Method, device and storage medium for controlling air conditioner

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances and discloses a method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising: obtaining an electricity payment method; determining the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method; and controlling the air conditioner to adjust operating parameters to reduce operating power when the electricity consumption this month is greater than or equal to the power limit for this month. The present application predicts the adverse effects that may be caused to the air conditioner during high electricity consumption by obtaining the electricity payment method. The appropriate power limit for this month is set based on the electricity payment method, so as to control the specific timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner in combination with the adverse effects during high electricity consumption. When the electricity consumption this month exceeds the power limit, the present application can limit the operation of the air conditioner at the appropriate time by reducing the operating power of the air conditioner, thereby increasing the usage time and reducing the electricity bill, which is conducive to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. The present application also discloses a device for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, for example, to a method and device for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] At present, with the continuous improvement of living standards, air conditioners have become an important household appliance that is indispensable in people's daily lives. Especially in summer, users have a strong demand for air conditioners, and often run air conditioners at high intensity and for a long time, which leads to high electricity consumption and high electricity bills. In order to control the cost of using air conditioners so that users can use air conditioners more economically, the relevant technology proposes a shared air conditioner control method, including: determining the target operating power and the target electricity consumption within a preset time based on the pre-stored electricity price and the target amount and target usage time sent by the client; sending the target operating power to the target air conditioner cloud platform so that the target air conditioner cloud platform controls the predetermined target air conditioner to operate according to the target operating power; obtaining the actual electricity consumption of the target air conditioner at every preset time interval; generating an early warning message if the actual electricity consumption is greater than the target electricity consumption; sending the early warning message to the target air conditioner cloud platform so that the target air conditioner cloud platform controls the target air conditioner to reduce its operating power.

[0003] During the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it was found that at least the following problems exist in the related art:

[0004] In actual situations, the payment methods for electricity bills may vary in different locations. Some areas adopt the method of prepayment or recharge. When the recharge amount is insufficient, the air conditioner will suddenly shut down, seriously affecting the user experience. In other areas, the method of next month payment is adopted. There is no upper limit on electricity consumption in the current month, but a tiered electricity price method is used for billing, and users are required to pay it together in the next month. However, under this method, it is difficult for users to grasp the power consumption of the air conditioner, and their understanding of the actual electricity bill is not clear enough, which can easily lead to a higher electricity bill in the next month. The relevant technology does not take into account the local electricity charges, so it cannot limit the operation of the air conditioner at the right time, and it is difficult to meet the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0005] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to ordinary technicians in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. The summary is not an extensive review, nor is it intended to identify key / critical elements or delineate the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather serves as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0007] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and device for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium, which can limit the operation of the air conditioner at an appropriate time, thereby balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0008] In some embodiments, the method includes: obtaining an electricity payment method; determining the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method; and controlling the air conditioner to adjust operating parameters to reduce operating power when the electricity used this month is greater than or equal to the power limit for this month.

[0009] In some embodiments, the device includes: a processor and a memory storing program instructions, and the processor is configured to execute the above-mentioned method for controlling an air conditioner when running the program instructions.

[0010] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes: an air conditioner body; and the above-mentioned device for controlling the air conditioner is installed in the air conditioner body.

[0011] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run, the above-mentioned method for controlling the air conditioner is executed.

[0012] The method, device, air conditioner, and storage medium for controlling an air conditioner provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0013] The disclosed embodiment predicts the potential adverse effects of high electricity usage on the air conditioner by obtaining information about electricity payment methods. Based on the electricity payment methods, the appropriate monthly power limit is set to control the specific timing of air conditioner operation restrictions, taking into account the corresponding adverse effects of high electricity usage. When the monthly electricity usage exceeds the power limit, the disclosed embodiment reduces the air conditioner's operating power. This allows the air conditioner to be restricted at the appropriate time, thereby increasing the air conditioner's operating time and reducing the electricity bill, thus balancing the user's dual needs of comfort and affordability.

[0014] The above general description and the following description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described by corresponding drawings. These exemplary descriptions and drawings do not limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings do not constitute a scale limitation. In addition,

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a method for controlling an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a device for controlling an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In order to be able to understand the features and technical content of the embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail, the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for reference only and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the following technical description, for the sake of convenience of explanation, a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments is provided through multiple details. However, one or more embodiments can still be implemented without these details. In other cases, to simplify the drawings, well-known structures and devices can be simplified for display.

[0023] In the description and claims of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as in the accompanying drawings, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used to distinguish similar items and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure herein. In addition, the terms "including," "having," and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0024] Unless otherwise stated, the term "plurality" means two or more.

[0025] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0026] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0027] The term "correspondence" may refer to an association relationship or a binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association relationship or a binding relationship between A and B.

[0028] At present, with the continuous improvement of living standards, air conditioners have become an important household appliance that is indispensable in people's daily lives. Especially in summer, users have a strong demand for air conditioners, and often run air conditioners at high intensity and for a long time, which leads to high electricity consumption and high electricity bills. In order to control the cost of using air conditioners so that users can use air conditioners more economically, the relevant technology proposes a shared air conditioner control method, including: determining the target operating power and the target electricity consumption within a preset time based on the pre-stored electricity price and the target amount and target usage time sent by the client; sending the target operating power to the target air conditioner cloud platform so that the target air conditioner cloud platform controls the predetermined target air conditioner to operate according to the target operating power; obtaining the actual electricity consumption of the target air conditioner at every preset time interval; generating an early warning message if the actual electricity consumption is greater than the target electricity consumption; sending the early warning message to the target air conditioner cloud platform so that the target air conditioner cloud platform controls the target air conditioner to reduce its operating power.

[0029] However, in reality, the payment methods for electricity bills may vary in different locations. Some areas adopt the method of prepayment or recharge. When the recharge amount is insufficient, the air conditioner will suddenly shut down, seriously affecting the user experience. In other areas, the method of next month payment is adopted. There is no upper limit on electricity consumption in the current month, but a tiered electricity price method is used for billing, and users are required to pay it together in the next month. However, under this method, it is difficult for users to grasp the power consumption of the air conditioner, and their understanding of the actual electricity bill is not clear enough, which can easily lead to a higher electricity bill in the next month. The relevant technology does not take into account the local electricity charges, so it cannot limit the operation of the air conditioner at the right time, and it is difficult to meet the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0030] Combine Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising:

[0031] S101: The processor obtains an electricity payment method.

[0032] S102: The processor determines the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method.

[0033] S103 , when the power consumption this month is greater than or equal to the power limit this month, the processor controls the air conditioner to adjust operating parameters to reduce operating power.

[0034] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure predicts the potential adverse effects of high power usage on the air conditioner by obtaining the electricity payment method. Based on the electricity payment method, an appropriate monthly power limit is set to control the specific timing of air conditioner operation restrictions, taking into account the corresponding adverse effects of high power usage. When the current monthly power usage exceeds the power limit, the air conditioner's operating power is reduced. This embodiment of the present disclosure can restrict the air conditioner's operation at the appropriate time, thereby increasing the air conditioner's usage time and reducing the electricity bill, thus balancing the user's dual needs of comfort and affordability.

[0035] Optionally, the method for controlling an air conditioner can be executed in the air conditioner or in a server communicating with the air conditioner. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the solution is described with the processor in the air conditioner as the execution subject.

[0036] Optionally, the processor obtains the electricity payment method, including: the processor obtains the location information of the air conditioner; and the processor determines the electricity payment method based on the location information of the air conditioner. In this way, the disclosed embodiment can obtain the location information of the air conditioner and determine the specific electricity payment method based on local notification regulations. This facilitates the reasonable setting of monthly power restrictions, balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0037] Optionally, the processor determines the current month's power limit based on the electricity payment method, including: if the electricity payment method is the next-month payment method, the processor determines the current month's power limit based on the total electricity consumption of the previous month; or if the electricity payment method is the advance payment method, the processor determines the current month's power limit based on the remaining electricity bill of the previous month. In this way, the disclosed embodiment can analyze the electricity payment method to predict the potential adverse effects of high electricity consumption on the air conditioner. Based on the differences between different electricity payment methods, corresponding detection parameters are selected to set the current month's power limit, thereby reasonably controlling the specific timing of the air conditioner's restricted operation.

