Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for managing an electronic appliance, which determines an abnormality of the electronic appliance, such as a malfunction or worn out of the electronic appliance, based on power consumption information measured in the electronic appliance while an operation requested by a user of the electronic appliance is performed by the electronic appliance, and past power consumption information about the same operation performed by the same electronic appliance, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program to execute the method.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0037552, filed on Apr. 10, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for managing an electronic appliance, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for managing an electronic appliance by determining an abnormality of the electronic appliance based on power consumption of the electronic appliance. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    According to development of networks and communication technologies, electronic appliances may be connected to each other to transmit and receive information. In this regard, technologies in various fields, such as ubiquitous networks, home networks, and smart grids, have been developed. Specifically, an interest in smart grids has increased as reduction of energy and power consumption has come into the spotlight worldwide. Fielding regard to one aspect of smart grids, research into measuring power consumption of an electronic appliance and using the measured power consumption is being conducted. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for managing an electronic appliance, which determines an abnormality of the electronic appliance based on power consumption information measured in the electronic appliance while an operation requested by a user of the electronic appliance is performed by the electronic appliance, and past power consumption information about the same operation performed by the same electronic appliance, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded there on a program to execute the method. 
         [0007]    Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. 
         [0008]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of managing an electronic appliance at home, the method including: receiving first power consumption information measured in the electronic appliance while an operation requested by a user of the electronic appliance is performed by the electronic appliance; updating second power consumption information stored in a database corresponding to the requested operation with the received first power consumption information; determining worn out of the electronic appliance based on the updated second power consumption information and third power consumption information at a predetermined time stored in the database corresponding to the requested operation; and notifying externals about a result of the determining. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program to execute the method. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance at home, the apparatus including: a network interface to receive first power consumption information measured in the electronic appliance while an operation requested by a user of the electronic appliance is performed by the electronic appliance; a database to store second power consumption information corresponding to the requested operation, and third power consumption information at a predetermined time corresponding to the requested operation; a processor to update the second power consumption information by using the received first power consumption information, and determining worn out of the electronic appliance based on the updated second power consumption information and the third power consumption information; and a user interface to notify externals about a result of the determining. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance, and an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of internal structures of an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance, and an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a table for describing information stored in a database of an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a table for describing information stored in a database of an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance according to times, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance, and an electronic appliance so as to describe a method of managing an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing an electronic appliance, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a graph for describing cases when an electronic appliance may be determined to be malfunctioning or worn out, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between an apparatus  130  to manage an electronic appliance, and an electronic appliance  110 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  130  according to an embodiment may be connected to the electronic appliance  110  via a network. The apparatus  130  and the electronic appliance  110  may be connected via a wireless communication method, a wired communication method, or a wireless-wired hybrid communication method. The electronic appliance  110  may be a home appliance, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , may be at least one of a television (TV), an air conditioner, and a washing machine. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  130  according to an embodiment includes a network interface  132 , a processor  134 , a database  136 , and a user interface  138 , but it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the apparatus  130  of  FIG. 1  may include other general-purpose components. 
         [0022]    If the electronic appliance  110  is the TV in  FIG. 1 , the TV may communicate with the apparatus  130 , and may receive and transmit information with the apparatus  130 . When a user turns on the TV and watches a TV program, the TV uses power supplied to a home via a power plug plugged into a socket at home so as to output a TV program requested by the user on a screen. Power consumption information of the TV used to perform an operation requested by the user may be measured by using a power consumption measuring apparatus (not shown) installed in the TV, and the measured power consumption information may be transmitted to the apparatus  130  via wireless, wired communication, or a wireless-wired hybrid communication method. 
