Network system and method of controlling network system

• US 9,294,298 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2010
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US13/516,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 700/282
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 electric product for a network system, comprising:

a case having a coupler;

a communication device in which energy information related to energy is received from a source device including an energy management device or a metering device, the communication device coupled to the coupler of the case; and

a controller that controls an operation of an electric product based on the energy information and stores operation information and the energy information during when communication of the communication device with the source device is possible,

wherein the controller checks whether the communication of the communication device with the source device is possible, and when the communication device is in a communication failure state, the controller controls the electric product according to whether the electric product is an intermittent operation product or a constant operation product,

wherein, when the electric product is the intermittent operation product and if the controller recognizes an input of a command from a user for starting operation of the electric product, the controller controls the electric product to operate based upon stored energy information or operation information of the electric product while the communication of the communication device with the source device is possible,

wherein, when the electric product is the constant operation product and if the controller recognizes that current time is within a time period in which the electric product operates based on the stored energy information or operation information of the electric product while the communication of the communication device with the source device is possible, the controller controls the electric product to operate based upon the stored energy information or operation information of the electric product,

wherein the stored energy information and the operation information is updated by the electric product for each time of the operation of the electric product when the electric product operates during the communication failure state, and

wherein the intermittent operation product comprises at least one of a washing machine, a cooking appliance, a dryer, a dish washer, and an air conditioner, and the constant operation product comprises at least one of a refrigerator and a water purifier.

2. The electric product according to claim 1, wherein, when the controller is capable of communicating with a power management operator the controller receives a power-saving operation of the electric product based on a power management program.

3. The electric product according to claim 2, wherein, the controller communicates with the power management operator through the communication device.

4. The electric product according to claim 2, wherein the power management program controls the operation of the electric product so that an operation time period of the electric product avoids a peak time period.

5. The electric product according to claim 2, wherein, when an operation time period is within a peak time period, the operation of the electric product is switched from a set operation mode to an energy-saving operation mode.

6. The electric product according to claim 5, wherein, when the operation of the peak time period is ended, the electric product returns to the set operation mode.

7. A method of controlling a network system, a communication device in which energy information related to energy supplied from a power supply source is received from a source device including an energy management device or a metering device, the communication device coupled to an outer case of an electric product, and a controller controlling an operation of the electric product based on the energy information and storing operation information and the energy information during when communication of the communication device with the source device is possible, the method comprising:

determining whether the communication of the communication device is possible;

controlling the controller for the electric product according to whether the electric product is an intermittent operation product or a constant operation product when the communication device is in a communication failure state, such that the electric product operates based upon stored energy information or the operation information of the electric product while the communication of the communication device with the source device is possible;

in a case when the electric product is the intermittent operation product and if the controller recognizes an input of a command from a user for starting operation of the electric product, or

in a case the electric product is the constant operation product and if the controller recognizes that current time is within a time period in which the electric product operates based on the stored energy information or the operation information of the electric product while the communication of the communication device with the source device is possible,

wherein the stored energy information and the operation information updated by the electric product for each time of the operation of the electric product when the electric product operates during the communication failure state, and

wherein the intermittent operation product comprises at least one of a washing machine, a cooking appliance, a dryer, a dish washer, and an air conditioner, and the constant operation product comprises at least one of a refrigerator and a water purifier.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network system further comprises a power management operator to provide a power management program to the electric product,

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

9. The method according to claim 8, 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 device is possible.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing the energy or operation information of the electric product according to an execution of the power management program.

11. The method according to claim 8, 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.