Multiple interacting systems at a site

• US 10,409,652 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: View Incorporated
• Original Assignee: View Incorporated
• Inventors: Shrivastava, Dhairya, Brown, Stephen Clark, Cadet, Ronald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mudrick, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US15/623,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 719318
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

Disclosed are platforms for communicating among one or more otherwise independent systems involved in controlling functions of buildings or other sites having switchable optical devices deployed therein. Such independent systems include a window control system and one or more other independent systems such as systems that control residential home products (e.g., thermostats, smoke alarms, etc.), HVAC systems, security systems, lighting control systems, and the like. Together the systems control and/or monitor multiple features and/or products, including switchable windows and other infrastructure of a site, which may be a commercial, residential, or public site.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) a window network comprising;

a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one switchable optical device;

a plurality of end window controllers configured to control the tint level of the at least one switchable optical device of each window of the plurality of windows;

a plurality of intermediate controllers, each intermediate controller coupled with one or more of the plurality of end window controllers; and

a master controller coupled with each of the plurality of intermediate controllers,

wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of end window controllers, the plurality of intermediate controllers, and the master controller; and

(b) an external system configured to communicate with the window network,

wherein the window network is configured to maintain communication with the external system in the event of loss of window network functionality.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing center configured to communicate with a plurality of sites, each site of the plurality of sites including its own window network and external system, the processing center comprising;

logic for analyzing data gathered from at least some of the plurality of windows and/or controllers in the plurality of sites and, based on the data gathered, determining a modification and/or a mode of operation; and

logic for applying the modification and/or mode of operation to the at least one site such that the control of the plurality of windows at the at least one site is based in part on the modification and/or mode of operation learned by the logic.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sites further comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the data gathered is sensor data from the plurality of sensors and provided to the logic to analyze.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the data gathered is data on energy savings for at least one of the plurality of sites.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the master controller is configured to utilize the logic for applying the modification and/or mode of operation.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the modification and/or mode of operation is determined based at least in part on a user preference.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the logic for analyzing the data is configured to analyze weather data gathered from at least one of the plurality of sites, and wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on the weather data.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the master controller is further configured to perform a handshake with the processing center to recognize the master controller.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is further based at least in part on user input.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is conducted to control the temperature in a building interior.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to respond to a remote-control device.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of communication interfaces coupled with the plurality of end window controllers.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller is configured to couple with at least one third-party system for sending and receiving control signals.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein distribution of the control of the plurality of windows is changeable by increasing or decreasing the number of end window controllers or windows.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on a user input provided to the external system.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a firewall.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller is further configured to recognize each of the plurality of intermediate controllers, each of the plurality of end window controllers, and each of the plurality of windows.

18. A method comprising:

(a) controlling a plurality of switchable optical devices on a plurality of windows,

wherein control of the plurality of switchable optical devices is distributed across a plurality of end window controllers, a plurality of intermediate controllers, and a master controller coupled with one another on a window network,

wherein the plurality of end window controllers is configured to control the tint level of the at least one switchable optical device of each window of the plurality of windows,

wherein each of the plurality of intermediate controllers is coupled with one or more of the plurality of end window controllers, and

wherein the master controller is coupled with each of the plurality of intermediate controllers; and

(b) maintaining communication between the window network and an external system in the event of loss of window network functionality, wherein the external system is configured to communicate with the window network.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising:

communicating, through a processing center, with a plurality of sites, each site of the plurality of sites including its own window network and external system, the processing center configured to;

analyze data, with logic, gathered from at least some of the plurality of windows and/or controllers in the plurality of sites and, based on the data gathered, determining a modification and/or a mode of operation; and

apply the modification and/or mode of operation, with logic, to the at least one site such that the control of the plurality of windows at the at least one site is based in part on the modification and/or mode of operation learned by the logic.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of sites further comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the data gathered is sensor data from the plurality of sensors and provided to the logic to analyze.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the data gathered is data on energy savings for at least one of the plurality of sites.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the master controller is configured to utilize the logic for applying the modification and/or mode of operation.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the modification and/or mode of operation is determined based at least in part on a user preference.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the logic for analyzing the data is configured to analyze weather data gathered from at least one of the plurality of sites, and wherein the control of the plurality of windows is based at least in part on the weather data.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the master controller is further configured to perform a handshake with the processing center to recognize the master controller.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the plurality of switchable optical devices further comprises basing control of the plurality of switchable optical devices at least in part on user input.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the plurality of switchable optical devices is conducted for controlling the temperature in a building interior.

28. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising responding to a remote-control device.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the window network further comprises a plurality of communication interfaces coupled with the plurality of end window controllers.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the master controller is configured to couple with at least one third-party system for sending and receiving control signals.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the distribution of the control of the plurality of windows is changeable by increasing or decreasing the number of end window controllers or windows.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the plurality of switchable optical devices further comprises basing control of the plurality of switchable optical devices at least in part on a user input provided to the external system.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the window network further comprises a firewall.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein the master controller is further configured to recognize each of the plurality of intermediate controllers, each of the plurality of end window controllers, and each of the plurality of windows.