Method and system for managing energy costs utilizing a broadband gateway

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for managing energy costs utilizing a broadband gateway are provided. In this regard, a broadband gateway may determine usage patterns for one or more electronic devices communicatively coupled to the broadband gateway. The broadband gateway may control tasks performed and/or to be performed based on the patterns of use and based on a pricing structure for energy supplied to the broadband gateway and/or the one or more electronic devices. Controlling tasks to be performed may comprise, for example, scheduling performance of the tasks. Exemplary tasks may comprise downloading multimedia content and configuring a state of operation of the one or more electronic devices. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a state of operation of the electronic device(s) may be configurable between a plurality of states comprising: a powered-off state, a standby state, and a powered-on state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.