Ubiquitous connectivity and control system for remote locations
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A system configured to communicate with a cellular remote unit, the system comprising:
- an environmental device configured to control an environmental characteristic;
a communication interface configured to communicate with the environmental device;
a wireless circuit configured to send a first message to the cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network and to receive a second message from the cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network;
wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a representation of environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of the environmental characteristic;
wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including a command for the environmental device, the command being initiated by a user via the cellular remote unit and indicating to change the environmental characteristic;
a microcontroller configured to generate a control instruction from the command included in the second message and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface;
wherein the environmental device is configured to change the environmental characteristic responsive to the control instruction; and
a housing configured to mount to a wall of a building, the housing physically supporting the environmental device, the communication interface, the wireless circuit, and the microcontroller.
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Abstract
A thermostat control system for monitoring and controlling environmental characteristics of a building includes a base station unit and a remote access unit continuously interfacing through instant wireless private direct connectivity. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that measure the environmental characteristics and provide the thermostat unit with the measurements.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system configured to communicate with a cellular remote unit, the system comprising:
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an environmental device configured to control an environmental characteristic; a communication interface configured to communicate with the environmental device; a wireless circuit configured to send a first message to the cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network and to receive a second message from the cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network; wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a representation of environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of the environmental characteristic; wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including a command for the environmental device, the command being initiated by a user via the cellular remote unit and indicating to change the environmental characteristic; a microcontroller configured to generate a control instruction from the command included in the second message and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface; wherein the environmental device is configured to change the environmental characteristic responsive to the control instruction; and a housing configured to mount to a wall of a building, the housing physically supporting the environmental device, the communication interface, the wireless circuit, and the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A base unit comprising:
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a communication interface configured to communicate with an environmental device; a wireless circuit configured to; send a first message to a first cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network, the first message including a first representation of first environmental information, the first environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface, receive a second message from the first cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the second message including a first command for the environmental device, the first command indicating to change an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device, send a third message to a second cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the third message including a second representation of second environmental information, the second environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface, and receive a fourth message from the second cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the fourth message including a second command for the environmental device, the second command indicating to change the environmental characteristic; and a microcontroller configured to; determine that the first cellular remote unit is authorized to change the environmental characteristic and that the second cellular remote unit is unauthorized to change the environmental characteristic, responsive to determining that the first cellular remote unit is authorized to change the environmental characteristic, generate a control instruction from the first command included in the second message and send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to cause the environmental device to change the environmental characteristic, and responsive to determining that the second cellular remote unit is unauthorized to change the environmental characteristic, not provide any control instructions to the environmental device based on the second command included in the fourth message. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A base unit comprising:
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a communication interface configured to communicate with an environmental device; a wireless circuit configured to; send a first message to a first cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network, the first message including a representation of environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device, receive a second message from the first cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the second message including a command for the environmental device, the command indicating to change the environmental characteristic, and send a third message to a second cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the third message indicating receipt of the command from the first cellular remote unit; and a microcontroller configured to; determine that the command from the first cellular remote unit should be reported to the second cellular remote unit, responsive to determining that the command from the first cellular remote unit should be reported to the second cellular remote unit, initiate sending of the third message to the second cellular remote unit using the wireless circuit, and generate a control instruction from the command included in the second message and send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to cause the environmental device to change the environmental characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A base unit comprising:
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a communication interface configured to communicate with an environmental device; a wireless circuit configured to; send a first message to a first cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network, the first message including a representation of environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device, receive a second message from the first cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the second message including a single character or a single word; and a microcontroller configured to; activate a plurality of commands according to the single character or the single word in the second message, the plurality of commands including a first command indicating to change the environmental characteristic; and generate a control instruction from the first command and send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to cause the environmental device to change the environmental characteristic.
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Specification