Abstract:
Provided is a method for remote power management capable of remotely controlling power consumption. The method for remote power management includes: allowing a power management device to generate power information on the basis of power consumption information collected from at least one electronic apparatus and transmit the generated power information to a user terminal through a wireless communication network; and to control an operation of the at least one electronic apparatus in accordance with a control command transmitted in response to the power information from the user terminal through the wireless communication network.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2009-0127063 and 10-2010-0063803 filed on Dec. 18, 2009 and Jul. 2, 2010, respectively, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a remote power management technology, and more particularly, to a method and a device for remote power management capable of remotely controlling and managing power consumption by using a portable terminal which a user carries in a smart grid environment. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In recent years, various researches have been performed, which can efficiently use and save energy by utilizing a communication network in order to solve an environmental problem caused due to a global warming and reduce carbon emission. 
         [0006]    Among them, a technology for a power supplier and a consumer to optimize energy consumption efficiency by interactively exchanging real-time information by grafting information technology (IT) to the existing power network has been developed. 
         [0007]    The technology is to maximize energy utilization by connecting a power transmission/distribution facility and a power consumer with a power plant by using a communication network and harmoniously interacting the generation and consumption of energy by using interactively shared information. 
         [0008]    That is, the power supplier determines the energy consumed by the power consumer in real time by using the communication network and controls an energy using time and energy usage at minimum cost. 
         [0009]    However, in the prior art, the power supplier controls the usage of energy consumed by the power consumer, thus, it is difficult to control energy usage depending on power consumer, that is, user&#39;s intention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The preset invention has been made in an effort to provide a method and a device for remote power management capable of remotely controlling power consumption depending on user&#39;s intention by using a user terminal which a user can carry. 
         [0011]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for remote power management that includes: generating power information on the basis of power consumption information collected from at least one electronic apparatus; transmitting the generated power information to a user terminal through a wireless communication network; and controlling an operation of the at least one electronic apparatus in accordance with a control command transmitted in response to the power information from the user terminal through the wireless communication network. 
         [0012]    The steps of the method for remote power management above may be performed by a power management device. 
         [0013]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for remote power management that includes: receiving power information on at least one electronic apparatus transmitted from a power management device through a wireless communication network; generating a control command for controlling an operation of the at least one electronic apparatus in response to the received power information; and outputting the generated control command to the power management device through the wireless communication network. 
         [0014]    The steps of the method for remote power management above may be performed by a user terminal. 
         [0015]    Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a device for remote power management that includes: a measurement unit collecting power consumption information from at least one electronic apparatus, and generating and outputting power information on the basis of the collected information; a communication unit transmitting the power information to a user terminal through a wireless communication network and receiving a control command transmitted from the user terminal in response to the power information; and a control unit controlling an operation of the at least one electronic apparatus in accordance with the received control command. 
         [0016]    According to a method and a device for remote power management of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a user can aim at efficient power consumption of a consumer in a predetermined time or space by remotely managing the power consumption of the consumer with a mobile terminal which the user always carries, and the like. 
         [0017]    Further, the remote power management device performs wireless communication using a user&#39;s mobile terminal and a short-range communication network of a home automation network when the user is positioned in the consumer so as to save a wireless communication fee which is comparatively expensive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a power management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the power management device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a power management operation of the power management system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a power control operation of a power management device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a power control operation of a power management device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The accompanying drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention and contents described in the accompanying drawings should be referenced in order to fully appreciate operational advantages of the present invention and objects achieved by the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like elements refer to like reference numerals shown in the drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a power management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the power management system  10  may include a consumer  100 , a power management center  200 , and a power producer  300 . The consumer  100 , the power management center  200 , and the power producer  300  may be connected with each other through a power network  530 , i.e., a smart grid network. 
         [0028]    The power management system  10  may further include a user terminal  400  that allows a user to manage the power consumption of the consumer  100 . 
         [0029]    The user terminal  400  may be a mobile terminal which is wirelessly communicable, such as a cellular phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a PMP, or the like which is a mobile terminal which can be carried by the user. 
         [0030]    The user terminal  400  may be connected with a power management device  101  of the consumer  100  or the power management center  200  through a first communication network  510 , i.e., a mobile communication network or a short-range/long-range wireless communication network. 
         [0031]    Herein, the mobile communication network may be a 2G or 3G mobile communication network and the short-range/long-range wireless communication network may be wireless Internet communication networks such as WiBro, WiFi, WiMax, Ethernet, and the like or wireless communication networks such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, Femto Cell, and the like. 
         [0032]    The consumer  100  may be power consumers such as a house, an apartment, a building, and the like, and may include a plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N) and the power management device  101  capable of managing the power consumption of the electronic apparatuses. 
