CONTROL OF ELECTRIC POWER CONSUMPTION

Technologies are generally described for an electric power consumption control scheme. In some examples, a method performed under control of a power control system may include measuring an electric power consumption of an electric device; obtaining a pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption; and determining a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption.

BACKGROUND

Technological advancement gives rise to a multitude of electric appliances, such as air conditioners, stereo systems, computers, digital televisions and the like. Although these electric appliances can bring a lot of convenience to the quality of human life, the resulting electric power consumption thereof continuously escalates. Despite power-saving features addressed by the improved new generation of electric appliances, many conventional electric appliances having high electric power consumption are ubiquitous in everyone's daily life.

SUMMARY

In an example, a method performed under control of a power control system may include measuring an electric power consumption of an electric device; obtaining a pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption; and determining a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption.

In another example, a power control system may include an electric power measuring unit configured to measure an electric power consumption of an electric device; a power consumption pattern obtaining unit configured to obtain a pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption; and a device type determining unit configured to determine a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption.

In yet another example, a computer-readable storage medium may store thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a power control system to perform operations including measuring an electric power consumption of an electric device; obtaining a pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption; and determining a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods, apparatuses, systems, devices, and computer program products related to schemes for controlling electric power consumption. Technologies are generally described for determining a type of an electric device based on a pattern of electric power consumption which is measured from the electric device and controlling the electric power consumption according to the type of the electric device.

In some examples, a power control system may measure electric power consumption of each electric device in the vicinity of the power control system by using one or more wattmeters. The electric power consumption of each electric device may have a pattern of time-series change. For example, the electric power consumption may be changed like a sine wave as the time goes, or may be changed like a rectangular pulse. The power control system may calculate and obtain the pattern of time-series change from the measured electric power consumption.

Further, the power control system may determine a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption. For example, the power control system may compare the obtained pattern of time-series change of the electric device with at least one reference power consumption pattern and determine the type of the electric device based on a result of the comparison. The at least one reference power consumption pattern may be pre-registered and stored in a local memory of the power control system or a cloud system that is communicatively coupled to the power control system in association with at least one reference electric device type.

Upon determining the type of the electric device, the power control system may determine a priority class of the electric device regarding electric power consumption control based at least in part on the determined type of the electric device. For example, a lookup table that shows multiple reference priority classes and multiple types of electric devices which correspond to each of the multiple reference priority classes are prepared and stored in the local memory or the cloud system. The power control system may determine the priority class of the electric device from the multiple reference priority classes based on the determined type of the electric device. Then, when the power control system receives a request to control the electric power consumption of the electric device from a user of the end device or an owner/entity of an electric power supplier, the power control system may control the electric power consumption of the electric device based on the determined priority class of the electric device.

FIG. 1schematically shows an illustrative example of an electric power control environment100including a power control system110, a cloud system120, a first electric device130, a second electric device140and a third electric device150.

Power control system110may refer to an apparatus or a device that may be configured to determine types of multiple electric devices based on patterns of time-series change of electric power consumption and control electric power consumption of the multiple electric devices based on the types of the multiple electric devices. Each of multiple power control systems including power control system110may be installed in a separated space, such as each house or each office and control electric power consumption of the multiple electric devices within the each separated space.

Cloud system120may refer to a cloud server or a cloud configuration that provides some type of communications, data storage, data or information processing, or any combination thereof.

First electric device130, second electric device140and third electric device150may refer to all kinds of electric device that receive electric power from at least one electric power supplier and consume the supplied electric power. By way of example, but not limitation, first electric device130, second electric device140and third electric device150may respectively include a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a mobile device, a television, a refrigerator, a microwave, an air conditioner, etc.

In some embodiments, power control system110may be connected to first electric device130, second electric device140and third electric device150via a network. By way of example, but not limitation, the network between power control system110and each of first electric device130, second electric device140and third electric device150may include a wired network such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), VAN (Value Added Network) or the like, or all kinds of wireless network such as a mobile radio communication network, a satellite network, a bluetooth, WiBro (Wireless Broadband Internet), Mobile WiMAX, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) or the like. AlthoughFIG. 1illustrates that three electric devices (i.e., first electric device130, second electric device140, third electric device150) are connected to power control system110, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of electric devices can be connected to power control system110.

Power control system110may be configured to measure electric power consumption of first electric device130, second electric device140and third electric device150by using any well-known electric power consumption measuring device such as a wattmeter. Power control system110may be further configured to calculate and obtain a pattern of time-series change in the measured electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150. The electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150may have a time-series changed pattern.

FIG. 2shows examples of patterns of time-series change in the electric power consumption, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. By way of example, but not limitation, as depicted inFIG. 2, a first pattern210may show a flat-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a router, etc. A second pattern220may show a wave signal-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a refrigerator, etc. A third pattern230may show a rectangular pulse-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a microwave, etc. Further, a fourth pattern240may show an environment dependent pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from an air conditioner, etc. For example, fourth pattern240may show a pattern which indicates that the electric power consumption during a certain time period (e.g., day time) is higher than the electric power consumption during other time period (e.g., night time). Further, a fifth pattern250may show a non-periodic and complex pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a projector, etc.

Referring back toFIG. 1, in some embodiments, power control system110may be further configured to store the obtained patterns of time-series change in electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150in a local memory of power control system110as reference power consumption patterns. The reference power consumption patterns may refer to electric power consumption patterns which are pre-registered in association with each type of multiple electric devices. Accordingly, information regarding the reference power consumption patterns may be updated in the local memory of power control system110.

Alternatively, power control system110may be further configured to store the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150in cloud system120. Power control system110may be configured to transmit the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption to cloud system120via a wireless network such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), VAN (Value Added Network) or the like, or all kinds of wireless network such as a mobile radio communication network, a satellite network, a bluetooth, WiBro (Wireless Broadband Internet), Mobile WiMAX, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) or the like. Accordingly, the information regarding the reference power consumption pattern may be updated in cloud system120. Cloud system120may be configured to receive the pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption from multiple power control systems including power control system110, so, larger amount of the information regarding the reference power consumption pattern may be stored than each of power control system110.

Further, cloud system120may be configured to transmit, to power control system110, the information regarding the reference power consumption pattern, which is stored in cloud system120. Then, power control system110may be configured to receive the information regarding the reference power consumption pattern from cloud system120and update the information in the local memory of power control system110.

Further, power control system110may be configured to estimate and determine a type of each electric device130,140,150based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption which is measured from each electric device130,140,150. In some embodiments, power control system110may be configured to compare the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption with the reference power consumption patterns stored in the local memory of power control system110. Then, power control system110may be configured to determine the type of each electric device130,140,150, which is associated with the reference power consumption pattern corresponding to the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150.

In some other embodiments, the reference power consumption patterns may be pre-registered and stored in cloud system120in association with at least one electric device type. Power control system110may be configured to determine the type of each electric device130,140,150by comparing the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption with the reference power consumption patterns stored in cloud system120.

In some other embodiments, first, power control system110may be configured to determine the type of each electric device130,140,150by comparing the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption with the reference power consumption patterns stored in the local memory of power control system110. If power control system110fails to determine the type of each electric device130,140,150, power control system110may be configured to compare the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption with the reference power consumption patterns stored in cloud system120. Further, power control system110may be configured to receive, from cloud system120, information regarding the reference power consumption pattern that corresponds to the obtained pattern of time-series change in electric power consumption and add the received reference power consumption pattern in the local memory of power control system110. Accordingly, the information regarding the reference power consumption patterns may be updated in the local memory of power control system110.

Further, power control system110may be configured to determine a priority class of each electric device130,140,150regarding power consumption control based at least in part on the determined type of each electric device130,140,150and reference priority classes. In some embodiments, multiple reference priority classes regarding power consumption control may be prepared and pre-registered in the local memory of power control system110or cloud system120. Each of the multiple reference priority classes may correspond to at least one electric device type and be associated with the at least one electric device type.

