatively large amount of electrical power, such as games consoles, space heaters or cleaning tools.

Public places such as coffee shops, train stations, and airports often have mains electrical sockets which are not in constant use but which are readily accessible to members of the public. These electrical sockets are typically provided for the staff to perform various tasks - e.g. for powering cleaning equipment; however, it is common for a blind eye to be turned to limited public use of the electrical sockets (e.g. to charge their mobile phones or power other small electronic devices). However, use of such electrical sockets for equipment which uses a large amount of electrical power (e.g. a large electrical load) poses significant problems for those responsible for the electrical sockets (and payment of the cost of the electrical power provided through those electrical sockets). Policing the use of such electrical sockets can prove problematic. Similar issues arise in large establishments with a large number of electrical sockets, whether public or not, again because policing the use of these electrical sockets is problematic. These issues are increased for large establishments which are separated into a number of different rooms - such as offices, bedrooms, or the like - and particularly when the occupiers of those rooms are not directly responsible for payment of the cost of the electrical power used in those rooms.

Such establishments may set policies for the use of the electrical sockets but ensuring compliance with those policies is problematic and often impractical.

For example, buildings with centralised heating or air conditioning systems may ban the use of mains operated heaters or air conditioners. However, detecting their use is often problematic in a large building and this is made worse if the building is separated into a large number of rooms with different people controlling access to the different rooms. There is a need, therefore, to alleviate one or more problems associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an electrical socket device comprising: a housing defining a socket for receiving a plug; terminals configured to receive electrical power from a power supply; socket contacts configured to receive electrical power from the terminals, for transmission to a plug received by the socket; a main switch device configured to provide selective electrical communication between one of the terminals and one of the socket contacts, the main switch device being actuatable between an on- state in which electrical communication between the one of the terminals and the one of the contacts is provided and an off-state in which electrical communication between the one of the terminals and the one of the contacts is substantially prevented; and a control circuit to actuate the main switch device between the on-state and the off-state, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a signal indicative of electrical power passing through the socket, to compare this signal to a predetermined threshold, and to actuate the main switch device to the off-state based at least in part on the comparison.

The main switch device may be actuated to the off-state by the control circuit further based on one or more rules.

The one or more rules may be based at least in part on: a period of time over which the predetermined threshold is exceeded by the signal indicative of electrical power passing through the socket.

The one or more rules may be based at least in part on: a time of day.

The one or more rules may be based at least in part on: a temperature. The one or more rules may be based at least in part on: the state of one or more windows and/or doors.

The control circuit may be configured to receive one or more of the rules and/or one or more parameters of the rules from a remote device or system.

The control circuit may be configured to receive the predetermined threshold from a remote device or system.

The control circuit may include one or more processing elements which are configured to receive one or more input signals and to generate one or more output signals based at least in part on the one or more input signals; the comparison may be performed by the one or more processing elements; the one or more output signals may include an actuation signal to cause actuation of the main switch device to the off-state. An electrical socket device may further comprise a temperature sensor subsystem configured to output a signal indicative of a temperature as one of the one or more input signals to the one or more processing elements. The electrical socket device may further comprise a current measurement subsystem configured to output as one of the one or more input signals to the one or more processing elements a signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to determine the signal indicative of the electrical power passing through the socket based on the output of the current measurement sub-system.

The electrical socket device may further comprise a voltage measurement sub-system configured to output as one of the one or more input signals to the one or more processing elements a signal indicative of the voltage of the electrical power passing through the socket, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to determine the signal indicative of the electrical power passing through the socket based on the output of the voltage measurement sub-system. The electrical socket device may further comprise a pre-set voltage level subsystem configured to output as one of the one or more input signals to the one or more processing elements a signal indicative of a pre-set voltage, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to determine the signal indicative of the electrical power passing through the socket based on the output of the pre-set voltage level sub-system.

