Apparatus for managing electric devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for managing electric devices, and a mobile device and a system adapted to the method are provided. The electric device management system includes an electric power supply, a plurality of electric devices that are arranged in an area and receive electric power from the electric power supply, and a device management apparatus for providing information regarding the electric devices and at least one operation schedule of electric devices based on the entire amount of electric power planned to be consumed by the electric devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device for controlling supply of electric energy to an external device, the electronic device comprising:
 a communication interface; and   a processor configured to:   control the communication interface to receive history information on an amount of electric energy consumed by the external device and setting information on an amount of electric energy set to be consumed by the external device,   generate, based on the history information and the setting information, a plurality of operation schedules for operating the external device within the set amount of electric energy,   control power consumption of each of the external device based on the one of the plurality of operation schedules.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control a display to display the plurality of operation schedules,   receive a selection, from a user of the electronic device, one of the plurality of operation schedules, and   control the external device to operate according to the selected operation schedule.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive priority information, the priority information includes priority orders of the external device, and   generate the plurality of operation schedules based on the history information, the setting information and the priority orders of the external device.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify amounts of electric energy consumed by the external device during operating according to the selected operation schedule,   modify the selected operation schedule when the identified amounts of electric energy is more than an amount of electric energy that the external device are planned to consume, and   control the external electronic device to operate according to the modified operation schedule.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the modifying the selected operation schedule is performed by changing an amount of electric energy based on a priority of the external device. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive electricity cost-related information from an electric power supply, and
 wherein the processor is further configured to   generate the plurality of operation schedules based on the history information, the setting information and the electricity cost-related information.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to display an electricity usage fee according to the plurality of operation schedules. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit information on the plurality of operation schedules to a terminal such that the terminal selects one of the plurality of operation schedules and the electronic device operates according to the selected operation schedule. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify amounts of electric energy consumed by the external device during operating according to the one of the plurality of operation schedules,   determine the identified amounts of electric energy is more than an amount of electric energy that the external device are planned to consume, and   output an alarm indicating that the identified amounts of electric energy is more than the amount of electric energy that the external device are planned to consume.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling supply of electric energy to an external device, the method comprising:
 receiving history information on an amount of electric energy consumed by the external device and setting information on an amount of electric energy set to be consumed by the external device;   generating, based on the history information and the setting information, a plurality of operation schedules for operating the external device within the set amount of electric energy; and   controlling power consumption of each of the external device based on the one of the plurality of operation schedules.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying the plurality of operation schedules;   receiving a selection, from a user of the electronic device, one of the plurality of operation schedules; and   controlling the external device to operate according to the selected operation schedule.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving priority information, the priority information includes priority for the external device,   generating the plurality of operation schedules based on the history information, the setting information, and the priority orders of the external device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying amounts of electric energy consumed by the external device during operating according to the selected operation schedule;   modifying the selected operation schedule when the identified amounts of electric energy is more than an amount of electric energy that the external device are planned to consume; and   controlling the external electronic device to operate according to the modified operation schedule.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the modifying the selected operation schedule is performed by changing an amount of electric energy based on a priority of the external device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving electricity cost-related information from an electric power supply; and   generating the plurality of operation schedules based on the history information, the setting information and the electricity cost-related information.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying an electricity usage fee according to the plurality of operation schedules.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 transmitting information on the plurality of operation schedules to a terminal such that the terminal selects one of the plurality of operation schedules and the electronic device operates according to the selected operation schedule.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying amount of electric energy consumed by the external device during operating according to the one of the plurality of operation schedules;   determining the identified amounts of electric energy is more than the amount of electric energy that the external device are planned to consume; and   outputting an alarm indicating that the identified amounts of electric energy is more than the amount of electric energy that the external device are planned to consume.