[0038] Optionally, the processor determines the power-restricted amount this month based on the total power consumption of the previous month, including: the processor determines the electricity price level of the previous month based on the total power consumption of the previous month; the processor determines the critical power corresponding to the electricity price level of the previous month; the processor determines the power-restricted amount this month based on the first coefficient and the critical power. In this way, when the electricity payment method is the next month payment method, considering that it is difficult for users to grasp the power consumption of the air conditioner, their understanding of the actual electricity bill is not clear enough, which can easily lead to a relatively high electricity bill for the next month. Therefore, the embodiment of the present disclosure can determine the electricity price level of the previous month based on the total power consumption of the previous month, and combine the billing characteristics of the tiered electricity price to set the appropriate power-restricted amount this month by determining the critical power corresponding to the electricity price level of the previous month. In this way, the power consumption of this month can be reasonably controlled so that it does not exceed the critical power corresponding to the electricity price level of the previous month, so as to maintain a relatively stable unit price of electricity. In this way, it is possible to avoid the high electricity bill for the next month caused by the upgrade of the electricity price level, which is conducive to meeting the user's cost-effective needs.

[0039] Optionally, the processor determines the electricity price level for the previous month based on the total electricity consumption for the previous month, including: the processor searches a preset electricity price table for the corresponding electricity price level for the previous month based on the total electricity consumption for the previous month. Thus, by pre-building a table of electricity consumption and electricity price levels, the disclosed embodiment can quickly determine the electricity price level for the previous month in combination with the range of the total electricity consumption for the previous month, thereby facilitating the reasonable setting of power restrictions for the current month.

[0040] Optionally, Table 1 provides a preset electricity price table, which shows a corresponding relationship between electricity price levels, electricity consumption and unit electricity price, as shown in the following table:

[0041] Table 1

[0042] Electricity price levels Electricity consumption (unit: kWh) Unit electricity price (unit: yuan / kWh) First gear [0，210] 0.55 Second gear (210，400] 0.60 Third gear (400，+∞) 0.85

[0043] Optionally, the processor determines the critical power corresponding to the electricity price level of the previous month, including: when the electricity price level of the previous month is the first level, the processor determines the upper limit value of the power consumption interval corresponding to the first level as the critical power; or, when the electricity price level of the previous month is the second level, the processor determines the upper limit value of the power consumption interval corresponding to the second level as the critical power; or, when the electricity price level of the previous month is the third level, the processor determines the total power consumption of the previous month as the critical power. In this way, in combination with Table 1, when the electricity price level of the previous month is the first level, the critical power is 210 degrees. When the electricity price level of the previous month is the second level, the critical power is 400 degrees. When the electricity price level of the previous month is the third level, the critical power is equal to the total power consumption of the previous month. Therefore, the embodiment of the present disclosure can determine the critical power in combination with the user's electricity consumption last month, which is conducive to the reasonable setting of the power limit this month.

[0044] Optionally, the processor determines the monthly power limit based on the first coefficient and the critical power, including: the processor multiplies the first coefficient by the critical power to obtain the monthly power limit. The first coefficient is less than 1. Thus, the disclosed embodiment can introduce the first coefficient and calculate its product with the critical power to obtain an appropriate monthly power limit, thereby limiting the operation of the air conditioner at an appropriate time, thereby balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0045] Optionally, the processor determines the power limit amount this month based on the remaining electricity bill of the previous month, including: the processor determines the available power this month based on the remaining electricity bill of the previous month; the processor determines the power limit amount this month based on the second coefficient and the available power this month. In this way, when the electricity payment method is the prepayment method, considering that the recharge amount is insufficient, the air conditioner will suddenly lose power and shut down, seriously affecting the user's experience. Therefore, the embodiment of the present disclosure can determine the available power this month based on the remaining electricity bill of the previous month, and then set the appropriate power limit amount this month. In this way, the power consumption this month can be reasonably controlled so that it does not exceed the available power corresponding to the remaining electricity bill, so as to avoid the air conditioner suddenly shutting down due to insufficient power, causing discomfort to the user, which is conducive to meeting the user's comfort needs.

[0046] Optionally, the processor determines the available electricity for this month based on the remaining electricity fee from the previous month, including dividing the remaining electricity fee from the previous month by the unit electricity price to obtain the available electricity for this month. In this way, the disclosed embodiment can determine the remaining amount of electricity for this month based on the remaining electricity fee from the previous month, and obtain the accurate available electricity for this month by dividing it by the unit electricity price, thereby facilitating the reasonable setting of the power limit for this month.