The electrical socket device may further comprise a timer sub-system configured to output as one of the one or more input signals to the one or more processing elements a clock signal. The electrical socket device may further comprise a remote input sub-system which is configured to receive at least one of the one or more input signals from a remote device or system. The at least one of the one or more input signals may include at least one temperature signal from a remote temperature sensor, and/or at least one movement signal from a remote movement sensor, and/or at least one signal indicative of the state of a door or window from a remote door or window sensor.

Another aspect provides a system including: an electrical socket device as above; and a hub device configured to communicate with the electrical socket device. The system may further include: a remote computing device configured to communicate with the electrical socket device via the hub device, wherein the remote computing device includes a user interface to enable a user to alter one or more rules and/or parameters of the control circuit. The one or more parameters may include the predetermined threshold.

An aspect provides an electrical socket device comprising: a housing defining a socket for receiving a plug; terminals configured to receive electrical power from a power supply; socket contacts configured to receive electrical power from the terminals, for transmission to a plug received by the socket; a main switch device configured to provide selective electrical communication between one of the terminals and one of the socket contacts, the main switch device being actuatable between an on-state in which electrical communication between the one of the terminals and the one of the contacts is provided and an off-state in which electrical communication between the one of the terminals and the one of the contacts is substantially prevented; and a control circuit to actuate the main switch device between the on-state and the off-state, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a signal indicative of electrical power passing through the socket, to compare this signal to a predetermined threshold, and to actuate the main switch device to the off-state based at least in part on the comparison, wherein the main switch device is actuated to the off-state by the control circuit based on one or more rules, based at least in part on: a time of day or the date or the state of one or more windows and/or doors or ambient temperature. An aspect provides an electrical socket device comprising: a housing defining a socket for receiving a plug; terminals configured to receive electrical power from a power supply; socket contacts configured to receive electrical power from the terminals, for transmission to a plug received by the socket; a main switch device configured to provide selective electrical communication between one of the terminals and one of the socket contacts, the main switch device being actuatable between an on-state in which electrical communication between the one of the terminals and the one of the contacts is provided and an off-state in which electrical communication between the one of the terminals and the one of the contacts is substantially prevented; a control circuit to actuate the main switch device between the on-state and the off-state, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a signal indicative of electrical power passing through the socket, to compare this signal to a predetermined threshold, and to actuate the main switch device to the off-state based at least in part on the comparison; and a remote input sub-system configured to receive signals from one or more sensors which are remote from the socket device.

Embodiments of the present invention are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a socket device according to some embodiments;

Figure 2 shows a side view of a socket device according to some embodiments;

Figure 3 shows a rear view of a socket device according to some embodiments; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a system according to some embodiments; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a system according to some embodiments.

With reference to figures 1 -5, embodiments of the present invention include an electrical socket device 1 . The socket device 1 includes a housing 12 which may be fitted to a back box. Therefore, the housing 12 may include a front panel 12a including one or more holes 2d through which respective fixing means (e.g. screws) may be received to secure the housing 12 to the back box.

The socket device 1 includes a plurality of terminals 1 1 for connecting the socket device 1 to an electricity supply. The electrical supply may comprise a mains electrical supply and the terminals may include a live 1 1 a and a neutral 1 1 b terminal - each configured for connection to respective conductors (i.e. wires) of the electrical supply. In some embodiments, the terminals 1 1 include an earth terminal 1 1 c - for connection to an earth/ground conductor (i.e. wire). Each terminal 1 1 may be configured to clamp a respective conductor (e.g. wire) in electrical communication with the terminal 1 1 - e.g. using a screw- clamp or otherwise. The terminals 1 1 may be mounted to or housed in the housing 12. The housing 12 (e.g. the front panel 12a) may define at least one socket 123 configured to receive a corresponding plug. As such, the or each socket 123 may include a plurality of apertures 121 defined by the housing 12. Each aperture 121 may be configured to receive a respective pin of the plug such that, when so received, each pin engages and is connected in electrical communication with a respective socket contact 122.

