JP2012048469A - Method, equipment, and program for determining time of switching to power-saving mode - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimize the switching time for each of users who operate the equipment which is switched to a power-saving mode after the lapse of a predetermined time.SOLUTION: Troublesomeness electric energy is calculated for each switching time from the product of the number of times of recovery from a power-saving mode to a normal mode and a troublesomeness coefficient predetermined for each user, and a power consumption in the normal mode and a power consumption in the power-saving mode are calculated for each switching time. An actual power consumption is calculated for each switching time from the sum of the power consumption in the normal mode, the power consumption in the power-saving mode, and the troublesomeness electric energy, and a switching time corresponding to the smallest actual power consumption among actual power consumptions calculated for each switching time is determined as a switching time suitable to the equipment.

Description

  The present invention relates to a normal consumption mode that consumes power consumption and a method for determining a time for switching to the power saving mode for a device that can be switched to a power saving mode that reduces power consumption compared to normal power consumption. It relates to equipment and programs.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in methods for reducing the power consumption of electrical appliances due to social concerns regarding environmental issues and recommendations for energy conservation by government and other public institutions. Generally, a reduction in power consumption is realized by providing a device equipped with a power saving mode that can reduce power consumption compared to when using normal power for electric appliances that support energy saving.

  Such a device reduces power consumption by switching to the power saving mode when there is no operation or input to the device for a predetermined time from the user. For example, the power consumption is reduced by turning off the display unit of the device or setting the CPU in a standby state.

  On the other hand, even in a personal computer, as a power setting provided by the operating system, when there is no key input from the user for a predetermined time, a plurality of power saving modes are gradually set according to the time left. It is known to execute (Non-patent Document 1). That is, when a predetermined time elapses without the key input, the screen is switched to the power saving mode in which the screen is turned off. Next, when the predetermined time elapses, the power saving mode in which the hard disk is turned off is executed. Phased power saving is realized.

Microsoft Corporation, “Power Management of Windows XP”, [online], [searched July 27, 2010], Internet <URL: http: // www. Microsoft. com / japan / windowsxp / using / setup / learnmore / russel — 02march25. mspx>

  However, in the method of Non-Patent Document 1, the time for turning off the screen or turning off the power of the hard disk is executed at a time set in advance by the user and cannot be optimized for each user. Absent. Therefore, if the user has insufficient knowledge about switching to the power saving mode, it is impossible to appropriately adjust the switching time, and power saving may not be realized sufficiently. .

  On the other hand, if the power saving mode is executed after the elapse of a predetermined time in this way, when returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode, it takes a long time to return to the normal mode or prompts for a password. There is a case. For this reason, the user often feels “inconvenience” due to the fact that the device cannot be used immediately, and in order to avoid this, the user often sets the power saving mode switching time longer. However, since it is desirable to frequently switch the power saving mode, in general, power saving can be realized when the switching time is short.

  Therefore, the present inventors have paid attention to the point that it is important not to impair the convenience of the user for the device while realizing the power saving of the device as much as possible. In other words, it is necessary to optimize the switching time for switching to the power saving mode for each user in order to realize the power saving of the device as much as possible while enhancing the convenience for the user's device. did.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a device, a method, and a program for optimizing the switching time for each user who operates the device in the device that switches to the power saving mode after a predetermined time has elapsed.

(1) For a normal mode that consumes power in normal use and a device that can be switched to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode because there is no operation from the user for a predetermined time. , A method for determining a switching time for switching to the power saving mode,
(A) calculating the troublesome power amount at each switching time from the product of the number of times of return, which is the number of times of return from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and the troublesome coefficient predetermined for each user. When,
(B) calculating a power consumption amount in the normal mode and a power consumption amount in the power saving mode for each switching time;
(C) calculating a real power consumption for each switching time from a sum of the power consumption by the normal mode, the power consumption by the power saving mode, and the troublesome power;
(D) determining a switching time corresponding to the smallest actual power consumption among the actual power consumption calculated for each switching time as a switching time suitable for the device;
A method comprising:

  According to the invention described in (1), the troublesome power amount is switched from the product of the number of times of return, which is the number of times of return from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and the troublesome coefficient predetermined for each user. It is calculated every time, and the power consumption in the normal mode and the power consumption in the power saving mode are calculated for each switching time, and the power consumption in the normal mode and the power consumption in the power saving mode are bothersome. The actual power consumption is calculated for each switching time from the sum of the power consumption, and the switching time corresponding to the smallest actual power consumption among the actual power consumption calculated for each switching time is suitable for the device. It is determined that it is the switching time.

