Method and apparatus for displaying power consumption

• US 9,551,593 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yeo-jin, Rhee, Young-ho, Jin, Young-kyu, Jung, Jong-woo, Chang, Il-ku
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): KINSEY, BRANDON MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/085,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/340, 705/412, 715/767
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

setting a level of a power consumption amount for each electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices based on the RTP information;

receiving power consumption amounts of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; and

displaying a character based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received power consumption amounts, and an image for indicating an electronic device corresponding to the character; and

displaying a control screen for the electronic device indicated by the image based on user input associated with the image.

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

wherein displaying of the character comprises displaying an image indicating the degree of change in the level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the character comprises creating at least one character setup command based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received current power consumption amounts, and the character is displayed according to the at least one character setup command.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein creating the at least one character setup command comprises:

comparing the set level of the power consumption amount for the each 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 the at least one character setup command for the mismatched electronic device.

5. The method of claim 3, 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.

6. The method of claim 4, 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.

7. The method of claim 4, 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.

8. The method of claim 3, 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 for the each electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts; and

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

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

comparing the set level of the power consumption amount for the each 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.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the character over time for a first period based on a second period shorter than the first period.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the character includes an avatar.

12. 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;

setting a level of a power consumption amount for each electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices based on the RTP information;

receiving power consumption amounts of at least one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices;

switching the camera to a live-view mode by using augmented reality;

changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received power consumption amounts; and

providing an automatic control button for allowing the each electronic device to operate according to a power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein changing the color information of the electronic device comprises:

comparing the set level of the power consumption amount for the each 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.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a control screen for the electronic device displayed on the terminal based on a user input associated with the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying information associated with an alert on the terminal.

16. 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 level setup unit for setting a level of a power consumption amount for each electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices based on the RTP information;

a controller for creating a character based on the set level of the power consumption amount for each electronic device and the received power consumption amounts; and

a display unit for displaying the character and an image for indicating an electronic device corresponding to the character,

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.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the level setup unit sets a level of the RTP information according to a predetermined reference, and

the display unit displays the character comprises displaying an image indicating the degree of change in the level.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller creates at least one character setup command based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received current power consumption amounts, and

the display unit displays the character according to the at least one character setup command.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount for the each 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 the at least one character setup command for the mismatched electronic device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, 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.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount for the each 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.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, 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.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller sets a parameter for modifying the character, determines the parameter based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device with the received current power consumption amounts, and creates at least one character setup command according to the determined parameter.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller compares the set level of the power consumption amount for the each 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, an image for identifying the mismatched electronic device is displayed on the display unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller displays the character over time for a first period based on a second period shorter than the first period.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the character includes an avatar.

27. 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 and power consumption amounts of at least one of electronic device;

a level setup unit for setting a level of a power consumption amount for each electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices based on the RTP information; and

a controller for switching the camera to a live-view mode by using augmented reality, changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received power consumption amounts, and providing an automatic control button for allowing the each electronic device to operate according to a power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, 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.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, 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, the controller changes color information of the corresponding electronic device, which is displayed on the terminal.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, 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.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the controller provides information associated with an alert to the display unit for the corresponding electronic device.

32. A non-transitory 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;

setting a level of a power consumption amount for each electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices based on the RTP information;

receiving power consumption amounts of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices;

displaying a character based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received power consumption amounts, and an image for indicating an electronic device corresponding to the character; and

displaying a control screen for the electronic device indicated by the image based on user input associated with the image.

33. A non-transitory 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;

setting a level of a power consumption amount for each electronic device of a plurality of devices based on the RTP information;

receiving power consumption amounts of at least one of the plurality of devices;

switching the camera to a live-view mode by using augmented reality;

changing color information of an electronic device displayed on the terminal based on the set level of the power consumption amount for the each electronic device and the received power consumption amounts; and

providing an automatic control button for allowing the each electronic device to operate according to power consumption amount matching the level of the power consumption amount.