The socket device 1 may define two or three apertures 121 forming the socket 123. These apertures 121 may each be associated with a respective socket contact 122 and may be shaped and configured to receive a standard plug - e.g. a three pin plug in the UK or a two or three pin plug in other regions. The plug may be part of or otherwise configured to provide electrical power (from an electrical supply such as through the socket device 1 ) to equipment in order to allow that equipment to operate.

Each socket contact 122 may be coupled in electrical communication with a respective one of the terminals 1 1 . Accordingly, a live socket contact 122a may be connected in electrical communication with the live terminal 1 1 a, a neutral socket contact 122b may be connected in electrical communication with the neutral terminal 1 1 b, and (if provided) an earth socket contact 122c may be connected in electrical communication with an earth terminal 1 1 c.

In some embodiments, one or more of the socket contacts 122 is connected in electrical communication with a respective terminal 1 1 via one or more other components - such as one or more fuses 12c and/or switch devices such as relays. In some embodiments, one or more of the socket contacts 122 is connected in electrical communication with a respective terminal 1 1 via a manual switch 12b. The manual switch 12b is configured to be actuated between off- and on- states. When in the on-state, the manual switch 12b is configured to allow electrical communication between the socket contact 122 and terminal 1 1 to which is it connected. When in the off-state, the manual switch 12b is configured to prevent substantially electrical communication between the socket contact 122 and terminal 1 1 to which it is connected. In other words, the manual switch 12b is configured to provide selective electrical communication between at least one socket contact 122 and at least one terminal 1 1 . The manual switch 12b may be provided on the front panel 12a or otherwise on the housing 12 such that the manual switch 126 can be manually actuated by a user. The manual switch 12b may be provided between the live terminal 1 1 a and the live socket contact 122a.

In some embodiments, at least one of the socket contacts 122 is connected to a respective terminal 1 1 via a main switch device 3 which is configured to be actuated between an on-state and an off-state (the main switch device 3 and manual switch 12b may be connected in series). When in the on-state, the main switch device 3 is configured to allow electrical communication between the socket contact 122 and terminal 1 1 to which is it connected. When in the off-state, the main switch device 3 is configured to prevent all or substantially all electrical communication between the socket contact 122 and terminal 1 1 to which it is connected. In other words, the main switch device 3 is configured to provide selective electrical communication between at least one socket contact 122 and at least one terminal 1 1 .

In some embodiments, the live socket contact 1 1 a is connected to the live terminal 1 1 a via the main switch device 3 and the main switch device 3 is configured to provide selective electrical communication between the live socket contact 122a and the live terminal 1 1 a. In some embodiments, the main switch device 3 comprises an electrical relay. As will be appreciated, electrical communication between the terminal 1 1 and socket contact 122 may require - in some embodiments - both the manual switch 12b and the main switch device 3 to be in their respective on-states.

In some embodiments, the manual switch 12b is coupled to the main switch device 3 and is configured to control the operation thereof. In such embodiments, the manual switch 12b may not comprise a separate device in series with the main switch device 3 and selective electrical communication between the terminal 1 1 and socket contact 122 may be determined by the state of the main switch device 3 (and possibly by the state of any fuses 12c also connected between the terminal 1 1 and socket contact 122). The socket device 1 of some embodiments may further include a control circuit 4. The control circuit 4 is connected to the main switch device 3 and is configured to control the operation of the main switch device 3 - in other words, to control whether the main switch device 3 is in the on-state or the off- state.

The control circuit 4 may include one or more inputs 41 , and/or one or more processing elements 42, and/or at least one output 43.

The one or more processing elements 42 are configured to receive at least one input signal via the one or more inputs 41 and, in accordance with a set of rules, to generate at least one output signal via the at least one output 43 - the or each output signal being at least partially based on the one or more input signals. The at least one output 43 is coupled to the main switch device 3 and is configured to control its actuation between the on-state and off-state. The one or more input signals may include a current measurement, a voltage measurement, an assumed voltage, a time and/or date, a temperature, and/or a remote input. In some embodiments, the one or more inputs 41 include an input from the manual switch 12b which indicates one or more of the state of the manual switch 12b or that the manual switch 12b has been actuated.

