Abstract:
Disclosed is an energy-related information display apparatus included in each energy consumption place, which displays energy price information that a central server transmits according to a time zone, harmonizing with a floating energy rate system. When not receiving energy price information from a central server, a predicted energy price is provided. The prediction of the energy price can be reasonably performed on the basis of energy price information that was received from the central server in the past. The predicted energy price is transmitted to a user&#39;s mobile terminal as well as displayed on a display module so that the user can immediately identify it. Accordingly, the present disclosure can help user make a decision related with energy usage and properly meet a situation that energy price is not normally proved.

Description:
[0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0044069, filed on May 11, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to an energy-related information display apparatus and a method thereof. And more particularly, the present disclosure can suitably take action against a case where energy price information is not normally received due to a communication problem under a floating rate system in which the price of various energy such as electricity, gas and water supply continuously changes depending on time zone. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Until now, various kinds of energies such as electricity, gas and water supply have been provided according to the maximum demand and energy price also has been kept steady. 
         [0006]    However, a way to grade energy price by sectionalizing it depending on time zone or seasonal zone is recently being considered as a measure to use energy resources more efficiently and to reduce energy consumption. 
         [0007]    One of examples related with such a way is a Smart Grid, which is a next generation power network in which a power network is integrated with an information technology to exchange real-time information between a power supplier and a consumer in two-way so that energy efficiency is optimized and a new added value is created. 
         [0008]    On the view point of an energy consumer, the smart grid enables the energy consumer to find the most reasonable time zone in a fluctuating energy price depending on the time zone and use energy. 
         [0009]    In addition to the smart grid, a Smart Meter is a digital integrated energy meter having a communication function, which can perform a real-time search of integrated power energy used or a two-way communication between a power supplier and a power consumer. 
         [0010]    Therefore, it is possible to read meter remotely without visiting home by a meterman and to precisely measure an amount of power consumption due to the real-time reading, so that there is an advantageous effect in that reading expense and energy can be saved. 
         [0011]    Further, since it is possible to provide consumer energy usage information through a communication network such as Internet, the consumer can identify his or her energy usage information using various communication units such as Web, mobile phone and TV set at any time and place. 
         [0012]    When a floating rate system in which energy price changes depending on time zone is implemented with the development of energy related technologies such as smart grid and smart meter, each consumer is able to confirm the energy price fluctuating frequently. 
         [0013]    However, it may be possible that energy price information is not smoothly provided due to a communication network problem or a system problem of energy provider. In this case, there is needed a way to inform consumer that the price information is not received so as that the consumer can suitably take action against that. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present disclosure displays energy price information that frequently fluctuates depending on time zone under a floating rate system and suggests an estimated price that is predicted when not receiving the energy price information smoothly, whereby a user suitably meets a problem. 
         [0015]    A first embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure receives and displays energy usage information and energy price information. 
         [0016]    The energy-related information display apparatus of the first embodiment includes a meter for detecting energy; a usage information display unit for receiving the energy usage information from the meter and displaying the energy usage information; a sensor for sensing a communication state between a central server and the energy-related information display apparatus; a received information display unit for displaying energy price information when receiving the energy price information from the central server; and an estimated information display unit for displaying a message indicating that energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information, when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0017]    A second embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure receives and displays energy price information. 
         [0018]    The energy-related information display apparatus of the second embodiment includes a sensor for sensing a communication state between a central server and the energy-related information display apparatus; a received information display unit for displaying energy price information when receiving the energy price information from the central server; and an estimated information display unit for displaying a message indicating that energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information, when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0019]    A third embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure receives and displays energy price information. 
         [0020]    The energy-related information display apparatus of the third embodiment 
         [0021]    includes a sensor for sensing a communication state between a central server and the energy-related information display apparatus; a received information display unit for displaying energy price information when receiving the energy price information from the central server; an estimation unit for predicting a future energy price on the basis of past energy price information received from the central server; and a transmission unit for transmitting a message indicating that energy price information is not received and energy price information that the estimation unit has predicted, when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0022]    The first to third embodiments of the energy-related information display apparatus may further include energy source switching unit that switches an energy supply source with an alternative energy source or an auxiliary battery by controlling an energy source switch when the communication state with the central server is not normal. 
         [0023]    A first embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure includes detecting energy with a meter; receiving energy usage information from the meter and displaying the energy usage information; sensing a communication state between a central server and the energy-related information display apparatus; displaying energy price information when receiving the energy price information from the central server; and displaying a message indicating that energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information, when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0024]    A second embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure includes sensing a communication state between a central server and the energy-related information display apparatus; displaying energy price information when receiving the energy price information from the central server; and displaying a message indicating that energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information, when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0025]    A third embodiment of an energy-related information display method 
         [0026]    according to the present disclosure includes sensing a communication state between a central server and the energy-related information display apparatus; displaying energy price information when receiving the energy price information from the central server; and transmitting energy estimated price information predicted on the basis of the energy price information that has been received in the past together with a message indicating the energy price information is not received, when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0027]    Preferably the energy is anyone of electricity, gas and water supply. 
         [0028]    An error message or a blank message may be displayed instead of the energy price information when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0029]    Further, at least one of the maximum value and the minimum value in the energy price together with the energy price information may be displayed. 
         [0030]    Estimation or prediction of the energy price may be performed on the basis of the energy price information of the previous day or the previous month when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0031]    The energy price to be displayed or transmitted may be the latest receive energy price when not receiving the energy price information from the central server. 
         [0032]    The message indicating that energy price information is not received and price information to be estimated or predicted may be transmitted to a user&#39;s mobile terminal or an IHD (In Home Display). 
         [0033]    The energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure receives energy price information that basically fluctuates depending on time zone from a central server and displays the information. If there occurs a situation that the energy price information is not received smoothly, a message to inform a user of this and an energy estimated price are suggested. 
         [0034]    Since the energy price does not suddenly change even in a floating rate system, it is possible to predict an energy estimated price on the basis of the energy price that was previously received from a central server, so that a reasonable result can be derived. 
         [0035]    When transmitting information such as a communication state with a central server and an energy estimated price to a variety of devices having an excellent accessibility to a user such as a mobile terminal and an IHD (In Home Display), the user can recognize the situation easily. 
         [0036]    As such, in a case that an energy price reception is not performed smoothly under a floating rate system, when a message indicating the above and an energy estimated price are suggested to a user, it can be helpful for the user to make a decision related with energy usage and to suitably meet such a situation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is an example illustrating an energy-related information display apparatus that is connected to a central server through a communication network; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is an example illustrating a construction of a central server; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is an example illustrating a display screen that displays energy prices; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment to switch an energy source according to a communication state; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a detailed example of a construction of an energy-related information display apparatus; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a third embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0049]    Hereinafter, a detailed description is an embodiment of the present disclosure only and nothing but an illustration. Further, principle and concept of the present disclosure are provided for the purpose of describing the present disclosure with ease. 
         [0050]    Unless mentioned otherwise, the term “energy” used herein refers to anyone of electricity, gas and water supply. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an energy-related information display apparatus  11  is located in an energy consumption place such as home, office and company, which receives energy price information that frequently fluctuates depending on time zone from a central server  15  thorough a communication network  13  and displays the information thereon. 
         [0052]    The central server  15  is a server with which an energy provider or a business qualified to provide each user with energy price information provides the energy price information that fluctuates depending on time zone through a communication network  13 . 
         [0053]    The central server  15  is constructed using a computer device that can provide the energy price information through the communication network  13 , whose structure, performance and format can be variously changed. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the central server  15  is constructed of a central processing unit  15 - 1 , a RAM  15 - 2  used as a main memory device, a network interface  15 - 3  enabling the central server to access and communicate with the communication network  13  and a storage medium  15 - 4 . 
         [0055]    The storage medium  15 - 4  has a non-volatile property to read and write digital data. While built-in hard disc drive is generally used as the storage medium  15 - 4 , the storage medium may have various types such as built-in type, external type, detachable type and non-detachable type. 
         [0056]    The storage medium  15 - 4  stores an operation system OS, various kinds of computer programs and data. Especially, the storage medium  15 - 4  has energy price information that fluctuates depending on time zone and a transmission program that transmits the energy price information through the communication network on a transmission time. 
         [0057]    The transmission program stored in the storage medium  15 - 4  is stored in the main memory device  15 - 2  by the central processing unit  15 - 1 . 
         [0058]    The central processing device  15 - 1  transmit the energy price information to the communication network  13  through the network interface  15 - 3  on a transmission time by executing the transmission program stored in the main memory device  15 - 2 . 
         [0059]    Energy price transmitted by the central server  15  can be set according to various standards such as time, day of the week and season. 
         [0060]    While the time when the energy price information is transmitted can be variously set according to the need, the energy price information can be periodically transmitted, for example. 
         [0061]    Describing a fist embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure with reference to  FIG. 3 , the energy-related information display apparatus  31  includes a sensing unit  31 - 1 , a receiving information display unit  31 - 2 , an estimated information display unit  31 - 3 , and a meter  32 . 
         [0062]    A usage information display unit  31 - 4 , the sensing unit  31 - 1 , the receiving information display unit  31 - 2  and the estimated information display unit  31 - 3  can be constructed as an apparatus  33  separated from the meter  32 . 
         [0063]    The meter  32  serves as a gauge to detect energy and grasp energy usage information. 
         [0064]    The energy usage information detected by the meter  32  becomes a basic material to bill a user for used energy, and a material with which an energy provider determines energy price and establishes energy provision plan. 
         [0065]    Structure and type of the meter  32  can be variously constructed according to many factors such as function, design and kind of energy, and the meter  32  exchanges energy usage information with the usage information display unit  31 - 4  of the energy-related information display apparatus. 
         [0066]    The meter  32  and the usage information display unit  31 - 4  exchange the energy usage information with each other using various wired or wireless local are network scheme. 
         [0067]    The usage information display unit  31 - 4  receives the energy usage information from the meter  32  and displays the information on a display module  35 . 
         [0068]    The receiving information display unit  31 - 2  receives energy price information transmitted by the central server  15  through the communication network  13  and displays the information on the display module  35 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a display screen  40  on which energy price information is displayed, including an item  45  indicating energy usage information displayed by the usage information display unit  31 - 4  and an item  41  indicating an energy price displayed by the receiving information display unit  31 - 2 , the energy price being received by the receiving information display unit  31 - 2  through the central server  15 . 
         [0070]    The amount of energy usage can be variously displayed, including the total amount of usage, the amount of a certain period, the total charge of usage, and the charge of usage of a certain period. 
         [0071]      FIG. 4  is a view suggested to make the description understood easily, and can be variously constructed to provide the user with many kinds of energy-related information. 
         [0072]    The sensing unit  31 - 1  senses a communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  31  and monitors whether the energy price information is normally received from the central server  15 . 
         [0073]    The method how the sensing unit  31 - 1  monitors a communication state communicating with the central server  15  can be variously constructed. 
         [0074]    For example, when the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  31  periodically exchange the energy price information with each other, it is possible to confirm whether the energy price information is received from the central server  15  at the period. 
         [0075]    If the communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  31  is not normal and so the energy price information is not received, the sensing unit  31 - 1  informs the estimation information display unit  31 - 3  of it. 
         [0076]    When the energy price information is not normally received from the central server  15  as a sensing result of the sensing unit  31 - 1 , the estimation information display unit  31 - 3  displays a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information on the display module  35 . 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the estimation information display unit  31 - 3  outputs the energy estimation price to the item  42  that displays the estimation price. 
         [0078]    The display module  35  can have various formats such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and LED (Light Emitting Diode). 
         [0079]    Further, while the display module  35  is illustrated separately from the energy-related information display apparatus  31  in  FIG. 3 , the display module  35  can be included in the energy-related information display apparatus  31  or included separately from the energy-related information display apparatus and then they can be linked with each other. 
         [0080]    In describing a second embodiment of the energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure with reference to  FIG. 3 , the energy-related information display apparatus  51  includes a sensing unit  51 - 1 , a receiving information display unit  51 - 2 , and an estimated information display unit  51 - 3 . 
         [0081]    The receiving information display unit  51 - 2  receives energy price information that is transmitted by the central server  15  through the communication network  13 , and displays the information on a display module  55 . 
         [0082]    An example of screen on which the receiving information display unit  51 - 2  displays the energy price information is the same as  FIG. 4 . 
         [0083]    The sensing unit  51 - 1  senses a communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  51 , and then monitors whether the energy price information is normally received from the central server  15 . 
         [0084]    The method to monitor a communication state between the sensing unit  51 - 1  and the central server  15  can be variously constructed. 
         [0085]    For example, when the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  51  periodically exchange the energy price information with each other, the sensing unit  51 - 1  can identify whether the energy price information is received at the period. 
