Patent ID: 8086887

Claim:
An apparatus which communicates with another apparatus, comprising: a control unit which monitors a power consumption of said apparatus, supplies a power to said another apparatus when said power consumption comprises a surplus, and requests said another apparatus to supply said power when said power consumption comprises a shortage; an adjusting unit which adjusts said power consumption of said apparatus according to an operation of said control unit, wherein said adjusting unit adjusts said power consumption within a maximum power consumption of said apparatus; and a component which is adjustable in its power consumption, said component being adjustable within a component power limit determined according to said maximum power consumption of said apparatus, wherein said adjusting unit adjusts said power consumption of said apparatus by adjusting said power consumption of said component within said component power limit, and wherein said control unit monitors whether said power consumption of said apparatus comprises said surplus or said shortage by comparing said power consumption of said component with an upper limit value and a lower limit value, said upper limit value and said lower limit value being determined according to said component power limit.