The or each input signal may be in the form of an electrical signal which may be a digital signal (but which could be an analog signal in some embodiments). The socket device 1 may, therefore, in some embodiments include one or more input sub-systems 5 which may include a current measurement subsystem 51 , a voltage measurement sub-system 52, a pre-set voltage level sub-system 53, a timer sub-system 54, a temperature sensor sub-system 55, and/or a remote input sub-system 56. The one or more input sub-systems 5 may be configured to provide the one or more input signals to the control circuit 4 (i.e. to the one or more processing elements 42). In some embodiments, the manual switch 12b is an input sub-system 5 and is connected to the control circuit 4 such that the state of the manual switch 12b is conveyed to the control circuit 4 which may then control the operation of the main switch device 3 at least partially based on the state of the manual switch 12b.

The current measurement sub-system 51 may be configured to measure the flow of electrical current (e.g. in Amperes) through the socket device 1 . This may be, for example, the flow of electrical current between a terminal 1 1 and its respective socket contact 122 (with which it is associated, by electrical communication). The current measurement sub-system 51 may be configured, for example, to measure the flow of electrical current from the live terminal 1 1 a to the live connector contact 122a. Accordingly, the current measurement sub-system 51 may include shunt circuitry and/or an inductive clamp device. The current measurement sub-system 51 is configured to output a signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket device 1 . As will be understood, this will be the current flowing through the socket device 1 from an input side (i.e. the terminals 1 1 ) to an output side (i.e. the socket contacts 122) rather than the net flow of current, which would be expected to be substantially zero when power is being supplied to correctly operating equipment via the socket device 1 . In some embodiments, the one or more processing elements 42 include at least one element which is configured to determine an indication of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 . In some embodiments, the at least one such element is configured to receive the signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket device 1 and to determine an indication of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 based on the received signal. In some embodiments, the signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket device 1 is used directly or substantially directly as the indicator of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 - in other words, the at least one such processing element 42 may output the signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket device 1 as a signal indicative of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 . As will be appreciated, if the voltage of the electrical supply to the socket device 1 is substantially constant (e.g. having a substantially constant RMS value, as the electrical supply may be an alternating current (AC) supply), then the current flowing through the socket device 1 will vary proportionately to the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 , with a substantially uniform constant of proportionality.

In some embodiments, the at least one such processing element 42 is configured to receive a signal indicative of the voltage of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 (e.g. the voltage between the live 1 1 a and neutral 1 1 b terminals or between the live 122a and neutral 122b socket contacts). In some embodiments, this is a signal indicative of the RMS voltage. This signal may be generated by the voltage measurement subsystem 52, which may be configured to measure this voltage and output the signal accordingly. In some embodiments, this signal may be generated by the pre-set voltage level sub-system 53, which may be configured to output a signal indicative of an assumed voltage (which may be determined according to the expected voltage of the electrical supply). As the voltage of the mains electrical supply in most countries remains substantially constant, using an assumed voltage may be acceptable.

The at least one such processing element 42 may be configured to output the signal indicative of the power passing through the socket device 1 based on the signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket device 1 and the signal indicative of the voltage of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 . The at least one such processing element 42 may, therefore, multiply the two signals to arrive at a signal indicative of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 . The timer sub-system 54 may be configured to output a clock signal - e.g. a series of pulses at a predetermined frequency. The one or more processing elements 42 may include at least one processing element 42 which is configured to receive the clock signal from the timer sub-system 54. In some embodiments, that at least one processing element 42 may be configured to monitor the time and/or date based on the clock signal. In some embodiments, the at least one processing element 42 may use the clock signal to measure the duration of one or more events or the length of time passed since an event - as described herein. The temperature sensor sub-system 55 may be configured to determine a local temperature in the environment surrounding the socket device 1 and to output a signal indicative of that temperature (i.e. a temperature signal). The temperature signal may be received by at least one of the one or more processing elements 42 and used as described herein. The remote input sub-system 56 may be configured to receive one or more commands and/or signals from a remote device or system 6. In this sense, a 'remote device or system 6' may be a device or system 6 which is not part of the socket device 1 . The remote device or system 6 may be not be physically connected to the socket device 1 and may be located in another geographic location.

