Method and system for controlling one or more apparatus based on a geographic location

• US 20030025400A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher R. Hall
• Original Assignee: Christopher R. Hall
• Inventors: Hall, Christopher R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,965,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/134
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005

Abstract

A method and device that controls one or more apparatus in relation to the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the location of the apparatus. The operator enters a geographic location identifier, such as a zip code or telephone area code, and the controller computes the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the corresponding geographic location. The controller is configured to translate the entered geographic location code into the offset times, based upon the latitude and longitude of the location. The controller is able to either directly retrieve stored time offsets or it retrieves the latitude and longitude that corresponds to the entered geographic location code and determines the time offset from that latitude and longitude.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting a geographical location identifier, wherein the geographical location identifier is associated with a specific geographical location and is at least one of a zip code portion and a telephone number portion;

determining at least one of a sunrise time and a sunset time based upon the specific geographical location; and

controlling an apparatus at a time dependent upon the at least one of a sunrise time and a sunset time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises the step of adjusting at least one of the sunrise time and the sunset time for an altitude associated with the geographical location identifier.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching a detachable input device to an apparatus controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling comprises the step of communicating a control message over an electronic control interface.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical location identifier indicates that altitude variations within an area associated with the geographical location identifier exceeds a certain value.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of accepting a time offset to compensate for at least one of the sunrise time and the sunset time based upon altitude of the specific geographic location.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining a time of day.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of determining daylight savings time adjustments to the time of day.

9. An apparatus controller, comprising:

a geographical location acceptor, wherein the geographical location acceptor accepts a geographical location identifier that is associated with a specific geographical location, wherein the geographic location identifier is at least one of a zip code portion and a telephone number portion;

a daylight determinator for making a determination of at least one of a sunrise time and a sunset time based upon the specific geographical location; and

an apparatus controller for controlling an apparatus in response to the determination.

10. A controller according to claim 9, wherein the geographical location acceptor comprises a keypad and a scrolling LCD display.

11. A controller according to claim 9, wherein the geographical location acceptor is contained within a detachable part.

12. A controller according to claim 9, wherein the daylight determinator comprises a look up table containing data used in making the determination, wherein the data relates to specific values of the geographical location identifier.

13. The controller according to claim 9, wherein the daylight determinator determines if altitude variations within an area associated with the geographical location identifier exceed a certain value.

14. A controller according to claim 9, wherein the daylight determinator further determines a daylight savings time adjustment to the time of day.

15. A controller according to claim 9, further comprising a communications interface for communicating commands to remote devices.

16. A controller according to claim 15, wherein the communications interface implements one of an X10 protocol and a CE protocol.

17. An apparatus controller, comprising:

a power switch;

a power supply;

a real time clock;

non-volatile data storage;

permanent data storage;

input means for accepting a geographic location identifier that is associated with a specific geographical location, wherein the geographic location identifier is at least one of a zip code portion and a telephone number portion; and

controller means for determining at least one of a sunrise time and a sunset time based upon the specific geographical location and for operating the power switch at specified times in relation to at least one of the sunrise time and the sunset time.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the controller is contained in a module that is mountable in a wall mounted electrical box.

19. The controller of claim 17, wherein the controller is contained in a housing that connects to an AC power socket.

20. The controller of claim 17, further comprising:

a controller housing for containing the power switch and the power supply; and

a control face for containing the real time clock, the non-volatile data storage, the permanent data storage, the input means, the controller means and a battery.

21. The controller of claim 17, further comprising:

a controller housing for containing the power switch the real time clock, the non-volatile data storage, the permanent data storage, the controller means and the power supply; and

a control face for containing the input means.

22. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions for controlling an apparatus, the computer readable medium containing programming instruction for:

accepting a geographical location identifier, wherein the geographical location identifier is associated with a specific geographical location and is not a latitude and longitude specification;

determining at least one of a sunrise time and a sunset time based upon the specific geographical location; and

controlling an apparatus at a time dependent upon the at least one of a sunrise time and a sunset time.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the programming instructions for communicating comprises programming instructions for communicating a control message over an electronic control interface.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, further comprising programming instructions for determining daylight savings time adjustments to the time of day.