Continuous intelligent-control-system update using information requests directed to user devices

• US 10,502,444 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2018
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US16/216,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20190162434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

An intelligent control system includes intelligent thermostats and controls an environment, such as a residential living space, commercial building, or another environment. The intelligent control system obtains information related to the controlled environment by collecting sensor data, obtaining data from users during interactive information-exchange sessions, and by directing information queries to users on one or more user devices.

Claims

1. A method of operating a control system in a controlled environment, the method comprising:

receiving, by the control system, an audio signal that corresponds to a resource-consuming system;

determining, by the control system, that the control system is unable to unambiguously identify the resource-consuming system based on the audio signal;

causing, by the control system, a message to be presented to a user, wherein the message requests that the user identify the resource-consuming system;

receiving, by the control system, a response to the message that identifies the resource-consuming system; and

taking, by the control system, at least one action related to a computational model of the controlled environment based on the message that identifies the resource-consuming system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal comprises a sound of running water.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is presented to the user on a device at a time estimated by the control system to not annoy the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the user is most likely to provide the response to the message in comparison to other users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the message to be presented to the user comprises:

causing the message to be presented to the user to be sent to a user device on which the user is most likely to respond to received information queries at times determining to be most appropriate for the user and using formats and/or styles most likely to encourage user responses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein resource-consuming system comprises a dishwasher.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein resource-consuming system comprises a shower head.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein resource-consuming system comprises a faucet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein locations of a plurality of resource-consuming systems have been determined through an initial-information-gathering interactive session with the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises one or more controllers and a server.

11. A control system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving an audio signal that corresponds to a resource-consuming system;

determining that the control system is unable to unambiguously identify the resource-consuming system based on the audio signal;

causing a message to be presented to a user, wherein the message requests that the user identify the resource-consuming system;

receiving a response to the message that identifies the resource-consuming system; and

taking at least one action related to a computational model of a controlled environment based on the message that identifies the resource-consuming system.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more memory devices are distributed between one or more controllers and one or more servers.

13. The control system of claim 11, wherein the one or more memory devices further comprise personal contact information for one or more users, wherein the one or more users includes the user.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the personal contact information includes indications of user activities associated with user devices that can be interrupted by information queries.

15. The control system of claim 13, wherein the personal contact information includes indications of types of information queries that the one or more users have indicated a willingness to respond to.

16. The control system of claim 13, wherein the personal contact information includes indications of types of information that the one or more users are willing to provide to the control system in response to information queries.

17. The control system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether additional information unavailable from sensor data and the computational model of the controlled environment is needed; and

when the additional information is determined to be needed;

using personal contact information to select the user and a user device through which the user can receive information queries,

using the personal contact information to select a type of information query that corresponds to preferences of the user for information queries and that is compatible with the user device, and

transmitting an information query of the selected type to the selected user through the selected device for the additional information.

18. The control system of claim 17 wherein the control system selects the user by:

when information about only one user is stored in the personal contact information, selecting the one user; and

when information about multiple users is stored in the personal contact information, selecting a user, from among the multiple users, determined to be most likely to respond to an information query.

19. The control system of claim 17, wherein using personal contact information to select the user and a user device through which the user can receive information queries comprises:

determining a device from among a plurality of devices included in the personal contact information that is likely to be accessible to the selected user at a time when the information query is transmitted.

20. The control system of claim 17, wherein, by selecting the user, device, and type of information query based on the personal contact information, the control system optimizes, over time, a percentage of information queries transmitted to users for which responses from users are received.