Dynamic specification of power supply sources
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling behavior of an electrical device, the method comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product for controlling behavior of an electrical device, the computer program product comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer system for controlling behavior of an electrical device, the computer system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification