ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY OF SERVICE (QoS)

• US 20100169227A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Sand, Anne R., Doran, James R.
• Application Number:
  US12/347,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

Under the present invention, users are provided with the capability to select how energy will be throttled in shortage conditions. For example, users can promise to throttle or cut energy to devices that they consider noncritical (e.g. television, toaster, stereo) in exchange for a promise that the energy company will continue to give them enough to run more essential devices (e.g. lights, well pump, etc.). As users agree to lower usage in response to a energy shortage, they are provided a higher QoS rating than users who do not offer to lower usage. As a shortage worsens, conserving users will be allocated energy before non-conserving users. Enforcement and fulfillment of obligations established in agreements may be automated to ensure compliance.

Claims

1. A method for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS), comprising:

determining an energy throttle plan in exchange for a given QoS;

detecting an energy shortage condition;

throttling energy usage according to the energy throttling plan;

providing the given QoS in response to the throttling; and

monitoring the energy usage to ensure compliance with energy throttling plan.

2. The method of claim 1, the determining comprising negotiating the energy throttling plan with a user of the energy.

3. The method of claim 2, the throttling being performed by a provider of energy in accordance with the energy throttling plan.

4. The method of claim 3, the providing of the given QoS being performed by a provider of the energy to the user

5. The method of claim 1, the monitoring being performed to ensure compliance with the energy throttling plan and the given QoS.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a notification when the energy shortage condition is detected.

7. The method of claim 1, the determining being performed in real-time.

8. A system for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS), comprising:

a module for determining an energy throttle plan in exchange for a given QoS;

a module for detecting an energy shortage condition;

a module for throttling energy usage according to the energy throttling plan;

a module for providing the given QoS in response to the throttling; and

a module for monitoring the energy usage to ensure compliance with energy throttling plan.

9. The system of claim 8, the energy throttling plan being a result of a negotiation with a user of the energy.

10. The system of claim 9, the throttling being performed by a provider of energy in accordance with the energy throttling plan.

11. The system of claim 10, the given QoS being performed by a provider of energy to the user

12. The system of claim 8, the module for monitoring being configured to monitor compliance with the energy throttling plan and the given QoS.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a module for providing a notification when the energy shortage condition is detected.

14. The system of claim 8, the module for determining being configured to perform in real-time.

15. A computer readable medium containing a program product for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS), the computer readable medium comprising instructions for enabling a computer system to perform the following:

determining an energy throttle plan in exchange for a given QoS;

detecting an energy shortage condition;

throttling energy usage according to the energy throttling plan;

providing the given QoS in response to the throttling; and

monitoring the energy usage to ensure compliance with energy throttling plan.

16. The computer readable medium containing the program product for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS) of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising instructions for enabling the computer system to perform the following step:

negotiating the energy throttling plan with a user of the energy.

17. The computer readable medium containing the program product for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS) of claim 15, the monitoring being performed to ensure compliance with the energy throttling plan and the given QoS.

18. The computer readable medium containing the program product for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS) of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising instructions for enabling the computer system to perform the following step:

further comprising providing a notification when the energy shortage condition is detected.

19. The computer readable medium containing the program product for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS) of claim 151, the determining being performed in real-time.

20. A method for deploying an application for managing energy consumption and quality of service (QoS), comprising:

determine an energy throttle plan in exchange for a given QoS;

detect an energy shortage condition;

throttle energy usage according to the energy throttling plan;

provide the given QoS in response to the throttling; and

monitor the energy usage to ensure compliance with energy throttling plan.