Power control apparatus, power control system, and control method

• US 9,921,597 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshitani, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huntley, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US14/363,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,926 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0097 Relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A HEMS 200 connects to equipment provided in a consumer through a communication network and controls the equipment. The HEMS 200 comprises a transceiver unit 210 transmitting control information for controlling the equipment to the equipment in each control cycle T and a control unit 240 controlling a transmission of the control information; the control unit 240 controls the transceiver unit 210 to retransmit the control information to the equipment when response information corresponding to the control information is not received within a timeout period t set to be shorter than the control cycle T from the transmission of the control information from the transceiver unit 210. The control unit 240 changes the timeout period t by controlling a retransmission possible frequency of the control information within the period of the control cycle T.

Claims

1. A power control apparatus connecting to equipment provided in a consumer through a communication network and controlling the equipment, the power control apparatus comprising:

a transmission unit that transmits control information for controlling the equipment to the equipment in each predetermined cycle; and

a control unit that controls a transmission of the control information,

wherein the control unit is configured to make the transmission unit retransmit the control information to the equipment when a response period from a transmission of the control information, which is from the transmission unit to the control unit, to a reception of response information corresponding to the control information is longer than a timeout period which is set to be a shorter period than the predetermined cycle,

wherein the control unit is configured to change the timeout period by controlling a retransmission possible frequency of the control information, within a period of the predetermined cycle from the transmission of the control information from the transmission unit to the equipment, and

wherein the timeout period is configured to be a period obtained by dividing the period of the predetermined cycle by a number obtained by adding one to the retransmission possible frequency of the control information.

2. A power control apparatus connecting to equipment provided in a consumer through a communication network and controlling the equipment, the power control apparatus comprising:

a transmission unit that transmits control information for controlling the equipment to the equipment in each predetermined cycle; and

a control unit that controls a transmission of the control information,

wherein the control unit is configured to make the transmission unit retransmit the control information to the equipment when a response period from a transmission of the control information, which is from the transmission unit to the control unit, to a reception of response information corresponding to the control information is longer than a timeout period which is set to be a shorter period than the predetermined cycle,

wherein the control unit is configured to change the timeout period by controlling a retransmission possible frequency of the control information, within a period of the predetermined cycle from the transmission of the control information from the transmission unit to the equipment, and

wherein the control unit is configured to shorten the timeout period by increasing the retransmission possible frequency of the control information, when the response period is shorter than the timeout period and the response period is shorter than a period obtained by dividing the period of the predetermined cycle by a number obtained by increasing the retransmission possible frequency of the control information by two.

3. A power control apparatus connecting to equipment provided in a consumer through a communication network and controlling the equipment, the power control apparatus comprising:

a transmission unit that transmits control information for controlling the equipment to the equipment in each predetermined cycle; and

a control unit that controls a transmission of the control information,

wherein the control unit is configured to make the transmission unit retransmit the control information to the equipment when a response period from a transmission of the control information, which is from the transmission unit to the control unit, to a reception of response information corresponding to the control information is longer than a timeout period which is set to be a shorter period than the predetermined cycle,

wherein the control unit is configured to change the timeout period by controlling a retransmission possible frequency of the control information, within a period of the predetermined cycle from the transmission of the control information from the transmission unit to the equipment, and

wherein the communication network is configured to be an ad hoc network; and

wherein the control unit is configured to set, as a timeout period of the equipment, a timeout period that is set for other equipment whose number of hops and equipment type are the same as the equipment, when changing the timeout period.