         [0033]    The plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N in the consumer  100  as apparatuses that consume assigned power transmitted to the consumer  100  from the power producer  300  through a power network  530  may include, for example, a TV, a refrigerator, a computer, and the like. 
         [0034]    The plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N may be connected with the power management device  101  through a second communication network  520 , i.e., the wireless communication network or ZigBee, Bluetooth, Femto Cell, and the like or a power line communication network (PLC). 
         [0035]    The power management device  101  may collect information transmitted from each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N connected through the second communication network  520  and manage the information as power information. 
         [0036]    Further, the power management device  101  may control an operation of each of the plurality of connected electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 ,  102 _N in accordance with a control command transmitted from the user terminal  400  through the first communication network  510 . 
         [0037]    The power management device  101  may constitute a home automation network (HAN) of the consumer  100  together with the plurality of connected electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the power management device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the power management device  101  may include a measurement unit  110 , a communication unit  120 , and a control unit  130 . 
         [0040]    The measurement unit  110  collects information transmitted from each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N through the second communication network  520  to generate power information for each electronic apparatus. 
         [0041]    The generated power information may be outputted to the user terminal  400  or the power management center  200  through the communication unit  120  to be described below. 
         [0042]    Herein, the power information may include information on power consumption of each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N and the resulting consumption fee, that is, charging information. 
         [0043]    The measurement  110  may include a consumption measurement module  111  and a charging information processing module  113 . 
         [0044]    The consumption measurement module  111  measures power consumption consumed by each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N based on the information transmitted from each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N and may output the resulting power consumption information for each electronic apparatus. 
         [0045]    The charging information processing module  113  may calculate or receive a charging fee for the measured power consumption and output the resulting charging information for each electronic apparatus. 
         [0046]    For example, the charging information processing module  113  may calculate the charging fee for each electronic apparatus in accordance with a predetermined reference on the basis of the measured power consumption and output the charging information for each electronic apparatus on the basis of the calculated charging fee. 
         [0047]    Further, the charging information processing module  113  may transmit the measured power consumption to the power management center  200  through the power network  530  and output the charging information on the basis of the charging fee for each electronic apparatus calculated and transmitted from the power management center  200 . 
         [0048]    The measurement unit  110  may generate power information including the power consumption information outputted from the consumption measurement module  111  and the charging information outputted from the charging information processing module  113 . 
         [0049]    Further, the measurement unit  110  may manage the power information for each electronic apparatus by combining unique information assigned to each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N, that is, ID information ID of each electronic apparatus with the generated power information. 
         [0050]    The communication unit  120  may transmit the power information outputted from the measurement unit  110  to the user terminal  400  through the first communication network  510  or provides a control command CNT transmitted from the user terminal through the first communication network  510  to the control unit  130 . 
         [0051]    Further, the communication unit  120  may receive the information transmitted from the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N through the second communication network  520  and transmit the received information to the measurement unit  110 . 
         [0052]    The communication unit  120  may communicate with an external apparatus, i.e., the user terminal  400  or the power management center  200  by using various communication protocols in accordance with a communication control signal CC and may include a communication module  121  and a signal processing module  123 . 
         [0053]    The communication module  121  may perform data communication with external apparatuses by using various communication protocols in accordance with the communication control signal CC. 
         [0054]    The signal processing module  123  may perform signal processing for data transmitted to the outside or data received from the outside by using various communication protocols in accordance with the communication control signal CC. 
         [0055]    For example, when the power management device  101  attempts to collect information from the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 ,  102 _N, the communication unit  120  may communication with the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N through the second communication network  520  by using the short-range wire/wireless communication protocols, i.e., communication protocols such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, Femto Cell, and the like in accordance with the communication control signal CC. The communication unit  120  may transmit the information transmitted from the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 ,  102 _N to the measurement unit  110 . 
         [0056]    Further, when the power management device  101  attempts to transmit the generated power information to the user terminal  400 , the communication unit  120  may communicate with the user terminal  400  through the first communication network  510  by using the mobile communication protocol or the wireless communication protocol in accordance with the communication control signal CC. 
         [0057]    Herein, when the user terminal  400  is positioned inside of the consumer  100 , the communication unit  120  may communicate with the user terminal  400  by using the communication protocols such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, Femto Cell, and the like. 
         [0058]    Further, when the user terminal  400  is positioned outside of the consumer  100 , the communication unit  120  may communicate with the user terminal  400  by using the communication protocols such as 2G, 3G, and the like or the communication protocols such as WiBro, WiFi, WiMax, and the like. 
         [0059]    In addition, even when the communication unit  120  receives a control command CNT corresponding to the power information from the user terminal  400 , the communication unit  120  may use the same communication protocols as those at the time of transmitting the power information. 
         [0060]    Besides, when the power management device  101  attempts to transmit the generated power information to the power management center  200  or transmit a power request signal to the power management center  200 , the communication unit  120  may communication with the power management center  200  by using a power network communication protocol, i.e., a smart grid power network communication protocol through the power network  530 . 
         [0061]    That is, the power management device  101  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may use an appropriate communication protocol depending on whether or not the power management device  101  communicates with any apparatus, i.e., the user terminal  400 , the power management center  200 , or any one selected from the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N in the consumer  100 . 
         [0062]    The control unit  130  may control operations of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N on the basis of the control command CNT transmitted from the user terminal  400 . 
         [0063]    The control unit  130  may include a user command processing module  131 , an apparatus control module  133 , and a power control module  135 . 
         [0064]    The user command processing module  131  may determine the control command CNT which a user transmits to the power management device  101  by using the user terminal  400  and operate the apparatus control module  133  or the power control module  135  on the basis of the determination result. 
         [0065]    For example, when the user attempts to control an operation of a predetermined electronic apparatus among the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N of the consumer  100  by using the user terminal  400  in accordance with a predetermined condition, the user command processing module  131  may determine a set condition of the control command CNT transmitted from the user terminal  400  and operate the apparatus control module  133  or the power control module  135  on the basis of the determination result. 
         [0066]    The apparatus control module  133  may control an operation of a predetermined electronic apparatus among the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N on the basis of the determination result of the user command processing module  131 . 
         [0067]    The power control module  135  may request additional power to the power management center  200  on the basis of the determination result of the user command processing module  131 . 
         [0068]    The above-mentioned operation of the power management device  101  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5  to be described below. 
         [0069]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the power management center  200  may be connected with the consumer  100  through the power network  530  and connected with the user terminal  400  through the first communication network  510 . 
         [0070]    The power management center  200  may monitor the consumer  100  on the basis of the power information transmitted from the power management device  101  of the consumer  100 . Further, the power management center  200  may calculate the consumption fee on the basis of the power information. 
         [0071]    Further, the power management center  200  may transmit the power information on the consumer  100  to the user terminal  400  through the first communication network  510  in accordance with a request from the user terminal  400 . 
         [0072]    The power management center  200  may control the power producer  300  in accordance with a request for additional power from the power management device  101  of the consumer  100  and the power producer  300  may supply the additional power to the consumer  100  in accordance with a control by the power management center  200 . 
         [0073]    The power producer  300  may be a power production facility in an area managed by the power management center  200 , i.e., a power plant and may supply power to the consumer  100  through the power network  530  in accordance with the control by the power management center  200 . 
         [0074]    According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the power producer  300  may include a power production facility installed in a predetermined consumer, i.e., a generation facility of sunlight, geothermal heat, wind power, or the like. In this case, the power management center  200  may supply power to a consumer that requests additional power from a predetermined consumer by controlling a power management device of the predetermined consumer. 
         [0075]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a power management operation of the power management system of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the power management device  101  of the consumer  100  may collect power consumption information from each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N(S 10 ). 
         [0077]    For example, the measurement unit  110  of the power management device  101  may measure the power consumption information for each electronic apparatus from the power consumption information collected from each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N and may deduce the charging information for each electronic apparatus on the basis of the measured power consumption information for each electronic apparatus. 
         [0078]    Further, the measurement unit  110  may generate power information by combining ID information ID of each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N with the power consumption information and charging information for each electronic apparatus. 
         [0079]    The generated power information may be transmitted to the user terminal  400  through the first communication network  510  (S 20 ). 
         [0080]    For example, the power management device  101  may transmit the power information by using the short-range wireless communication protocol when the user terminal  400  is positioned inside of the consumer  100 . Further, the power management device  101  may transmit the power information by using the mobile communication protocol or the long-range wireless communication protocol when the user terminal  400  is positioned outside of the consumer  100 . 
         [0081]    In addition, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the user may access the power management center  200  through the first communication network  510  by using the user terminal  400  and may receive power information on the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N of the consumer  100  transmitted from the power management center  200 . 
         [0082]    The user may generate the control command CNT on the basis of the power information received by the user terminal  400 , that is, the power information on each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N of the consumer  100 , and may transmit the generated control command CNT to the power management device  101  through the first communication network  510  (S 30 ). 
         [0083]    The power management device  101  may determine the control command CNT transmitted from the user terminal  400  and may perform power control of controlling the operations of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N of the consumer  100  in accordance with the determination result (S 40 ). 
         [0084]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a power control operation of a power management device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a power control operation of a power management device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the user terminal  400  may receive the power information on the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N transmitted from the power management device  101  through the first communication network  510 . 
         [0086]    Subsequently, the user may generate a control command CNT for stopping an operation of a predetermined electronic apparatus among the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N. 
         [0087]    The user may set priorities of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N and a charging fee of the consumer  100  on the basis of the power information received by using the user terminal  400 , and may generate the control command CNT on the basis of the set priority information and the charging fee information. The generated control command CNT may be transmitted to the power management device  101  through the first communication network  510  (S 110 ). 
