Apparatus for controlling a power using a smart device and method thereof

A smart server, which is connected to at least one smart device via at least one wired/wireless communication network to perform a power saving function, the smart server comprising:

• a power saving control unit configured to perform the power saving function on the at least one smart device in a power saving mode, based on power information;
• at least one mode switching unit configured to switch the power saving mode to a manual power mode according to a user command received via the at least one smart device;
• a manual mode operational time determining unit configured to determine a manual mode operational time for operating the at least one smart device in the manual power mode since the at least one smart device is switched to be in the manual power mode;
• a detecting unit configured to receive external environment information of the smart device, the external environment information including at least one of external temperature information and external humidity information;
• and
• a storage unit configured to store use history information of the at least one smart device,
• wherein the at least one mode switching unit is further configured to switch from the manual power mode back to the power saving mode when the manual mode operational time expires, and
• wherein the manual mode operational time determining unit determines the manual mode operational time based on at least one of the following:
• a type of the at least one smart device, a relation between a target status corresponding to the user command and a reference status of the at least one smart device, the external environment information, and the use history information.

A method for performing a power saving function using a smart device, which is connected to a smart grid network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the smart device, power information through the smart grid network;
• performing, by the smart device, the power saving function for at least one apparatus based on the power information in a power saving mode, the power saving mode being a mode in which the at least one apparatus is automatically controlled to save power;
• switching, by the smart device, from the power saving mode to a manual mode according to a user command, the manual mode being a mode in which the at least one apparatus is controlled according to a user input;
• determining, by the smart device, a manual mode operational time for operating the at least one apparatus in the manual mode;
• switching, by the smart device, from the manual mode back to the power saving mode, automatically, when the manual mode operational time expires;
• and
• receiving, by the smart device, external environment information, the external environment information including at least one of an external temperature and an external humidity,
• wherein the determining step determines the manual mode operational time based on the external environment information.

A method for performing a power saving function using a smart server, which is connected to at least one smart device via at least one wired/wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• performing, under control of the smart server and based on power information, the power saving function on the at least one smart device in a power saving mode;
• switching, by the smart server, the power saving mode to a manual power mode according to a user command received via the at least one smart device;
• determining, by the smart server, a manual mode operational time for operating the at least one smart device in the manual power mode since the mode is switched to the manual power mode;
• switching, by the smart server, from the manual power mode back to the power saving mode when the manual mode operational time expires;
• receiving, by the smart server, external environment information, the external environment information including at least one of external temperature information and external humidity information;
• and
• storing use history information of the at least one smart device,
• wherein the determining step determines the manual mode operational time based on at least one of the following:
• a type of the at least one smart device, a relation between a target status corresponding to the user command and a reference status of the at least one smart device, the external environment information, and the use history information.