Communication server for energy management

IT devices like desk phones and printers use energy individually, but in aggregate their usage can add up.  Imagine a device using just one watt on standby; now imagine a campus with 25,000 such devices on 24 hours per day.

This patent describes a system that collects energy usage information campus-wide from IT equipment such as printers and desk telephones, and allows remote measurement and control of those devices.

By aggregating the device in groups, the devices can be usefully controlled as part of the building or campus energy control systems that are already used to manage lighting and heating.  For example, a call center might power down one operating section’s phones, printers, and other desktop power, while leaving emergency phones, lighting, and other essentials powered on.