         [0023]    As such, the power consumption information measured in the electronic appliance  130  may be received by the apparatus  130  via the network interface  132 , and the received power consumption information may be transmitted to the processor  134 . The processor  134  may perform an information process for a certain purpose by using information stored in the database  136  and information received from the network interface  132 . The user interface  138  operates as an interface between the user and the apparatus  130 , and thus may be any one of various input/output devices. For example, the user interface  138  may include an input unit into which a command of the user is input, and an output unit to notify a user about information, wherein the input and output units are combined as a touch screen. The apparatus  130  and the electronic appliance  110  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2  showing internal structures thereof. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of internal structures of an apparatus  230  to manage an electronic appliance, and an electronic appliance  210 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  230  according to an embodiment includes a network interface  240 , a processor  250 , a database  260 , and a user interface  270 , but it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the apparatus  230  may include general-purpose components other than components shown in  FIG. 2 . Also, the electronic appliance  210  according to an embodiment includes a measurer  212 , a power supplier  214 , a main system  216 , a network interface  218 , a user interface  220 , and a database  222 , but it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic appliance  210  may include general-purpose components other than components shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0025]    As an embodiment of the present disclosure, managing of the electronic appliance  210  by receiving power consumption information transmitted from the electronic appliance  210  will now be described. In this regard, the internal structures of the electronic appliance  210  and apparatus  230  are also described. 
         [0026]    The electronic appliance  210  receives power required for an operation of the electronic appliance  210  from a socket  200  provided at home. When an alternating current (AC) power is input to the power supplier  214  by plugging a plug of the electronic appliance  210  into the socket  200 , the power supplier  214  converts the AC power to a direct current (DC) power having a suitable size to be used by the electronic appliance  210 , and supplies the DC power to an component of the electronic appliance  210 , which requires power. Here, the measurer  212  is provided between the socket  200  and the power supplier  214  so as to measure electric energy supplied to the electronic appliance  210 . In other words, power consumption of the electronic appliance  210  may be measured by detecting a voltage or current input from the socket  200  to the power supplier  214 . The measurer  212  may include a sensor resistor and a differential amplifier, and may measure power consumption in real time. 
         [0027]    The main system  216  controls overall functions of the electronic appliance  210 , and the main system  216  according to an embodiment may include a controller to control the overall functions of the electronic appliance  210 . The main system  216  operates using DC power supplied from the power supplier  214 . 
         [0028]    The network interface  218  is used for communication between the electronic appliance  210  and an external apparatus. For example, the electronic appliance  210  may transmit power consumption information including power consumption measured by the measurer  212  to the apparatus  230  through the network interface  218  while performing an operation requested by a user. 
         [0029]    The user interface  220  obtains an input signal from the user and displays information to the user. For example, the user interface  220  may be an input/output device, such as a display panel, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a monitor, or a speaker, prepared in the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0030]    The database  222  stores data generated during an operation of the electronic appliance  210  or data required for an operation of the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0031]    The apparatus  230  may communicate with at least one electronic appliance  210 . The apparatus  230  may transmit or receive information to and from the network interface  218  of the electronic appliance  210  by using the network interface  240 . For example, when the electronic appliance  210  transmits power consumption information measured by the measurer  212  through the network interface  218  while performing the operation requested by the user, the apparatus  230  receives the transmitted power consumption information through the network interface  240 . A method performed by the apparatus to manage the electronic appliance  210  by using the received power consumption information (hereinafter, referred to as first power consumption information) will now be described. 
         [0032]    The first power consumption information received by the network interface  240  of the apparatus  230  includes information about a time when the operation requested by the user is performed in the electronic appliance  210  and power consumption by the electronic appliance  210  during the time. Also, the first power consumption information may further include variable information about a variable factor that affects power consumption during the requested operation. The variable information about the variable factor that affects the power consumption may be an external environment or situation that changes power consumption of the electronic appliance  210  even if the same operation is requested to be performed by the same electronic appliance  210 . For example, when the electronic appliance  210  is an air conditioner, power consumption may differ when a room temperature is 30° C. and when it is 25° C., when a user operates the air conditioner by setting a desired temperature to 20° C. Alternatively, when the electronic appliance  210  is a washing machine, power consumption may differ based on the quantity of washing if a user pushes the same wash button to operate the washing machine. Accordingly, the first power consumption information may additionally include information about the external environment or situation of the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0033]    The first power consumption information may further include an intrinsic identification sign of the electronic appliance  210  or operation information about an operation of the electronic appliance  210  requested by the user. However, the intrinsic identification sign and the operation information may be transmitted to the network interface  240  of the apparatus  230  from the network interface  218  of the electronic appliance  210  in an individual information form. 