  Therefore, the user's troublesomeness caused by switching to the power saving mode is converted into a power amount, thereby optimizing the switching time for switching to the power saving mode for each user. Therefore, it is possible to provide a method that adjusts the convenience of the user and the power saving effect of the device, and realizes the power saving of the device, but does not impair the convenience of the user as much as possible. .

  The invention of (1) can be applied not only to methods but also to devices and programs as invention categories.

  (2) The actual power consumption is calculated for each date and time when the user operates the device, and in the step (d), a switching time suitable for each date and time is determined ( The method according to 1).

  According to the invention described in (2), since the switching time of the user is determined for each date and time, when the timing of the operation on the device varies depending on the day of the week and time according to the user's habit (for example, 9: Since the operation timing for the device is different between 00 and 9:00 on holidays, there is an increased possibility of setting a switching time suitable for the user's habits when it is desired to set the switching time of the power saving mode to a different time.

  (3) In the step of (c), the power consumption amount in the normal mode, the power consumption amount in the power saving mode, and the troublesome power amount are calculated for each date and time by an exponential level average, The method according to (2), wherein the actual power consumption is calculated for each switching time.

  According to the invention described in (3), the power consumption amount in the normal mode, the power consumption amount in the power saving mode, and the troublesome power amount are calculated by the exponential level average for each date and time, and each switching time. Then, the actual power consumption is calculated.

  (4) The method according to any one of (1) to (3), further including a step in which the annoyance coefficient is determined based on an environmental coefficient of the user.

  According to the invention described in (4), the bothersomeness coefficient is determined based on the user's environmental coefficient. Therefore, it is possible to determine the bothersomeness coefficient that affects the switching time by using the environmental coefficient that reflects the degree of environmental awareness of the user. For example, a user with high environmental awareness, if the environmental coefficient is small and the annoyance coefficient is small, the power consumption effect is given priority over the effect on the annoyance by reducing the annoyance power amount. Can do.

  (5) The method according to any one of (1) to (4), including a step of executing the power saving mode for the device at a switching time suitable for the determined device.

  According to the invention described in (5), it is possible to execute power saving of a device by actually executing the power saving mode for the device with a switching time suitable for the determined device.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a method, device, and program that adjust user convenience and the power saving effect of a device, and realize power saving of the device, while not impairing the convenience of the user as much as possible. It is possible to provide.

It is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the electric equipment 10 which is a suitable Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the data measurement process which is a suitable Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the profile determination process which is a suitable Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the real power consumption determination table which is a suitable Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the troublesome coefficient management table which is a suitable Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure containing the management server 100 which is a suitable Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Overview]
The outline of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Below, the switching time when switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode is determined for the electrical appliance 10.

  The graph shown in “user operation” indicates that the user is directly using the electrical appliance 10 in the time zone indicated in “user operation” from 9:00 to 9:40. . For example, if the electrical appliance 10 is a personal computer, this indicates that an input operation has been performed by a user from a keyboard or the like of the personal computer during this time period (from 9:00 to 9:06, etc.). Here, the time axis indicates “minute”.

  The power profile A indicates the actual power consumption when the switching time is 3 minutes, the power profile B indicates the actual power consumption when the switching time is 5 minutes, and the power profile C indicates the power consumption when the switching time is 10 minutes. Indicates the actual power consumption.

  Therefore, in the case of the power supply profile A, since the switching time is 3 minutes, when the user does not use the electrical appliance 10 for 3 minutes from 9:27 to 9:30 (no operation state), the electrical appliance 10 Switches from the normal mode to the power saving mode. In the graph, the power consumption is reduced by 30 [W] by switching to the power saving mode. Here, the power consumption in the normal mode of the electrical appliance 10 is 60 [W].

  Similarly, in the case of the power supply profile B, since the switching time is 5 minutes, the user shifts to the power saving mode by not using the electrical appliance 10 for 5 minutes from 9:27 to 9:32. In the case of the power supply profile C, since the switching time is 10 minutes, the user shifts to the power saving mode when the user does not use the electrical appliance 10 for 10 minutes from 9:27 to 9:37.

  In this example, the user uses the electrical appliance 10 intermittently from 9:09 to 9:27. First, the switching time of 3 minutes, which is the case of profile A, will be described. First, at 9:06, the user's operation disappears, so the mode is switched to the power saving mode at 9:09 after 3 minutes. Thereafter, at 9:10, the user uses the device to return from the power saving mode and switch to the normal mode. Thereafter, at 9:11 again, when the no-operation state is entered, the mode is switched to the power saving mode at 9:14, 3 minutes after the no-operation state. Further, at 9:15, when the user uses the electrical appliance 10, the user is returned from the power saving mode and switched to the normal mode. As described above, when the user intermittently uses the electrical appliance 10, the switching from the power saving mode to the normal mode (return count) is four times by 9:27.

  However, in this user operation, the non-operation state does not become 5 minutes or more, so neither the profile B nor C is switched from the normal mode to the power saving mode. For this reason, the number of return times, which is switching from the power saving mode to the normal mode, is also “0”.

  Here, the power consumption of each profile is calculated. In profile A, the time zone in the normal mode is 9:00 to 9:09, 9:10 to 9:14, 9:15 to 9:19, 9:20 to 9:24, 9:26 to 9 : 30, so the total time is 25 minutes. Therefore, the power consumption in the normal mode is 60 [W] × 25 [minutes] = 25 [Wh]. The time in the power saving mode is 9: 09-9: 10, 9: 14-9: 15, 9: 19-9: 20, 9: 24-9: 26, 9: 30-9: 40. Therefore, the total time is 15 minutes. Therefore, the power consumption amount in the power saving mode is 30 [W] × 15 [minutes] = 7.5 [Wh]. Therefore, in profile A, the power consumption is actually 32.5 [Wh].

  Similarly, in profile B, the time zone in the normal mode is from 9:00 to 9:32, the total time is 32 minutes, and the time zone in the power saving mode is from 9:32 to 9:40. The total time is 8 minutes. Therefore, in the profile B, the sum of the power consumption in the normal mode and the power saving mode is 36.0 [Wh].

  In profile C, the time zone in the normal mode is from 9:00 to 9:37, the total time is 37 minutes, and the time zone in the power saving mode is from 9:37 to 9:40. Total time is 3 minutes. Therefore, in profile C, the sum of the power consumption in the normal mode and the power saving mode is 38.5 [Wh].

  Next, the troublesome electric energy is calculated. If the user's annoyance coefficient is 1.0 [Wh / time], the number of return times is 4 only for profile A. Therefore, the troublesome electric energy of profile A is 1.0 [Wh / time] × 4 [times] = 4.0 Wh. Therefore, the actual power consumption of the profile A is 36.5 [Wh] by adding this to the above-mentioned power consumption 32.5 [Wh]. Note that the profiles B and C have a return count of 0, so the bothersome power amount is 0 [Wh]. Accordingly, the actual power consumption is the same as the above-described power consumption.

  From this result, the actual power consumption of the electrical appliance 10 is 36.0 [Wh], in which the profile B is smaller than the profiles A and C. For this user, 9:00 to 9:40 In the time zone, it is determined that it is optimal to set the switching time to “5 minutes” as profile B.

[Functional configuration of electrical equipment]

  Based on FIG. 2, the functional configuration of the electrical appliance 10 will be described.

  The electrical appliance 10 is a device that can be switched to a normal mode that consumes power in normal use and a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced compared to the normal mode because there is no operation from the user for a predetermined time. is there. For example, the electrical appliance 10 is a computer such as a personal computer, a general household appliance, or a commercial appliance. That is, it includes not only information home appliances such as mobile phones, portable information terminals, printers, telephones, fax machines, copiers, scanners, MFPs, but also servers, exchanges, routers, and the like. Furthermore, although the electrical appliance 10 may be a device such as electric lighting, it is assumed that the following device is used as an integral part of the electric lighting.

  The electrical appliance 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like as the control unit 11, and includes a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive) as a storage unit (not shown). ) Or both. Furthermore, the electric appliance 10 may include an input unit 20 such as a keyboard, a remote controller, a mouse, and a microphone that receives an operation from the user.

  The electrical appliance 10 includes an input receiving unit 12, a power amount calculating unit 13, a bothersome power amount calculating unit 14, a real power consumption calculating unit 15, and a switching time determining unit 16. The processing executed by each means will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS.

[Data measurement processing flow]
With reference to FIG. 3, the data measurement process which the electrical appliance 10 performs is demonstrated.

  The data measurement process is a process executed by the electrical appliance 10 for each profile classified by the switching time. In FIG. 3, the profile A is an example when the switching time is 3 minutes, the profile B is the switching time of 5 minutes, the profile C is the switching time of 10 minutes, and so on. In addition, the data measurement process is executed, and the power consumption amount in the normal mode, the power consumption amount in the power saving mode, and the return count are output.

  The profiles are classified according to values such as switching time of 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, etc., and a plurality of types are prepared in advance.

  First, the input receiving unit 12 receives an operation from the user to the electrical appliance 10 (step S01). That is, it waits for an input operation from the user. The input receiving unit 12 is a unit that controls input from the keyboard, mouse, remote controller, touch panel, microphone, or the like that is the input unit 20. The input unit 20 may be a power switch in the case of electric lighting. Moreover, the apparatus which receives an audio | voice input may be sufficient.

  And the input reception means 12 measures elapsed time, and when it is judged that the time of non-operation state is longer than switching time (in this case, 3 minutes) (step S02: "YES"), it progresses to step S03. Move processing. If it is shorter (step S02: “NO”), the process returns to step S01, and the operation receiving process from the user is continued.

  Then, the electric energy calculation means 13 starts normal data consumption from the normal mode time (in this case, 3 minutes) and the normal mode power consumption [W]. Electric power [Ws] is calculated (step S03). The power consumption in the normal mode is stored in advance in the electrical appliance 10. At this time, the calculated power consumption amount in the normal mode is associated with the measured date and time and stored in the electrical appliance 10.

  Next, the electric energy calculation means 13 starts time measurement in the power saving mode (step S04). Then, the input receiving means 12 determines again whether or not there has been an operation in the power saving mode from the user. If the input receiving unit 12 determines that an operation has been performed (step S05: “YES”), the process proceeds to step S06. If the operation is not detected (step S05: “NO”), the input receiving unit 12 continues to measure the time in the power saving mode, and moves the process to step S04.

  The power amount calculation means 13 calculates the power consumption amount [Ws] in the power saving mode from the time of the power saving mode started from step S04 and the power consumption [W] in the power saving mode (step S06). At this time, the calculated power consumption amount in the power saving mode is associated with the measured date and stored in the electrical appliance 10. Furthermore, the bothersome power amount calculation means 14 adds “1” to the number of times of return, which is a flag indicating that the power saving mode has returned to the normal mode, and counts it (step S07). The power consumption in the power saving mode is stored in advance in the electrical appliance 10.

  The electrical appliance 10 returns the process to step S01 after step S07 and repeats the process.

  By the data measurement process, the power consumption amount in the normal mode, the power consumption amount in the power saving mode, and the return count are stored in association with the date and time for each profile.

  The data measurement process is executed even when the power saving mode of the electrical appliance 10 is actually executed. That is, when the electrical appliance 10 is switched to the power saving mode, the control unit 11 or the like may be in a dormant state. Even in such a case, the data measurement process is executed by the following process. The power saving mode is activated when “YES” in step S02 (when the switching time exceeds the time of the no-operation state). Therefore, the power consumption amount in the normal mode in step S03 is calculated and stored before the power saving mode is activated. Then, in the case of “YES” in step S05 when there is an operation from the user, the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode. After switching to the normal mode, the power consumption amount of the power saving mode is changed. Calculate and store (step S06), and count the number of return (step S07). Thereby, the data measurement process can be executed even when the power saving mode is actually activated.

[Profile determination process flow]
Next, the electrical appliance 10 executes a profile determination process. This will be described with reference to FIG. A user's power consumption at a predetermined interval at a predetermined date and time is calculated. The used power consumption is the sum of the power consumption in the normal mode and the power consumption in the power saving mode. For example, the predetermined interval is 15 minutes on Monday at 13:00. Then, the consumed power consumption is calculated between 13: 0 and 13:15. In the following description, the day of the week will be described as an example of the extracted “day”. However, the “day” may be a date shown on a calendar such as September 15th.

  The calculated used power consumption is stored in the real power consumption determination table as shown in FIG. As an example, this table is a record of a user ID “SHUN”, a week “Monday (corresponding to a day)”, and a time “13: 0 to 13:15”. The power consumption in the normal mode is 100 [W], and the power consumption in the power saving mode is 33.3 [W]. The switching time of profile A is 3 minutes. The switching time of profile B is 6 minutes. The vertical axis shows the results of the first week and the second round of this date and time. In this table, up to the 29th week is stored. For example, from the first to the seventh week, the power saving mode on the screen Off has never been activated for both profiles A and B at this date and time. Therefore, the power consumption of 100 [W] in the normal mode of profile A during this period is 90000 [Ws], taking 15 minutes. This is the power consumption used.

  On the other hand, in the eighth week, in the profile A, the power saving mode of the screen Off is activated only once. In this case, the power saving mode was activated only once, and the power saving mode continued for 6 minutes. Therefore, the power consumption in the normal mode is 100 [W] × 9 minutes = 54000 [Ws], and the power consumption in the power saving mode is 33.3 [W] × 6 minutes = 6000 [Ws]. . Therefore, the consumed power consumption is 60000 [Ws].

The columns represented as profiles A and B (index) in the real power consumption determination table in FIG. 5 are data obtained by evaluating the number of screens off by performing leveling. That is, as a coefficient K (= 0.5),
Number of screen off times = (number of screen off times of one week ago) x (1-K) + (screen off times) x K
To calculate. By taking the exponential level average in this manner, the tendency of the operation timing of the user for the electrical appliance 10 at the same time one week ago can be reflected in the numerical value of the current screen Off count. As a result, the user's habits can be reflected in the numerical values.

  Next, the bothersome power amount calculation means 14 calculates the bothersome power amount at the predetermined date and time and at a predetermined interval (step S11). That is, in the user “SHUN”, week “Monday”, and time “13:00 to 13:15”, it is determined whether the number of times of return is counted, and if the number of times of return is counted, “SHUN” The product of the annoyance coefficient and the number of return times is calculated, and the annoyance power amount is calculated.

  For example, referring to the leveled profile A in FIG. 5, since the numerical value of the screen Off count is “0.5” in the eighth week, if the troublesome coefficient of the user ID “SHUN” is 1000 Ws, The troublesome electric energy is calculated as 500 [Ws].

  Next, the actual power consumption calculating means 15 calculates the actual power consumption at the predetermined date and time and at predetermined intervals (step S12). That is, the actual power consumption is calculated from the sum of the power consumption and the bothersome power consumption.

  In the example of the eighth week of profile A, the troublesome power consumption is 500 [Ws], and the power consumption at that time is 75000 [Ws], so the real power consumption is 75500 [Ws]. Calculated.

  Next, the actual power consumption calculating means 15 checks whether or not the actual power consumption has been calculated for all profiles (step S13). If there is a profile that has not been calculated, the process returns to step S10, and the processes from step S10 to S12 are similarly executed with the profile that has not been calculated (step S13: “NO”). When the real power amount is calculated for all profiles (step S13: “YES”), the process proceeds to step S14.

  And the switching time determination means 16 selects the profile with the smallest real electric energy among all the profiles as an optimal profile in the predetermined interval of the said date (step S14). As a result, the switching time of the profile selected here is determined as the optimal switching time at the predetermined interval of the date and time of the electrical appliance 10.

  Furthermore, the switching time determination means 16 actually sets the switching time to the power saving mode at a predetermined interval of the date and time of the electrical appliance 10.

  In addition, after setting the switching time as described above, in the above example, the profile determination process is further executed at 13:00 on Monday one week later, and a new real consumption is added to the real power consumption determination table. The amount of power is updated. In this case, it is possible to select a new profile by executing the profile determination process again. In this way, the switching time reflects the past user's operating habits, and it is the latest user's operating habits that are most affected, so the optimal switching time for the user is determined. Is possible.

[Toughness factor]
The annoyance coefficient is preferably set for each user. That is, when the electrical appliance 10 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the degree to which the return is troublesome varies depending on the user. Therefore, in determining the bothersome coefficient, it is conceivable to conduct a questionnaire regarding environmental awareness to the user. For example, the user is asked questions such as "Do you separate plastic bottles at home?" Or "Do you use the summer air conditioner at 28 degrees?" An environmental factor indicating environmental awareness is determined for each person. In accordance with the environmental coefficient, a troublesome coefficient is calculated (for example, a user with high environmental awareness reduces the troublesome coefficient), and the troublesome coefficient management table shown in FIG. 6 is created. The user ID is an ID corresponding to the user.

  In addition, depending on the user, it may be desired that the switching time to the power saving mode is at least a predetermined time or more. In this case, as the shortest switching time, accept this time for each user, It is stored in association with the troublesome coefficient management table.

[Provision of services for a plurality of electrical appliances 10]
In the above example, the switching time for only the electric appliance 10 is determined. However, if the electrical appliances 10 are the same user and have similar functions, the switching time is desirably changed to the same value in the electrical appliances 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if there are two personal computers and the switching time is determined by the personal computer 10a, it is desirable that the personal computer 10b is also changed to the determined switching time. .

  Therefore, a system is used in which the personal computers 10a and 10b corresponding to the electrical appliance 10 are communicably connected to the server 100 via a network via a public communication line or a dedicated line. When the personal computer 10a determines the switching time, the personal computer 10a transmits data regarding the determined date and time, a predetermined interval, and the switching time to the server 100, and the server 100 stores these. Then, the personal computer 10b accesses the server 100 at an arbitrary timing, receives the stored switching time, and changes the switching time of the corresponding date and time.

  The profile determination process may be executed by the server 100. That is, each of the personal computers 10a and 10b executes data measurement processing, and transmits data related to the power consumption in the normal mode, the power consumption in the power saving mode, and the number of restorations to the server 100 in relation to the calculated date and time. To do. The server 100 receives and stores this. Then, data measurement processing is executed at a predetermined timing to determine a switching time suitable for the personal computers 10a and 10b. The personal computers 10a and 10b acquire the switching time determined at an arbitrary timing from the server 100, and set the switching time.

  The means and functions described above are realized by a computer (including a CPU, an information processing device, and various devices) reading and executing a predetermined application program. The application program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD (CD-ROM, etc.), DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, etc.), for example. In this case, the computer reads the application program from the recording medium, transfers it to the internal storage device or the external storage device, stores it, and executes it. The program may be recorded in advance in a storage device (recording medium) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, and provided from the storage device to a computer via a communication line.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electric appliance 11 Control part 12 Input reception means 13 Electric power amount calculation means 14 Annoying power amount calculation means 15 Real power consumption calculation means 16 Switching time determination means 20 Input part 100 Server

Claims (7)

For the normal mode that consumes power in normal use and the device that can be switched to the power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode because there is no operation from the user for a predetermined time, A method for determining a switching time for switching to a power mode,
(A) calculating the troublesome power amount at each switching time from the product of the number of times of return, which is the number of times of return from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and the troublesome coefficient predetermined for each user. When,
(B) calculating a power consumption amount in the normal mode and a power consumption amount in the power saving mode for each switching time;
(C) calculating a real power consumption for each switching time from a sum of the power consumption by the normal mode, the power consumption by the power saving mode, and the troublesome power;
(D) determining a switching time corresponding to the smallest actual power consumption among the actual power consumption calculated for each switching time as a switching time suitable for the device;
A method comprising:   2. The switching time suitable for each date and time is determined in the determining step (d) by calculating the actual power consumption for each date and time when the user operates the device. The method described.   In the step (c), the power consumption amount in the normal mode, the power consumption amount in the power saving mode, and the bothersome power amount are calculated for each date and time by an exponential average, and for each switching time. The method according to claim 2, wherein the actual power consumption is calculated.   The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the annoyance factor based on an environmental factor of the user.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the step of executing the power saving mode for the device with a switching time suitable for the determined device. For the normal mode that consumes power in normal use and the device that can be switched to the power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode because there is no operation from the user for a predetermined time, A device that determines the switching time for switching to the power mode,
Annoyance power amount for calculating the troublesome power amount at each switching time from the product of the number of times of return that is the number of times of return from the power saving mode to the normal mode and the troublesome factor predetermined for each user A calculation means;
Power consumption calculating means for calculating the power consumption by the normal mode and the power consumption by the power saving mode for each switching time;
A real power consumption calculating means for calculating a real power consumption for each switching time from the sum of the power consumption by the normal mode, the power consumption by the power saving mode, and the bothersome power;
Of the actual power consumption calculated for each switching time, a switching time determining means for determining that the switching time corresponding to the smallest actual power consumption is a switching time suitable for the device;
Equipment with. In the normal mode that consumes power in normal use and the device that can be switched to the power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode because there is no operation from the user for a predetermined time,
Annoyance power amount for calculating the troublesome power amount at each switching time from the product of the number of times of return that is the number of times of return from the power saving mode to the normal mode and the troublesome factor predetermined for each user Calculation means,
A power amount calculating means for calculating the power consumption amount in the normal mode and the power consumption amount in the power saving mode for each switching time;
A real power consumption calculating means for calculating a real power consumption for each switching time from the sum of the power consumption by the normal mode, the power consumption by the power saving mode, and the bothersome power;
Of the actual power consumption calculated for each switching time, a switching time determining means for determining that the switching time corresponding to the smallest actual power consumption is a switching time suitable for the device,
Program to function as.

Images