         [0086]    When the communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  51  is not normal as a result of sensing it, the estimated information display unit  51 - 3  displays a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and the energy estimated price information on the display module  55 . 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the estimated information display unit  51 - 3  outputs the energy estimated price to the item  42  that displays an estimated price. 
         [0088]    The display module  55  can have various forms such as LCD or LED, and it can be included in the energy-related information display apparatus  51  or included separately from the energy-related information display apparatus  51  and then they can be linked with each other. 
         [0089]    In the energy-related information display apparatus  31  and  51  of the first and second embodiments described above, the method that the estimated information display units  31 - 3  and  51 - 3  produce the energy estimated price can be constructed variously, and especially current energy price can be estimated on the basis of energy price information that was received from the central server  15  in the past. 
         [0090]    As an example, an energy estimation price can be produced on the basis of energy price information of the previous day or the previous month. 
         [0091]    That is, an average energy price of the previous day or the previous month, the energy price that was received at the same time zone of the previous day, and the energy price that was received at the same month, the same day and same time zone of the previous year are produced as the energy estimated price. 
         [0092]    As another example, the estimation information display units  31 - 3  and  51 - 3  can select the latest received energy price information of the energy price information that was received before the communication state with the central server  15  became abnormal as an energy estimated price. 
         [0093]    On describing a third embodiment of the energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure with reference to  FIG. 6 , the energy-related information display apparatus  61  includes a sensing unit  61 - 1 , a receiving information display unit  61 - 2 , an estimation unit  61 - 4  and a transmission unit  61 - 5 . 
         [0094]    The receiving information display unit  61 - 2  receives energy price information that the central server  15  transmits through the communication network  13 , and displays the information on a display module  65 . 
         [0095]    An example of screen on which the receiving information display unit  61 - 2  displays the energy price information is the same as  FIG. 4 . 
         [0096]    The sensing unit  61 - 1  senses a communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  51  and monitors whether energy price information is normally received from the central server  15 . 
         [0097]    A method how the sensing unit  61 - 1  monitors the communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus can be variously constructed. For example, when the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  61  periodically exchange energy price information with each other, the sensing unit  61 - 1  can identify whether the energy price information is received from the central server  15  at the period. 
         [0098]    When the communication state between the central server  15  and the energy-related information display apparatus  61  is not normal as a result of sensing and so the energy price information is not received, the sensing unit  61 - 1  informs the transmission unit  61 - 5  of it. 
         [0099]    The estimation unit  61 - 4  predicts a future energy price on the basis of past energy price information that was received from the central server  15 . 
         [0100]    A method how the estimation unit  61 - 4  predicts an energy price can be variously constructed, and one example of it is to predict an energy price on the basis of energy price information of the previous day or the previous month. 
         [0101]    That is, an average energy price of the previous day or the previous month, an energy price that was received at the same time zone of the previous day, and an energy price that was received at the same month, the same day and same time zone of the previous year are predicted as a current energy price. 
         [0102]    As another example that the estimation unit  61 - 4  predicts an energy price, the estimation unit  61 - 4  can predict the latest received energy price information of the energy price information that was received before the communication state with the central server  15  became abnormal as a current energy price. 
         [0103]    When the energy price information is not received from the central server  15  as a result of sensing, the transmission unit  61 - 5  transmits a message indicating that energy price information is not received and energy price information predicted by the estimation unit  61 - 4 . 
         [0104]    The message indicating that the transmission unit  61 - 5  does not receive energy price information and where the predicted energy price information is transmitted can be variously constructed. 
         [0105]    As an example, the energy price information can be transmitted to various kinds of user mobile terminal such as mobile phone, mobile communication terminal and notebook computer. At this time, the transmission unit  61 - 5  can transmit the energy price information as short message or multimedia message through a communication network capable of communicating with the user mobile terminal such as wired/wireless Internet network and mobile communication network. 
         [0106]    As another example, the transmission unit  61 - 5  transmits a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and predicted energy price information to an IHD (In Home Display) included in house so that the message and information are output through the IHD. 
         [0107]    At this time, the transmission unit  61 - 5  can communicate with the IHD through various wired/wireless LAN communication schemes. 
         [0108]    In the first and third embodiments of the energy-related information display apparatus described above, when the receiving information display units  31 - 2 ,  51 - 2  and  61 - 2  cannot receive the energy price information from the central server  15 , they can display an error message or a blank message instead of the energy price information. 
