Automated Power Meter Association via Device Power Profile Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for associating power-consuming devices with electricity meters require manual intervention, making them time-consuming and expensive, especially in large-scale environments where hundreds or thousands of devices need to be accurately matched with meters for precise energy monitoring and management.
Innovation Solution
An automated method that determines a power profile for each meter, compares it with device-specific power information, and records the association in a network management record, eliminating the need for manual data input by using a processing device and computer-readable medium to synchronize and match devices with their corresponding power meters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual association method is used to match devices with power meters, then association accuracy can be ensured, but time consumption and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to automatically perform the association task themselves by extracting their own power consumption data and matching it with power meter readings through automated algorithms, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining high association accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of technicians physically matching devices with power meters is replaced by an automated electronic system that uses power consumption patterns, device identifiers, and algorithmic matching to perform the association task, dramatically reducing time consumption while maintaining accuracy
2Productivity
If automated association method is used to match devices with power meters, then time consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated association system is designed to work with multiple device types (printers, copiers, scanners) and various power meter models through standardized protocols and universal matching algorithms, enabling a single system to handle diverse equipment without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complexity by dynamically adjusting matching parameters such as power consumption thresholds, time windows for data collection, and matching criteria based on the specific device and power meter characteristics, allowing flexible adaptation without requiring complex hardcoded logic for each scenario
3Loss of information
If existing power modeling techniques are used to estimate device power consumption, then some association information can be obtained, but estimation accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data collection and analysis by gathering actual power consumption readings from power meters and device operational data before the association process, using this pre-collected information to train models and establish baseline patterns that improve subsequent matching accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where initial association results are validated against actual power consumption patterns, and the model is continuously refined using the difference between estimated and actual measurements, progressively improving estimation accuracy through iterative learning from real-world data
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and device for automated association of a device and a power meter. For example, the method includes determining a power profile for a power meter, determining device-specific power information for each of a plurality of devices, comparing the device-specific power information for each of the plurality of devices against the power profile for the power meter, determining, based upon the comparing, which of the plurality of devices is associated with the power meter, and recording the power meter and its associated device in a network management record. The techniques may be extended to include associating multiple multifunction print devices to one of a plurality of power meters based upon power log and job arrival information for the print devices as compared to power profile information from the power meters, thereby providing for automated associated of the devices and the power meters without unnecessary human interaction.