ADAPTIVE AND USER LOCATION-BASED POWER SAVING SYSTEM

• US 20100161149A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: NGUYEN, Phuong, GIBBS, Simon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An adaptive, user-centric system and network for controlling power consumption by an appliance is described. The appliance may be any type of powered apparatus, such as A/C units, heaters, computers, lights, kitchen appliances, home media centers, and so on. The power to these appliances is based on an estimated arrival time of the user to the destination where the appliance is located. It may also be based on previous performance data for the particular appliance, that is, given the current conditions (e.g., various environment temperature readings), how long has it taken in the past for the appliance to reach a certain level of operation. The location of the user is determined by a device that has some location-based services and is able to transmit this location/position data in a message to a power-control server. The server applies rules contained in the message to derive an estimated arrival time for the user which is used to power appliances at the user'"'"'s destination.

Claims

1. A method of controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the method comprising:

receiving a location message from a power-control enabled device, the location message containing location data and device data;

retrieving a power-related profile using the device data; and

controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance utilizing the location data, wherein timing of appliance operation is determined based on a user location as indicated in the location message.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprises executing power-related rules.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving sensor component data.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling operation of the appliance further comprises retrieving previous power-related performance data relating to the power-consuming appliance.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling operation of the appliance further comprises examining an estimated arrival time.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the location message is transmitted via REST protocol.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising parsing the location message.

8. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprises examining condition outcome data resulting from execution of the power-related rules.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising verifying the power-control enabled device using a device identifier in the location message.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising identifying the power-consuming appliance in the power-related profile.

11. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprising examining sensor component data.

12. A computing system for controlling operation an appliance, the system comprising:

a processor;

a network interface for receiving a location message containing device data and location data;

a power-supply component interface for transmitting instructions to one or more power-supply components;

a power-control module having a location message parsing component; and

a memory storing

a power operation rule associated with the appliance; and

at least one power-related profile.

13. A computing system as recited in claim 12 wherein the power-related profile further comprises appliance data, sensor component data, and rules data.

14. A computing system as recited in claim 13 wherein the power-related profile further comprises conditions data, user location-message file name, and user location-message format data.

15. A computing system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a profile priority module for determining a priority of power-related profiles.

16. A computing system as recited in claim 12 wherein the location message parsing component parses REST-based messages and identifies location data including latitude data and longitude data.

17. A computing system as recited in claim 12 wherein the power control module calculates a wait time period relating to a time the power control module sends an operation control instruction to the appliance, wherein the calculation is based on data in the location message.

18. A computing system as recited in claim 17 wherein the memory further stores previous power-related performance data relating to the appliance receiving power from the one or more power-supply components.

19. A computing system as recited in claim 18 wherein the wait time period calculation is based on the previous performance data.

20. A computing system as recited in claim 17 wherein the network interface receives sensor data from one or more sensors.

21. A computing system as recited in claim 20 wherein the wait time period calculation is based on the sensor data.

22. A network for controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the network comprising:

at least one device having a power-related module;

a power controller component having at least one power-saving profile, at least one power-supply rule, a power module interface, and a power supply logic component; and

a power supply component for regulating operation of the power-consuming appliance.

23. A network as recited in claim 22 further comprising:

at least one sensor component providing sensor data input to the power controller component.

24. A network as recited in claim 22 further comprising a wireless data communication means supporting transmission of REST protocol messages.

25. A network as recited in claim 22 further comprising a gateway component connected to the power controller component and a public data network.

26. A network as recited in claim 22 wherein the power supply component is an adaptive power supply component for enabling adjustment of power and operation of the power-consuming appliance.

27. A network as recited in claim 22 wherein the at least one device has a location-based service.

28. An apparatus for controlling operation of an appliance, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface for receiving a location message from a power-control enabled device, the location message containing location data and device data;

means for retrieving a power-related profile using the device data in the location message; and

means for controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance utilizing the location data in the location message, wherein timing of appliance operation is determined based on a user location as indicated in the location message.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein the means for controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance further comprises means for executing power-related rules.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 further comprising a means for receiving sensor component data.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein the means for controlling operation of the appliance further comprises a means for retrieving previous power-related performance data relating to the power-consuming appliance.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein the means for controlling operation of the appliance further comprises a means for examining an estimated arrival time.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 further comprising a means for parsing the location message.

34. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 further comprising a means for identifying the power-consuming appliance in the power-related profile.

35. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for controlling operation of a power-consuming appliance, the computer-readable medium comprising:

computer code for receiving a location message containing from a power-control enabled device, the message containing device data and location data;

computer code for retrieving a power-related profile using the device data; and

computer code for controlling operation of the power-consuming appliance utilizing the location data, wherein timing of appliance operation is determined based on a user location as indicated in the location message.