System and method for social television management of smart homes

• US 10,416,615 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DOV Moran Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Comigo Ltd.
• Inventors: Lentzitzky, Motty, Gaziel, Yoav
• Primary Examiner(s): Azad, Md
• Application Number:
  US13/804,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,378 Days
• Field of Search: 700 90, 709204, 709231, 709218, 710 19, 715 59, 715117, 715810, 715733, 725 59, 386292, 386231
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/32 with inputs from more than one sensing element; with outputs to more than one correcting element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a content-based control system for controlling a smart home. The control system includes a client terminal connectable to a media content provider and a home automation interface operable to connect with a smart home controller. The system may allow settings and ambience to be controlled according to current media content being consumed and the media consumers social environment.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a home ambience using a smart home controller in communication with at least one home device and with a client terminal, said method comprising:

determining, by said client terminal, a media type associated with media content being input to a media renderer, by monitoring, by said client terminal, of said media content;

automatically selecting, by said client terminal, a desired home ambience in accordance with said media type and in accordance with a stored personal preference of a user;

automatically selecting, by said client terminal, at least one command according to said desired home ambience; and

sending, by said client terminal, said at least one command to said smart home controller thereby creating said desired home ambience.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending of said at least one command comprises displaying a confirmation request to a user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending of said at least one command comprises displaying to a user a plurality of options in a list.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting of said at least one command comprises applying a function to generate said at least one command.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising said smart home controller controlling at least one home device selected from a group consisting of a light, an air-conditioner, a window shade, a water boiler, a coffee maker, an oven, a stove, a microwave device, a popcorn maker, a phone, a washing machine and a dishwasher.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said media renderer is selected from a group consisting of a television, a tablet, a smartphone, a personal computer and a laptop.

7. A method for controlling a home ambience using a smart home controller in communication with at least one home device and with a first client terminal associated with a first member of a social group, said first client terminal in communication with at least one second client terminal associated with a second member of said social group, said method comprising:

receiving, by said first client terminal, input from said at least one second client terminal;

automatically selecting, by said first client terminal, a desired home ambience in accordance with said input from said at least one second client terminal;

automatically selecting, by said first client terminal, at least one command according to said desired home ambience; and

sending, by said first client terminal, said at least one command to said smart home controller, thereby creating said desired home ambience.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending of said at least one command comprises displaying a confirmation request to a user.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending of said at least one command comprises displaying to a user a plurality of options in a list.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising said smart home controller controlling at least one home device selected from a group consisting of a light, an air-conditioner, a window shade, a water boiler, a coffee maker, an oven, a stove, a microwave device, a popcorn maker, a phone, a washing machine and a dishwasher.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said receiving of said input from said at least one second client terminal is facilitated by a central unit.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of receiving input comprises receiving input from a plurality of client terminals.

13. A method for controlling a home ambience using a smart home controller in communication with at least one home device and with a first client terminal associated with a first member of a social group, said first client terminal connected to a central unit via a computer network, said method comprising:

receiving, by said first client terminal, input from said central unit;

automatically selecting, by said first client terminal, a desired home ambience in accordance with said input from said central unit;

automatically selecting, by said first client terminal, at least one command according to said desired home ambience; and

sending, by said first client terminal, said at least one command to said smart home controller thereby creating said desired home ambience.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said sending of said at least one command comprises displaying a confirmation request to a user.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said sending of said at least one command comprises displaying to a user a plurality of options in a list.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising said smart home controller controlling at least one home device selected from a group consisting of a light, an air-conditioner, a window shade, a water boiler, a coffee maker, an oven, a stove, a microwave device, a popcorn maker, a phone, a washing machine and a dishwasher.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said input is determined by social definitions from a second client terminal associated with a second member of said social group.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said selecting of said at least one command comprises applying a function to generate said commands.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said function uses data selected from a group consisting of:

media content data, personal preference data, content history data, physical setting data, data related to said social group, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said physical setting data reflects a reading of at least one sensor connected to the smart home controller.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a light sensor, a sound sensor, and a motion detector.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein said input from said central unit is generated based on data selected from a group consisting of:

media content data, personal preference data, content history data, physical setting data, data related to said social group, and combinations thereof.