[0047] Optionally, the processor determines the monthly power limit based on the second coefficient and the monthly available power, including: the processor multiplies the second coefficient by the monthly available power to obtain the monthly power limit. The second coefficient is less than 1. Thus, the disclosed embodiment can introduce the second coefficient and calculate the product of the coefficient and the monthly available power to obtain an appropriate monthly power limit, thereby limiting the operation of the air conditioner at an appropriate time, thereby balancing the dual needs of user comfort and cost-effectiveness.

[0048] Optionally, the first coefficient is greater than the second coefficient. Thus, considering that a sudden power outage and shutdown of the air conditioner may cause relatively severe adverse effects, the embodiment of the present disclosure may set a relatively small second coefficient for the prepayment method, so that the timing of restricting the operation of the air conditioner is as early as possible. This allows the operating power of the air conditioner to be reduced earlier to further increase the use time of the air conditioner, and avoid the discomfort caused to the user by the sudden shutdown of the air conditioner due to insufficient power, which is conducive to meeting the user's comfort needs. As for the next-month payment method, under the premise of ensuring that the electricity price level is not upgraded, the embodiment of the present disclosure may set a relatively large first coefficient, so that the timing of restricting the operation of the air conditioner is slightly delayed. This allows the operating power of the air conditioner to be reduced slightly later, so that the user can enjoy the complete air-conditioning experience for more time, which is conducive to meeting the user's comfort needs.

[0049] Optionally, the first coefficient can be set according to the power used by the air conditioner. For the case where the air conditioner uses a large power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly smaller first coefficient to advance the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner earlier, avoid the high electricity bill in the next month caused by the upgrade of the electricity price, and help meet the user's cost-effective needs. For the case where the air conditioner uses a small power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly larger first coefficient to postpone the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner later, so that the user can enjoy the full air-conditioning experience for more time, which is conducive to meeting the user's comfort needs. Preferably, the first coefficient can be set to 0.85. The first coefficient can also be adjusted according to the actual needs of the user, and can also be set to any other value such as 0.80 or 0.90.

[0050] Optionally, the second coefficient can be set according to the power used by the air conditioner. For the case where the air conditioner uses a large power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly smaller second coefficient to advance the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner earlier, avoiding the discomfort caused by the sudden shutdown of the air conditioner due to the electricity bill running out, which is beneficial to ensuring the comfort needs of the user. For the case where the air conditioner uses a small power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly larger second coefficient to slightly delay the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner later, so that the user can enjoy the full air-conditioning experience for more time, which is beneficial to ensuring the comfort needs of the user. Preferably, the second coefficient can be set to 0.75. The second coefficient can also be adjusted according to the actual needs of the user, and can also be set to any other value such as 0.70 or 0.80.

[0051] Optionally, the processor controls the air conditioner to adjust operating parameters to reduce operating power, including: when the operating mode of the air conditioner is cooling mode, increasing the target temperature; or, when the operating mode of the air conditioner is heating mode, lowering the target temperature; or, when the operating mode of the air conditioner is air supply mode, lowering the wind speed gear. In this way, the embodiment of the present disclosure can adjust appropriate operating parameters in combination with the operating mode of the air conditioner, so that the operating power can be reasonably reduced to reduce the impact on the user's comfort experience. Specifically, the above-mentioned effect of limiting the operation of the air conditioner can be achieved by adjusting the compressor operating frequency, fan speed or throttle valve opening, so that the operating power of the air conditioner can be accurately reduced, which is conducive to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0052] Combine Figure 2 As shown, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides another method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising:

[0053] S201: The processor obtains an electricity payment method.

[0054] S202: The processor determines the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method.

[0055] S203: The processor modifies the power limit for this month based on the proportion of power consumption by air conditioners last month.

[0056] S204 , when the power consumption this month is greater than or equal to the power limit this month, the processor controls the air conditioner to adjust operating parameters to reduce operating power.

[0057] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure predicts the potential adverse effects of high power consumption on the air conditioner by obtaining the electricity payment method. Based on the electricity payment method, an appropriate monthly power limit is set to control the specific timing of air conditioner operation restrictions, taking into account the corresponding adverse effects of high power consumption. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present disclosure also considers the power consumption of other household appliances, determining the actual power consumption of the air conditioner by obtaining the percentage of power consumed by the air conditioner last month. Based on the percentage of power consumed by the air conditioner, the embodiment of the present disclosure can predict the energy conservation effect achieved by limiting the operation of the air conditioner. By adjusting the monthly power limit, the embodiment of the present disclosure can optimize the specific timing of air conditioner operation restrictions based on the energy conservation effect, thereby more effectively adjusting the air conditioner operation and better ensuring the user experience. When the current monthly power consumption exceeds the power limit, the embodiment of the present disclosure reduces the air conditioner's operating power. This allows the air conditioner to be restricted at the appropriate time, thereby increasing the air conditioner's operating time and reducing the electricity bill, thus balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0058] Optionally, the method for controlling an air conditioner can be executed in the air conditioner or in a server communicating with the air conditioner. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the solution is described with the processor in the air conditioner as the execution subject.

[0059] Optionally, the processor obtains the percentage of electricity used by the air conditioner last month in the following manner, including: the processor divides the electricity used by the air conditioner last month by the total electricity used last month to obtain the percentage of electricity used by the air conditioner last month. In this way, the disclosed embodiment can take into account the electricity consumption of other household appliances and determine the actual power consumption of the air conditioner by obtaining the percentage of electricity used by the air conditioner last month. Combined with the percentage of electricity used by the air conditioner, the disclosed embodiment can predict the energy-saving effect that can be achieved by restricting the operation of the air conditioner, which is conducive to reasonably revising the limited electricity consumption this month to optimize the specific timing of restricting the operation of the air conditioner.

[0060] Optionally, the processor modifies this month's power limit based on the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month. This includes: if the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month is greater than a first proportion, the processor reduces this month's power limit; if the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month is less than or equal to the first proportion and greater than or equal to a second proportion, the processor maintains this month's power limit; or if the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month is less than the second proportion, the processor increases this month's power limit. The first proportion is greater than or equal to the second proportion. Thus, when the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month is greater than the first proportion, it indicates that air conditioners account for a significant portion of electricity expenditure, resulting in higher actual electricity consumption and higher electricity bills. Therefore, limiting air conditioner operation is more energy-efficient and can more effectively control electricity consumption this month and help save electricity bills. Therefore, the disclosed embodiment appropriately reduces this month's power limit to advance the timing of limiting air conditioner operation, thereby reducing the air conditioner's operating power earlier. This can increase the air conditioner's operating time and prevent user discomfort caused by sudden air conditioner shutdown due to insufficient power. On the other hand, it can reduce the electricity bills incurred by air conditioners, avoiding the possibility of higher electricity bills next month due to price increases. Therefore, the disclosed embodiment helps balance the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. When the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month is less than or equal to the first proportion and greater than or equal to the second proportion, it indicates that the air conditioner's share of electricity expenditure is relatively average, and its actual electricity consumption and electricity bills are relatively normal. Therefore, the energy-saving effect of limiting air conditioner operation is moderate, and it can control electricity consumption this month to a certain extent and help save electricity bills. Therefore, the disclosed embodiment maintains the current monthly power limit to limit air conditioner operation at appropriate times, thereby increasing air conditioner usage time and reducing electricity bills, helping to balance the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. On the other hand, when the proportion of air conditioner electricity usage in the previous month is less than the second proportion, it indicates that the air conditioner's share of electricity expenditure is relatively low, and its actual electricity consumption and electricity bills are not high. Therefore, the energy-saving effect of limiting air conditioner operation is poor and cannot effectively control electricity consumption this month and save electricity bills. In this case, the user should adopt other energy-saving strategies, such as limiting the operation of other household appliances with high electricity consumption. At the same time, the disclosed embodiment appropriately increases the monthly power limit to delay the start of air conditioner operation restrictions, thereby reducing the air conditioner's operating power later. This allows users to enjoy a full air conditioning experience more often, and the disclosed embodiment helps better ensure user comfort needs.

[0061] Optionally, the first and second percentages can be set based on the number or type of home appliances. The first percentage is greater than or equal to the second percentage. Preferably, the first percentage is 40% and the second percentage is 20%. The first and second percentages can also be adjusted to any other values based on actual user needs.

[0062] Optionally, the processor reduces the power-limited electricity this month, including: the processor multiplies the power-limited electricity this month by a third coefficient to obtain a revised power-limited electricity this month. The third coefficient is less than 1. In this way, the embodiment of the present disclosure can introduce the third coefficient and calculate its product with the power-limited electricity this month, so as to obtain a more appropriate revised power-limited electricity this month. By setting a suitable third coefficient, the embodiment of the present disclosure can accurately adjust the reduction range of the power-limited electricity this month, so as to appropriately advance the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner, thereby reducing the operating power of the air conditioner earlier. On the one hand, it can increase the usage time of the air conditioner and avoid sudden shutdown of the air conditioner due to insufficient power, causing discomfort to the user. On the other hand, it can reduce the electricity bill generated by the air conditioner and avoid high electricity bills in the next month due to the upgrade of electricity price levels. Therefore, the embodiment of the present disclosure is conducive to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0063] Optionally, the processor increases the power-limited electricity this month, including: the processor multiplies the power-limited electricity this month by a fourth coefficient to obtain a revised power-limited electricity this month. The fourth coefficient is greater than 1. In this way, the embodiment of the present disclosure can introduce the fourth coefficient and calculate its product with the power-limited electricity this month, so as to obtain a more appropriate revised power-limited electricity this month. By setting a suitable fourth coefficient, the embodiment of the present disclosure can accurately adjust the increase in the power-limited electricity this month to appropriately delay the timing of the air conditioner's restricted operation, thereby reducing the operating power of the air conditioner later. Therefore, users can enjoy a complete air-conditioning experience for more time, and the embodiment of the present disclosure is conducive to better ensuring the user's comfort needs.

[0064] Optionally, the third coefficient can be set according to the power used by the air conditioner. For situations where the air conditioner uses a large amount of power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly smaller third coefficient to advance the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner earlier, avoiding the high operating power causing the air conditioner to shut down early or a surge in the electricity bill in the next month, which is beneficial to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. For situations where the air conditioner uses a small amount of power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly larger third coefficient to delay the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner later, so that the user can enjoy the full air-conditioning experience for more time, which is beneficial to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. Preferably, the third coefficient can be set to 0.90. The third coefficient can also be adjusted according to the actual needs of the user, and can also be set to any other value such as 0.85 or 0.95.

[0065] Optionally, the fourth coefficient can be set according to the power used by the air conditioner. For the case where the air conditioner uses a large power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly smaller fourth coefficient to advance the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner earlier, avoiding the high operating power causing the air conditioner to shut down early or a surge in electricity bills in the next month, which is beneficial to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. For the case where the air conditioner uses a small power, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set a slightly larger fourth coefficient to delay the timing of limiting the operation of the air conditioner. This can reduce the operating power of the air conditioner later, so that the user can enjoy the full air-conditioning experience for more time, which is beneficial to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. Preferably, the fourth coefficient can be set to 1.10. The fourth coefficient can also be adjusted according to the actual needs of the user, and can also be set to any other value such as 1.05 or 1.15.

[0066] Combine Figure 3 As shown, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides another method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising:

[0067] S301: The processor obtains an electricity payment method.

[0068] S302: The processor determines the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method.

[0069] S303 , when the power consumption this month is greater than or equal to the power limit this month, the processor controls the air conditioner to adjust the operating parameters to reduce the operating power.

[0070] S304: The processor sends a prompt message to the user's terminal device.

[0071] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is used to predict the adverse effects that may be caused to the air conditioner during high electricity consumption by obtaining the electricity payment method. The appropriate power limit for this month is set according to the electricity payment method, so as to control the specific time when the air conditioner is restricted from running in combination with the corresponding adverse effects during high electricity consumption. When the electricity consumption this month exceeds the power limit, the embodiment of the present disclosure can limit the operation of the air conditioner at the appropriate time by reducing the operating power of the air conditioner, thereby increasing the usage time of the air conditioner and reducing the electricity bill generated by the air conditioner, which is conducive to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability. In addition, while restricting the operation of the air conditioner, the embodiment of the present disclosure also sends a prompt message to the user, so that the user can save energy and electricity at a subjective level. Therefore, the embodiment of the present disclosure can remind the user to spontaneously control the electricity consumption and electricity bill this month, and better meet the actual needs of the user.

[0072] Optionally, the method for controlling an air conditioner can be executed in the air conditioner or in a server communicating with the air conditioner. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the solution is described with the processor in the air conditioner as the execution subject.

[0073] Optionally, the terminal device refers to an electronic device with a wireless connection function. The terminal device can communicate with the air conditioner by connecting to the Internet, or can communicate with the air conditioner directly through Bluetooth, WiFi, etc. In some embodiments, the terminal device is, for example, a mobile device, a computer, or a vehicle-mounted device built into a hover car, or any combination thereof. Mobile devices may include, for example, mobile phones, smart home devices, wearable devices, smart mobile devices, virtual reality devices, etc., or any combination thereof, wherein wearable devices include, for example: smart watches, smart bracelets, pedometers, etc. Preferably, the user's terminal device in the embodiment of the present disclosure is the user's mobile phone.

[0074] Optionally, the processor sends a prompt message to the user's terminal device, including: the processor determining prompt content based on the electricity payment method; and the processor sending the prompt message containing the prompt content to the user's terminal device. In this way, the disclosed embodiment can generate appropriate prompt content based on the characteristics of each electricity payment method. By sending the prompt message to the user, the user is reminded to voluntarily control their electricity consumption and electricity bills for the current month, thereby better meeting the user's actual needs.

[0075] Optionally, the processor determines the prompt content based on the electricity payment method, including: if the electricity payment method is the next-month payment method, the processor determines the prompt content to include some or all of the following: the current month's electricity consumption, the current electricity price level, the current month's cumulative electricity cost, the critical electricity quantity for the current electricity price level, the difference between the current month's cumulative electricity cost and the previous month's cumulative electricity cost, the air conditioner operating level, and the electricity cost corresponding to each operating level; or, if the electricity payment method is the prepayment method, the processor determines the prompt content to include some or all of the following: the current month's electricity consumption, the current month's available electricity, the current remaining electricity cost, the remaining available electricity, the air conditioner operating level, and the operating time corresponding to each operating level. In this way, the disclosed embodiment can generate appropriate prompt content based on the characteristics of each electricity payment method. The prompt information is then sent to the user to remind the user to spontaneously control their electricity consumption and electricity cost for the current month, thereby better meeting the user's actual needs. Furthermore, the disclosed embodiment can push multiple air conditioner operating levels to the user, corresponding to different operating power levels. By sending the correspondence between each operating gear and the electricity fee or the operating time, users can intuitively understand the differences in energy-saving and power-saving effects of different operating gears, thereby assisting users in selecting a more appropriate operating power to more accurately meet the user's dual needs of comfort and affordability.

[0076] Combine Figure 4As shown, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides another method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising:

[0077] S401: The processor obtains an electricity payment method.

[0078] S402: The processor determines the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method.

[0079] S403 , when the power consumption this month is less than the power limit this month, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate according to the operating parameters set by the user.

[0080] S404: When the power consumption this month is greater than or equal to the power limit this month, the processor controls the air conditioner to adjust operating parameters to reduce operating power.

[0081] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is used to predict the adverse effects that may be caused to the air conditioner during high electricity consumption by obtaining the electricity payment method. And according to the electricity payment method, an appropriate power limit for this month is set to control the specific time when the air conditioner is restricted in operation in combination with the corresponding adverse effects during high electricity consumption. When the electricity consumption this month does not exceed the power limit, the embodiment of the present disclosure controls the air conditioner to operate according to the operating parameters set by the user, so that the user can enjoy a complete air-conditioning experience, which is conducive to ensuring the user's comfort needs. When the electricity consumption this month exceeds the power limit, by reducing the operating power of the air conditioner, the embodiment of the present disclosure can restrict the operation of the air conditioner at the appropriate time, thereby increasing the use time of the air conditioner and reducing the electricity bill generated by the air conditioner, which is conducive to balancing the dual needs of user comfort and affordability.

[0082] Optionally, the method for controlling an air conditioner can be executed in the air conditioner or in a server communicating with the air conditioner. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the solution is described with the processor in the air conditioner as the execution subject.

[0083] Combine Figure 5 As shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a device 500 for controlling an air conditioner, comprising a processor 501 and a memory 502. Optionally, the device may further comprise a communication interface 503 and a bus 504. The processor 501, the communication interface 503, and the memory 502 may communicate with each other via the bus 504. The communication interface 503 may be used for information transmission. The processor 501 may call logic instructions in the memory 502 to execute the method for controlling an air conditioner of the above embodiment.

[0084] In addition, the logic instructions in the memory 502 can be implemented in the form of software functional units and can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium when sold or used as an independent product.

[0085] Memory 502, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Processor 501 executes the program instructions / modules stored in memory 502 to execute functional applications and process data, thereby implementing the method for controlling an air conditioner in the above-described embodiments.

[0086] The memory 502 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system and at least one application required for a function; the data storage area may store data generated based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 502 may include high-speed random access memory and non-volatile memory.

[0087] Combine Figure 6 As shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air conditioner 600, comprising: an air conditioner body, and the above-mentioned device 500 for controlling the air conditioner. The device 500 for controlling the air conditioner is installed on the air conditioner body. The installation relationship described here is not limited to placement inside the product, but also includes installation connections with other components of the product, including but not limited to physical connections, electrical connections, or signal transmission connections. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the device 500 for controlling the air conditioner can be adapted to a feasible product body, thereby realizing other feasible embodiments.

[0088] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to execute the above-mentioned method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0089] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0090] The technical solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and other media that can store program code, or a transient storage medium.

[0091] The above description and the accompanying drawings fully illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art can practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, process and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Unless explicitly required, individual components and functions are optional, and the order of operations may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the words used in this application are only used to describe the embodiments and are not used to limit the claims. As used in the description of the embodiments and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms. Similarly, the term "and / or" as used in this application refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more associated listings. In addition, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or comprising refer to the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups of these. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprising a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method or device that includes the element. In this article, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and the same and similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other. For the methods, products, etc. disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method part disclosed in the embodiments, then the relevant parts can be found in the description of the method part.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software may depend on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. The technicians may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The technicians will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0093] In the embodiments disclosed herein, the disclosed methods and products (including but not limited to devices, equipment, etc.) can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units can be merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between each other shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. In addition, the functional units in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0094] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings show the possible implementation architectures, functions and operations of the systems, methods and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram can represent a module, program segment or part of the code, and the module, program segment or part of the code contains one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical functions. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in an order different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two consecutive boxes can actually be executed substantially in parallel, or they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, which can depend on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different boxes can also occur in an order different from that disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps can actually be executed substantially in parallel, or they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, which can depend on the functions involved. Each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or may be implemented by a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that: include: Obtain electricity payment methods; Determine the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method; When the electricity consumption this month is greater than or equal to the electricity limit this month, the air conditioner is controlled to adjust the operating parameters to reduce the operating power; The power limit for this month is determined based on the electricity payment method, including: If the electricity payment method is the next month payment method, the power limit for this month is determined based on the total electricity consumption of the previous month; or If the electricity payment method is advance payment, the power limit for this month will be determined based on the remaining electricity bill from the previous month.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The power limit for this month is determined based on the total power consumption of the previous month, including: Determine the electricity price level for the previous month based on the total electricity consumption of the previous month; Determine the critical electricity quantity corresponding to the electricity price level of the previous month; Based on the first coefficient and critical power quantity, the power restriction amount for this month is determined.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The power limit for this month is determined based on the remaining electricity charges of the previous month, including: Determine the available electricity this month based on the remaining electricity bill from last month; The power limit for this month is determined based on the second coefficient and the available power this month.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that After determining the power limit for this month based on the electricity payment method, the following also applies: Based on the proportion of electricity consumption by air conditioners last month, the power limit for this month will be adjusted.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The electricity limit for this month is revised based on the proportion of air conditioner electricity consumption last month, including: If the proportion of air conditioner electricity consumption in the previous month is greater than the first proportion, reduce the power limit for this month; or If the proportion of air conditioner electricity consumption in the previous month is less than or equal to the first proportion and greater than or equal to the second proportion, maintain the power limit for this month; or If the proportion of air conditioner electricity consumption last month is less than the second proportion, increase the power limit for this month; Among them, the first proportion is greater than or equal to the second proportion.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that After controlling the air conditioner to adjust the operating parameters to reduce the operating power, the method further includes: Send a prompt message to the user's terminal device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the electricity consumption this month is less than the electricity limit this month, the air conditioner is controlled to operate according to the operating parameters set by the user.

8. A device for controlling an air conditioner, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that: The processor is configured to execute the method for controlling an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when running the program instructions.

9. An air conditioner, characterized in that: include: Air conditioner body; The device for controlling an air conditioner according to claim 8 is mounted on the air conditioner body.

10. A storage medium storing program instructions, characterized in that: When the program instructions are executed, the method for controlling an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is executed.

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