Patent ID: 8423198
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for managing energy usage of an appliance comprising: receiving, in a controller of the appliance, a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; storing the schedule in a memory of the controller; determining a current time from a time device integrated into the appliance; detecting a request for an operation to be performed by the appliance and a deadline for completing the operation; determining, in the controller, a first amount of time between the current time and the deadline, and if the first amount of time includes a time sub-segment period and the off-peak time segment; determining, in the controller, a second amount of time required to complete the operation under a normal power consumption mode; determining, in the controller, a third amount of time required to complete the operation under a reduced power consumption mode wherein the third amount of time is greater than the second amount of time; the controller polling the time device in the appliance to determine the current time and comparing the current time to a start time and an end time of the off-peak time segment; the controller automatically delaying an initiation of the operation of the appliance under the normal power consumption mode until the start time of the off-peak time segment and if the first amount of time is greater than the second amount of time; and the controller automatically initiating the operation of the appliance under the reduced power consumption mode if the first amount of time includes the time sub-segment period, the controller detects a condition corresponding to the time sub-segment period and if the first amount of time is greater than the third amount of time, wherein the controller is configured to: