Patent ID: 9696773
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q

Claim:
1. An energy consumption unit capable of communicating with a network system and capable of receiving electricity information related to information related to time-based pricing and information other than the information related to time-based pricing, the energy consumption unit comprising: a component to perform a function of the energy consumption unit in a first driving process or a second driving process; the second driving process being a reduced usage rate or energy than the first driving process; an input device to input command to allow the function of the energy consumption unit to perform the first driving process; a display unit to display information related to operation of the energy consumption unit; a control unit to receive the electricity information, which includes a time interval with respect to a driving period and another time interval of the high cost time interval of the energy consumption unit being overlapped, wherein the control unit determines whether the component should operate in the first driving process or in the second driving process in performing the function of the energy consumption unit based on the electricity information, wherein when the command is inputted through the input device, the control unit determines whether the energy consumption unit performs a normal mode or compulsory mode, comprising: the control unit determines that the component should operate in the second driving process if the size of an overlapping interval with respect to a driving period and a time interval of the high cost time interval of the energy consumption unit is greater than a predetermined time interval of at least 1 hour, to perform the compulsory mode, and the control unit determines that the component should operate in the first driving process if the size of an overlapping interval with respect to a driving period and a time interval of the high cost time interval of the energy consumption unit is less than the predetermined time interval of at least 1 hour, to perform the normal mode, and wherein if the control unit determines that the component should operate in the second driving process, the control unit changes from the first driving process being inputted to the second driving process, and the display unit displays information related to changed driving process.