NETWORK SYSTEM

• US 20130245851A1
• Filed: 06/22/2011
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Junho, Kim, Yanghwan, Lee, Hoonbong, Lee, Koonseok, Han, Jonghee, Kim, Donghyun, Go, Seong
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A network system is provided. The network system includes: at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit. The energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives energy rate related information; an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least the energy rate related information is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least energy rate related information; if the energy rate related information is high cost information, a function of one component constituting the energy receiving unit is limited; and an operating time or an output of the energy receiving unit is adjusted in correspondence to the limited function of one component.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit,

wherein

the energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives information related to energy rate;

an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least information related to energy rate is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least information related to energy rate;

if information related to energy rate is high cost information, a function of one component constituting the energy receiving unit is limited; and

an operating time or an output of the energy receiving unit is adjusted in correspondence to the limited function of one component.

2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein a power amount consumed for performing the function of the one component is greater than that based on an adjusted operating time or the output of the energy receiving unit.

3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein an adjustment of the operating time of the energy receiving unit comprises increasing an operating time of the entire energy receiving unit or one component.

4. The network system according to claim 3, wherein

the energy receiving unit is a washing machine;

the function of the one component corresponds to an operation of a heater for heating washing water; and

a function of another component corresponds to a control of a control unit for increasing a washing time.

5. The network system according to claim 3, wherein

the energy receiving unit is a washing machine;

the function of the one component corresponds to the number of rotations of a driving motor for driving a drum; and

a function of another component corresponds to a control of a control unit for increasing a driving time of the driving motor.

6. The network system according to claim 3, wherein

the energy receiving unit is a refrigerator;

the function of the one component corresponds to a cooling power generated by a compressor; and

a function of another function corresponds to a time increase of a driving rate of the compressor.

7. The network system according to claim 3, wherein

the energy receiving unit is drier;

the function of the one component corresponds to an operation of a heater for heating circulating air; and

a function of another component corresponds to a control for increasing the number of rotations of a fan motor for circulating air.

8. The network system according to claim 1, wherein

The adjusting of the output of the energy receiving unit comprises, when a time interval of the high cost information is terminated, increasing an output of the one component, which is greater than an output of when the function of the one component is limited.

9. The network system according to claim 8, wherein

the energy receiving unit is driven with a first output according to a set driving type;

when the high cost information is recognized, an output of the energy receiving unit is reduced to a second output less than the first output; and

when the recognition of the high cost information is terminated, an output of the energy receiving unit is increased to a third output greater than the second output.

10. The network system according to claim 9, wherein

a time interval at which an output of the energy receiving unit is reduced to the second output is in at least some intervals among time intervals at which the high cost information is recognized.

11. The network system according to claim 9, wherein the second output is 0.

12. The network system according to claim 9, wherein

a time interval at which an output of the energy receiving unit is increased to the third output is in at least some intervals among a remaining driving period of the energy receiving unit after the time interval of the high cost information is terminated.

13. The network system according to claim 9, wherein

the third output is identical to the first output or is greater than the first output.

14. The network system according to claim 9, wherein

a total energy usage rate of the energy receiving unit is less than that of when the energy receiving unit is driven with the first output at the time interval of the high cost information.

15. A network system comprising:

at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit,

wherein

the energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives information related to energy rate;

an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least the information related to energy rate is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least information related to energy rate;

on the basis of whether high cost information relating to the energy rate is received, it is determined whether a first driving process recognized for driving the energy consumption unit changes into a second driving process in which a usage rate or energy is more reduced than the first driving type; and

a content of changed second driving process is displayed.

16. The network system according to claim 15, wherein, when the first driving process exceeds a setting reference in a state in which the high cost information is received, the first driving process changes into the second driving process.

17. The network system according to claim 15, wherein

the second driving process is one process of a power saving mode;

and

the power saving mode is manually or automatically selectable in advance before the energy receiving unit starts to operate.

18. The network system according to claim 15, wherein the second driving process comprises an interruption of the first driving process, a delay, or an output reduction less than the first driving process.

19. The network system according to claim 15, wherein the changing into the second driving process is automatic.

20. The network system according to claim 15, wherein the first driving process or the second drying process comprises at least one of information on a driving time and an operation course.

21. The network system according to claim 15, wherein the setting reference comprises a usage rate or a usage energy amount.

22. The network system according to claim 15, wherein the setting reference comprises the size of an overlapping interval with respect to a driving period and a time interval of high cost information interval of the energy receiving unit.

23. The network system according to claim 15, wherein

the power saving mode comprises a rate reduction mode or an energy saving mode,

when the rate reduction mode is driven and a usage rate according to the first driving process exceeds a setting rate, the first driving process changes into the second driving process;

and

when the energy saving mode is driven and a usage energy amount according to the first driving process exceeds a setting amount, the first driving process changes into the second driving process.

24. The network system according to claim 15, wherein the energy receiving unit is provided in plurality, and when a driving type of entire energy receiving units exceeds the setting reference, the driving process of at least one energy receiving unit changes into a second driving process.