SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING POWER USAGE ON A DEVICE

• US 20090326728A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ferlitsch, Andrew Rodney, Chrisop, Roy K.
• Application Number:
  US12/163,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20090326728A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3284 Power saving in printer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/54 according to a pre-established time schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A method for controlling power usage on a device is described. A job is received at a device. The job is classified as an on-demand job or as a non-on-demand job. The job is placed on an on-demand job queue if the job is an on-demand job. The job is placed on a non-on-demand job queue if the job is a non-on-demand job. The on-demand job queue is processed. The non-on-demand job queue is processed only during an off-peak period.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power usage on a device, comprising:

receiving a job at a device;

classifying the job as an on-demand job or as a non-on-demand job;

placing the job on an on-demand job queue if the job is an on-demand job;

placing the job on a non-on-demand job queue if the job is a non-on-demand job;

processing the on-demand job queue; and

processing the non-on-demand job queue only during an off-peak period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a peak/off-peak signal to identify a peak period or an off-peak period.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a peak/off-peak signal from a local power grid to identify a peak period or an off-peak period.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising decoding the peak/off-peak signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a multifunction peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the job comprises a print job, a copy job, or a facsimile job.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein classifying the job comprises calculating a job size.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein classifying the job further comprises comparing the job size with a threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving rates relating to the cost of power usage via a computer network, and setting a current period as a peak period or an off-peak period based on the rates received.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving rates relating to the cost of power usage via a computer network, setting a schedule for peak periods and off-peak periods based on the rates received, and using the schedule to determine if a current period is a peak period or an off-peak period.

11. A multifunctional peripheral (“

MFP”

) device that is configured for power usage control, the MFP device comprising;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

receive a job;

classify the job as an on-demand job or as a non-on-demand job;

place the job on an on-demand job queue if the job is an on-demand job;

place the job on a non-on-demand job queue if the job is a non-on-demand job;

process the on-demand job queue; and

process the non-on-demand job queue only during an off-peak period.

12. The MFP device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to receive a peak/off-peak signal to identify a peak period or an off-peak period.

13. The MFP device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to receive a peak/off-peak signal from a local power grid to identify a peak period or an off-peak period.

14. The MFP device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are further executable to decode the peak/off-peak signal.

15. The MFP device of claim 11, wherein the job comprises a print job, a copy job, or a facsimile job.

16. The MFP device of claim 11, wherein the instructions to classify the job include instructions executable to calculate a job size.

17. The MFP device of claim 16, wherein the instructions to classify the job further include instructions executable to compare the job size with a threshold.

18. The MFP device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to download rates relating to the cost of power usage via a computer network, and set a current period as a peak period or an off-peak period based on the rates received.

19. The MFP device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to download rates relating to the cost of power usage via a computer network, set a schedule for peak periods and off-peak periods based on the rates received, and use the schedule to determine if a current period is a peak period or an off-peak period.

20. A computer-readable medium for controlling power usage on a device, the computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for:

receiving a job at a device;

classifying the job as an on-demand job or as a non-on-demand job;

placing the job on an on-demand job queue if the job is an on-demand job;

placing the job on a non-on-demand job queue if the job is a non-on-demand job;

processing the on-demand job queue; and

processing the non-on-demand job queue only during an off-peak period.