Method and apparatus for controlling operations of devices based on information regarding power consumption of the devices

An apparatus for operating in a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to perform:
• transmitting operation limiting information comprising a plurality of combinations of allowable operations from among operations that the apparatus is capable of performing, a plurality of amounts of power consumption to perform the plurality of combinations of allowable operations, a plurality of minimum operating times to perform the plurality of combinations of allowable operations, and a plurality of power consumption levels that represent relative amounts of power consumption of the plurality of combinations of allowable operations respectively, and
• receiving, from a control device, a control signal generated based on a power consumption level which is set in accordance with information regarding time-based price and the operation limiting information,
• performing one or more of the operations in accordance with the received control signal,
• wherein the processor is further configured to perform the one or more of the operations by;
• performing a first combination of the allowable operations in accordance with a first control signal, as the received control signal, based on a first power consumption level among the plurality of power consumption levels, and
• performing a second combination of the allowable operations in accordance with a second control signal, as the received control signal, based on a second power consumption level among the plurality of power consumption levels.