Methods for remote monitoring and control of appliances over a computer network

• US 20050198063A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Albert S. Penilla, C. Douglass Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, C. Douglass, Nguyen, Joseph A., Penilla, Albert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• 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 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

The remote monitoring and controlling of controllable devices is provided by sending control information to and receiving status information from information appliances over a network. A user is able to monitor the information appliances from a remote location, and control the information appliances from the remote location. The remote monitoring and control can be facilitated by graphical user interfaces. The information appliance can be a home lighting system, a home alarm system, a home entertainment system, a water gardening system, a home heating system, a home cooling system, and a television system having recording capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an information appliance at a local location from a remote location, said method comprising:

(a) identifying an information appliance capable of being controlled at the local location, the information appliance being electrically connected to a local computer, and the local computer capable of being electrically connected to a network of computers;

(b) displaying a graphical control screen on a remote computer at the remote location, the control screen including a plurality of selectable control actions for the information appliance, and the remote computer capable of being electrically connected to the network of computers;

(c) selecting at least one of the control actions for the information appliance, the at least one of the control actions to be performed at the local location;

(d) forming a control message for the information appliance;

(e) electrically transmitting the control message from the remote computer to the local computer;

(f) sending control signals from the local computer to the information appliance in accordance with the control message; and

(g) controlling the information appliance based on the control signals.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network of computers is the Internet.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitting (e) uses one of electronic mail and a web browser.

4. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the information appliance is a home appliance.

5. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said sending (f) of the control signals uses one or both of radio waves and cables.

6. A method for obtaining, at a remote location, status information from a information appliance at a local location, said method comprising:

(a) identifying controllable device capable of being controlled at the local location, the controllable device being electrically connected to a local computer, and the local computer capable of being electrically connected to a network of computers;

(b) sending a status request from a remote computer to the local computer for status information on the controllable device, the remote computer capable of being electrically connected to the network of computers;

(c) determining, by the local computer, the status information for the controllable device;

(d) electrically transmitting the determined status information from the local computer to the remote computer; and

(e) displaying status of the controllable device on the remote computer, the status including the determined status information.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the controllable device functions as a unit of a home or building.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said determining (c) determines the status information for the controllable device through one of wireless communication or wired communication between the local computer and the controllable device.

9. A method for remotely controlling home appliances associated with a home over an Internet network, comprising the operations of:

identifying home appliances that are interconnected to a first processing unit located in the home, with the first processing unit capable of coupling to the Internet network;

communicating a control signal through a graphical user interface associated with a second processing unit that is remotely located from the first processing unit and also capable of coupling to the Internet network; and

wherein the control signal is directed to at least one of the home appliances via the Internet network, and the control signal causes a change in an operating state of the at least one of the home appliances when received by the at least one of the home appliances.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the home appliances pertain to at least one of home utilities, home security, home entertainment, or home automation.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the home appliances are selected from the group consisting of a home lighting system, a home alarm system, a home entertainment system, a water gardening system, a home heating system, a home cooling system, and a television system having digital recording capabilities.

12. A method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the at least one of the home appliances is a television system receiving television broadcasts over a plurality of channels, the television system being associated with a digital data storage device in the home that is able to store a limited amount of digital data associated with the television broadcasts, and

wherein the graphical user interface includes a selection screen for controlling selection of the channels to record the associated television broadcasts in the digital data storage device.