Building marketing system

• US 20020022991A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Turner, James H., Peachey, Dave, Henderson, Bruce H., Johnson, Terri, Carr, D. Mitchell, Bailey, Graham, Sharood, John N.
• Application Number:
  US09/783,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 : by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

In one general aspect, a home marketing system may include an appliance, a communications network connected to the appliance, a processor connected to the communications network for monitoring appliance data signals, and a service provider. The service provider may provide a service based on the monitored data appliance signals. The service provided may be information about the appliance, maintenance of the appliance, or an extended warranty for the appliance.

Claims

1. A home marketing system comprising:

an appliance;

a communications network connected to the appliance;

a processor connected to the communications network for monitoring appliance data signals; and

a service provider,

wherein the service provider provides a service based on the monitored data appliance signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided comprises providing information about the appliance.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided comprises providing or recommending maintenance of the appliance.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provided comprises an extended warranty for the appliance.

5. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a user interface connected to at least one of the appliance, the communications network, and the processor,

wherein the service provided comprises an electronic coupon that is conveyed by the user interface.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor determines a state of operation of the appliance from the monitored data signals and the service provider provides the service based on the determined state of operation.

7. The system of claim 6 comprising:

a user interface connected to at least one of the appliance, the communications network, and the processor,

wherein the service provided comprises an electronic coupon that is conveyed by the user interface.

8. The system of claim 6 comprising:

a user interface connected to at least one of the appliance, the communications network, and the processor,

wherein the service provided comprises information about the appliance.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a user interface connected to at least one of the appliance, the communications network, and the processor,

wherein the service provided comprises maintenance of the appliance.

10. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a plug, connected to the appliance and the communications network, for supplying the appliance data signals to the processor,

wherein the communications network comprises a power line carrier network.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor determines a state of operation of the appliance from the monitored data signals and the service provider supplies the service based on the determined state of operation.

12. The system of claim 11 comprising:

a user interface connected to at least one of the appliance, the communications network, and the processor,

wherein the service provided comprises an electronic coupon that is conveyed by the user interface.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the service provided comprises maintenance of the appliance.

14. The system of claim 11 comprising:

a user interface connected to at least one of the appliance, the communications network, and the processor,

wherein the service provided comprises information about the appliance that is conveyed by the user interface.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the service provided comprises an extended warranty.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance presents content and the processor monitors the presented content.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor monitors the time at which the content is presented and the source of the content to determine what content is presented to a user of the appliance.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the content comprises a commercial and the processor determines what commercial is being presented.

19. The system of claim 16 comprising:

a personal identification device sending a personal identification signal,

wherein the processor receives the personal identification signal and determines to whom the content comprises presented based on the personal identification signal.

20. The system of claim 16 comprising:

a personal identification device sending a personal identification signal,

wherein the processor monitors the personal identification signal and the service provider determines to whom the content is presented based on the monitored personal identification signal.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the processor provides the service provider data indicating what content is presented and to whom the content is presented.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the appliance comprises a television.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the appliance comprises a computer.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the service provider transmits content to the appliance based on the monitored content.

26. The building control system of claim 25 comprising:

a retrofit plug connected to the appliance for monitoring the appliance,

wherein the retrofit plug sends monitored appliance data to the control server.

27. The building control system of claim 25 wherein the control server includes building manager software that controls the appliance according to a number of modes of operation.

28. The building control system of claim 26 wherein the modes of operation include at least one:

a stay mode, a wake-up mode, a bedtime mode, a sleep mode, and a custom mode.

29. The building control system of claim 25 comprising:

a display device,

wherein the communications network includes a video distribution network connected to the display device.

30. The building control system of claim 29 wherein the control server includes a video module providing a video channel for display on the display device and the control server displays a message on the video channel.

31. The building control system of claim 29 wherein the message comprises information about the appliance.

32. The building control system of claim 29 wherein the message comprises an alarm.

33. The building control system of claim 29 wherein the message comprises a commercial and the commercial is presented based on use of the monitored appliance.

34. The building control system of claim 29 wherein the control server includes a video module providing a video channel for display on the display device and the control sever displays virtual controls for control of the appliance on the video channel.

35. The building control system of claim 29 wherein the display device comprises a television and the control server records a channel that is displayed on the television and a time that the channel was displayed.

36. The building control system of claim 35 wherein the recorded channel and time are used to determine what content is being viewed.

37. The building control system of claim 36 comprising a personal identification device storing a personal identification for identifying an individual,

wherein the control server records the identification of an individual in a proximity to the display device to determine who is viewing the content.

38. The building control system of claim 25 wherein the control server monitors who uses the appliance.

39. The building control system of claim 25 comprising a user interface for controlling the appliance.

40. The building control system of claim 39 wherein the control server presents a message on the user interface based on the monitored use of the appliance.

41. The building control system of claim 40 wherein the message comprises an advertisement.

42. The building control system of claim 41 wherein the message comprises an electronic coupon.

43. The building control system of claim 25 comprising:

a user interface for displaying a virtual control panel of the appliance for remote control of the appliance.

22-1. The system of 16 wherein the content includes video content.

25. A building control system comprising:

an appliance;

a communications network connected to the appliance; and

a control server connected to the communications network, wherein

the use of the appliance is monitored by the control server.