         [0034]    The information received by the network interface  240  is transmitted to the processor  250 . The processor  250  may include detailed modules, such as an analyzer  252 , a controller  254 , a reader  256 , and a recorder  258 . 
         [0035]    Regarding information received from the network interface  240 , the analyzer  252  divides data included in the information according to characteristics. For example, the analyzer  252  analyzes the first power consumption information to divide the first power consumption information into the time when the operation requested by the user of the electronic appliance  210  is performed, the power consumption by the electronic appliance  210  during the time, and the variable information about the variable factor that affects the power consumption. Also, the intrinsic identification sign of the electronic appliance  210  or the operation information about the operation of the electronic appliance  210  requested by the user may be divided from the first power consumption information if included. If the intrinsic identification sign and the operation information are received by the network interface  240  in an individual information form, the intrinsic identification sign and the operation information may be separated from each other by the analyzer  252 . 
         [0036]    As the analyzer  252  subdivides and analyzes data included in the received first power consumption information, it is possible to accurately match power consumption information. For example, if the first power consumption information includes the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, the variable information, the time when the operation requested by the user is performed, and the power consumption during the time, the first power consumption information may be subdivided as much as possible according to data so as to find past power consumption information having the same operation information and the same variable information about the same electronic appliance  210  from the database  260 . Accordingly, the times when the same operation is performed by the same electronic appliance under the same conditions and power consumption during those times may be compared by using the first power consumption information and the past power consumption information found in the database  260 . 
         [0037]    The controller  254  may control the reader  256  to read power consumption information corresponding to the first power consumption information from the database  260  by using the data divided by the analyzer  252 , and may control the recorder  258  to update the database  260  by using the first power consumption information. 
         [0038]    The reader  256  may read last updated power consumption information (hereinafter, referred to as second power consumption information) corresponding to the first power consumption information from among power consumption information pre-stored in the database  260 , according to a control signal input from the controller  254 . In order to find the second power consumption information accurately corresponding to the first power consumption information, the reader  256  may read the second power consumption information matching with the first power consumption information regarding all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information. For convenience of description, a case of using the second power consumption information matching with the first power consumption information regarding all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information will be described. The read second power consumption information is transmitted to the controller  254 . 
         [0039]    The reader  256  may read power consumption information (hereinafter, referred to third power consumption information) at a predetermined time corresponding to the first power consumption information from among the power consumption information pre-stored in the database  260  from the database  260 , according to another control signal input from the controller  254 . The predetermined time may be a point of time when power consumption is approximately the same to power consumption initially set by a manufacturer of the electronic appliance or required by the electronic appliance to perform the requested operation. Further, the power consumption initially set by the manufacturer maybe average power consumption of a newly manufactured electronic appliance. Similarly, in order to find the third power consumption information accurately corresponding to the first power consumption information, the third power consumption information matching the first power consumption information regarding all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information may be read. For convenience of description, a case of using the third power consumption information matching with the first power consumption information regarding all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information will be described. The read third power consumption information is transmitted to the controller  254 . 
         [0040]    The controller  254  may determine an abnormality of the electronic appliance  210  by using the received first power consumption information, and the second or third power consumption information read from the database  260 . Here, the abnormality of the electronic appliance  210  denotes a malfunction or worn out of the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0041]    First, the controller  254  compares the first and second power consumption information to determine whether there is a malfunction in the electronic appliance  210 . The controller  254  may determine whether there is the malfunction by comparing whether a difference between power consumption included in the first power consumption information and power consumption included in the second power consumption information is higher than a predetermined threshold value constituting a base to determine whether there is a malfunction. Alternatively, the controller  254  may determine whether there is the malfunction by comparing whether a rate of the power consumption included in the first power consumption information and the power consumption included in the second power consumption information is higher than a predetermined threshold value constituting a base to determine whether there is a malfunction. The determining of the malfunction may be performed whenever the network interface  240  receives new first power consumption information from the electronic appliance  210 . If it is determined that the electronic appliance  210  is not malfunctioning, the controller  254  updates the second power consumption information by using the first power consumption information so as to maintain recent power consumption information reflecting recent performance of the electronic appliance  210 . For example, the second power consumption information may be updated to an average value of the power consumption included in the first power consumption information and the power consumption included in the second power consumption information. Here, the average value may be obtained via any method, such as a harmonic average, an arithmetic average, or a geometric average, based on properties of data included in power consumption information, or via a weighted average. 
         [0042]    The recorder  258  may store the updated second power consumption information in the database  260  according to a control signal input from the controller  254 . Here, the updated second power consumption information may overwrite the pre-stored second power consumption information, or may be separately stored in the database  260  to preserve all past power consumption information. 
         [0043]    The controller  254  may determine the worn out of the electronic appliance  210  by comparing the updated second power consumption information and the third power consumption information. The controller  254  may determine the worn out by comparing whether a difference between power consumption included in the updated second power consumption information and power consumption included in the third power consumption information is higher than a predetermined threshold value constituting a base to determine the worn out. Alternatively, the controller  254  may determine the worn out by comparing whether a rate of the power consumption included in the updated second power consumption information and the power consumption included in the third power consumption information is higher than a predetermined threshold value constituting a base to determine the worn out. The third power consumption information denotes power consumption at the predetermined time stored in the database  260  corresponding to the operation requested by the user. In other words, the third power consumption information denotes power consumption information at the predetermined time matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information. The predetermined time may be input by the user or predetermined in the electronic appliance  210 , but may be a point of time when power consumption is approximately the same to power consumption initially set by a manufacturer of the electronic appliance  210  as power consumption or required by the electronic appliance  210  to perform the requested operation . Further, the power consumption initially set by the manufacturer maybe average power consumption of a newly manufactured electronic appliance. 
         [0044]    The database  260  stores power consumption information about at least one electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0045]    The user interface  270  externally notifies the user about the malfunction or worn out of the electronic appliance  210  determined by the processor  250 . The user interface  270  may be an input/output apparatus having any shape, such as, a display panel, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a monitor, or a speaker. For example, when the user interface  270  is a touch screen, the user interface  270  may display the malfunction or worn out of the electronic appliance  210  on a screen. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a table  300  for describing information stored in the database  260  of the apparatus  230 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 3 , power consumption information stored in the database  260  includes the intrinsic identification sign of the electronic appliance  210 , the operation information about the operation of the electronic appliance  210  requested by the user, the variable information about the variable factor that affects power consumption, the time when the requested operation is performed, and power consumption by the electronic appliance  210  during the time. The power consumption information of  FIG. 3  stored in the database  260  is stored corresponding to operations requested by the user of the electronic appliance  210 , and the second power consumption information may be stored in the database  260  as such. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a table  400  for describing information stored in the database  260  of the apparatus  230  according to times, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 4 , power consumption information stored in the database  260  includes the intrinsic identification sign of the electronic appliance  210 , the operation information about the operation of the electronic appliance  210  requested by the user, the variable information about the variable factor that affects power consumption, the time when the requested operation is performed, and power consumption by the electronic appliance  210  during the time. As described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , the power consumption information is stored in the database  260  not only according to operations requested by the user, but also according to times. In other words, the power consumption information stored in the database  260  of  FIG. 4  is stored by classifying power consumption information according to the operations and times, and the third power consumption information may be stored in the database  260  as such. Accordingly, power consumption information at a predetermined time may be easily obtained from the database  260 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an apparatus to manage an electronic appliance, and an electronic appliance so as to describe a method of managing an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Details about the apparatus  230  and the electronic appliance  210  of  FIG. 2  are applied to the method of  FIG. 5  even if omitted. 
         [0049]    In operation  510 , an operation of the electronic appliance  210  is selected by the user of the electronic appliance  210 . The user may select a desired operation of the electronic appliance  210  by using the user interface  220  of the electronic appliance  210 . When the operation is selected, the electronic appliance  210  performs the operation. 
         [0050]    In operation  520 , the power consumption while the electronic appliance  210  performs the operation is measured by the measurer  212 . The measurer  212  may measure the power consumption by detecting the voltage of current of power supplied from the socket  200  to the power supplier  214  of the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0051]    In operation  530 , the electronic appliance  210  transmits power consumption information including the measured power consumption information to the apparatus  230 . 
         [0052]    In operation  540 , the apparatus  230  determines an abnormality of the electronic appliance  210  by using the received power consumption information from the electronic appliance  210 . Here, the abnormality of the electronic appliance  210  denotes a malfunction or worn out of the electronic appliance  210 . The apparatus  230  determines the abnormality of the electronic appliance  210  by using information stored in the database  260 , as will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0053]    In operation  550 , the apparatus  230  notifies externals about the result of determining the abnormality of the electronic appliance  210 . The apparatus  230  may display the result on the user interface  270 , or transmit the result to the electronic appliance  210  or a portable terminal (not shown) of a user capable of communication. 
         [0054]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing an electronic appliance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In detail,  FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing the electronic appliance  210  by determining worn out of the electronic appliance  210  by the apparatus  230 . 
         [0055]    In operation  610 , the apparatus  230  may receive the first power consumption information including the power consumption measured from the electronic appliance  210  through the network interface  240 . As well as the measured power consumption, the first power consumption information transmitted from the electronic appliance  210  may further include the intrinsic identification sign of the electronic appliance  210 , the operation information about the operation of the electronic appliance  210  requested by the user, the variation information about the variable factor that affects power consumption, and the time when the requested operation is performed. 
         [0056]    In operation  620 , the apparatus  230  may read the second power consumption information corresponding to the first power consumption information from among power consumption information pre-stored in the database  260 , and update the read second power consumption information with the first power consumption information. In order to find the second power consumption information accurately corresponding to the first power consumption information, the second power consumption information matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information may be found, and the read second power consumption information may be updated with the first power consumption information. For convenience of description, the second power consumption information matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information is used. By updating the second power consumption information, recent power consumption information reflecting the recent performance of the electronic appliance  210  may be maintained. The apparatus  230  may calculate the average value of the power consumption included in the first power consumption information and the power consumption included in the second power consumption information, and update the second power consumption information with the calculated average. 
         [0057]    In operation  630 , the apparatus  230  reads the third power consumption information at a predetermined time corresponding to the first power consumption information from among the power consumption information pre-stored in the database  260 , and may determine the worn out of the electronic appliance  210  based on the read third power consumption information and the updated power consumption information. In order to find the third power consumption information accurately corresponding to the first power consumption information, the third power consumption information matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information may be read, and the worn out of the electronic appliance  210  may be determined based on the read third power consumption information and the updated second power consumption information. For convenience of description, the third power consumption information matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information is used. Also, the predetermined time may be input by the user or predetermined in the electronic appliance  210 , or may be a point of time when power consumption is approximately the same to power consumption initially set by a manufacturer of the electronic appliance  210  or required by the electronic appliance  210  to perform the requested operation. Further, the power consumption initially set by the manufacturer maybe average power consumption of a newly manufactured electronic appliance. 
         [0058]    When the difference between the power consumption included in the updated second power consumption information and the power consumption included in the third power consumption information is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the apparatus  230  may determine that the electronic appliance  210  is worn out. Since the updated second power consumption information includes the recent power consumption reflecting the recent performance of the electronic appliance  210 , and the third power consumption information includes the past power consumption when the state of the electronic appliance  210  is normal, the electronic appliance  210  may be determined to be worn out if the difference is large. 
         [0059]    When the apparatus  230  determines that the electronic appliance  210  is worn out, operation  640  is performed to notify the user or the electronic appliance  210  about the worn out of the electronic appliance  210 . Alternatively, when the apparatus  230  determines that the electronic appliance  210  is not worn out, operation  610  may be performed to receive new first power consumption information from the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing an electronic appliance, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In detail,  FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing the electronic appliance  210  by determining worn out and a malfunction of the electronic appliance  210  performed by the apparatus  230 . Terms used above are also used in descriptions in regard to  FIG. 7 , and thus definitions thereof will not be repeated herein. 
         [0061]    In operation  705 , the apparatus  200  receives the first power consumption information including the power consumption measured at the electronic appliance  210 , through the network interface  240 . 
         [0062]    In operation  710 , the apparatus  230  determines whether the second power consumption information matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information exists in the database  260 . By determining whether the second power consumption information matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information exists from among the power consumption information pre-stored in the database  260 , the apparatus  230  may find the second power consumption information accurately corresponding to the first power consumption information. 
         [0063]    If the second power consumption information corresponding to the first power consumption information does not exist in the database  260  of the apparatus  230 , the received power consumption information is stored in the database  260  in operation  715  since there is no power consumption information to be compared. Next, operation  705  is performed to receive new first power consumption information from the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0064]    If the second power consumption information corresponding to the first power consumption information exists in the database  260  of the apparatus  230 , the second power consumption information is read from the database  260  in operation  720 . 
         [0065]    In operation  725 , the apparatus  230  determines a malfunction of the electronic appliance  210  based on the read second power consumption information and the received first power consumption information. In other words, the second power consumption information read from the database  260  and the first power consumption information received from the electronic appliance  210  is compared, and the malfunction of the electronic appliance  210  is determined based on the result. For example, a difference between the power consumption included in the first power consumption information received from the electronic appliance  210  and the power consumption included in the second power consumption information read from the database  260  may be determined according to whether the difference is higher than a predetermined threshold value constituting a base to determine a malfunction of an electronic appliance to determine the malfunction. Alternatively, unlike the method of  FIG. 7 , it may be determined whether a rate of the power consumption included in the first power consumption information received from the electronic appliance  210  and the power consumption included in the second power consumption information read from the database  260  is higher than the predetermined threshold value constituting the base to determine the malfunction of the electronic appliance to determine the malfunction. The malfunction may be determined whenever the network interface  240  receives new first power consumption information from the electronic appliance  210 . 
         [0066]    When any one of the difference or the rate is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the apparatus  230  determines that the electronic appliance  210  is malfunctioning, and notifies the user of the electronic appliance  210  or the electronic appliance  210  about the malfunction in operation  745 . 
         [0067]    When any one of the difference or the rate is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, the apparatus  230  determines that the electronic appliance  210  is not malfunctioning, and operation  730  is performed. 
         [0068]    In operation  730 , the apparatus  230  updates the second power consumption information by using the received first power consumption information so as to store recent power consumption information reflecting recent performance of the electronic appliance  210  in the database  260 . For example, the second power consumption information may be updated by using an average value of the power consumption included in the first power consumption information received from the electronic appliance  210  and the power consumption included in the second power consumption information read from the database  260 . 
         [0069]    In operation  735 , when the third power consumption information corresponding to the first power consumption information exists in the database  260  of the apparatus  230 , the third power consumption information is read from the database  260 . Here, the apparatus  230  may read the third power consumption information at a predetermined time matching the first power consumption information in all of the intrinsic identification sign, the operation information, and the variable information, from among the power consumption information pre-stored in the database  260 , from the database  260 . Here, the predetermined time may be input by the user or pre-set in the apparatus  230  to read the third power consumption information. 
         [0070]    In operation  740 , the apparatus  230  may compare the updated second power consumption information and the read third power consumption information to determine worn out of the electronic appliance  210 . The controller  254  may determine whether a difference between the power consumption included in the updated second power consumption information and the power consumption included in the third power consumption information read from the database  260  is higher than a predetermined threshold value constituting a base to determine worn out of an electronic appliance to determine the worn out. Alternatively, unlike the method of  FIG. 7 , the apparatus  230  may determine whether a rate of the power consumption included in the updated second power consumption information and the power consumption included in the third power consumption information is higher than the threshold value constituting the base to determine the worn out of the electronic appliance to determine the worn out. 
         [0071]    When any one of the difference and the rate is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the apparatus  230  determines that the electronic appliance  210  is worn out, and notifies the user of the electronic appliance  210  or the electronic appliance  210  about the worn out in operation  745 . 
         [0072]    When any one of the difference and the rate is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, the apparatus  230  determines that the electronic appliance  210  is not worn out, and operation  705  is performed to receive new first power consumption information. 