         [0109]    Referring to an example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when the receiving information display units  31 - 2 ,  51 - 2  and  61 - 2  do not receive energy price information from the central server  15  as sensing results of the sensing units  31 - 1 ,  51 - 1  and  61 - 1 , they output an error message such as ‘communication error’ or a blank message in an item  41  that displays an energy price. 
         [0110]    The central server  15  can transmit various kinds of additional information as well as current energy price information, and the additional information may include the maximum value information and the minimum value information of an energy price. 
         [0111]    In this case, the receiving information display units  31 - 2 ,  51 - 2  and  61 - 2  of the first to third embodiments of the energy-related information display apparatus can display the maximum value information and the minimum value information of the energy price received from the central server  15  together with energy price information. An item  43  in which the maximum value information and the minimum value information of the energy price are displayed is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0112]    Further, the receiving information display units  31 - 1 ,  51 - 1  and  61 - 1  can select the highest price of energy price information that was received from the central server  15  in the past as the maximum value, and the lowest price as the minimum value, and display them. 
         [0113]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the energy-related information display apparatuses  31 ,  51  and  61  of the first to third embodiments can further include an energy source switching unit  78  that controls an energy source switch  75  and switches an energy source of energy consumption place to a substitute energy source  72  or an auxiliary battery  73  when a communication state with the central server  15  is not normal. 
         [0114]    The main energy source  71  refers to a power plant of a power provider, and the substitute energy source  72  refers to power generation equipment that provides the energy consumption place with power using solar cell power generation or wind power generation. The substitute energy source  72  may be individually installed at the energy consumption place. 
         [0115]    The energy source switch  75  selectively connects anyone of power lines  71 - 1 ,  72 - 1  and  73 - 1  of the main energy source  71 , a substitute energy source  72  and the auxiliary battery source  73  to a power line  76 - 1  that leads into an energy consumption place according to a switching signal. 
         [0116]    When the sensing units  31 - 1 ,  51 - 1  and  61 - 1  can not smoothly receive energy price information from the central server  15 , they inform the energy source switching unit  78  of a communication state sensing result, and accordingly the energy source switching unit  78  transfers a switching signal to switch to the substitute energy source  72  or the auxiliary battery  73  to the energy source switch  75 . 
         [0117]    Accordingly, a user who consumes energy uses the substitute energy instead of the energy provided by the main energy source when energy price is in an unclear state. 
         [0118]      FIG. 8  is a detailed example of a construction of an energy-related information display apparatus  80 , and each embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the example. 
         [0119]      FIG. 8  is not illustrated to separate it from each embodiment of energy-related information display apparatus described above, and can be each embodiment of the energy-related information display apparatus according to contents of a driving program  84 - 1 . 
         [0120]    Further, each element of the energy-related information display apparatus  80  can selectively exist according to each embodiment of an energy-related information display apparatus of the present disclosure, even though each element is integrally illustrated. 
         [0121]    A local communication unit  88  can be constructed to interface with a wide area communication network such as a mobile communication network as well as a local area near an energy consumption place according to a communication target despite its term. 
         [0122]    A processor  81  is constructed using a central processing unit CPU or a microprocessor, which generally controls the energy-related information display apparatus  80  while it exchanges information with each element through a system bus  83  that can have various structures. 
         [0123]    A RAM  82  as a main memory temporally stores a computer program or data to which the processor  81  accesses immediately. 
         [0124]    A video adaptor  85  visually outputs an operation state of the energy-related information display apparatus  80  or information to be suggested to a user through a display module  85 - 1 . 
         [0125]    The display module  55  can have various forms such as LCD or LED. 
         [0126]    An input device interface  86  enables a user to input various kinds of information or instructions for operation of the energy-related information display apparatus  80  using a variety of input devices  86 - 1  such as key pad and touch screen. 
         [0127]    A network interface  87  enables the energy-related information display apparatus  80  to exchange various kinds of information with the central server  15  through the communication network  13 . 
         [0128]    The local communication unit  88  enables the energy-related information display apparatus  80  to communicate with other devices such as the meter  32 , the user mobile terminal  67 - 1 , the IHD  67 - 2 , and the energy source switch  75 . 
         [0129]    The local communication  88  can be two or more when it is needed to communicate with two or more other devices, which can be constructed to communicate with other devices located in a local area near an energy consumption place through a wired serial communication, a wireless local area communication, and a power line communication or to interface with a wide area communication network such as a mobile communication network. 