The remote input sub-system 56 may be configured to receive signals from one or more sensors which are remote from the socket device 1 . This may include, for example, one or more temperature sensors 63 (configured to send respective signals to the socket device 1 indicative of the temperature local to that temperature sensor), and/or one or more movement sensors 64 (configured to output a signal indicative of movement within the vicinity of the sensor(s) 64, such as one or more passive infra-red sensors), and/or one or more door or window sensors 65 (e.g. configured to output a signal indicative of one or more of whether a door or window is open or closed or locked or unlocked to the socket device 1 ).

At least one of the one or more processing elements 42 is configured to receive the one or more commands and/or signals from the remote device or system 6 and may alter the operation of one or more aspects of the socket device 1 in accordance with the or command and/or signal.

The remote input sub-system 56 may include a wireless communication device 561 which may be a radio frequency communication device which may be configured to communicate using a digital communication signal and may be configured to operate using a carrier frequency of around 400 MHz (e.g.

433.92 MHz) and/or around 800 Mhz (e.g. 868 MHz).

The remote device or system 6 may include a hub device 61 and/or a remote computing device 62. The remote computing device 62 may include a portable computing device such as mobile (i.e. cellular) telephone, and/or a tablet computing device, and/or a laptop, and/or a wearable computing device (such as a smart watch).

In some embodiments, the socket device 1 includes an output sub-system 431 which is coupled to the one or more outputs 43 of the control circuit 4 and is configured to send at least one output signal to the remote device or system 6 in accordance with information received from the one or more outputs 43. The communication between the output sub-system 431 and the remote device or system 6 may be using the same form of or the same wireless communication interface as is used by the remote input sub-system 56. In such embodiments both the remote input sub-system 56 and the output sub-system 431 may share the same wireless communication device 561 - which may be a wireless transceiver.

In embodiments including the hub device 61 , the hub device 61 may be configured to communicate with the remote input sub-system 56 and/or the output sub-system 431 (i.e. with the socket device 1 ) and with the remote computing device 62. The communication between the hub device 61 and the remote computing device 62 may be via a network 2 which may be a local area network or a wide area network or both. In some embodiments, the hub device 61 is coupled to a wide area network such as the Internet and the remote computing device 62 is also coupled to the same wide area network such that the hub device 61 and remote computing device 62 can communicate with each other over that wide area network. Similarly, the hub device 61 may be configured to communicate with the remote input sub-system 56 and/or the output sub-system 431 (i.e. with the socket device 1 ) and with the one or more temperature sensors 63, the one or more movement sensors 64, and/or the one or more door or window sensors 65. These may be via a wired or wireless communication channels, and may be via a local or wide area network, for example.

The hub device 61 may, therefore, be located in the same local environment as the socket device 1 (e.g. in the same building or room) but the remote computing device 62 may be much further away - e.g. in a completely different geographical region.

The hub device 61 and/or the remote computing device 62 may include one or more programs (e.g. stored on a computer readable medium) which, when executed, control one or more of the operations of the hub device 61 and/or the remote computer device 62 and/or the socket device 1 .

The control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) may, equally, include one or more programs (e.g. stored on a computer readable medium of the socket device 1 ) which, when executed, control one or more operations of the socket device 1 (e.g. in accordance with one or more rules as described herein). In accordance with some embodiments, a power threshold may be set. This power threshold may be stored in the control circuit 4 (e.g. one or more processing elements 42 or computer readable medium of the socket device 1 ). The power threshold may be provided to the control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) by the remote device or system 6 (e.g. the hub device 61 or remote computing device 62). The power threshold may be provided to the socket device 1 via the one or more inputs 41 and, in particular, via the remote input sub-system 56 (e.g. via the wireless communication device 561 ).

