Systems and methods for managing smart devices based upon electrical usage data

• US 10,353,359 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Jordan, II, Jackie O., Donovan, John, Turrentine, David, Wollenschlager, Torri, Nussbaum, Bryan R., Stockweather, Deanna, Stoiber, Jeffrey W., Markwardt, Kerstin, Carlson, Gail L., Schiebel, Kyle C., Winslow, Troy, Harr, Joseph P., Wagner, Ellakate, Harris, Jr., Michael, Sun, Jennylind
• Primary Examiner(s): Onat, Umut
• Application Number:
  US14/873,914
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/02 using only mechanical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 : Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing the operation of devices within a home or other property based upon electrical usage data. With customer knowledge or consent, a home controller may retrieve and analyze electrical usage data corresponding to a device, such as by comparing it to certain threshold data. If the analysis results in a trigger condition, the controller may generate a command, and transmit the command to the device for implementation, allowing modification of device operation to address any issues indicated in the electrical usage data. The controller may also notify a home owner/occupant. As a result, faulty devices may be managed prior to their faults causing damage to the device and/or the property, and/or property owners may be timely prompted to investigate, repair, and/or replace a failing device. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon the risk mitigation/prevention functionality.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring device electrical usage within a property, the property populated with a hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

retrieving, by the hardware controller, (i) electrical usage data from a device disposed within the property and powered by a first power supply, and (ii) audio data corresponding to operation of the device;

analyzing, by one or more processors of the hardware controller, the electrical usage data in combination with the audio data to determine that the device is not receiving any power from the first power supply;

in response to determining that the device is not receiving any power from the first power supply, generating, by the one or more processors, a command to re-route a supply of power for the device from the first power supply to a second power supply; and

sending the command to the hardware controller, wherein the hardware controller causes the supply of power for the device to be re-routed from the first power supply to the second power supply.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification indicating at least the command to re-route the supply of power; and

communicating the notification to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a server, data corresponding to weather conditions in a vicinity of the property;

wherein analyzing the electrical usage data in combination with the audio data comprises;

analyzing the electrical usage data in combination with the audio data and the data corresponding to the weather conditions to determine that the device is not receiving any power from the first power supply.

4. A hardware controller for monitoring device electrical usage within a property, the hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, comprising:

a transceiver for retrieving (i) electrical usage data from a device disposed within the property and powered by a first power supply and (ii) audio data corresponding to operation of the device;

a memory storing non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

a processor interfacing with the communication module and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to;

analyze the electrical usage data in combination with the audio data to determine that the device is not receiving any power from the first power supply,

in response to determining that the device is not receiving any power from the first power supply, generate a command to re-route a supply of power for the device from the first power supply to a second power supply, and

cause the supply of power for the device to be re-routed from the first power supply to the second power supply.

5. The hardware controller of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a notification indicating at least the command to re-route the supply of power, and

communicate, via the transceiver, the notification to an electronic device of an individual associated with the property.

6. The hardware controller of claim 4, wherein the communication module is further configured to:

receive, from a server, data corresponding to weather conditions in a vicinity of the property;

wherein to analyze the electrical usage data in combination with the audio data, the processor is configured to;

analyze the electrical usage data in combination with the audio data and the data corresponding to the weather conditions to determine that the device is not receiving any power from the first power supply.