Security and energy control system and method

• US 20070024125A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Energy Technologies Incorporated (U.S. Energy Technologies)
• Original Assignee: US Energy Technologies Incorporated (U.S. Energy Technologies)
• Inventors: Martin, David, Sambol, Rohn, Biskup, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1909 whose output amplitude can only take two discrete values
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A system detects for the presence of an identification (ID) code associated with an object. The detected ID code is communicated to a computer and power is provided to an energy consumption device. In response to detecting that the ID code has been absent for less than a first duration, an indication of the absence of the ID code is communicated to the computer and energy is withheld from the energy consumption device. If, however, the ID code has been absent for more than the first duration and motion is detected in a field of view, an intruder indication is communicated to the computer if the presence of the ID code is not detected within a second duration. However, if motion is not detected in the field of view, power is provided or withheld from the energy consumption device as a function of an ambient temperature of an environment.

Claims

1. A security and energy control method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining if an object having an identification (ID) code associated therewith is either present at or absent from a predetermined location within a room;

(b) if the object is present at the predetermined location for less than a first duration, causing the ID code to be communicated to a computer located remotely along with an indication that the object is present at the predetermined location and causing power to be provided to an energy consumption device;

(c) if the object is absent from the predetermined location for less than a second duration, causing an indication that the object is not present at the predetermined location to be communicated to the computer and causing power to be withheld from the energy consumption device;

(d) if the object is absent from the predetermined location for more than the second duration, detecting for motion in the room; and

(e) if motion is detected in step (d), causing an indication that motion has been detected to be communicated to the computer after delaying a third duration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy consumption device is one of a lamp and a television.

3. The method of claim 1, further including repeating steps (a)-(e).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the object is an ID card; and

the predetermined location is an ID card reader.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

(f) if motion is not detected in step (d), causing power to be provided to or withheld from the energy consumption device based on an ambient temperature of the room.

6. The method of claim 5, further including repeating steps (a)-(f).

7. The method of claim 5, wherein step (f) includes:

causing power to be provided to the energy consumption device when the ambient temperature is within a setback limit; and

causing power to be withheld from the energy consumption device when the ambient temperature is outside the setback limit.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the energy consumption device is at least one of a heating system and a cooling system.

9. A security and energy control method comprising:

(a) detecting for the presence of an identification (ID) code associated with an object;

(b) in response to detecting the presence of the ID code, communicating the ID code to a computer and providing power to an energy consumption device;

(c) in response to detecting that the ID code has been absent for less than a first duration, communicating an indication of the absence of the ID code to the computer and withholding power from the energy consumption device, otherwise, detecting for motion in a field of view; and

(d) if motion is detected in the field of view and if the presence of the ID code is not detected within a second duration, communicating to the computer an indication that motion has been detected.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the energy consumption device is one of a lamp and a television.

11. The method of claim 9, further including repeating steps (a)-(d).

12. The method of claim 9, further including:

(e) if motion is not detected in the field of view, providing or withholding power from the energy consumption device as a function of an ambient temperature of an environment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the energy consumption device is at least one of a heating system and a cooling system.

14. The method of claim 12, further including repeating steps (a)-(e).

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the ID code is embedded in a magnetically encodeable medium of the object.