         [0073]      FIG. 8  is a graph for describing cases when the electronic appliance  210  may be determined to be malfunctioning or worn out, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the graph illustrates a first curve denoted by α and a second curve denoted by β. The first curve α shows the power consumption of an electronic appliance and the second curve β shows the power consumption of another electronic appliance. The first curve α is used to show the malfunction of the electronic appliance and the second curve β is used to describe the worn out of another electronic appliance, as an example. A horizontal axis denotes an elapsed time of using the electronic appliance  210 , and a vertical axis denotes power consumption corresponding to a predetermined operation requested by the user. For convenience of description, the first and second curves α and β are respectively shown in an alternate long and short dash line and a solid line, and are identical until a point of time Y. Also, it is assumed that the electronic appliance  210  gradually uses more power consumption while performing the requested operation due to a malfunction or performance deterioration over time. 
         [0074]    Referring to the first curve α, first power consumption is a′ at a point of time Z and last-updated second power consumption is b at the point of time Y. When the power consumption included in the first power consumption information is a′ and the power consumption included in the last-updated second power consumption information is b, which are described above, the difference thereof is {circle around ( 1 )} shown in  FIG. 8 . When the difference {circle around ( 1 )} is higher than the predetermined threshold value constituting the base to determine the malfunction of the electronic appliance  210 , it may be determined that the electronic appliance  210  is malfunctioning. 
         [0075]    Referring to the curve β, first power consumption is a at the point of time Z and last-updated second power consumption is b at the point of time Y. When the power consumption included in the first power consumption information is a and the power consumption included in the last-updated second power consumption information is b, the difference therebetween is {circle around ( 2 )}. When the difference {circle around ( 2 )} is higher than the predetermined threshold value constituting the base to determine the malfunction of the electronic appliance  210 , it may be determined that the electronic appliance  210  is malfunctioning. 
         [0076]    If the predetermined threshold value is lower than the difference {circle around ( 1 )} and higher than the difference {circle around ( 2 )}, the electronic appliance  210  is determined to be malfunctioning if the electronic appliance  210  has the power consumption of the first curve α, but is determined not to be malfunctioning if the electronic appliance  210  has the power consumption of the second curve β. Accordingly, since the power consumption of the second curve β is not malfunctioning, the electronic appliance  210  having the power consumption of the second curve β updates the second power consumption information, wherein updated second power consumption is denoted by c which may be an average value of the first power consumption of the second curve β and the second power consumption of the second curve β in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0077]    According to an embodiment, when it is determined that the electronic appliance  210  is not malfunctioning, a determination of whether the electronic appliance  210  is worn out to determine an abnormality of the electronic appliance  210  is performed. A difference between the updated second power consumption c and last-updated second power consumption b is denoted by {circle around ( 3 )}, but it is difficult to determine the worn out of the electronic appliance  210  by using the difference {circle around ( 3 )}, because the difference {circle around ( 3 )} is not suitable for a comparative value to determine worn out due to similar point of time when the updated second power consumption c and the last-updated second power consumption b occur. In this case, the worn out of the electronic appliance  210  may be determined by comparing power consumption at a predetermined time pre-set in the apparatus  230  and the latest power consumption. For example, the predetermined time pre-set is a point of time when power consumption approximately the same to power consumption set by a manufacturer of the electronic appliance as power consumption required by the electronic appliance while the requested operation is performed is stored in the database. When the predetermined time is a point of time X, the power consumption included in the third power consumption information described above is d. A difference between the updated second power consumption c and the third power consumption d at the predetermined time is denoted by {circle around ( 4 )}. 
         [0078]    If the predetermined threshold value constituting the base to determine the worn out is lower than the difference {circle around ( 4 )} and higher than the difference {circle around ( 3 )}, the electronic appliance  210  having the power consumption of the second curve β is not malfunctioning but is worn out. 
         [0079]    An abnormality of an electronic appliance, such as worn out of the electronic appliance, may be determined by using power consumption information measured in the electronic appliance while an operation requested by a user is performed by the electronic appliance, and using past power consumption information stored in a database with respect to the same electronic appliance and the same operation. Accordingly, a structure of the electronic appliance may be simplified, and thus the electronic appliance may be minimized, since the electronic appliance does not have to include a sensor to detect abnormality, a logic device to determine abnormality, or a resource, such as a memory, for a logic operation. 
         [0080]    While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7