METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20110252261A1
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: RHEE, Young-ho, KIM, Yeo-jin, CHANG, Il-ku, JIN, Young-kyu, JUNG, Jong-woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,551,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/16 Displaying of utility pricing or cost
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3062 where the monitored property is the power consumption power management in a computing system G06F1/3203
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method of displaying power consumption by receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to time; receiving power consumption amounts; and displaying predetermined visual displaying means based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts.

Claims

1. A method of displaying power consumption, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to time;

receiving power consumption amounts; and

displaying predetermined visual displaying means based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving power consumption amounts comprises receiving power consumption amounts of at least one of electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a level of the RTP information according to a predetermined reference,

wherein displaying the predetermined visual displaying means comprises displaying an image indicating the degree of change in the level.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising setting a level of a power consumption amount per electronic device based on the RTP information,

wherein the displaying of the predetermined visual displaying means comprises creating at least one character setup command based on the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device and the received current power consumption amounts;

and

displaying a character according to the character setup command.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein creating the at least one character setup command comprises:

comparing the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts; and

if a mismatched electronic device exists for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, creating at least one character setup command for the mismatched electronic device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the character comprises, if a plurality of character setup commands are created, displaying the character by applying the plurality of character setup commands to the character.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, if a mismatched electronic device exists, for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, creating a power consumption amount change command for allowing the mismatched electronic device to operate according to a power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

creating a command for changing a background screen of the displayed character according to a reset level of the power consumption amount; and

displaying the changed background screen of the character according to the command for changing a background screen.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein creating the at least one character setup command comprises:

setting a parameter for modifying the character;

determining the parameter based on the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts; and

creating at least one character setup command according to the determined parameter.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

comparing the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts; and

if a mismatched electronic device exists, for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, displaying an image for identifying the mismatched electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying a control screen for the electronic device indicated by the image based on user input associated with the image.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying the character over time for a first period based on a second period shorter than the first period.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the character includes an avatar.

14. A method of displaying power consumption in a terminal comprising a camera, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to a predetermined time interval from the outside;

receiving power consumption amounts of at least one of electronic device;

switching the camera to a live-view mode; and

changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising setting a level of a power consumption amount per electronic device based on the RTP information,

wherein changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal comprises changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device and the received current power consumption amounts.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein changing the color information of the electronic device comprises:

comparing the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts; and

if a mismatched electronic device exists, for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, changing color information of the mismatched electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a control screen for the electronic device displayed on the terminal based on a user input associated with the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing an automatic control button for allowing the mismatched electronic device to operate according to a power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying information associated with an alert on the terminal.

20. An apparatus for displaying power consumption, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to time and power consumption;

a controller for creating predetermined visual displaying means based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts; and

a display unit for displaying the predetermined visual displaying means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the receiver receives power consumption amounts of at least one of electronic device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a level setup unit for setting a level of the RTP information according to a predetermined reference,

wherein the display unit displays the predetermined visual displaying means comprises displaying an image indicating the degree of change in the level.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a level setup unit for setting a level of a power consumption amount per electronic device based on the RTP information,

wherein the controller creates at least one character setup command based on the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device and the received current power consumption amounts, and

the display unit for displays a character according to the character setup command.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts, and if a mismatched electronic device exists, for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, creates at least one character setup command for the mismatched electronic device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein if a plurality of character setup commands are created, the display unit displays the character by applying the plurality of character setup commands to the character.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts, and if a mismatched electronic device exists, for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, creates a power consumption amount change command for allowing the mismatched electronic device to operate according to a power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the controller creates a command for changing a background screen of the displayed character according to a reset level of the power consumption amount, and

the display unit displays the changed background screen of the character according to the command for changing a background screen.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller sets a parameter for modifying the character, determines the parameter based on the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts, and creates at least one character setup command according to the determined parameter.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount per electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts, and if a mismatched electronic device exists, for which the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, displays an image for identifying the mismatched electronic device on the display unit.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the controller displays a control screen for the electronic device indicated by the image on the display unit based on user input associated with the image.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller displays the character over time for a first period based on a second period shorter than the first period.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the character includes an avatar.

33. An apparatus for displaying power consumption in a terminal comprising a camera, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to a predetermined time interval from the outside and power consumption amounts of at least one of electronic device; and

a controller for switching the camera to a live-view mode and changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a level setup unit for setting a level of a power consumption amount per electronic device based on the RTP information,

wherein the controller changes color information of a corresponding electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the set level of the power consumption amount of the corresponding electronic device and the received current power consumption amount thereof.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount of the corresponding electronic device with the received current power consumption amount thereof, and if the current power consumption amount does not match the level of the power consumption amount, changes color information of the corresponding electronic device, which is displayed on the terminal.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a display unit for displaying a control screen for the corresponding electronic device displayed on the terminal based on user input associated with the corresponding electronic device.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller provides an automatic control button for allowing the corresponding electronic device to operate according to a power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount to the terminal.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the controller provides information associated with an alert to the display unit for the corresponding electronic device.

39. A computer-readable recording medium storing a computer-readable program for executing a method of displaying power consumption, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to time;

receiving power consumption amounts; and

displaying predetermined visual displaying means based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts.

40. A computer-readable recording medium storing a computer-readable program for executing a method of displaying power consumption in a terminal comprising a camera, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding Real Time Pricing (RTP) in which a power rate varies according to a predetermined time interval from the outside;

receiving power consumption amounts of at least one of electronic device;

switching the camera to a live-view mode; and

changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the based on the RTP information and the received power consumption amounts.