Sony has developed a power outlet that can identify devices plugged into it, as well as individuals using the plug. The company says such technology could allow the electricity usage of individual devices to be monitored so non-essential devices could be switched off remotely in the event of limited electricity supply, or for the billing of customers charging their electric vehicles or mobile devices in public places.
The Authentication Power Outlet relies on Sony’s FeliCa technology – a contactless RFID smart card system developed by Sony mainly for use in electronic payment systems, such as Hong Kong’s Octopus card system.
When a device is plugged in, a FeliCa Lite chip built into the plug relays information about the electrical device to a reader/writer built into the outlet. While the plug and outlet communicate through a wireless antenna in the current system, the company is also developing a version that exchanges data through the power cable.
While existing electrical devices will function as normal with the chip-embedded plug, future devices could have the FeliCa chip built in and the outlet-side reader/writer could be located in the distribution board, allowing existing power outlets to be used without modification.
Authenticated devices can be monitored and have their power supply controlled remotely, allowing non-essential devices to be shut off when electricity supply is limited to ensure more essential devices, such as healthcare equipment and refrigerators, remain running.
More specifically, two types of outlets have been developed: the “Authentication Outlet: FeliCa Type” which uses the contactless IC card technology “NFC/FeliCa” to authenticate electrical devices and the “Authentication Outlet: RFID Over Power Line type” that adopts Sony’s new “RFID Over Power Line” technology to authenticate electrical devices via a power supply cable.
Based on this technological development, Sony is working to implement its technology in the necessary equipment and systems to provide users with the ability to consume electricity in a way that best suits their individual lifestyles.
Additionally, Sony plans to create new services that provide value beyond energy conservation by partnering with other manufacturers that share its vision to facilitate the trial and verification of its various services, and formulate technology and service specifications regarding these products and services.
Once these “Authentication Outlets” are widely implemented, users will be able to authenticate the owners of electrical devices (e.g. home electric appliances, electrical vehicles), manage and consume electricity on a per-device basis in addition to authorizing their use, keep records of past electricity usage, and finally have the ability to be charged and then process payments for their electricity consumption by combining the aforementioned features with electronic money payments.
The “Authentication Outlet” is equipped with a contactless IC chip in the plug of the electrical device, while the electrical outlet is embedded with a contactless IC card reader/writer, controller or communication interface. When an electrical device is plugged into an outlet, the “Authentication Outlet” identifies a specific user or electrical device for authentication and matches it with each instance of electricity consumption. The adoption of the cryptographic communication technology used in FeliCa enables the outlet to quickly and correctly authenticate a device, while also preventing identity theft.
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