Geo-fencing in a building automation system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- storing information pertaining to a geo-fence associated with a user of a mobile device, wherein the geo-fence defines a boundary around a fixed location;
storing a previous geo-fence state of the mobile device based on a previous location of the mobile device, wherein the previous geo-fence state is identified as an inside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and an outside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location;
identifying an anticipated time period for the mobile device crossing the geo-fence;
soliciting a current location of the mobile device more frequently during the anticipated time period than prior to and after the anticipated time period;
identifying the current location of the mobile device based on a signal received from the mobile device in response to the soliciting;
determining a current geo-fence state of the mobile device based on the current location of the mobile device, wherein the current geo-fence state is identified as the inside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and the outside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location;
comparing the current geo-fence state with the previous geo-fence state;
when the current geo-fence state fails to match the previous geo-fence state, transmitting a new command to a building controller at the fixed location; and
when the current geo-fence state matches the previous geo-fence state, refraining from transmitting the new command to the building controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device having location services may store information pertaining to a geo-fence that is associated with a user of the mobile device and assigned to a location. The mobile device may identify a current location of the mobile device and store data pertaining to the location of the mobile device. The mobile device determines a current geo-fence state of the mobile device based on the location data in response to an internal stimuli or an external stimuli. The geo-fence state is selected from at least an inside geo-fence state in which the mobile device is deemed to be inside the geo-fence and an outside geo-fence state in which the mobile device is deemed to be outside of the geo-fence. The mobile device may notify a remote server of the current geo-fence state.
185 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing information pertaining to a geo-fence associated with a user of a mobile device, wherein the geo-fence defines a boundary around a fixed location; storing a previous geo-fence state of the mobile device based on a previous location of the mobile device, wherein the previous geo-fence state is identified as an inside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and an outside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location; identifying an anticipated time period for the mobile device crossing the geo-fence; soliciting a current location of the mobile device more frequently during the anticipated time period than prior to and after the anticipated time period; identifying the current location of the mobile device based on a signal received from the mobile device in response to the soliciting; determining a current geo-fence state of the mobile device based on the current location of the mobile device, wherein the current geo-fence state is identified as the inside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and the outside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location; comparing the current geo-fence state with the previous geo-fence state; when the current geo-fence state fails to match the previous geo-fence state, transmitting a new command to a building controller at the fixed location; and when the current geo-fence state matches the previous geo-fence state, refraining from transmitting the new command to the building controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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storing information pertaining to a geo-fence associated with a user of a mobile device, wherein the geo-fence defines a boundary around a fixed location; storing a previous geo-fence state of the mobile device based on a previous location of the mobile device, wherein the previous geo-fence state is identified as an inside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and an outside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location; identifying an anticipated time period for the mobile device crossing the geo-fence; soliciting a current location of the mobile device with a higher accuracy level during the anticipated time period than prior to and after the anticipated time period; identifying the current location of the mobile device based on a signal received from the mobile device in response to the soliciting; determining a current geo-fence state of the mobile device based on the current location of the mobile device, wherein the current geo-fence state is identified as the inside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and the outside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location; comparing the current geo-fence state with the previous geo-fence state; when the current geo-fence state fails to match the previous geo-fence state, transmitting a new command to a building controller at the fixed location; and when the current geo-fence state matches the previous geo-fence state, refraining from transmitting the new command to the building controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A building automation server comprising:
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a transceiver; and a controller, wherein the controller stores information pertaining to a geo-fence associated with a user of a mobile device in a database, wherein the geo-fence state defines a boundary around a fixed location, wherein the controller stores a previous geo-fence state of the mobile device based on a previous location of the mobile device, wherein the previous geo-fence state of the mobile device is identified as an inside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and an outside geo-fence state when the previous location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location, wherein the controller identifies an anticipated time period for the mobile device crossing the geo-fence, wherein the controller solicits a current location of the mobile device more frequently during the anticipated time period than prior to and after the anticipated time period, wherein the controller identifies the current location of the mobile device based on a signal the transceiver receives from the mobile device in response to soliciting the current location of the mobile device, wherein the controller determines a current geo-fence state of the mobile device based on the current location of the mobile device, wherein the current geo-fence state of the mobile device is identified as the inside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be inside of the boundary around the fixed location and the outside geo-fence state when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be outside of the boundary around the fixed location, wherein the controller compares the current geo-fence state with the previous geo-fence state, wherein, when the current geo-fence state fails to match the previous geo-fence state, the controller instructs the transceiver to transmit a new command to a building controller at the fixed location, and wherein, when the current geo-fence state matches the previous geo-fence state, the controller refrains from instructing the transceiver to transmit the new command to the building controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification