Managing home automation system based on behavior and user input

• US 10,203,665 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2014
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyman, Jefferson, Warner, Michael, Brunson, Nic, Walger, Stefan, Shearer, Wade, Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bodden, Evral E
• Application Number:
  US14/522,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 717275
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for controlling settings of an automation system, such as a home and/or business automation system. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling settings of an automation system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by a processor to receive instructions about an intended action by a user of the home automation system, continuously detect behavior of the user with the home automation system, determine whether the intended action has occurred based on the detected behavior, and adaptively update one or more settings of the home automation system when the intended action is determined to have occurred.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling settings of a home automation system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive instructions about an intended action to be performed by a user of the home automation system;

after receiving the instructions, detect behavior of the user with the home automation system;

determine a level of certainty regarding whether the intended action has occurred based on the detected behavior;

compare the determined level of certainty of the detected behavior with certainty levels of other behaviors associated with the intended action;

rank the detected behavior based at least in part on the determined level of certainty and the comparison; and

when the intended action is determined to have occurred within a predetermined time period from receiving the instructions, adaptively update one or more settings of the home automation system in an order that is based at least in part on the ranking; and

when the intended action is determined to not have occurred within the predetermined time period, communicate with the user regarding the instructions about the intended action.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the behavior of the user is detected within a home monitored by the home automation system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intended action includes departing a property being monitored by the home automation system and the detected behavior indicates with a predetermined level of probability that the user has left the property.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the behavior of the user is based at least in part on one of a geo-fence signal, a door operation sensor signal, and a motion sensor signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the home automation system comprises security features, and the one or more settings of the home automation system includes a security setting related to at least one of the security features.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more settings of the home automation system includes at least one of an HVAC setting, at least one light fixture setting, at least one security setting, and at least one lock mechanism setting for a barrier.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

initiate an active state after receiving the instructions, the active state including prompting continuous monitoring of the behavior of the user; and

canceling the active state if the intended action does not occur within the predetermined time period.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are received via at least one of a control panel of the home automation system and a mobile computing device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is a first predetermined time period and wherein receiving instructions further comprises:

receiving instructions about a sequence of intended actions to be performed;

determining a level of certainty regarding whether the sequence of intended actions has occurred; and

adaptively updating one or more settings of the home automation system in an order determined on the ranking when the sequence of intended actions is determined to have occurred within a second predetermined time period from receiving the instructions.

9. A computer-program product for controlling a home automation system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

receive an indication that a user of the home automation system intends to depart a property being monitored by the home automation system;

after receiving the indication, detect user behavior with the home automation system;

determine a level of certainty regarding whether the user has left the property based at least in part on the detected user behavior;

compare the determined level of certainty of the detected behavior with certainty levels of other behaviors associated with the intended action;

rank the detected behavior based at least in part on the determined level of certainty and the comparison;

when the user has been determined to have left the property within a predetermined time period from receiving the indication, adaptively update one or more settings of the home automation system in an order that is based at least in part on the ranking;

when the user has been determined to have not left the property within the predetermined time period from receiving the indication, communicate with the user regarding the indication; and

operate the home automation system based at least in part on the updated one or more settings.

10. The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the behavior includes at least one of operating an exterior door, operating a light fixture, presence in a certain location of the property, and operating a garage door.

11. The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the one or more settings control at least one of a security feature, an HVAC system, a light fixture, and a lock mechanism.

12. The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein communicate with the user regarding the indication further comprises:

generate a message for the user if the user has not departed the property within the predetermined time period.

13. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the message includes an inquiry concerning an intent of the user to depart the property.

14. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the message is in the form of at least one of an audible message or a text message generated at a control panel of the home automation system, generated at an appliance of the property, or generated by a mobile computing device associated with the user.

15. The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive instructions about a user of the home automation system to cancel the instructions.

16. A computer-implemented method for controlling settings of a home automation system, comprising:

receiving input concerning an intended action to be performed by at least one user of the home automation system;

initiating an active mode to continuously detect at least one of user locations, user movements, and user activities with the home automation system;

determining a level of certainty regarding whether the intended action has occurred based on the at least one of the detected user locations, the detected user movements, and the detected user activities;

comparing the determined level of certainty with certainty levels of other behaviors associated with the intended action;

ranking one or more of the user locations, user movements, and user activities based at least in part on the determined level of certainty and the comparison;

when the intended action is determined to have occurred within a first predetermined time period from receiving the input concerning the intended action, adaptively updating one or more settings of the home automation system in an order that is based at least in part on the ranking; and

automatically cancelling the active mode if the intended action has not occurred within the first predetermined time period.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating a communication if the intended action has not occurred within a second predetermined time period that is less than the first predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving instructions in response to the communication; and

canceling the active mode in response to the instructions.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving instructions in response to the communication with the at least one user; and

continuing to monitor the at least one of user locations, user movements, and user activities.