JP2007192758A - Power consumption monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power consumption monitoring system for monitoring the integrated power consumption of a system by using a system connection line, without having to take the time for separately connecting cables or the like to the system for monitoring the power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: In a plurality of electronic equipment connected to the system, the power consumption monitoring system monitors the integrated power consumption of the system, by using the connection line for the system connection. In addition, the power consumption monitoring system monitors the integrated power consumption of the system, by using the connection line of the system and separating system processing contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for monitoring power consumption of a plurality of electronic devices that are system-connected, for example, via a home appliance network.

  Environmental protection by reducing power consumption in response to social demands such as the 1995 “International Energy Star Plan” and the “Revised Energy Conservation Law” enacted in 1999, as well as the current environmental awareness of both users and companies. The demand for electronic equipment products that can contribute to the growth of so-called “energy-saving products” such as liquid crystal televisions is being developed and provided one after another. In such a movement, for example, Patent Document 1 provides a technique related to an electronic device having a function of displaying its own power consumption in response to a user request. As a result, not only the power consumption of the product itself can be suppressed, but also the individual user's awareness of power saving can be improved.

In addition, a power management system has been introduced in a production line of a factory, and a technique capable of integrating and monitoring power consumption of individual devices constituting a production line to be monitored is also provided.
JP 2000-162255 A

  However, in view of the current situation in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected to each other by, for example, an AV (audio visual) system or a home (in-house, school, etc.) network, the technique of Patent Document 1 described above is for each individual electronic device. There is a problem that only the power consumption can be monitored. Further, the power management system of the production line of the factory has a problem that it is necessary to connect each power source of each electronic device to an apparatus for power consumption monitoring with a dedicated cable or the like. In any of the above prior arts, in a system constituted by a plurality of electronic devices connected to the system, the integrated power consumption in the system process A is divided from the integrated power consumption in another system process B. There is a problem that it cannot be monitored separately.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a power consumption monitor capable of monitoring the accumulated power consumption of a system using a connection line for the system connection in a plurality of electronic devices connected to the system. Provide a system. In this way, for example, by using a video cable (connection line) or an audio cable (connection line) between a DVD player and a TV constituting an AV system, power information is transmitted / received together with the video / audio data, thereby connecting a dedicated cable. The integrated power consumption of the entire system can be monitored without taking the trouble of such as.

  Specifically, in the power consumption monitoring system of a plurality of electronic devices connected to the system, the electronic device has a power information acquisition unit that acquires power information consumed by the electronic device, and the power to the other electronic devices. And a communication unit for transmitting and / or receiving information using a connection line for system connection.

  In addition, by using the connection line of the system in this way, for example, in the AV system composed of the DVD player and the television, video reproduction when the audio data is stereo audio and 5.1 channel audio is performed. Also provided is a power consumption monitoring system that can monitor system power consumption by distinguishing system processing in the same system, such as monitoring integrated power consumption of a system by distinguishing processing.

  With the above-described power consumption monitoring system of the present invention, it is possible to monitor the integrated power consumption of the system using the system connection line without taking the trouble of separately connecting a cable or the like to the power consumption monitoring device. In addition, it is easy to calculate the power consumption for each system process by distinguishing the system process from the usage status of the connection line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, claims 1, 7, 8, and 9 will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, claims 2 and 10 will be mainly described. In the third embodiment, claim 3 will be mainly described. In the fourth embodiment, claim 4 will be mainly described. In the fifth embodiment, claim 5 will be mainly described. In the sixth embodiment, claim 6 will be mainly described.

Example 1
<Overview>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a power consumption monitoring system in the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, “Display device A”, “DVD playback device B”, and “5.1ch speaker C” transmit and receive video data and audio data, data connection line α, and data connection The AV system is configured by being connected by a line β. The power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment, for example, plays back DVD video on the DVD playback device B, displays the video content on the display device, and outputs audio on the 5.1ch speaker. Power consumption, “159 W”, “48 W”, and “40 W” are acquired using the data connection lines α and β, and the power consumption during DVD video reproduction in the entire AV system is integrated. . Then, for example, the accumulated value “247W” is held in a flash memory or the like and printed out as necessary, or is displayed on the display device on the spot to display OSD (on-screen display). Can raise awareness.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of “electronic devices” (0200A, 0200B, 0200C) are system-connected by “connection lines” (0210α, 0210β). To do.

