NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING NETWORK SYSTEM

• US 20120271471A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Koonseok, Lee, Hoonbong, Kim, Yanghwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,294,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/292
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A method of controlling a network system is provided. The network system includes a metering device measuring energy supplied from a power supply source, a communication device in which energy information related to the energy communicates, and an energy management device recognizing the energy information, the energy management device controlling an operation of an electric product. The metering device or the energy management device checks whether communication of the communication device is possible. Also, when it is determined that the communication device is in a communication failure state, the communication failure state is displayed on the outside thereof. When a communication modem mounted on the electric product is in a communication failure state, the electric product may normally perform a power management program, based on power or operation information stored therein.

Claims

1. An energy consumption component for a network system, comprising:

a communication device in which energy information related to energy is communicated+; and

a controller to control an operation of the energy consumption component based on the energy information,

wherein the controller checks whether communication of the communication device is possible, and when the communication device is in a communication failure state, the controller controls the energy consumption component operation based on previously stored energy information or operation information of the energy consumption component.

2. The energy consumption component according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is coupled to a main body of the energy consumption component.

4. The energy consumption component according to claim 1, wherein the previously stored energy information or the operation information of the energy consumption component is stored during where the communication of the communication device is possible and the energy information or the operation information is stored for each time of the operation of the energy consumption component.

5. The energy consumption component according to claim 1, wherein, when the communication device is in the communication failure state, the energy consumption component is operated based on whether the energy consumption component is an intermittent operation product or a constant operation product.

6. The energy consumption component according to claim 5, wherein, when the energy consumption component is the intermittent operation product, the energy consumption component is operated based upon the previously stored energy information or operation information of the energy consumption component when a command is inputted by a user.

7. The energy consumption component according to claim 5, wherein,

when the energy consumption component is the constant operation product, the energy consumption component is operated according to whether current time is within a time period in which of the energy consumption component operates based on the previously stored energy information or the operation information of the energy consumption component.

8. The energy consumption component according to claim 1, wherein, when the controller is capable of communicating with a power management entity the controller receives a power-saving operation of the energy consumption component based on a power management program.

9. The energy consumption component according to claim 8, wherein, the controller communicates with the power management entity through the communication device.

10. The energy consumption component according to claim 8, wherein the power management program controls the operation of the energy consumption component so that the operation time period of the energy consumption component avoids the peak time period.

11. The energy consumption component according to claim 8, wherein, when an operation time period is within the peak time period, the operation of the energy consumption component is switched from a set operation mode to an energy-saving operation mode.

12. The energy consumption component according to claim 11, wherein, when the operation of the peak time period is ended, the energy consumption component returns to the set operation mode.

3. (canceled)

13. A network system comprising:

a communication modem in which energy information related to energy supplied from a power supply source is communicated;

an energy management device to recognize the energy information, the energy management device to control an operation of the electric product; and

a program entity communicably connected to the energy management device, the program entity providing a power management program for performing a saving operation of the electric product,

wherein, when the communication modem is in a communication failure state, the operation of the electric product is controlled based on previously stored energy information or previously stored operation information of the electric product.

14. The network system according to claim 13, wherein, when the communication modem is in the communication failure state, an alarm for informing the communication failure state is displayed on the electric product, the communication modem, or the energy management device.

15. The network system according to claim 13, wherein, the previously stored energy information or the operation information of the energy consumption component is stored during where the communication of the communication device is possible and the energy information or the operation information is stored for each time of the operation of the energy consumption component.

17. The network system according to claim 13, wherein the saving operation of the electric product comprises an energy-saving operation for reducing energy consumption or an electricity charge-saving operation for reducing an electricity charge.

16. (canceled)

18. A method of controlling a network system, a communication modem in which energy information related to energy supplied from a power supply source is communicated, the communication modem being coupled to an electric product and a controller controlling an operation of the electric product based on the energy information, the method comprising:

determining whether communication of the communication device is possible; and

controlling an operation of the electric product;

based on energy information or operation information previously stored in the electric product or the controller when the communication modem is in a communication failure state.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the network system further comprises an entity to provide a power management program to the electric product,

wherein a control command for according to the power management program is transmitted to the electric product through the communication device or the controller.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising performing the control command to reduce power consumption or an electricity charge related to the electric product when the communication with the communication modem is possible.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising storing the energy or operation information of the electric product according to the execution of the power management program.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising controlling the operation of the electric product to allow an operation time period of the electric product to avoid a peak time period.