System and Method for Energy and Assets Saving and for Improving Ownership and Sustainability Awareness

• US 20100058093A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Danieli, Yuval, Dahan, Maimon
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections

Abstract

A method includes linking an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile. The electronic asset may be coupled to a server through a network. A usage of the electronic asset may be monitored using an activities agent installed on the electronic asset and the agent may monitor a power mode of the electronic asset and usage statistics. A policy may be defined at the server including a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being generated by the agent indicating inactivity of the electronic asset. The policy may be communicated from the server to the agent, and the agent may determine whether the inactivity condition is satisfied by comparing the usage statistics against the first inactivity condition. When the first inactivity condition is satisfied, the alert may be received at the server from the first agent.

Claims

1. A method for centralized power management, comprising:

linking an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile stored in a memory, the electronic asset coupled to a server through a network;

monitoring a usage of the electronic asset using an activities agent installed on the electronic asset, the agent operable to monitor usage statistics and a power mode of the electronic asset wherein the usage statistics indicate whether the electronic asset is performing an action;

at the server, defining a policy comprising a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being generated by the agent indicating inactivity of the electronic asset;

communicating the policy firm the server to the agent;

at the agent, determining whether the inactivity condition is satisfied by comparing the usage statistics against the first inactivity condition; and

receiving at the server the first alert from the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the policy further comprises a first power management activity to be initiated at the electronic asset by the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied;

and further comprising;

initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset when the first inactivity condition is satisfied.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first power management activity comprises lowering the power mode of the electronic asset.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the policy further comprises a second inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a second power management activity being initiated after the first power management activity by the agent, and further comprising;

receiving at the server a second alert from the agent when the second power management activity is initiated by the agent, the second alert indicating the initiation of the second power management activity; and

communicating the second alert to the owner.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

requesting permission from the owner to initiate the first power management activity before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset; and

at the agent, waiting to receive instructions from the owner before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the server:

recording the first alert in a collection of alerts received from the agent; and

determining from the collection of alerts that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, issuing a workflow order notifying a user to disconnect the electronic asset if it is determined that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the action comprises a user-initiated action;

the inactivity condition comprises a duration of inactive time elapsed since the electronic asset last performed the user-initiated action; and

the first alert indicates a duration of inactive time elapsed since the electronic asset last performed the user-initiated action, and further comprising communicating the first alert to the owner.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein defining the policy comprises enabling a user to define the policy.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting a current power mode of the electronic asset to a user through a web page;

enabling the user to input an instruction to change the current power mode of the electronic asset; and

instructing the agent to change the current power mode of the electronic asset in accordance with the instruction when the instruction is received.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic asset comprises one of a plurality of electronic assets linked to the owner using the owner profile and coupled to the server through the network.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the server is further operable to;

record the first alert in a collection of alerts in the memory;

determine from the collection of alerts that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used; and

issue a workflow order notifying a user to disconnect the electronic asset if the server determines that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used.

12. A centralized system for power management, comprising:

a server operable to;

link an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile stored in a memory, the electronic asset coupled to the server through a network;

monitor a usage of the electronic asset using an activities agent installed on the electronic asset, the agent operable to monitor usage statistics and a power mode of the electronic asset wherein the usage statistics indicate whether the electronic asset is performing an action;

define a policy comprising a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being generated by the agent indicating inactivity of the electronic asset;

communicate the policy to the agent;

receive the first alert from the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; and

an agent operable to determine whether the inactivity condition is satisfied by comparing the usage statistics against the first inactivity condition.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the policy further comprises a first power management activity to be initiated at the electronic asset by the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; and

the agent is operable to initiate the first power management activity at the electronic asset when the first inactivity condition is satisfied.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the policy further comprises a second inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a second power management activity being initiated by the agent; and

the server is further operable to;

receive a second alert from the agent when the second power management activity is initiated by the agent after the first power management activity, the second alert indicating the initiation of the second power management activity; and

communicate the second alert to the owner.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the server is further operable to request permission from the owner to initiate the first power management activity before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset; and

the agent is further operable to wait to receive instructions from the owner before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the server is further operable to define the policy by enabling a user to define the policy.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a web interface operable to report a current power mode of the electronic asset to a user through a web page;

and wherein the server is further operable to;

receive an instruction from the user to change the current power mode of the electronic asset; and

instruct the agent to change the current power mode of the electronic asset in accordance with the instruction.

19. Logic encoded in a tangible computer readable media, a computer including one or more processors and a memory operable when executed the logic to:

link an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile stored in a memory, the electronic asset coupled to a computer through a network;

monitor a usage of the electronic asset using an activities agent installed on the electronic asset, the agent operable to monitor usage statistics and a power mode of the electronic asset wherein the usage statistics indicate whether the electronic asset is performing an action;

define a policy comprising a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being generated by the agent indicating inactivity of the electronic asset;

communicate the policy to the agent;

receive the first alert from the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied.

20. The logic of claim 19, wherein the computer is further operable to:

record the first alert in a collection of alerts received from the agent in the memory; and

determine from the collection of alerts that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used.

21. The logic of claim 19, wherein the policy further comprises a first power management activity to be initiated at the electronic asset by the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied.

22. The logic of claim 21, wherein:

the policy further comprises a second inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a second power management activity being initiated after the first power management activity by the agent;

the computer is further operable to;

receive a second alert from the agent when the second power management activity is initiated by the agent, the second alert indicating the initiation of the second power management activity; and

communicate the power management notification to the owner.