Power Management Server for Office Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management systems for devices like computers and image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies when both internal and external schedules for operation state transitions are set, leading to higher power consumption during transitions, as the device operation state changes even if the planned state has higher power consumption than the current state.

Innovation Solution

A power management method and server that compares server-side and machine-side power plans, identifying differences in operation states and adjusting the device to a lower power consumption state when necessary, ensuring power-saving modes are implemented based on the most energy-efficient transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the device transitions operation state according to the schedule inside the device, then the device can suppress power consumption during standby, but the device operation state transitions even when power consumption is higher in the planned operation state than in the present operation state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidoperation state transition control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having the management apparatus receive operation state information from the device, compare it with the scheduled operation state, and determine whether to issue a transition instruction based on power consumption considerations. This feedback loop ensures that unnecessary transitions that would increase power consumption are prevented.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The device autonomously determines its own operation state transitions based on internal schedules, and the management apparatus provides supervisory control by comparing schedules and preventing harmful transitions. The device serves itself by making local decisions while benefiting from centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If schedules are set both inside the device and in the management apparatus, then power saving policies can be enforced at multiple levels, but conflicting schedules cause unnecessary operation state transitions and increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower saving policy enforcementVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the internal device schedule with the management apparatus schedule by comparing both schedules and synthesizing a coordinated transition plan. This combination ensures that power saving policies are enforced while avoiding conflicts that would lead to unnecessary transitions and increased consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The management apparatus acts as an intermediary between multiple scheduling sources (internal device schedule and external policy schedule). It receives both schedules, resolves conflicts, and issues coordinated transition instructions that satisfy both local and organizational power saving requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If the device transitions to the operation state planned in the management apparatus schedule, then centralized power management is achieved, but power consumption increases when the planned state has higher consumption than the current state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized power managementVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the centralized power management approach by conditionally issuing transition instructions. The management apparatus evaluates power consumption implications before enforcing transitions, making the centralized control adaptive rather than rigid, thereby preventing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9898023B2Power management method, power management server, and office machine for managing electric power

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, there is provided a power management method for connecting a server to office machines to control electric power of the office machines. The office machines respectively store machine side power plans, which are operation states with respect to transition times. The server stores server side power plans of the office machines and subjects electric powers of the office machines to management control. The power management method includes comparing the server side power plan stored in the server and the machine side power plan stored in the office machines, comparing, when an operation state based on the server side power plan and an operation state based on the machine side power plan are different, power consumptions in the operation state based on the server side power plan and an operation state based on the machine side power plan, and changing an operation state of the office machine to be an operation state with small power consumption.