FIG. 3shows an example of a priority class table300, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. By way of example, but not limitation, as depicted inFIG. 3, priority class table300may include a reference priority field310and a device type field320. Reference priority field310may include five reference priority classes, e.g., ‘high+priority’, ‘high priority’, ‘normal priority’, ‘low+priority’ and ‘low priority’. Device type field320may include five device types, each of which is associated with each of the five reference priority classes.

By way of example, but not limitation, the ‘high+priority’ class may correspond to a type 1 of an electric device such as a medical device, which requires using electric power continuously. The ‘high priority’ class may correspond to a type 2 of an electric device such as a communication device, which requires using electric power as long as electric power is supplied. The ‘normal priority’ class may correspond to a type 3 of an electric device such as an air conditioner, which permits to reduce electric power consumption. The ‘low+priority’ class may correspond to a type 4 of an electric device such as a game machine, or a refrigerator, which permits interruption of electric power consumption for a certain period according to a user's notification. The ‘low priority’ class may correspond to a type 5 of an electric device such as an illumination, which permits to stop supplying electric power.

By way of example, it may be assumed that first electric device130is a medical device and second electric device140is a lighting stand. If power control system110determines the type of first electric device130as a medical device which corresponds to the type 1, power control system110may determine the priority class of first electric device130as the ‘high+priority’. Further, if power control system110determines the type of second electric device140as a lighting stand which corresponds to the type 5, power control system110may determine the priority class of second electric device140as the ‘low priority’.

Referring back toFIG. 1, power control system110may be further configured to receive a request to control electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150. By way of example, but not limitation, power control system110may receive a request to control electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150from a user (not shown) who owns or other exercises control over an embodiment of each electric device130,140,150or an electric power supplier (not shown).

Then, power control system110may be further configured to control electric power consumption based at least in part on the determined priority class of each electric device130,140,150. According to the above example, when power control system110receives a request to control electric power consumption, power control system110may be configured to keep on supplying electric power to first electric device130since power control system110determined the priority class of first electric device130as ‘high+priority’. Further, power control system110may be configured to stop to supply electric power to second electric device140since power control system110determined the priority class of second electric device140as ‘low priority’ depicted inFIG. 3. By way of example, but not limitation, the electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150may be controlled by using a remote controller that is registered and communicatively coupled to power control system110or by a hand.

In some other embodiments, a priority class regarding power consumption control may be pre-registered and provided to each electric device130,140,150. Accordingly, if power control system110determines the type of each electric device130,140,150, power control system110may be configured to control electric power consumption of each electric device130,140,150based on the pre-registered priority class of each electric device130,140,150.

FIG. 4shows a schematic block diagram illustrating an example architecture for power control system110, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 4, power control system110may include an electric power measuring unit410, a power consumption pattern obtaining unit420, a device type determining unit430, a transceiver440, a priority class determining unit450, a memory460and a control unit470. Although illustrated as discrete components, various components may be divided into additional components, combined into fewer components, or eliminated altogether while being contemplated within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation of the components may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In that regard, one or more of electric power measuring unit410, power consumption pattern obtaining unit420, device type determining unit430, transceiver440, priority class determining unit450, memory460and control unit470may be included in an instance of an application hosted on power control system110.

Electric power measuring unit410may be configured to measure electric power consumption of an electric device. In some embodiments, electric power measuring unit410may include any-well known electric power consumption measuring device that outputs electric power consumption values, such as a wattmeter.

Power consumption pattern obtaining unit420may be configured to calculate and obtain a pattern of time-series change in the measured electric power consumption of the electric device. The electric power consumption of the electric device may have various types of time-series changed patterns. Non-limiting examples of the time-series changed patterns may include a flat-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a router, etc, a wave signal-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a refrigerator, etc, a rectangular pulse-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a microwave, etc, an environment dependent pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from an air conditioner, etc, or a non-periodic and complex pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a projector, etc.

Device type determining unit430may be configured to determine a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption. In some embodiments, device type determining unit430may be configured to compare the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption with at least one reference power consumption pattern stored in memory460. Such an electric power consumption pattern may be referred to as the at least one reference power consumption pattern, which is pre-registered in association with at least one type of an electric device. Device type determining unit430may be configured to determine the type of the electric device, which is associated with the at least one reference power consumption pattern corresponding to the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption.

In some other embodiments, at least one reference power consumption pattern may be pre-registered and stored in cloud system120in association with at least one electric device type. Device type determining unit430may be configured to determine the type of the electric device by comparing the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption with the at least one reference power consumption pattern stored in cloud system120.

In some other embodiments, first device type determining unit430may be configured to determine the type of the electric device by comparing the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption with the at least one reference power consumption pattern stored in memory460. If device type determining unit430fails to determine the type of the electric device, then device type determining unit430may be configured to compare the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption with the at least one reference power consumption pattern stored in cloud system120.

Transceiver440may be configured to transmit the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption to cloud system120via a wireless network such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), VAN (Value Added Network) or the like, or all kinds of wireless network such as a mobile radio communication network, a satellite network, a bluetooth, WiBro (Wireless Broadband Internet), Mobile WiMAX, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) or the like. Then, cloud system120may be configured to receive and store the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption as the reference power consumption pattern.

Transceiver440may be further configured to receive, from cloud system120, the reference power consumption pattern stored in cloud system120.

Priority class determining unit450may be configured to determine a priority class of the electric device regarding a power consumption control based at least in part on the type of the electric device and reference priority classes. In some embodiments, multiple reference priority classes regarding power consumption control may be prepared and stored in memory460or cloud system120. Each of the multiple reference priority classes may correspond to at least one electric device type and be associated with the at least one electric device type.

By way of example, but not limitation, the multiple reference priority classes may include five reference priority classes, e.g., ‘high+priority’, ‘high priority’, ‘normal priority’, ‘low+priority’ and ‘low priority’, each of which is associated with each device type. The ‘high+priority’ class may correspond to a type 1 of an electric device such as a medical device, which requires using electric power continuously. The ‘high priority’ class may correspond to a type 2 of an electric device such as a communication device, which requires using electric power as long as electric power is supplied. The ‘normal priority’ class may correspond to a type 3 of an electric device such as an air conditioner, which permits to reduce electric power consumption. The ‘low+priority’ class may correspond to a type 4 of an electric device such as a game machine, or a refrigerator, which permits interruption of electric power consumption for a certain period according to a user's notification. The ‘low priority’ class may correspond to a type 5 of an electric device such as an illumination, which permits to stop supplying electric power.

By way of example, but not limitation, if device type determining unit430determines a type of an electric device as a medical device which corresponds to the type 1, priority class determining unit450may determine the priority class of the electric device as the ‘high+priority’. Further, if device type determining unit430determines the type of the electric device as a lighting stand which corresponds to the type 5, priority class determining unit450may determine the priority class of the electric device as the ‘low priority’.

Memory460may be configured to store the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption of the electric device as the reference power consumption pattern. Further, memory460may be configured to store the multiple reference priority classes regarding power consumption in association with each type of multiple electric devices.

Control unit470may be configured to receive a request to control electric power consumption of the electric device. By way of example, but not limitation, control unit470may receive a request to control electric power consumption of the electric device from a user who owns or other exercises control over an embodiment of the electric device or an electric power supplier.

Then, control unit470may be further configured to control electric power consumption based at least in part on the determined priority class of the electric device. According to the above example, if the type of the electric device is a medical device, when control unit470receives a request to control electric power consumption, control unit470may be configured to keep on supplying electric power to the electric device since priority class determining unit450determined the priority class of the electric device as ‘high+priority’. Further, if the type of the electric device is a lighting stand, control unit470may be configured to stop to supply electric power to the electric device since priority class determining unit450determined the priority class of the electric device as ‘low priority’.

By way of example, but not limitation, control unit470may be configured to control electric power consumption by operating a remote controller that is registered and communicatively coupled to power control system110.

FIG. 5shows an example flow diagram of a process500of power control system110for controlling electric power consumption, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The method inFIG. 5may be implemented in communication environments100including power control system110, cloud system120, first electric device130, second electric device140and third electric device150, as illustrated inFIGS. 1. An example process may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more blocks510,520,530,540,550and/or560. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation. Processing may begin at block510.

At block510(Measure Electric Power Consumption), power control system110may be configured to measure electric power consumption of an electric device (e.g., first device130, second electric device140, third electric device150) by using any well-known electric power consumption measuring device such as a wattmeter. Processing may proceed from block510to block520.

At block520(Obtain Pattern of Time-Series Change in Electric Power Consumption), power control system110may be configured to calculate and obtain a pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption measured at block510. The electric power consumption of the electric device may have various types of time-series changed patterns. Non-limiting examples of the time-series changed patterns may include a flat-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a router, etc, a wave signal-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a refrigerator, etc, a rectangular pulse-typed pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a microwave, etc, an environment dependent pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from an air conditioner, etc, or a non-periodic and complex pattern of electric power consumption, which may be obtained from a projector, etc. Processing may proceed from block520to block530.

At block530(Determine Type of Electric Device), power control system110may be configured to determine a type of the electric device based at least in part on the pattern of time-series change obtained at block520. In some embodiments, power control system110may be configured to compare the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption with at least one reference power consumption pattern stored in a local memory of power control system110. Power control system110may be configured to determine the type of the electric device, which is associated with the at least one reference power consumption pattern corresponding to the pattern of time-series change obtained at block520.

In some other embodiments, at block530, power control system110may be configured to determine the type of the electric device based on at least one reference power consumption pattern stored in cloud system120.

In some other embodiments, at block530, power control system110may be configured to determine the type of the electric device in consideration of the reference power consumption pattern stored in the local memory of power control system110and the reference power consumption pattern stored in cloud system120sequentially. Processing may proceed from block530to block540.

At block540(Determine Priority Class of Electric Device), power control system110may be configured to determine a priority class of the electric device regarding a power consumption control based at least in part on the type of the electric device, which is determined at block530and reference priority classes. Multiple reference priority classes regarding power consumption control may be prepared and stored in the local memory or cloud system120. Each of the multiple reference priority classes may correspond to at least one electric device type and be associated with the at least one electric device type.

By way of example, but not limitation, the multiple reference priority classes may include five reference priority classes, e.g., ‘high+priority’, ‘high priority’, ‘normal priority’, ‘low+priority’ and ‘low priority’, each of which is associated with each device type. The ‘high+priority’ class may correspond to a type 1 of an electric device such as a medical device, which requires using electric power continuously. The ‘high priority’ class may correspond to a type 2 of an electric device such as a communication device, which requires using electric power as long as electric power is supplied. The ‘normal priority’ class may correspond to a type 3 of an electric device such as an air conditioner, which permits to reduce electric power consumption. The ‘low+priority’ class may correspond to a type 4 of an electric device such as a game machine, or a refrigerator, which permits interruption of electric power consumption for a certain period according to a user's notification. The ‘low priority’ class may correspond to a type 5 of an electric device such as a daytime illumination, which permits to stop supplying electric power.

By way of example, at block530, if the type of the electric device is determined as a medical device which corresponds to the type 1, at block540, power control system110may determine the priority class of the electric device as the ‘high+priority’. Further, at block530, if the type of the electric device is determined as a lighting stand which corresponds to the type 5, at block540, power control system110may determine the priority class of the electric device as the ‘low priority’. Processing may proceed from block540to block550.

At block550(Receive Request to Control Electric Power Consumption), power control system110may be configured to receive a request to control electric power consumption of the electric device. By way of example, at block550, power control system110may receive a request to control electric power consumption of the electric device from a user who owns or other exercises control over an embodiment of the electric device or an electric power supplier. Processing may proceed from block550to block560.

At block560(Control Electric Power Consumption), power control system110may be configured to control electric power consumption based at least in part on the priority class of the electric device, which is determined at block540. According to the above example, at block540, if the priority class of the electric device is determined as ‘high+priority’, at block560, power control system110may be configured to keep on supplying electric power to the electric device. Further, at block540, if the priority class of the electric device is determined as ‘low priority’, at block560, power control system110may be configured to stop to supply electric power to the electric device.

By way of example, but not limitation, at block560, the electric power consumption may be controlled by operating a remote controller that is registered and communicatively coupled to power control system110.

FIG. 6illustrates computer program products that may be utilized to provide a scheme for controlling electric power consumption, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Program product600may include a signal bearing medium610. Signal bearing medium610may include one or more instructions620that, when executed by, for example, a processor, may provide the functionality described above with respect toFIGS. 1-4. By way of example, but not limitation, instructions620may include: one or more instructions for measuring an electric power consumption of an electric device; one or more instructions for obtaining a pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption; one or more instructions for determining a type of the electric device based at least in part on the obtained pattern of time-series change in the electric power consumption. Thus, for example, referring toFIG. 5, power control system110may undertake one or more of the blocks shown inFIG. 5in response to instructions620.

In some implementations, signal bearing medium610may encompass a computer-readable medium630, such as, but not limited to, a hard disk drive, a CD, a DVD, a digital tape, memory, etc. In some implementations, signal bearing medium610may encompass a recordable medium640, such as, but not limited to, memory, read/write (R/W) CDs, R/W DVDs, etc. In some implementations, signal bearing medium610may encompass a communications medium650, such as, but not limited to, a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link, etc.). Thus, for example, program product600may be conveyed to one or more modules of power control system110by an RF signal bearing medium620, where the signal bearing medium620is conveyed by a wireless communications medium650(e.g., a wireless communications medium conforming with the IEEE 802.11 standard).

FIG. 7is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device that may be utilized to provide a scheme for controlling electric power consumption, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. In these examples, elements of computing device700may be arranged or configured for a device. In a very basic configuration702, computing device700typically includes one or more processors704and a system memory706. A memory bus708may be used for communicating between processor704and system memory706.

Depending on the desired configuration, processor704may be of any type including but not limited to a microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller (μC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof Processor704may include one more levels of caching, such as a level one cache710and a level two cache712, a processor core714, and registers716. An example processor core714may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processing core (DSP Core), or any combination thereof An example memory controller718may also be used with processor704, or in some implementations memory controller718may be an internal part of processor704.

Depending on the desired configuration, system memory706may be of any type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or any combination thereof. System memory706may include an operating system720, an application722, and program data724. Application722may include instructions726that may be arranged to perform the functions as described herein including the actions described with respect to power control system architecture as shown inFIG. 4or including the actions described with respect to the flow charts shown inFIG. 5. In some examples, application722may be arranged to operate with program data724on an operating system720such that the schemes for controlling electric power consumption as described herein may be provided.

Computing device700may have additional features or functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate communications between basic configuration702and any required devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller730may be used to facilitate communications between basic configuration702and one or more data storage devices732via a storage interface bus734. Data storage devices732may be removable storage devices736, non-removable storage devices738, or a combination thereof. Examples of removable storage and non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDD), optical disk drives such as compact disk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSD), and tape drives to name a few. Example computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.

Computing device700may also include an interface bus740for facilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., output devices742, peripheral interfaces744, and communication devices746) to basic configuration702via bus/interface controller730. Example output devices742include a graphics processing unit748and an audio processing unit750, which may be configured to communicate to various external devices such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports752. Example peripheral interfaces744include a serial interface controller754or a parallel interface controller756, which may be configured to communicate with external devices such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer, scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports758. An example communication device746includes a network controller760, which may be arranged to facilitate communications with one or more other computing devices762over a network communication link via one or more communication ports764.