Accessory management system using environment model
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method executable by one or more devices, the method comprising:
- defining an environment model that comprises a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where a plurality of accessory devices are present, the hierarchical representation including a plurality of rooms at a first level and a plurality of zones at a higher level than the first level, each zone of the plurality of zones including at least one subset of the plurality of rooms, and wherein defining the environment model comprises defining a list of users and devices associated with the users that are authorized to edit the environment model;
adding a representation of each of the plurality of accessory devices to the environment model, the representation of each accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices being assigned to a room of the plurality of rooms in the environment model based at least in part on a physical location of each of the plurality of accessory devices;
identifying a respective characteristic of each of the plurality of accessory devices, the respective characteristic identifying an operation that a respective accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices is configured to perform and including a current state for the respective characteristic; and
providing a user interface operable to;
present a representation of the respective accessory device, a representation of a target state selector, and a representation of the current state;
receive an input indicating a selection of a target state for the respective accessory device; and
control the respective accessory device by sending information identifying the selection of the target state, enabling the respective accessory to compare the target state with information stored at the respective accessory device that indicates the current state.
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Abstract
Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. A group of accessories can be organized into an accessory network that can facilitate coordinated control of multiple accessories. The accessory network can be organized according to an environment model that can include a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where accessories are present. The environment model can be synchronized across different controllers that have access to the accessories.
91 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method executable by one or more devices, the method comprising:
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defining an environment model that comprises a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where a plurality of accessory devices are present, the hierarchical representation including a plurality of rooms at a first level and a plurality of zones at a higher level than the first level, each zone of the plurality of zones including at least one subset of the plurality of rooms, and wherein defining the environment model comprises defining a list of users and devices associated with the users that are authorized to edit the environment model; adding a representation of each of the plurality of accessory devices to the environment model, the representation of each accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices being assigned to a room of the plurality of rooms in the environment model based at least in part on a physical location of each of the plurality of accessory devices; identifying a respective characteristic of each of the plurality of accessory devices, the respective characteristic identifying an operation that a respective accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices is configured to perform and including a current state for the respective characteristic; and providing a user interface operable to; present a representation of the respective accessory device, a representation of a target state selector, and a representation of the current state; receive an input indicating a selection of a target state for the respective accessory device; and control the respective accessory device by sending information identifying the selection of the target state, enabling the respective accessory to compare the target state with information stored at the respective accessory device that indicates the current state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device comprising:
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a user interface; a communication interface to communicate with one or more other devices including at least an accessory device; and a processing subsystem coupled to the user interface and the communication interface, the processing subsystem configured to; define an environment model that comprises a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where a plurality of accessory devices are present, the hierarchical representation including a plurality of rooms at a first level and a plurality of zones at a higher level than the first level, each zone of the plurality of zones including at least one subset of the plurality of rooms, and wherein the environment model is defined by defining a list of users and devices associated with the users that are authorized to edit the environment model; add a representation of each of the plurality of accessory devices to the environment model, the representation of each accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices being assigned to a room of the plurality of rooms in the environment model based at least in part on a physical location of each of the plurality of accessory devices; identify a respective characteristic of each of the plurality of accessory devices, the respective characteristic identifying an operation that a respective accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices is configured to perform and including a current state for the respective characteristic; and present the user interface operable to; present a representation of the respective accessory device, a representation of a target state selector, and a representation of the current state; receive an input indicating a selection of a target state for the respective accessory device; and control the respective accessory device by sending information identifying the selection of the target state, enabling the respective accessory to compare the target state with information stored at the respective accessory device that indicates the current state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by a processor of at least one device, cause the at least one device to perform operations comprising:
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defining an environment model, the environment model including a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where a plurality of accessory devices are present, and the hierarchical representation including a plurality of rooms at a lowest level and a plurality of zones at a higher level than the lowest level, each zone of the plurality of zones including at least one subset of the plurality of rooms, and wherein defining the environment model comprises defining a list of users and devices associated with the users that are authorized to edit the environment model; adding a representation of each of the plurality of accessory devices to the environment model, the representation of each accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices being assigned to a room of the plurality of rooms in the environment model based at least in part on a physical location of each of the plurality of accessory devices; identifying a respective characteristic of each of the plurality of accessory devices, the respective characteristic identifying an operation that a respective accessory device of the plurality of accessory devices is configured to perform and including a current state for the respective characteristic; and providing a user interface operable to; present a representation of the respective accessory device, a representation of a target state selector, and a representation of the current state; receive an input indicating a selection of a target state for the respective accessory device; and control the respective accessory device by sending information identifying the selection of the target state, enabling the respective accessory to compare the target state with information stored at the respective accessory device that indicates the current state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification