POWER STANDARD COMPLIANCE METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20100017242A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wisniewski, Robert, Hamilton, Rick A. II, O'Connell, Brian M., Pickover, Clifford A., Walker, Keith R.
• Application Number:
  US12/173,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017242A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices and program products are provided for effecting compliance with power usage specifications through positive feedback to a monitoring entity. A power usage specification is provided for a device for a task performed by the device using the device to perform the task, embodiments monitoring power used by the device to perform the task to generate power usage data, comparing the power usage data to the power usage specification, and if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, automatically providing a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party. Power usage specifications may comprise predicted power usage values and requirements for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period.

Claims

1. A method for effecting compliance with power usage specifications through positive feedback to a monitoring entity, comprising:

providing a power usage specification for a device for a task performed by the device;

using the device to perform the task;

monitoring power used by the device to perform the task to generate power usage data;

comparing the power usage data to the power usage specification; and

if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, a reward entity automatically providing a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

the power usage specification comprising a predicted power usage value for the device to perform the task, the monitoring comprising observing an actual power usage of the device required to perform the task, the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification comprising the observed actual power usage exceeding the predicted power usage value; and

the power usage specification comprising a requirement for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period, the first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period, the monitoring comprising observing the device performing the task within a one of the first rate period and the second rate period, and the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification comprising observing the device performing the task during the second rate period.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the power usage specification comprises at least one of:

a maximum allowable power usage value defined relative to a first defined period of time; and

an average allowable power usage value defined relative to a second defined period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparing comprises considering power consumption data from a time period different from a time period of the observing of the power usage data, or comparing a power consumption reported from another device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising setting the reward as a function of an amount of the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a notification reward to the device end-user for the end-user notifying a supervisory entity of the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification.

7. The method of claim 6, the providing a reward to the device end-user comprising setting a reward amount as a function of a history of continuous or additional monitoring by the end-user.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the end-user or a device power usage monitor component communicating with the reward entity through a secure communications means; and

the reward entity validating a reporting of the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification and providing the reward as a function of receiving the reporting through the secure communications means.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

analyzing the power usage data to determine a device configuration revision for reducing the power used by the device to perform the task; and

communicating the device configuration revision to the end-user for implementation in the device;

or

directly revising a device configuration responsive to the determined device configuration revision.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising ascertaining an environmental operating context of the device, wherein at least one of the comparing and the analyzing is a function of the ascertained environmental operating context.

11. A service for effecting compliance with power usage specifications through positive feedback to a monitoring entity, comprising:

a monitoring entity providing a computational device infrastructure configured to monitor power used by a device to perform a task as function of a power usage specification for the device to perform the task, thereby generating power usage data;

the monitoring entity using the computational device infrastructure to;

monitor power used by the device to perform the task;

compare the power usage data to the power usage specification; and

if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, automatically provide a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party.

12. The service of claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

providing a predicted power usage value for the device to perform the task as the power usage specification, the monitoring comprising observing an actual power usage of the device required to perform the task, the power usage data exceeding value comprising an amount of the observed actual power usage exceeding the predicted power usage value; and

providing a requirement for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period as the power usage specification, the first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period, the monitoring comprising observing the device performing the task within a one of the first rate period and the second rate period, and the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification comprising observing the device performing the task during the second rate period.

13. The service of claim 12, further comprising defining the power usage specification by at least one of:

a maximum allowable power usage value defined relative to a first defined period of time; and

an average allowable power usage value defined relative to a second defined period of time.

14. The service of claim 13, further comprising setting the reward as a function of an amount of the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification.

15. The service of claim 14, further comprising providing a notification reward to the device end-user for the end-user notifying a supervisory entity of the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification.

16. The service of claim 15, further comprising:

analyzing the power usage data to determine a device configuration revision for reducing the power used by the device to perform the task; and

communicating the device configuration revision to the end-user for implementation in the device;

or

directly revising a device configuration responsive to the determined device configuration revision.

17. A method for effecting compliance with power usage specifications through positive feedback to a monitoring entity, comprising:

producing computer executable program code;

storing the code on a computer readable medium;

providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code causing the computer system to;

monitor power used by a device to perform a task as function of a power usage specification for the device to perform the task, thereby generating power usage data;

compare the power usage data to the power usage specification; and

if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, automatically provide a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party.

18. The method of claim 17, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to perform at least one of:

wherein the power usage specification comprises a predicted power usage value for the device to perform the task, monitor by observing an actual power usage of the device required to perform the task, and determine an amount of the observed actual power usage data exceeding the predicted power usage value; and

wherein the power usage specification comprises a requirement for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period, the first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period, monitor by observing the device performing the task within a one of the first rate period and the second rate period, and determine the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification by observing the device performing the task during the second rate period.

19. The method of claim 18, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to compare by considering power consumption data from a time period different from a time period of the observing of the power usage data, or comparing a power consumption reported from another device.

20. The method of claim 18, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

analyze the power usage data to determine a device configuration revision for reducing the power used by the device to perform the task; and

communicate the device configuration revision to the end-user for implementation in the device;

or

directly revise a device configuration responsive to the determined device configuration revision.

21. A programmable device comprising:

a processing means;

a memory in communication with the processing means comprising a logic component; and

a network interface in communication with the processing means and the memory;

wherein the processing means is configured to;

monitor power used by a device to perform a task as function of a power usage specification for the device to perform the task, thereby generating power usage data;

compare the power usage data to the power usage specification; and

if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, automatically provide a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party.

22. The programmable device of claim 21, further configured to, at least one of:

wherein the power usage specification comprises a predicted power usage value for the device to perform the task, monitor by observing an actual power usage of the device required to perform the task, and determine an amount of the observed actual power usage data exceeding the predicted power usage value; and

wherein the power usage specification comprises a requirement for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period, the first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period, monitor by observing the device performing the task within a one of the first rate period and the second rate period, and determine the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification by observing the device performing the task during the second rate period.

23. The programmable device of claim 22, further configured to analyze the power usage data to determine a device configuration revision for reducing the power used by the device to perform the task;

and

communicate the device configuration revision to the end-user for implementation in the device;

or

directly revise a device configuration responsive to the determined device configuration revision.

24. The programmable device of claim 22, further configured to provide a reward to the device end-user by setting a reward amount as a function of a history of continuous or additional monitoring by the end-user.

25. The programmable device of claim 24, further configured to communicate with the reward entity and the end-user through a secure communications means;

and

validate a report of the power usage data exceeding the power usage specification and provide the reward as a function of receiving the reporting through the secure communications means.