         [0130]    A storage medium  84  stores a driving program  84 - 1  needed to operate the energy-related information display apparatus  80  and various kinds of data  84 - 2  and maintains them. 
         [0131]    While a ROM can serve as the storage medium  84 , a non-volatile property capable of read and write digital data is needed in order to frequently store or delete information to be remained and store the information regardless of whether power is supplied or not. The storage medium  84  can have various kinds and performances according to the need. 
         [0132]    The driving program  84 - 1  stored in the storage medium  84  is constructed and installed to operate the energy-related information display apparatus  80  according to each embodiment of an energy-related information display method to be described below. 
         [0133]    When the energy-related information display apparatus  80  is powered on, the processor  81  transfers the driving program  84 - 1  stored in the store medium  84  to the main memory  82  and executes it so that the energy-related information display apparatus  80  is operated according to each embodiment of the energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure. 
         [0134]      FIG. 8  is only an example to make the description understood, and it is of course that  FIG. 8  can be variously constructed according to each embodiment of the energy-related information display apparatus of the present disclosure. 
         [0135]    A first embodiment of the energy-related information display apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0136]    The meter  32  detects energy and understands energy usage information. When the processor  81  needs to display energy usage information according to a driving program  84 - 1  (S 91 ), it receives the energy usage information from the meter  32  through the local communication unit  88  and displays the information on a display module  85 - 1  through a video adaptor  85  (S 92 ). 
         [0137]    The state that it is needed to display the energy usage information at step S 91  can be set variously, wherein the energy usage information is periodically received from the meter  32 , for example. 
         [0138]    Further, the processor  81  identify whether the energy price information is normally received from the central server  15  at the period set already (S 93  and S 94 ). 
         [0139]    That is, since the central server  15  generally and periodically transmits the energy price information through the communication network, it is possible to identify whether the energy price information is normally received by sensing whether the energy price information is received from the central server  15  at the period. 
         [0140]    Since steps S 93  and S 94  are resultantly procedures to identify whether a communication with the central server  15  is smoothly performed, any other way can also be used if it is possible to identify whether a communication is performed with the central server  15 . 
         [0141]    When the energy price information is normally received from the central server  15  as a result of identification at step S 94 , the processor  81  displays the energy price information received from the central server  15  on the display module  85 - 1  through the video adaptor  85  (S 95 - 1 ). 
         [0142]    Further, the energy price information received from the central server  15  together with additional information such as a reception day and time are stored in the storage medium  84  (S 95 - 2 ). 
         [0143]    The past energy price information stored in the storage medium  84  can be used as a basis material to predict a future energy price. 
         [0144]    However, when the energy price information was not received from the central server  15  as a result of the identification at step S 94 , the processor  81  determines that the communication state is abnormal and displays a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information on the display module  85 - 1  through the video adaptor  85  (S 96 ). 
         [0145]    An energy price received currently or an energy estimated price is displayed on a screen of the display module  85 - 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  through steps S 91  to S 96  described above so that user can see them. 
         [0146]    A second embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0147]    The processor  81  identifies whether energy price information is normally received from the central server  15  at the period set already (S 101  and S 102 ). 
         [0148]    That is, since the central server  15  generally and periodically transmits the energy price information through the communication network  13 , it is possible to identify whether the energy price information is normally received by sensing whether the energy price information is received from the central server  15  at the period. 
         [0149]    Since S 101  and S 102  are resultantly procedures to identify whether a communication with the central server  15  is smoothly performed, any other way can also be used if it is possible to identify whether a communication is performed with the central server  15 . 
         [0150]    When the energy price information is normally received from the central server  15  as a result of the identification at step S 102 , the processor  81  displays the energy price information received from the central server  15  on the display module  85 - 1  through the video adaptor  85  (S 103 - 1 ). 
         [0151]    Further, the energy price information received from the central server  15  together with additional information such as receiving day and time are stored in the storage medium  84  (S 103 - 2 ). 
         [0152]    The past energy price information stored in the storage medium  84  can be used as a basic material to predict a future energy price. 
         [0153]    However, when the energy price information was not received from the central server  15  as a result of the identification at step S 102 , the processor  81  determines that a communication state is abnormal and displays a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and the energy estimated price information on the display module  85 - 1  through the video adaptor  85  (S 104 ). 
         [0154]    An energy price received currently or an energy estimated price is displayed on a screen of the display module  85 - 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  through steps S 101  to S 104  described above so that user can see them. 
         [0155]    A third embodiment of an energy-related information display method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
         [0156]    The processor  81  identifies whether energy price information is normally received from the central server  15  at the period set already (S 111  and S 112 ). 
         [0157]    That is, since the central server  15  generally and periodically transmits the energy price information through the communication network  13 , it is possible to identify whether the energy price information is normally received by sensing whether the energy price information is received from the central server  15  at the period. 
         [0158]    Since S 111  and S 112  are resultantly procedures to identify whether a communication with the central server  15  is smoothly performed, any other way can also be used if it is possible to identify whether a communication is performed with the central server  15 . 
         [0159]    When the energy price information is normally received from the central server  15  as a result of the identification at step S 112 , the processor  81  displays the energy price information received from the central server  15  on the display module  85 - 1  through the video adaptor  85  (S 113 - 1 ). 
         [0160]    An energy price received currently is displayed on a screen of the display module  85 - 1  through step S 113 - 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  so that use can see it. 
         [0161]    Further, the energy price information received from the central server  15  together with additional information such as receiving day and time are stored in the storage medium  84  (S 113 - 2 ). 
         [0162]    The past energy price information stored in the storage medium  84  can be used as a basic material to predict a future energy price. 
         [0163]    However, when the energy price information was not received from the central server  15  as a result of the identification at step S 112 , the processor  81  determines that a communication state is abnormal and displays a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and energy estimated price information through a local communication unit  88  (S 114 ). 
         [0164]    It can be variously constructed where the message indicating that the energy price information is not received and the energy estimated price information are transmitted at step S 114 . 
         [0165]    As an example, they can be transmitted to various kinds of user mobile terminal  67 - 1  such as mobile phone, mobile communication terminal and notebook computer. 
         [0166]    At this time, they can be transmitted as short message or multimedia message through a communication network capable of communicating with the user mobile terminal such as wired/wireless Internet network and mobile communication network. 
         [0167]    Information to communicate with the user mobile terminal  67 - 1 , for example, a mobile phone number of a user, can be directly input by the user through the input device  86 - 1 . The processor  81  stores the mobile phone number that was input directly by the user through the input device  86 - 1  in the storage media  84 , and the number is inquired when step S 114  is executed. 
         [0168]    As another example, a message indicating that the energy price information is not received and predicted energy price information are transmitted to an IHD (In Home Display) included in house at step S 114 , so that the message and information are output through the IHD  67 - 2 . 
         [0169]    The method to produce energy estimated price in the first to third embodiments of the energy-related information display method described above can be constructed variously, and especially a current energy price can be estimated on the basis of the energy price information that was received from the central server  15  in the past. 
         [0170]    As an example, the energy estimated price can be produced on the basis of the energy price information of the previous day or the previous month. That is, an average energy price of the previous day or the previous month, the energy price that was received at the same time zone of the previous day, and the energy price that was received at the same month, the same day and same time zone of the previous year are produced as the energy estimated price. 
         [0171]    As another example, the latest received energy price information of the energy price information that was received before the communication state with the central server  15  became abnormal can be selected as an energy estimated price. 
         [0172]    In the first to third embodiments of the energy-related information display method described above, when the energy price information is not received from the central server  15 , the processor  81  can display an error message or a blank message instead of the energy price information. That is, an error message of ‘communication error’ or a blank message can be output to the item  41  in which the energy price is displayed in the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0173]    The central server  15  can transmit various kinds of additional information as well as current energy price information, and the additional information may include the maximum value information and the minimum value information of the energy price. 
         [0174]    In this case, the processor  81  can display the maximum value information and the minimum value information of the energy price that are received from the central server  15  together with the energy price information in the first to third embodiments of the energy display method. 
         [0175]    Even though the maximum value information and the minimum value information of the energy price are not received from the central server  15 , the processor  81  can select the highest price of the energy price information that was received from the central server  15  in the past as the maximum value, and the lowest price as the minimum value, and then display them. 
         [0176]    Further, when the processor  81  does not receive the energy price information from the central server  15 , it controls the energy source switch  75  through the local communication unit  88  and then switches the energy source of the energy consumption place to the substitute energy source  72  or the auxiliary battery  73  as the example described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0177]    Hereinbefore, while the embodiments of the present disclosure are described, they are exemplary ones only and one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that various alterations and modifications that fall within the scope of the present disclosure may be possible. Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the following claims.