Smart space appliance control using a mobile communications device

• US 20050071879A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Malik, Manish, Kuchibhotla, Sree Charan, Vokkaarne, Vijay, Haldavnekar, Nikhil A., Helal, Abdelsalam A.
• Application Number:
  US10/889,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 : Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 : Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 : Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 : Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 : Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 : System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 : Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 : Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 : via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 : responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 : Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 : Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 : with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 : Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 : Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 : Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 : Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 : Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 : Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 : Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• 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 12/2836 : Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 : for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 : according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 : according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 : specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A method for controlling appliances can include the step of presenting at least one appliance option for a controlled appliance upon a mobile communications device having mobile telephony capabilities. At least one appliance message can be transmitted across the wireless communications link between a smart space control unit and the mobile communications device. In one arrangement, wireless communication link can be a mobile telephony link. At least one appliance signal can be conveyed between the smart space control unit and the controlled appliance.

Claims

1. A method for controlling appliances comprising the steps of:

presenting at least one appliance option for a controlled appliance upon a mobile computing device having mobile telephony capabilities;

transmitting at least one appliance message across a wireless communication link established between the mobile computing device and a smart space control unit; and

conveying at least one appliance signal between said smart space control unit and said controlled appliance.

2. The method of claim 1, where said wireless communication link is a mobile telephony link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said conveying step further comprises the step of:

conveying said appliance signal over electrical power lines using a power-line carrier protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an operational condition of said controlled appliance, wherein said operational condition is sent to said smart space control unit within one of said appliance signals and thereafter sent to said mobile computing device within one of said appliance messages; and

displaying an indicator of said operational condition upon said mobile computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, said displaying step further comprising the step of:

displaying a graphic to visually illustrate said operational condition, wherein different graphics are used to visually illustrate different operational conditions.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said indicator includes a speech message, said displaying step further comprising the step of:

audibly playing said speech message.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a status inquiry via the mobile computing device, wherein said status inquiry is sent to said smart space control unit within one of said appliance messages and thereafter sent to said controlled appliance within one of said appliance signals; and

performing said detecting step responsive to said receiving step.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a control notifier via the mobile computing device for said controlled appliance; and

responsively adjusting at least one operational condition of said controlled appliance.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

conveying an identification key to said smart space control space; and

authorizing said mobile computing device to access said smart space control unit based upon said identification key.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile computing device is configured as a thin client, and wherein said smart space control unit is configured as a server for said thin client.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

controlling said controlled appliance using a control module such that in said conveying step said appliance signals are conveyed between said control module and said smart space control space so that said control module can initiate an appliance action responsive to receipt of selective ones of said appliance signals.

12. A system for controlling appliances comprising:

a mobile computing device configured for mobile telephony communications; and

a smart space control unit configured to manage at least one controlled appliance, wherein said mobile computing device comprises an interface for remotely managing said controlled appliance, wherein data is exchanged between said mobile computing device and said controlled appliance using said smart space control unit as an intermediary.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said mobile computing device is a thin client and wherein said smart space control unit is the thin client server.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said smart space control unit comprises a control board including a network interface port.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said controlled appliance is linked to said smart space control unit through electrical lines and wherein data is conveyed between said smart space control unit and said controlled application using a power-line carrier protocol.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said controlled appliance comprises:

a control module configured to receive data from said smart space control unit and responsively initiate at least one appliance action, wherein said control module is disposed between operative portions of the controlled appliance and a power source used by the controlled appliance.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said controlled appliance is configured to receive visual input including at least one of a graphical image and a video segment, and wherein said mobile computing device is configured to visually display said visual input.

18. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

presenting at least one appliance option for a controlled appliance upon a mobile computing device having mobile telephony capabilities;

transmitting at least one appliance message across a wireless communication link established between the mobile computing device and a smart space control unit; and

conveying at least one appliance signal between said smart space control unit and said controlled appliance.

19. A system for controlling appliances comprising:

means for presenting at least one appliance option for a controlled appliance upon a mobile computing device having mobile telephony capabilities;

means for transmitting at least one appliance message across a wireless communication link established between the mobile computing device and a smart space control unit; and

means for conveying at least one appliance signal between said smart space control unit and said controlled appliance.