The control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) may be configured to compare the power threshold with the signal indicative of the electrical power flowing through the socket device 1 . If the control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) determines that the power flowing through the socket device 1 exceeds the threshold power, then the control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) may be configured to output an actuation signal via the at least one output 43 to actuate the main switch device 3 from the on-state to the off-state.

The control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) may be configured to apply one or more rules when comparing the power threshold to the signal indicative of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 - as described herein.

The outputting of the actuation signal may be at the command of the remote device or system 6 (e.g. the hub device 61 or remote computing device 62).

In some embodiments, the control circuit 4 (e.g. the one or more processing elements 42) may be further configured to output a further actuation signal via the at least one output 43 to actuate the main switch device 3 from the off- state to the on-state. The conditions under which the further actuation signal is output may be determined by the one or more rules, for example. In addition or alternatively, the outputting of the further actuation signal may be at the command of the remote device or system 6 (e.g. the hub device 61 or remote computing device 62). The one or more rules may be stored in the socket device 1 (e.g. in the computer readable medium of the socket device 1 ) and/or the remote device or system 6 (e.g. in a computer readable medium thereof). One or more parameters or other variables of the one or more rules may be determined by the remote device or system 6 and then uploaded to the socket device 1 . Similarly, the socket device 1 may be configured to download one or more parameters or other variables of the one or more rules to the remote device or system 6 - which may then be used to update the one or more parameters or other variables for uploading to the socket device 1 .

Accordingly, the remote device or system 6 (e.g. the remote computing device 62) may be configured to present, on a display screen thereof, a user interface. The user interface may be configured to indicate to the user the current state of the socket device 1 , an identity of the socket device 1 (there may be more than one socket device 1 connected to the same remote computing device 62), the one or more rules and/or the one or more parameters or other variables. The user interface may enable the user to select a particular socket device 1 , change the state of that socket device 1 , and/or alter the one or more rules and/or the one or more parameters or other variables. As mentioned above, the communication of information between the socket device 1 and the remote computing device 62 may be via the hub device 61 in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the hub device 61 may store a cache of the information which can be presented to the user as described above. When a user uses the interface to alter the one or more rules and/or the one or more parameters or other variables, then the cache may be updated and this may be later transmitted to the socket device 1 .

In some embodiments, the control circuit 4 may be configured to output an indication of the current state of the main switch device 3 and/or the signal indicative of the power passing through the socket device 1 to the hub device 61 and/or the remote computing device 62. This information may be output via the output sub-system 431 and/or the wireless communication device 561 , for example. In embodiments in which the information is output via the hub device 61 , the hub device 61 may be configured to forward the information to the remote computing device 62.

In some embodiments, the control circuit 4 may be configured to output to the hub device 61 and/or the remote computing device 62 an indication of a likely or imminent change in the state of the main switch device 3. Accordingly, information regarding changes in the state of the main switch device 3 or expected changes may be output and this may be provide advance warning of possible changes in state (which, in some embodiments, may be averted such as by reducing the power drawn through the socket device 1 ).

In some embodiments, the one or more processing elements 42 are provided as part of the hub device 61 instead of as part of the socket device 1 . In such embodiments, the socket device 1 may output the signal indicative of the current flowing through the socket device 1 to the hub device 1 and may also transmit the signal indicative of the voltage of the electrical power passing through the socket device 1 (these may be transmitted via the at least one output 43). The hub device 61 may then be configured to output the actuation and/or further actuation signal to the socket device 1 , e.g. in accordance with the one or more rules. The hub device 61 may, therefore, include one or more of the input sub-systems 5 described above.

The one or more rules may take a number of different forms and may be preprogrammed and parameterised, programed by a user and/or parameterised by a user - e.g. using the remote computing device 62 - and may be at least partially based on at least one input signal from the input sub-systems 5.

