Network system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9386905-B2
Application number	US-201113579430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2011
Priority date	Feb 17, 2010
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A network system is provided. The network system includes an utility area network including an energy generation component, a home area network including an energy consumption component consuming energy generated in the energy generation component to perform a function according to an operation course, an energy metering component disposed in the utility area network or the home area network, the energy metering component recognizing energy information or additional information except for the energy information, and an energy management component disposed in the utility area network or the home area network, the energy management component managing the energy information or the additional information with respect to the energy consumption component. The energy consumption component includes a control unit for controlling an operation of at least one course component constituting the operation course to restrict the operation of the one course component based on the energy information or the additional information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy consumption component capable of communicating with another component, comprising:
a communication unit to receive information related to energy, the information comprising at least energy charge information;
a memory unit to store an operation course including a plurality of course components having a predetermined time period, the plurality of course components being successively or simultaneously performed;
a control unit to receive the information related to energy received by the communication unit, and to control an operation of the energy consumption component based on the plurality of course components from the memory unit,
wherein the energy consumption component performs a function according to the plurality of course components, and the control unit controls the plurality of course components to restrict an operation of at least one of the plurality of course components based on the information related to energy,
wherein the energy consumption component comprises a washing machine,
wherein the plurality of course components includes a main component preset to be necessary and a sub component preset to be unnecessary, in a process of performing a function of the washing machine, the main component comprising a washing process, a rinsing process, or a dehydrating process, and the sub component comprising a displaying process for indicating an operation state of the washing machine, and
wherein the control unit controls the main component and the sub component such that the main component is performed and operation of the sub component is stopped to not allow the indicating the operation state of the washing machine if the information related to energy indicates that the energy cost is high.

2. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit causes the operation of the at least one of the plurality of course components to be immediately stopped or stopped after the operation of the sub component is operated for a preset time.

3. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein, when the information related to energy indicates that the energy is low cost, the control unit causes the at least one of the plurality of course components to operate according to normal operation course.

4. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the information related to energy includes an energy consumption amount consumed by the at least one of the plurality of course components or an energy charge corresponding to the energy consumption amount.

5. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the washing machine comprises:
an input unit to select an operation course among a plurality of operation courses; and
a display unit, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display information with respect to an operation state of the energy consumption component and the operation of the selected operation course or a course component of the selected operation course.

6. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit causes the energy consumption component to selectively operate in a normal mode or an energy saving mode based on the information related to energy.

7. The energy consumption component according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit controls the at least one of the plurality of course components to restrict the operation of the sub component when the washing machine is operating in the energy saving mode.

8. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display estimated energy amount or energy charge per a unit time, which are required from each operation function of the energy consumption component, stored in the memory unit.

9. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , further comprising a mode selection input unit to input a power supply mode.

10. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the information related to energy comprises information related to at least an energy cost.

11. The energy consumption component according to claim 10 , wherein the information related to at least the energy cost is at least one of time-based pricing, a power amount, a variation of the time-based pricing, a variation of the power amount, a mean value of the time-based pricing, and a mean value of the power amount.

12. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the information related to energy comprises information except an energy charge, and the information except the energy charge is one of curtailment, grid emergency, grid reliability, electricity generation amount, operation priority, and an energy consumption amount.

13. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , wherein the information related to energy further comprises additional information comprising time information or weather information.

14. The energy consumption component according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit skips the at least one of the plurality of course components when the washing machine is restricted in operation from the at least one of the plurality of course components skippable in a process in which the function of the washing machine is performed when the washing machine operates in the energy saving mode.

15. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , further comprises an input unit, wherein the input unit allows input of the at least one of the plurality of course components that is usable, and
wherein the input unit prevents input of the at least one of the plurality of course components that is unusable.

16. The energy consumption component according to claim 1 , further comprises a display unit, wherein the display unit displays the at least one of the plurality of course components that is usable.

Assignees

• Lee Koonseok
• Ahn Junho
• Lee Hoonbong
• Kim Yanghwan
• Choi Hoseon
• Park Daehwan
• Jeong Gilsup
• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Koonseok
• Ahn Junho
• Lee Hoonbong
• Kim Yanghwan
• Choi Hoseon
• Park Daehwan
• Jeong Gilsup

Classifications

• H04L12/2818

  from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007) · CPC title

• H04L12/12

  Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof · CPC title

• Y02B60/34

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• D06F39/005

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic

• A47L15/4293 Primary

  Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels · CPC title