Dynamic specification of power supply sources

• US 8,600,574 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, Haugh, Julianne F., Pickover, Clifford A., Kozloski, James R., O'Connell, Brian M., Walker, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US12/468,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/286, 700/295, 700/297, 700/298, 323/299
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24

Abstract

A method, a system and a computer program product for specifying the source of power and provider of carbon offsets for an electrical device or service. A power supply specification (PSS) utility enables a user or program to specify a preferred blend of power sources and preferred carbon offset provider via a set of programmable requirements and the utility dynamically configures the electrical device or service, based on those requirements. The PSS utility determines the instantaneous power consumption of the device based on the outputs of sensors that measure voltages and currents associated with the operation of the device. The PSS utility compares the device'"'"'s power consumption with the power from available power generating sources against the set of programmable requirements. When the available power is unable to satisfy the programmable requirements and/or is not sufficient to fully power the device, the PSS utility automatically places the device into a reduced power state. The PSS utility reports information about the device'"'"'s power consumption to the power supplier.

Claims

1. A method for controlling behavior of an electrical device, the method comprising the steps of:

a client computer, coupled to the electrical device, establishing a connection with a server computer of a power supplier via a network, wherein the power supplier receives electrical power from a plurality of power sources;

the client computer specifying to the power supplier;

a desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device;

a subset of power sources, from the plurality of power sources, from which the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device should be supplied to the electrical device; and

a proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied to the electrical device from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources;

the client computer determining whether the power supplier can supply the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions; and

in response to determining that the power supplier cannot supply the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions, the client computer changing behavior of the electrical device such that overall power consumption of the electrical device is reduced.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the power sources in the subset of power sources provides electrical power from a renewable energy source.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the client computer specifying to the power supplier one or both of:

a preferred provider for each of the power sources in the subset of power sources; and

a level of carbon emission offsets that must be met by the power sources in the subset of power sources.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

prior to the step of determining whether the power supplier can supply the amount of electrical power desired for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions, the client computer receiving from the power supplier a report of availability for electrical power from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

prior to the step of specifying to the power supplier the desired amount of electrical power, the subset of power sources, and the proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources, the client computer receiving from a user an input indicating the subset of power sources and an input indicating the proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied to the electrical device from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the client computer determining a level of power consumption by the electrical device, wherein the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device is based on the level of power consumption.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the client computer changing behavior of the electrical device such that overall power consumption of the electrical device is reduced comprises one or more of:

the client computer reducing functionality of the electrical device;

the client computer preventing use of one or more features of the electrical device; and

the client computer setting the electrical device to a reduced power state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the client computer receiving from a user a list of available features for the electrical device, wherein the available features are included in the list depending on availability of power sources.

9. A computer program product for controlling behavior of an electrical device, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to establish a connection between a client computer, coupled to the electrical device, and a server computer of a power supplier via a network, wherein the power supplier receives electrical power from a plurality of power sources;

program instructions to specify, by the client computer, to the power supplier;

a desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device;

a subset of power sources, from the plurality of power sources, from which the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device should be supplied to the electrical device; and

a proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied to the electrical device from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources;

program instructions to determine, by the client computer, whether the power supplier can supply the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions; and

program instructions, responsive to determining, by the client computer, that the power supplier cannot supply the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions, to change, by the client computer, behavior of the electrical device such that overall power consumption of the electrical device is reduced.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein at least one of the power sources in the subset of power sources provides electrical power from a renewable energy source.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to specify to the power supplier one or both of:

a preferred provider for each of the power sources in the subset of power sources; and

a level of carbon emission offsets that must be met by the power sources in the subset of power sources.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to receive from the power supplier a report of availability for electrical power from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to receive from a user an input indicating the subset of power sources and an input indicating the proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied to the electrical device from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to determine a level of power consumption by the electrical device, wherein the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device is based on the level of power consumption.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program instructions to change behavior of the electrical device such that overall power consumption of the electrical device is reduced comprise one or more of:

program instructions to reduce functionality of the electrical device;

program instructions to prevent use of one or more features of the electrical device; and

program instructions to set the electrical device to a reduced power state.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, to receive from a user a list of available features for the electrical device, wherein the available features are included in the list depending on availability of power sources.

17. A computer system for controlling behavior of an electrical device, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to establish a connection between a client computer, coupled to the electrical device, and a server computer of a power supplier via a network, wherein the power supplier receives electrical power from a plurality of power sources;

program instructions to specify, by the client computer, to the power supplier;

a desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device;

a subset of power sources, from the plurality of power sources, from which the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device should be supplied to the electrical device; and

a proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied to the electrical device from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources;

program instructions to determine, by the client computer, whether the power supplier can supply the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions; and

program instructions, responsive to determining, by the client computer, that the power supplier cannot supply the desired amount of electrical power for the electrical device from the specified subset of power sources in the specified proportions, to change, by the client computer, behavior of the electrical device such that overall power consumption of the electrical device is reduced.

18. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, to specify to the power supplier one or both of:

a preferred provider for each of the power sources in the subset of power sources; and

a level of carbon emission offsets that must be met by the power sources in the subset of power sources.

19. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, to receive from a user an input indicating the subset of power sources and an input indicating the proportion of the desired amount of power that should be supplied to the electrical device from each of the power sources in the subset of power sources.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the program instructions to change behavior of the electrical device such that overall power consumption of the electrical device is reduced comprise one or more of:

program instructions to reduce functionality of the electrical device;

program instructions to prevent use of one or more features of the electrical device; and

program instructions to set the electrical device to a reduced power state.