For example, the or more rules may be configured such that the actuation signal is only output when the power passing through the socket device 1 exceeds the power threshold for a predetermined period. The one or more processing elements 42 may monitor the period of time using the clock signal, for example.

In addition, or alternatively, the one or more rules may be dependent on the time of day and/or the date. Accordingly, the one or more processing elements 42 may base the outputting of the actuation signal on the clock signal.

In addition, or alternatively, the one or more rules may be dependent on the temperature. Accordingly, the one or more processing elements 42 may base the outputting of the actuation signal on the temperature in the environment around the socket device 1 .

The one or more rules may include a rule which causes the output of the actuation signal (to actuate the main switch device 3 to the off-state from the on-state) if, at any time of day, the power passing through the socket device 1 exceeds the power threshold. This rule may help to ensure that equipment which draws a large amount of power is not connected to the socket device 1 . The one or more rules may include a rule which causes the output of the actuation signal (to actuate the main switch device 3 to the off-state from the on-state) if the power passing through the socket device 1 exceeds the power threshold during a predetermined time of the day (or outside a predetermined time of day). There may be times when equipment which draws a relatively large amount of power is acceptable - for example when cleaners are expected to be using the socket device 1 to power a vacuum cleaner. Therefore, the one or more rules may permit a large amount of power to be drawn through the socket device at such times but not outside of these times. In some examples, the power threshold is increased during these times and decreased outside of these times. In other examples, the rules operate so that the actuation signal is not issued irrespective of the power drawn during these times.

The one or more rules may include a rule which causes the output of the actuation signal if the power threshold is exceeded and a temperature (e.g. as determined by the one or more temperature sensors 63 and/or the temperature sub-system 55) exceeds a predetermined temperature. This rule may be useful to determine when a heater has been connected to the socket device 1 and there may be a desire to prevent such equipment from being powered by the socket device 1 ).

The one or more rules may include a rules which causes the output of the actuation signal if the power threshold is exceeded and a window and/or door is open (e.g. as determined by the one or more door or window sensors 65). This rule may be useful in preventing the operation of equipment such as heaters from being operated with a window or door open.

The one or more rules may include a rules which causes the output of the actuation signal if the power threshold is exceeded and there is no detected movement within the proximity of the socket device 1 for a predetermined period of time (e.g. as may be determined using the one or more movement sensors 64). This rule may be useful in ensuring that high power equipment turned off when there is no one present in the vicinity of the socket device. In some embodiments, the one or more rules include a rule which causes the further actuation signal to be output a predetermined period of time after the actuation signal was issued. Accordingly, the socket device 1 may be configured, in accordance with this rule, to reset to the on-state a predetermined period after actuation to the off-state. In some embodiments, the one or more rules include a rule which causes the further actuation signal to be output only on a command from the remote computing device 62 and/or the hub device 61 . The remote computing device 62 and/or hub device 61 may be configured to issue the further actuation signal a predetermined period after the actuation signal is generated or may be configured to output the further actuation signal under the command of a user (e.g. via the user interface).

In some embodiments, the socket device 1 (e.g. the control circuit 4) may include a visual indication device 44 (such as a light which may be provided by a light emitting diode) which can be controlled by the at least one output 43. The visual indication device 44 may be configured to provide a visual indication of the present state or imminent future state or likely future state of the main switch device 3. Thus, the visual indication device 44 may emit light when the main switch device 3 is in its off-state or may emit light when the main switch device 3 is in its on-state. In some embodiments, the colour of the light emitted by the visual indication device 44 is determined by the off-state or on-state of the main switch device 3 - e.g. a first colour for the on-state and a second colour for the off-state. Different colours is just one example of different visual indications for the present state of the main switch device 3 and other indications may be given (e.g. constant light and flashing light, etc.). In some embodiments, as will become apparent, it is determined that the main switch device 3 is going to change states. In such instances, the imminent change of states may be indicated using the visual indication device 44 in advance of the change of states (e.g. a predetermined period in advance of the change of states).

