KR20110040584A - Method of controlling home network device and apparatus for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A home network device control method and apparatus thereof are provided to increase the efficiency of energy consumption in order to control home network device. CONSTITUTION: A home network device controller collects energy price information(S310). The home network device generates a device control plan for the control of the home network device(S320). The apparatus controls the home network device according to a generated control plan. The apparatus decides the change of the information including the tool information and the price of energy information(S340).

Description

Method for controlling home network device and apparatus therefor {Method of controlling home network device and apparatus for the same}

The present invention relates to a device control technology in a home network environment in which a plurality of devices are connected, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling a home network device in consideration of energy price information.

This study was derived from a study conducted as part of the IT New Growth Engine Core Technology Development Project of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. [Task Management Number: 2009-F-027-01, Title: Home Network Interworking Middleware for Overcoming Home Network Heterogeneity] Technology development].

With the development of communication technology, a plurality of devices used in the home can be efficiently managed by the home network.

As a result, users can manage devices such as air conditioners, gas ranges, boilers, etc., and remotely control them from the outside.

One of the important issues in controlling devices connected through a home network is energy use efficiency. In other words, the efficient use of energy for home network device control is a very important issue not only in terms of the economics of users, but also in terms of national economy and environmental protection.

On the other hand, the energy price information is information on the price of energy that is differently set by season, time, and usage, and includes information on the consumption price that is set for energy such as electric power and water gas. Such energy price information may be changed according to the energy price policy.

In some countries, prices of multiple energy suppliers are compared so that consumers can decide which one. However, it is difficult for consumers consuming energy in the home to directly collect all the energy price information to control the device, and to effectively reflect the change in the energy price that changes frequently.

In addition, home network device control for homes with energy self-generating equipment such as solar power generation, wind power generation, and hydro power generation can accurately and efficiently manage home network device management by accurately predicting the amount of power generation of self-generating equipment.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new home network device control technology that enables more efficient energy management.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to control more than one device connected through a home network, to grasp energy price information to control the home network device to enable more efficient energy consumption.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to improve the adaptation performance to environmental changes by controlling the home network device by reflecting this properly as energy price information or weather information is changed.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to enable more accurate and efficient device control in home network device control for homes with energy self-powered equipment such as solar electric power generation, wind power generation, hydro power generation.

Home network device control method according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of collecting energy price information associated with the operation of one or more home network devices connected via a home network; Generating a control plan of the device in consideration of the energy price information together with the device information of the device; And controlling the device according to the control plan.

At this time, the energy price information may be information on the energy price by season, hourly or usage.

According to an embodiment, the method of controlling a home network device may further include correcting the control plan according to weather information.

In this case, the generating of the control plan may generate the control plan such that the devices of the device group operate with a time difference when the control of the device group performing the same function changes slowly.

In this case, the generating of the control plan may correct the control plan in real time according to a change in energy consumption in the real-time monitored home.

In addition, the apparatus for controlling a home network device according to the present invention collects energy price information related to the operation of one or more home network devices connected through a home network, and considers the energy price information together with the device information of the device. An energy management unit generating a control plan; And a device controller for controlling the device according to the control plan.

At this time, the control plan may be generated in consideration of the amount of power generation of the self-powered equipment predicted based on the weather information.

In this case, the energy management unit may correct the control plan in real time when any one or more of the device information, the energy price information, and the weather information is changed.

At this time, the energy management unit may receive the energy price information periodically or whenever there is an update of the energy price information from an external server connected through a network.

According to the present invention, in controlling / managing one or more devices connected through a home network, energy consumption information can be efficiently obtained by controlling the home network devices by grasping energy price information.

In addition, the present invention can improve the adaptation performance to environmental changes by controlling the home network device by properly reflecting the change as the energy price information or weather information, etc. are changed.

In addition, the present invention enables more accurate and efficient device control in home network devices for homes with energy self-generation equipment such as solar electric power generation, wind power generation, and hydro power generation.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the repeated description, well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, and detailed description of the configuration will be omitted. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely describe the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shape and size of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system environment in which a home network device control method according to the present invention is used.

Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that energy generated through the power generation facilities 170, 180, and 190 is supplied to each of the homes 110, 120, 130, and 140 through a power line.

Each home (110, 120, 130, 140) is provided with one or more home network devices connected through a home network, the energy delivered through the power line is provided to each device. At this time, each of the home (110, 120, 130, 140) is provided with a smart meter (smart meter) can measure the power consumption used in the home in real time.

For example, the home network device may be a television, a refrigerator, a heater, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a lamp, or the like.

Each home (110, 120, 130, 140) may be provided with self-powered equipment, in this case, energy generated from the self-powered equipment may be provided to home network devices.