         [0088]    Further, the user arbitrarily selects at least one electronic apparatus which the user attempts to stop on the basis of the received power information and may generate information on at least one selected electronic apparatus, i.e., ID information of the corresponding information by using the control command CNT together with an operation stop command. 
         [0089]    The power management device  101  may determine the received control command CNT and perform a power control operation on the basis of the determination result. 
         [0090]    For example, the power management device  101  may compare a total charging fee of the consumer resulting from the power consumptions of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N measured by the measurement unit  110  with a predetermined charging fee included in the received control command CNT (S 120 ). 
         [0091]    When the total charging fee of the consumer is smaller than or equal to the predetermined charging fee on the basis of the comparison result, the power management device  101  may determine that the power management device  101  does not need to perform the power control and notify the determination result to the user terminal  400  (S 140 ). 
         [0092]    However, when the total charging fee of the consumer is larger than the predetermined charging fee on the basis of the comparison result, the power management device  101  may perform the power control operations of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N in accordance with the priority information included in the control command CNT (S 130 ). 
         [0093]    For example, the control unit  130  of the power management device  101  may stop one electronic apparatus having the lowest priority among the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N in accordance with the priority information of the control command CNT. 
         [0094]    Subsequently, the measurement unit  110  may calculate a total charging fee of the consumer for power consumption of the rest of the electronic apparatuses other than one electronic apparatus that stops again, and the control unit  130  may repetitively compare the predetermined charging fee with the recalculated total charging fee of the consumer (S 120 ). 
         [0095]    Herein, the measurement unit  110  and the control unit  130  of the power management device  101  stop the operations of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N in sequence in accordance with the priority information included in the control command CNT until the total charging fee of the consumer by the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N is smaller than or equal to the predetermined charging fee and may repetitively recalculate and compare the resulting total charging fee of the consumer. 
         [0096]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  and  5 , the user terminal  400  may receive the power information on each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N transmitted from the power management device  101  through the first communication network  510 . 
         [0097]    Subsequently, the user may generate a control command CNT for starting an operation of a predetermined electronic apparatus among the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N. 
         [0098]    For example, the user may generate operation request information for starting an operation of one electronic apparatus which does not operate at present among the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N in the consumer  100  on the basis of the power information received by using the user terminal  400  and generate a control command CNT including the operation request information and ID information of the corresponding apparatus. Further, the control command CNT may further include information on an operation start time of the corresponding apparatus. 
         [0099]    The generated control command CNT may be transmitted to the power management device  101  through the first communication network  510  (S 210 ). 
         [0100]    The power management device  101  may determine the received control command CNT and perform a power control operation on the basis of the determination result. 
         [0101]    For example, the power management device  101  may estimate power consumption of the corresponding apparatus on the basis of the received control command CNT (S 220 ). 
         [0102]    In addition, the power management device  101  may calculate total power consumption of the consumer including the estimated power consumption of the corresponding apparatus. 
         [0103]    Herein, the power management device  101  may estimate the power consumption of the corresponding apparatus which is requested to operate on the basis of the existing stored power consumption of each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses  102 _ 1 ,  102 _ 2 , . . . ,  102 _N. 
         [0104]    Subsequently, the power management device  101  may compare assigned power amount assigned to the consumer  100  with the calculated total power consumption of the consumer (S 230 ). 
         [0105]    When the total power consumption of the consumer is smaller than the assigned power amount on the basis of the comparison result, the control unit  130  of the power management device  101  may operate the corresponding electronic apparatus which is requested to operate (S 240 ). 
         [0106]    In this case, the control unit  130  may operate the corresponding apparatus at a requested operation start time on the basis of information on the operation start time of the corresponding apparatus included in the control command CNT transmitted from the user terminal  400 . 
         [0107]    Subsequently, the power management device  101  may notify the operation result of the corresponding apparatus to the user terminal  400  (S 260 ). 
         [0108]    However, when the total power consumption of the consumer is larger than or equal to the assigned power amount on the basis of the comparison result, the control unit  130  of the power management device  101  may transmit a request signal of requesting additional power to the power management center  200  connected through the power network  530  (S 250 ). 
         [0109]    The power management center  200  may control the power producer  300  in accordance with the request signal transmitted from the power management device  101  and the power producer  300  may supply the requested additional power to the consumer  100  through the power network  530 . 
         [0110]    When the supplying of the additional power from the power producer  300  is completed, the control unit  130  of the power management device  101  may start the operation of the corresponding apparatus which is requested to operate (S 240 ) and notify the operation start to the user terminal  400  (S 260 ). 
         [0111]    Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that substitutions, modifications and changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. Accordingly, the actual technical protection scope of the present invention must be determined by the spirit of the appended claims.