  “System connection” refers to a state in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected to form one or two or more small-scale systems by wired or wireless connection lines for transmitting and receiving data. As a system connected to the system, for example, an “AV system” composed of a video / music playback device, a display device, a music output device, etc., or a home appliance network connected via a home LAN (local area network) "AV network system" and the like. In addition, for example, “temperature control system” composed of temperature control equipment in each room, hot water temperature control mechanism in the bathroom, etc. and its control unit, “light control system” in which room lighting in each room and its control unit are connected "Cooking system" to which cooking units such as microwave ovens and IH heaters are connected, "Security system" to which window shutters, doorphones and monitors, security cameras and reporting systems are connected, and the like. Alternatively, a similar system connected through a small network such as an in-house LAN or a school LAN may be used.

  In this embodiment, the electronic device connected to the system includes a “power information acquisition unit” (0201A) and a “communication unit” (0202A). In the example shown in the figure, the number of electronic devices constituting the system is three. However, the number of the electronic devices may be two or more. Since the configuration requirements of the individual electronic devices are the same, the configuration requirements “power information acquisition unit” (0201A) and “communication unit” (0202A) will be described below using the electronic device A as a representative.

  Note that the functional blocks of the system described below can be realized as hardware, software, or both hardware and software. Specifically, if a computer is used, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main memory, a bus, a secondary storage device such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile memory, a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM Used for reading media, drive ports for various communication and printing devices, hardware components such as other peripheral devices, driver programs and other application programs for controlling these hardware, and information input Examples include interfaces. These hardware and software can be used to process the programs developed on the memory sequentially with the CPU, process and store data stored on the memory and hard disk, data input via the interface, etc. This is used for output processing or for controlling each hardware component.

  The present invention can be realized not only as a system but also as a method. A part of the invention can be configured as software. Furthermore, a software product used for causing a computer to execute such software and a recording medium in which the product is fixed to a recording medium are naturally included in the technical scope of the present invention (the same applies throughout the present specification). Is).

  The “power information acquisition unit” (0201A) has a function of acquiring power information. “Power information” refers to information indicating the power consumed by the electronic device itself. For example, in addition to the power consumption per unit time (W), the power consumption represented by the product of power consumption and usage time Can be mentioned. Further, the power information may be obtained by distinguishing and acquiring standby power.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of acquisition of the power information. As shown in this figure, the power information acquisition unit is composed of, for example, an “ammeter” and a “voltmeter” connected to a power supply unit of an electronic device and a computing unit such as a CPU, and the measured current of the power supply unit The power consumption “159 W” is calculated and acquired by multiplying the amount “1.59 A”, the voltage value “100 V”, and the preset power factor coefficient “k (1.0 here)”. That's it.

  The “communication unit” (0202A) has a function of transmitting and / or receiving the power information to another electronic device using a connection line for the system connection. The “connection line for system connection” refers to a wired or wireless connection line for configuring a small-scale system and transmitting / receiving data as described above. A feature of the present invention is that, using this connection line, in addition to transmission / reception of data necessary for system processing, power information acquired by the power information acquisition unit is transmitted / received.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining transmission / reception of power information using this connection line. As shown in this figure, the display device and the DVD player are connected by a video cable as a connection line. Also, the DVD player and the 5.1ch speaker are connected by an audio cable which is another connection line. Here, when the DVD video image is reproduced by the DVD player, the image content data is transmitted to the display device using the image cable and displayed. Also, audio content data is transmitted and output to a 5.1ch speaker using an audio cable.

  At the same time, information “40 W” indicating the power consumption of the 5.1ch speaker is transmitted to the DVD player using this audio cable. Also, information “40W” indicating the power consumption of the 5.1ch speaker and information “48W” indicating the power consumption of the DVD player are transmitted to the display device using a video cable. is there. Then, the display device can know the power consumption of the entire system when DVD playback is performed in the AV system by adding the power information and the power consumption of the display device.

  Note that this communication unit is an HDMI communication unit that performs communication based on, for example, the HDMI (registered trademark) standard, and the connection line thereof may be configured by an HDMI cable. In addition, in the HDMI standard, control information can be transmitted / received in addition to data transmission / reception. For example, when the display device is displaying a DVD video image, a communication request for outputting a power information transmission request to the DVD player is performed. Can be done. Of course, in addition to communication based on the HDMI standard, there may be various communication standards in the communication unit such as communication based on the IEEE standard.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment when the above functional components are realized as hardware. The operation of each hardware component in the power consumption monitoring process will be described with reference to this figure. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system, the electronic device A and the electronic device B are connected to each other by a “connection line”, and data transmission / reception for system processing is performed (of course, other electronic devices C, D,... May be connected to the system). Each electronic device has a “CPU”, “main memory”, “power supply unit”, “current / voltmeter” as a power information acquisition unit, and a “communication interface” as a communication unit. They are connected to each other via a system bus to transmit / receive information and process information. Further, if the electronic device is a display device, a “video circuit” or a “monitor” may be provided, and if the electronic device is a DVD player, a “DVD drive” or the like may be provided separately.

  In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each “main memory” of the electronic device, and the “CPU” can exchange data by performing processing by specifying and accessing the addresses. It has become.

  Here, when a DVD video is reproduced by the “DVD drive” of the electronic device B, the read and decoded video content data is output from the “communication interface 2”, and the “connection line (video cable)” is connected. The data is received by the electronic device A via the “communication interface 1”. In the electronic device A, the video content data received via the “communication interface 1” is output to the “video circuit”, video display processing is executed, and the video content is displayed on the “monitor”.

  At the same time, in the electronic device B, the measured value of the “current / voltmeter 2” of the “power supply unit 2” is stored in predetermined addresses a and b of the “main memory 2”. Then, “CPU2” executes the integration calculation processing of the numerical values stored in the addresses a and b, and the power consumption 2 is calculated and stored in the predetermined address c of the “main memory 2”. The power consumption 2 is transmitted from the “communication interface 2” of the electronic device B using the “connection line”, and is received by the electronic device A via the “communication interface 1”. In the electronic device A, the received power consumption 2 and its own power consumption 1 calculated from the measured current value and the voltage value by the calculation process of “CPU1” in the same manner as the electronic device B are used as the address “a” of the “main memory 1”. , B and displaying the total power consumption of the entire system in accordance with the user's request.

<Process flow>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, first, in electronic device B, video content data (such as data for system processing) is transmitted to electronic device A using a connection line for system connection (step S0601). ). The electronic device A receives the video content data and the like (step S0602), and displays the received video content on the monitor (such as system processing based on the received data) (step S0603).

  At the same time, the electronic device A calculates and obtains the power information 1 consumed by itself from, for example, the measured value of the current / voltmeter of the power supply unit (step S0604). Similarly, the electronic device B acquires the power information 2 consumed by itself (step S0605), and transmits the power information 2 to the electronic device A using the connection line (step S0606). The electronic device A receives and acquires the power information 2 transmitted using the connection line (step S0607), calculates a sum value with the power information 1, for example, and calculates the power consumption of the entire system. Or

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, by using the system connection line by the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment, the power consumption of the system can be monitored without troublesome wiring work.

<< Example 2 >>
<Overview>
The power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment and further performs system processing according to control information transmitted / received between electronic devices, and transmits / receives power information according to the control information. And For example, a video content of stereo (2ch) audio is reproduced in an AV system including a display device, a DVD player, and a 5.1ch speaker. In this case, since it is not necessary to use the 5.1 channel speaker for audio reproduction, the control information related to the audio output is output to the built-in speaker of the display instead of the 5.1 channel speaker. Then, based on the control information, the power consumption is monitored without executing the power information transmission process from the 5.1ch speaker.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment, a plurality of “electronic devices” (0700A, 0700B, 0700C) are system-connected by “connection lines” (0710α, 0710β) as in the first embodiment. ing. Then, the electronic devices connected to the system (here, the electronic device A will be described as a representative) are based on the first embodiment, the “power information acquisition unit” (0701A), the “communication unit” (0702A), Have Since these “power information acquisition unit” and “communication unit” are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. And the feature point of the electronic device of a present Example is a point which has a "control information acquisition part" (0703A) further.

  The “control information acquisition unit” (0703A) has a function of acquiring control information. “Control information” refers to information for controlling or / and controlled by other electronic devices. For example, device control information such as power-on, data processing execution instructions, and power information acquisition instructions And a transmission command. Alternatively, it may be content data itself for video display or audio output.

  In addition, if the connection line is an HDMI standard connection line, the acquisition can be performed using the connection line. Further, control information other than content data, data processing instructions, etc., that is, control information not related to system processing may be obtained from an information transmission / reception path other than connection lines. Further, the electronic device itself may acquire the inside.

  The “communication unit” (0702A) of the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment transmits or / and receives the power information according to the control information. “According to control information” includes, for example, a form in which transmission / reception of power information is triggered by reception of the control information regardless of the content and type of the control information. In this case, the electronic device may selectively transmit / receive power information by selectively transmitting / receiving control information. Alternatively, by storing in advance a table that associates identification information of control information with ON / OFF of transmission / reception processing of power information, power information according to the content of control information received (system processing content), etc. It may be configured to determine whether or not to transmit. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of this table. As shown in this figure, the electronic device is a DVD player, and if the acquired control information is DVD playback control, it will perform video playback by itself, so according to the received control information (DVD playback control). The power information is acquired and transmitted.

  Alternatively, when the electronic device receives two or more pieces of control information within a predetermined time, the electronic device may not transmit power information for the second and subsequent pieces of control information. For example, the electronic device A is an electronic device included in both the system α and the system β. First, power information is transmitted and received between the electronic devices based on control information transmitted and received in the system α. The power consumption 1 of the entire system α including the power consumption of the device A is integrated and calculated. Here, control information is also transmitted and received in the system β, and if the electronic device A also transmits power information, the power consumption of the electronic device A is included in the power consumption 2 of the entire system β. That is, the power consumption is partially overlapped and calculated. In addition, a configuration in which the transmission destination of the power information is determined based on the control information may be used.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. The operation of each hardware component in the power consumption monitoring process will be described with reference to this figure. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system, electronic device A and electronic device B are system-connected by “connection lines”, and data transmission and reception for system processing is performed. Each electronic device includes a “CPU”, “main memory”, “power supply unit”, “current / voltmeter” as a power information acquisition unit, and a “communication interface” as a communication unit and a control information acquisition unit. Are connected to each other via a system bus, and transmit / receive information and process information. As described above, the control information acquisition unit may be realized by a data transmission / reception mechanism different from the communication interface to which the connection line is connected.

  If the electronic device A is, for example, a display device, it is further provided with a “video circuit” or “monitor”. If the electronic device B is a DVD player, it is a “DVD drive” or a “remote control light receiving unit” that is a control information acquisition unit. Etc. Here, the “remote control light receiving unit” of the electronic device B (DVD player) receives infrared light indicating a DVD reproduction signal as control information from the remote control. Then, the electronic device B reproduces the DVD video as described in the first embodiment, and the “video / audio content data” is transmitted to the electronic device A (display device) using the connection line to the “communication interface”. Send from. At the same time, using the reception of control information at the remote control light receiving unit as a trigger, a calculation process of power consumption 2 indicating its own power consumption is executed as described in the first embodiment, and the calculated power consumption 2 is also calculated. The data is transmitted from the “communication interface” to the electronic device A using the connection line.

  On the other hand, in the electronic device A, the “video / audio content data” received via the communication interface is output to the monitor and the built-in speaker, and at the same time, the control information “video / audio content data” Using the reception at the communication interface as a trigger, calculation processing of power consumption 1 indicating its own power consumption is executed, and the power consumption 1 of the electronic device A and the power consumption 2 of the electronic device B are stored in the main memory of the electronic device A. It is stored.

<Process flow>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, first, control information such as a DVD playback command is output from a remote controller or the like (step S1001), and is acquired by the electronic device B (step S1002). In the electronic device B, the determination as to whether or not the acquired control information is control related to itself is executed by referring to a table as shown in FIG. 8, for example (step S1003). Here, when the determination result is a determination result related to itself, the control based on the control information, for example, DVD reproduction is executed, and the video / audio content data read by the reproduction is used using the connection line. To the electronic device A (step S1004).

  When the electronic device A receives the video / audio content data (step S1005), the received video content is displayed on the monitor, and the audio is output from the built-in speaker (step S1006). The reception information is used as a trigger to calculate and acquire power information 1 consumed by itself (step S1007). The electronic device B calculates and acquires power information 2 consumed by the electronic device B, triggered by reception of control information (DVD playback command) from the remote controller, as well as transmission of video / audio content data (step S1008). The acquired power information 2 is transmitted to the electronic device A using the connection line (step S1009). Then, the electronic device A receives the power information 2 transmitted using the connection line (step S1010), and stores it in the flash memory or the like together with the power information 1, so that the entire AV system in the DVD playback processing is stored. The power consumption can be grasped.

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, acquisition of power information according to control information is executed by the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to know the power consumption of the electronic device currently controlled in the system.

Example 3
<Overview>
The power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment is based on Embodiments 1 and 2, and has a function of integrating and displaying the acquired power information and power information of other electronic devices on at least one of the electronic devices. It is characterized by. As a result, the power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system can be notified to the user. Therefore, when a DVD is played with 5.1ch audio of a DVD, the consumption is twice that when a DVD is played with stereo audio. This means that the user can grasp the power consumption of each system unit, and further improve the power saving awareness.

<Configuration>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment is a system in which a plurality of “electronic devices” (1100A, 1100B, 1100C) are connected by “connection lines” (1110α, 1110β), as in the first and second embodiments. It is connected. Then, the electronic devices connected to the system (here, the electronic device A will be described as a representative) are based on the first embodiment, the “power information acquisition unit” (1101A), the “communication unit” (1102A), Have Of course, although not shown, the “control information acquisition unit” may be provided based on the second embodiment. Since these “power information acquisition unit” and “communication unit” or “control information acquisition unit” are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments, description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the present embodiment is that at least one of the electronic devices further includes a “power consumption calculation unit” (1103A) and a “display unit” (1104A).

  The “power consumption calculation unit” (1103A) has a function of calculating the power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system based on power information received from other electronic devices. This is realized by a CPU, a main memory, and the like, and the numerical value indicated by the acquired power information and the numerical value indicated by the power information of the other electronic device are subjected to additive arithmetic processing, thereby the entire system or a part of the system. The power used can be calculated. The power consumption calculation unit may add all the acquired power information, or selectively add only the power information from a predetermined electronic device by using a table or input designation from the user. It may be a simple configuration.

  The “display unit” (1104A) has a function of displaying the calculation result. If the electronic device is a display device, it is preferable to display the calculation result together with the display of the video content by displaying, for example, OSD (on-screen display) on the monitor. Alternatively, a configuration may be employed in which a small monitor for displaying power consumption is separately provided and the calculation result is displayed on the small monitor. Further, the display is not limited to the display display as long as the user can be notified, and may be, for example, an audio output from a speaker or a printout display from a printing device.

<Process flow>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, first, in the electronic device B, for example, video content data is transmitted to the electronic device A using a connection line for system connection (step S1201). The electronic device A receives the video content data and the like (step S1202), and displays the received video content on the monitor (step S1203).

  At the same time, the electronic device A calculates and acquires the power information 1 consumed by itself from, for example, the measured value of the current / voltmeter of the power supply unit (step S1204). Similarly, the electronic device B acquires the power information 2 consumed by itself (step S1205), and transmits the power information 2 to the electronic device A using the connection line (step S1206). Then, the electronic device A receives and acquires the power information 2 transmitted using the connection line (step S1207). Then, based on the power information 2 acquired from the other electronic devices and the own power information 1 in this way, the entire AV system or a part of the used power is calculated (step S1208), and the calculated entire system or Part of the power used is displayed on a monitor or the like, for example, using an OSD (step S1209).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment can display the entire system or a part of the power used. Therefore, it is possible to notify the user of the power used for each system, and to improve the user's awareness of power saving.

Example 4
<Overview>
The power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment is based on the third embodiment or the like, based on the state of the system determined from the control information (for example, the processing contents of the system, the electronic devices constituting the system, etc.) It is characterized by calculating part of the power used.

  FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a “system state” that is a basis for calculating power consumption in this embodiment. As shown in this figure, for example, an AV system includes a “display device”, a “DVD player”, a “5.1ch speaker”, a “2ch component (component)”, a “terrestrial digital tuner”, and an “HDD”. It consists of six electronic devices called “(Hard Disk Drive) Recorder”. However, not all electronic devices are used depending on the contents of system processing. For example, when the system processing is “DVD video playback processing”, “terrestrial digital tuner” and “HDD recorder” are not used. Further, if the audio content of the DVD video is stereo audio, the “5.1ch speaker” is not necessarily used. Or, when the system processing is “viewing and recording of digital terrestrial broadcast program”, “2ch component” and “DVD player” are not used. Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that the power used is calculated in accordance with the difference in system configuration caused by the difference in system processing, that is, the difference in system state, even in the same system.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment, a plurality of “electronic devices” (1400A, 1400B, 1400C) are system-connected by “connection lines” (1410α, 1410β) as in the above embodiment. ing. Then, the electronic device connected to the system (here, electronic device A will be described as a representative) is based on the one described in 2 of the third embodiment, “power information acquisition unit” (1401A), “ A "communication unit" (1402A), a "control information acquisition unit" (1405A), a "power consumption calculation unit" (1403A), and a "display unit" (1404A). These “power information acquisition unit”, “communication unit”, “control information acquisition unit”, “power consumption calculation unit”, and “display unit” are the same as those described in the above embodiment. Since there is, the description is omitted. The feature of the electronic apparatus of this embodiment is that the “power consumption calculation unit” further includes “system state dependence calculation means” (1406A).

  The “system state dependency calculating means” (1406A) has a function of performing the calculation based on the state of the system determined based on the acquired control information. As described above, the “system state” includes a state distinguished depending on, for example, the contents of the system process and the configuration of the electronic device used in the system process. The “determination” includes, for example, a determination method using a table in which control information is associated with the contents of system processing processed by the control information.

  FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a table for determining the state of this system. As shown in this figure, for example, if the control information is control information related to a display device such as program reception by an analog tuner or power-on of the display device, the state of the system is determined as “viewing analog TV”. Alternatively, if the control information is control information related to the display device and the terrestrial digital tuner, it is determined that the state of the system is “viewing digital TV”. Then, according to the determination, the system state dependence calculation means calculates and displays the power used by the system, for example, “159 W” or “174 W” only from the power information from the electronic devices constituting the system. .

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in the power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment. The operation of each hardware component in the power consumption monitoring process will be described with reference to this figure. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system, electronic device A and electronic device B are system-connected by “connection lines”, and data transmission and reception for system processing is performed. Each electronic device includes a “CPU”, “main memory”, “power supply unit”, “current / voltmeter” as a power information acquisition unit, and a “communication interface” as a communication unit and a control information acquisition unit. Are connected to each other by a system bus, and transmit / receive information and process information. For example, if the electronic device A is a display device, it further includes a “video circuit” and a “monitor”, and if the electronic device B is a DVD player, it includes a “DVD drive”.

  Here, when a DVD playback signal as control information is acquired by the electronic device B (DVD player), video content is transmitted from the electronic device B using the connection line as described in the first embodiment, and the electronic device A The video content display process is executed at. At this time, the electronic device A refers to, for example, the system state determination table shown in FIG. 15 from the reception of the video content data from the electronic device B, and the CPU determines the current system state. I do. As a result of the determination, for example, when it is determined that the system state is “stereo audio DVD playback processing”, the device used in the system state (electronic device A: display device) and the electronic device B (DVD player) Control information for controlling to acquire and transmit power information. As a result, the power consumption 1 of the electronic device A and the power consumption 2 of the electronic device B are acquired by the electronic device A using the connection lines and stored in the addresses A and B of the main memory. Then, an addition process of the power consumption 1 and the power consumption 2 is executed by the CPU, the power used in the system state of “stereo audio DVD playback process” is calculated, and OSD is displayed on the monitor.

<Process flow>
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, first, control information such as a DVD playback command is output from a remote controller or the like (step S1701), and is acquired by the electronic device B (step S1702). In the electronic device B, the determination as to whether or not the acquired control information is related to itself is executed by referring to a table as shown in FIG. 8 (step S1703). Here, when the determination result is a determination result related to itself, the control based on the control information, for example, DVD reproduction is executed, and the video / audio content data read by the reproduction is used using the connection line. To the electronic device A (step S1704).

  In the electronic device A, when the video / audio content data is received (step S1705), the received video content is displayed on the monitor, and the audio is output from the built-in speaker (step S1706). Further, based on the received control information (here, video content data), the state of the system is determined (step S1707), and based on the determination result, power information is acquired and transmitted to the electronic devices constituting the system. Control information to output.

  According to the control information for acquiring the power information, here, the power information 1 consumed by the electronic device A is calculated and acquired (step S1708). The electronic device B also calculates and acquires the power information 2 consumed by itself (step S1709), and transmits the acquired power information 2 to the electronic device A using the connection line (step S1709). S1710). Then, the electronic device A receives the power information 2 transmitted using the connection line (step S1711), the power information 1 and the power information 2 are added, and the power used in the determined system state Is calculated (step S1712) and displayed on a monitor or the like (step S1713).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment can calculate and display the power used according to the state of the system determined from the control information. Therefore, even in the same system, it is possible to notify the user of the difference in power consumption caused by the difference in system processing.

Example 5
<Overview>
The present embodiment is based on the third and fourth embodiments, and the system power consumption is a predetermined value such that a warning sound is emitted when the calculated power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system exceeds a set value (predetermined threshold). It is a power consumption monitoring system further provided with a function of notifying the user that the number has been exceeded. As a result, the user's awareness of power saving can be further improved.

    <Configuration> FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment, a plurality of “electronic devices” (1800A, 1800B, 1800C) are system-connected by “connection lines” (1810α, 1810β) as in the above embodiment. ing. Then, the electronic devices connected to the system (here, the electronic device A will be described as a representative) are based on the third embodiment, the “power information acquisition unit” (1801A), the “communication unit” (1802A), It has a “power consumption calculation unit” (1803A) and a “display unit” (1804A). Of course, although not shown in the drawings, a “control information acquisition unit” or “system state dependence calculation unit” may be provided on the basis of other embodiments. Note that the “power information acquisition unit”, “communication unit”, “power consumption calculation unit”, “display unit”, and the like are the same as those described in the above embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The feature of the present embodiment is that at least one of the electronic devices further includes a “determination unit” (1805A) and a “warning output unit” (1806A).

  The “determination unit” (1805A) has a function of determining whether or not the power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system calculated by the power consumption calculation unit (1803A) exceeds a predetermined threshold. It may be realized by a size determination process between the power used by the main memory and a predetermined threshold value. Further, the “predetermined threshold value” may be determined by a numerical value based on settings at the time of product shipment or user setting input. Or, for example, based on the amount of power supplied in-house by solar power generation, etc., based on a method of determining the predetermined percentage as a predetermined threshold, or acquiring the power used in other systems and occupying the total power used A method for determining a predetermined threshold value may also be used.

  The “warning output unit” (1806A) has a function of outputting a warning when the determination result by the determination unit (1805A) is that the determination result is exceeded. As this warning output unit, for example, there is a method of warning by changing the numerical value of the used power displayed on the monitor on the display unit to the red and blinking display. Alternatively, as with the display unit, text and icons may be output in various display forms such as OSD display of text and icons, separate display on a small monitor, warning sound output from a speaker, and printout display from a printing press. In this way, the user's awareness of power saving can be further improved, and when a warning is output, the user's energy-saving behavior can be evoked.

<Process flow>
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, first, in the electronic device B, for example, video content data is transmitted to the electronic device A using a connection line for system connection (step S1901). The electronic device A receives the video content data and the like (step S1902), and displays the received video content on the monitor (step S1903).

  At the same time, the electronic device A calculates and acquires the power information 1 consumed by itself from, for example, the measured value of the current / voltmeter of the power supply unit (step S1904). Similarly, the electronic device B acquires power information 2 consumed by itself (step S1905), and transmits the power information 2 to the electronic device A using the connection line (step S1906). Then, the electronic device A receives and acquires the power information 2 transmitted using the connection line (step S1907). Then, based on the power information 2 acquired from the other electronic devices and the power information 1 of the own device in this way, the entire AV system or a part of the used power is calculated (step S1908), and the calculated entire system or Part of the power used is displayed on a monitor or the like, for example, using an OSD (step S1909). Further, it is determined whether or not the calculated power consumption exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S1910), and a warning is output when the determination result indicates that the determination result exceeds (step S1911).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment can output a warning when the power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system exceeds a predetermined threshold. Therefore, the user's awareness of power saving can be further improved, and when a warning is output, the user's energy-saving behavior can be triggered.

Example 6
<Overview>
The present embodiment is based on the third and fourth embodiments. For example, when the power consumption of the whole system or a part of the DVD video playback processing exceeds a set value (predetermined threshold), for example, the luminance of the backlight of the liquid crystal display device is increased. This is a power consumption monitoring system having a function of performing energy saving control such as automatically lowering. As a result, the user's awareness of power saving can be improved, and the power consumption of the system can be practically suppressed when the power consumption of the system actually increases.

    <Configuration> FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the power consumption monitoring system of this embodiment, a plurality of “electronic devices” (2000A, 2000B, 2000C) are system-connected by “connection lines” (2010α, 2010β) as in the above-described embodiment. ing. Then, the electronic devices connected to the system (here, the electronic device A will be described as a representative) are based on the third embodiment, the “power information acquisition unit” (2001A), the “communication unit” (2002A), It has a “power consumption calculation unit” (2003A) and a “display unit” (2004A). Of course, although not shown in the drawings, a “control information acquisition unit” or “system state dependence calculation unit” may be provided on the basis of other embodiments. Note that the “power information acquisition unit”, “communication unit”, “power consumption calculation unit”, “display unit”, and the like are the same as those described in the above embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. A feature of the present embodiment is that at least one of the electronic devices further includes a “determination unit” (2005A) and an “energy saving control information acquisition unit” (2006A).

  The “determination unit” (2005A) has a function of determining whether or not the power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system calculated by the power consumption calculation unit (2003A) exceeds a predetermined threshold. Since this determination unit performs the same processing as the determination unit described in the fifth embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The “energy saving control information acquisition unit” (2006A) has a function of acquiring the energy saving control information when the determination result of the determination unit (2005A) exceeds the determination result. “Energy saving control information” refers to control information for suppressing part or all of the processing in itself or / and other electronic devices based on a predetermined condition. The “predetermined condition” includes, for example, a condition other than the basic process of the system process. For example, in the case of video playback processing in an AV system, other than video playback processing, backlight luminance reduction, switching processing from a 5.1ch speaker as an audio output destination to a built-in stereo speaker, and the like. Other predetermined conditions include conditions set by the user. Based on such predetermined conditions, for example, control information for reducing the luminance of the backlight or switching the audio output destination 5.1ch speaker to the built-in stereo speaker is acquired and controlled. Thus, when the power consumption of the system actually increases, the power consumption of the system can be suppressed.

<Process flow>
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the power consumption monitoring system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, first, in the electronic device B, for example, video content data is transmitted to the electronic device A using a connection line for system connection (step S2101). The electronic device A receives the video content data and the like (step S2102), and displays the received video content on the monitor (step S2103).

  At the same time, the electronic device A calculates and acquires the power information 1 consumed by itself from, for example, the measured value of the current / voltmeter of the power supply unit (step S2104). Similarly, the electronic device B acquires the power information 2 consumed by itself (step S2105), and transmits the power information 2 to the electronic device A using the connection line (step S2106). Then, the electronic device A receives and acquires the power information 2 transmitted using the connection line (step S2107). Then, based on the power information 2 acquired from the other electronic devices and the own power information 1 in this way, the entire AV system or a part of the used power is calculated (step S2108), and the calculated entire system or A part of the power used is displayed on a monitor or the like by, for example, OSD (step S2109). Further, it is determined whether or not the calculated power consumption exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S2110), and if the determination result is that the determination result exceeds, energy saving control information is acquired (step S1911). ) Perform various energy-saving controls.

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the power consumption monitoring system according to the present embodiment can practically suppress the power consumption of the system when the power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a power consumption monitoring system according to the first embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the power consumption monitor system of Example 1. Conceptual diagram for describing an example of acquisition of power information in a power information acquisition unit of the power consumption monitor system of the first embodiment. Conceptual diagram for explaining transmission / reception of power information using a connection line in the power consumption monitor system according to the first embodiment. Schematic showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the power consumption monitor system of Example 1. FIG. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of a process in the power consumption monitor system of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the power consumption monitor system of Example 2. The conceptual diagram showing an example of the table for transmitting / receiving power information according to control information in the communication part of the power consumption monitor system of Example 2. Schematic showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the power consumption monitor system of Example 2. FIG. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of a process in the power consumption monitor system of Example 2. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the power consumption monitor system of Example 3. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the power consumption monitor system of Example 3. Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of “system state” that is a basis for calculating power consumption in the power consumption monitoring system according to the third embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the power consumption monitor system of Example 4. Schematic diagram showing an example of a table for determining the state of the system in the system state dependence calculating means of the power consumption monitoring system of the fourth embodiment Schematic showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the power consumption monitor system of Example 4. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of a process in the power consumption monitor system of Example 4. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the power consumption monitor system of Example 5. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the power consumption monitor system of Example 5. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the power consumption monitor system of Example 6. A flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the power consumption monitor system of Example 6.

Explanation of symbols

0200A Electronic equipment A
0200B Electronic equipment B
0200C Electronic equipment C
0201A Power information acquisition unit 0202A Communication unit

Claims (10)

A power consumption monitoring system for a plurality of electronic devices connected to the system,
Electronic equipment
A power information acquisition unit that acquires power information consumed by itself;
A communication unit for transmitting and / or receiving the power information to other electronic devices using a connection line for the system connection;
A power consumption monitor system. The electronic device has a control information acquisition unit for controlling other electronic devices and / or acquiring control information for being controlled,
The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits and / or receives the power information according to the control information. At least one of the electronic devices is a power consumption calculation unit that calculates power consumption of the entire system or a part of the system based on power information received from another electronic device;
The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a calculation result.   The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the power consumption calculation unit includes a system state-dependent calculation unit that performs the calculation based on the state of the system determined based on the acquired control information. At least one of the electronic devices is a determination unit that determines whether or not the entire or part of the power consumption of the system calculated by the power consumption calculation unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
5. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 3, further comprising: a warning output unit that outputs a warning when the determination result in the determination unit exceeds the determination result. At least one of the electronic devices is a determination unit that determines whether or not the entire or part of the power consumption of the system calculated by the power consumption calculation unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
Control information for suppressing part or all of the processing in itself or / and other electronic devices based on a predetermined condition when the determination result in the determination unit is that the determination result is exceeded The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 3, further comprising an energy saving control information acquisition unit that acquires energy saving control information. The electronic device is a home appliance,
The power consumption monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the system connection connects home appliances as a system forming a home appliance network.   The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is an HDMI communication unit that performs communication based on an HDMI (registered trademark) standard. A method of executing power consumption monitoring in a plurality of electronic devices connected to a system by a computer,
A power information acquisition step for acquiring power information consumed by the electronic device;
A communication step of transmitting and / or receiving the power information to another electronic device using a connection line for connecting the system;
A method for monitoring power consumption. A method of executing power consumption monitoring in a plurality of electronic devices connected to a system by a computer,
A power information acquisition step for acquiring power information consumed by the electronic device;
A control information acquisition step for controlling other electronic devices and / or acquiring control information for being controlled;
A communication step of transmitting or / and receiving the power information to another electronic device according to the control information using a connection line for the system connection;
A method for monitoring power consumption.

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