Each home (110, 120, 130, 140) is provided with a home network device control apparatus according to the present invention, the home network device control device is connected to the home network devices in the home through the home network.

The home network device control devices of the homes 110, 120, 130, and 140 may be connected to an external energy management server 160 through a network such as the Internet. In this case, the home network device devices may receive energy price information from the energy management server 160. The home network device control apparatuses having received the energy price information generate the control plan of the devices in the home in consideration of the received energy price information, and control the respective devices according to the generated control plan.

For example, the energy price information may be information about energy price by season, hourly or usage.

That is, according to the present invention, the energy use efficiency can be improved by controlling home network devices in a direction that consumes less energy in terms of price. Further, according to the present invention, even when the same energy is expensive, the operation of the home network devices is avoided, and the home network devices are operated at the low price, thereby improving energy use efficiency.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the home 110 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the refrigerator 211, the television 212, the heater 213, the air conditioner 214, and the washing machine 215 are connected to the home network control device 240 through the home network 250. In this case, the smart meter 230 may also be connected to the home network control device 240 through the home network 250.

The refrigerator 211, the television 212, the heater 213, the air conditioner 214, and the washing machine 215 connected through the home network 250 transmit energy supplied from the outside through an energy supply line 260 such as an electric wire. Can be supplied and operated At this time, the energy provided from the outside is provided through the smart meter 230, the smart meter 230 may measure the energy usage in real time.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the solar electric generator 221 and the wind generator 222 are used as self-powered equipment. The solar electric generator 221 and the wind generator 222 may be connected to home network devices through the smart meter 230 to provide energy.

The home network controller 240 controls home network devices in the home through the home network. The home network control apparatus 240 controls the home network devices so that the home network devices can operate according to the user's request by grasping the device information and the operation state of the home network devices.

The home network control device 240 may be connected to an external energy management server through a network such as the Internet. At this time, the home network device may receive the energy price information from the energy management server. The home network device control apparatus having received the energy price information may generate a control plan of the devices in the home in consideration of the received energy price information, and control each device according to the generated control plan.

At this time, the home network control device 240 may operate in conjunction with an external energy management server. That is, the application may be an application in which the energy management service executed by the operator in the energy management server and the home energy service executed in the home network control device 240 by the user of each home operate in conjunction.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a home network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the home network device control method according to an embodiment of the present invention collects information including energy price information (S310).

For example, the home network device control method may collect energy price information and weather information related to the operation of one or more home network devices connected through the home network. Of course, in this case, information about each device can also be collected.

In this case, the energy price information may be information on energy price by season, hourly or usage, or may be information determined according to an energy price policy. In addition, the energy price information may include not only the energy price itself but also all information that affects the energy price, such as price change trends, pricing policies, usage, and supply.

In addition, the home network device control method generates a device control plan for controlling the home network device in consideration of the collected information (S320).

That is, the home network device control method may generate a home network device control plan in consideration of energy price information collected together with the device information of the home network device. In addition, the home network device control plan may be generated by considering weather information as well as energy price information. At this time, the device control plan may be generated in consideration of the amount of power generation of the self-powered equipment predicted based on the weather information.

For example, a home network device control plan may be set to temporarily refrain from using expensive energy and take advantage of wind power for self-generation in windy weather.

According to an embodiment, the setting of the device control plan may first generate the control plan of the device in consideration of the energy price information together with the device information, and then correct it by considering the weather information.

In this case, the device control plan may be generated by an application program for home network operation. In this case, the application program may be a program executed by an energy management server connected to a home network device control device via a network such as a home network device control device provided in a home and the Internet.

In this case, the control plan may be generated such that only the selected device operates by selecting an appropriate device according to energy price information among the plurality of devices.

At this time, the control plan may be generated to adjust the operating time of the network device based on the energy price information.

In particular, the control plan may be generated such that the devices of the device group operate with time difference when controlling the device group performing the same function. For example, in a situation where a plurality of lights need to be turned on, rather than turning on all the lights at the same time, turning on some lights and gradually increasing the number of lights to prevent sudden changes in power consumption. The rapid increase in power consumption causes a lot of problems, and thus, preventing the sudden change in power consumption is a very important factor in controlling home network devices.

At this time, the control plan may be corrected in real time according to the change of energy consumption in the home monitored in real time.

Information such as energy price information may be received from an external server connected via a network periodically or whenever there is an update of the information.

In addition, the home network device control method controls the home network device according to the generated control plan (S330).

In addition, the home network device control method determines whether there is a change in information such as device information, energy price information or weather information (S340).

If it is determined in step S340 that there is a change in the information, the home network device control method proceeds to step S310 to collect the changed information and generates an updated device control plan in consideration of the collected information (S320).

If it is determined in step S340 that there is no change in the information, the home network device control method controls the home network device using an existing device control plan.

As such, by checking whether information such as device information, energy information and weather information is changed and updating the device control plan in real time, the adaptive performance according to environmental changes can be improved.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for controlling a home network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the home network device control apparatus includes an energy manager 410 and a device controller 420.

The energy manager 410 collects energy price information related to the operation of one or more home network devices connected through the home network, and generates a control plan of the home network device in consideration of the energy price information together with the device information of the home network device. .

At this time, the energy price information may be information on the energy price by season, hourly or usage.

In this case, the energy manager 410 may receive the energy price information periodically or whenever there is an update of the energy price information through an external network such as the Internet.

At this time, the energy management unit 410 may generate a control plan in consideration of the weather information. At this time, the control plan may be generated in consideration of the amount of power generation of the self-powered equipment predicted based on the weather information.

At this time, the energy management unit 410 may correct in real time the control plan when any one or more of the device information, energy price information and weather information changes.

In addition, the control plan may be corrected in real time in response to changes in energy consumption in the monitored home in real time.

The device controller 420 controls the home network device through the home network according to the generated control plan.

In this case, the device controller 420 may select an appropriate device according to energy price information among the plurality of devices to operate only the selected device.

At this time, the device controller 420 may adjust the operation time of the device based on the energy price information.

In this case, the device controller 420 may control the devices such that the devices of the device group performing the same function operate with a time difference to smoothly change the energy consumption load.

In this case, the device controller 420 may be generated to operate the devices of the device group with a time difference when controlling the device group performing the same function.

In addition, the control plan may be corrected in real time in response to changes in energy consumption in the monitored home in real time.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of energy price information.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the energy price is low at night time, the energy price is high at daytime, and the energy price is normal at morning / evening time.

Using this information about energy prices, it is possible to maximize the efficiency of energy use in controlling home network devices.

6 is a graph showing a change in energy demand according to time slots when the home network device control method of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 6, since energy demand is usually high in the daytime and low in the nighttime, it can be seen that the energy consumption in the existing home network system is high in the daytime and low in the nighttime (630).

However, considering the energy price information, avoiding the use of expensive energy and using cheap energy, and controlling the network equipment to use the same energy at an expensive time and at a low time, the fluctuation in energy demand reduces the energy use efficiency. It can be seen that the improvement (620).

As described above, the method and apparatus for controlling a home network device according to the present invention may not be limitedly applied to the configuration and method of the embodiments described as described above. All or part of the examples may be optionally combined.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system environment in which a home network device control method according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a home shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a home network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for controlling a home network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of energy price information.

6 is a graph showing a change in energy demand according to time slots when the home network device control method of the present invention is applied.

Claims (15)

Collecting energy price information related to the operation of one or more home network devices connected through the home network; Generating a control plan of the device in consideration of the energy price information together with the device information of the device; And Controlling the device according to the control plan. The method according to claim 1, The energy price information Method for controlling a home network device, characterized in that the information on the energy price by season, hourly or usage. The method according to claim 1, And adjusting the control plan according to the weather information. The method of claim 3, The control plan is a home network device control method, characterized in that it is generated in consideration of the generation amount of the self-powered equipment predicted based on the weather information. The method of claim 3, Generating the control plan And controlling the control plan in real time when one or more of the device information, the energy price information, and the weather information is changed. The method according to claim 1, Generating the control plan And selecting the appropriate device according to the energy price information from the plurality of devices to generate the control plan to operate only the selected device. The method according to claim 1, Generating the control plan And generating the control plan to adjust an operating time of the device based on the energy price information. The method according to claim 1, Collecting the energy price information And receiving the energy price information periodically from an external server connected through a network or whenever there is an update of the energy price information. The method according to claim 1, Generating the control plan And controlling the device group performing the same function to generate the control plan such that the devices of the device group operate with a time difference to smoothly change the energy consumption load. The method according to claim 1, Generating the control plan And controlling the control plan in real time according to a change in energy consumption in the real-time monitored home. An energy management unit for collecting energy price information associated with operation of at least one home network device connected through a home network, and generating a control plan of the device in consideration of the energy price information together with the device information of the device; And And a device controller for controlling the device according to the control plan. The method of claim 11, And the energy management unit generates the control plan in consideration of weather information. The method according to claim 12, The control plan is a home network device control device, characterized in that generated in consideration of the generation amount of the self-powered equipment predicted based on the weather information. The method according to claim 12, The energy management unit And controlling the control plan in real time when any one or more of the device information, the energy price information, and the weather information is changed. The method of claim 11, The energy management unit And receiving the energy price information periodically or whenever there is an update of the energy price information from an external server connected through a network.

Images