In some instances, the change of states is not certain but is likely. This may occur, for example, when present operation of the socket device 1 indicates that the state should be changed but, before the state changes, the operation of the socket device 1 is altered such that the state is not changed. More specifically, the power flowing through the socket device 1 may exceed a predetermined threshold but may then reduce to below the threshold. Accordingly, the visual indication device 44 may be used to indicate the likely change of state in advance of that change occurring, if the operation ceases which resulted in the change of state being determined as required, then the visual indication device 44 may indicate that the state will not change.

As described above, the user may be alerted to an imminent or likely change in state of the main switch device 3 when such a change is determined by the one or more rules. However, in some embodiments, the state of the main switch device 3 is not changed for a predetermined period thereafter. If the conditions which caused the one or more rules to determine that a change of state should occur remain at the end of that predetermined period, then the one or more rules may not issue the actuation or further actuation signal. If this is the case, the user may also be alerted that the change of state of the main switch device has been averted.

Although a visual indication device 44 has been described, an audible indication device may be provided to provide an audible indication corresponding with the visual indication(s) described herein. The visual and/or audible indicator could be output via the user interface on the remote computing device 62, for example (which may be instead of or in addition to the indication through the visual indication device or audible indication device). Figure 5 shows, schematically, some of the possible lines of communication between the elements of the invention.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, communication between the socket device 1 and the remote computing device 62 may be via the hub device 61 (via the network 2 or otherwise), but in some embodiments the socket device 1 and remote computing device 62 may be configured to communicate directly. Similarly, the one or more temperature sensors 63, one or more movement sensors 64, and/or one or more door or window sensors 65 may communicate with the socket device 1 via the hub device 61 or directly.

The user interface which may be presented on the remote computing device 62 may be configured to allow the user to program the one or more rules and/or to parameterise one or more rules (e.g. setting one or more temperatures, threshold powers, times of day, and/or durations of the off-state of the main switch device 3). In some embodiments, there are multiple remote computing devices 62 and the user interface may enable the sharing of the one or more rules and/or parameters between the remote computing device 62, for example.

In some embodiments, the socket device 1 includes more than one socket 123. In such embodiments, each socket 123 may have its own main switch device 3. The plurality of main switch devices 3 in such embodiments may be centrally controlled (in unison or individually) using the same control circuit 4 or using separate control circuits 4. As will be understood, the signal indicative of the power through the socket device 1 may, in such embodiments, be a signal indicative of the power passing through one or more of the sockets 123. Accordingly, each socket 123 may be controlled (using the respective main switch devices 3) individually in some embodiments. However, in others, each socket 123 is controlled together and this may be based on the power through any one socket 123 or the cumulative power through more than one of the sockets 123. In some embodiments, the socket device 1 has a single set of terminals 1 1 for a plurality of sockets 123 and there may be one main switch device 3 which selectively controls electrical communication between a terminal 1 1 of that single set of terminals 1 1 and the associated socket contacts 122 (for the plurality of sockets 123). In some embodiments, the current state of the main switch device 3 is stored in non-volatile memory of the socket device 1 such that, if the socket device 1 loses power, the correct state of the main switch device 3 is retained. In some embodiments, the current state of the main switch device 3 is stored in the hub device 61 and/or the remote computing device 62. The current state may be transmitted to the socket device 1 on request by the control circuit 4 for confirmation of the correct state of the main switch device 3 (e.g. following a power cut or the like).

In some embodiments, the hub device 61 , remote computing device 62 and/or socket device 1 may be configured to communicate with a server (e.g. over the network 2). The server may be configured to store the one or more rules and/or parameters and/or the current state of the main switch device 3. The server may be configured to send the one or more rules and/or parameters and/or the current state of the main switch device 3 to the hub device 61 and/or the remote computing device 62 and/or the socket device 1 on receipt of a request from that device 61 ,62,1 .

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.