Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for providing a timing apparatus with an almanac memory
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an electrical circuit, the method comprising:
- determining at least one of an approximate sunrise time and an approximate sunset time at a geographic location, based on a received location indicating code;
obtaining a current date and time; and
changing a state of the electrical circuit at a time calculated based on one of said sunrise time and said sunset time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with certain principles related to the present invention allow a timing unit to control power to one or more electrical circuits based on the geographic location of the timing unit and/or the one or more electrical circuits. The timing unit may receive a code form a user, or other source. The timing unit may determine the geographic location of the timing unit or electrical circuits based on the code, and obtain almanac information associated with the determined geographic location. In an embodiment, the almanac information includes estimated times for a sunrise and sunset at the geographic location. The timing unit may then determine whether a current date and time of day related to such sunrise and sunset times is a trigger time, and control power to electrical circuits accordingly.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an electrical circuit, the method comprising:
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determining at least one of an approximate sunrise time and an approximate sunset time at a geographic location, based on a received location indicating code;
obtaining a current date and time; and
changing a state of the electrical circuit at a time calculated based on one of said sunrise time and said sunset time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling an electrical device, comprising:
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storing information reflecting a geographic location;
determining an event time based on the stored information; and
controlling power to an electrical device based on the determined event time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for controlling one or more electrical devices, comprising:
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a remote timing unit for controlling power to an electrical device; and
a main timing unit, connected to the remote timing unit, for determining a geographic location of at least one of the main and remote timing units, wherein the main timing unit is configured to determine a time of an event based on the geographic location, and to provide information to the remote timing unit for controlling the power to the electrical device based on the determined time. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for controlling an electrical device, comprising:
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an electrical device; and
a timing unit for controlling power to the electrical device, wherein the timing unit is configured to determine a geographic location associated with the timing unit, determine an event time based on the geographic location, and control power to the electrical device based on the determined event time. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for controlling an electrical circuit, comprising:
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an electrical circuit; and
a timing unit, comprising;
a processor, a memory including information reflecting at least one event associated with a plurality of geographic locations, an input component for receiving a code, and a display for presenting information, wherein the processor is configured to access the information in the memory to determine a time associated with at least one event associated with a geographical location of the timing unit, and control power to the electrical circuit based on a determination whether a current time matches the determined time.
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41. A method performed by a computer system, comprising:
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receiving information reflecting a geographic location;
selecting at least one trigger based on the geographic location; and
controlling power to an electrical circuit based on a determination whether the at least one trigger has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification