UBIQUITOUS CONNECTIVITY AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR REMOTE LOCATIONS

• US 20070155379A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Original Assignee: Charles Shamoon, Deborah Shamoon
• Inventors: NEAL, Frankin, FEHNEL, Michael, SHAMOON, Deborah, SHAMOON, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• 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 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 : Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 : wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 : PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A thermostat control system for monitoring and controlling environmental characteristics of a building includes a base station unit and a remote access unit continuously interfacing through instant wireless private direct connectivity. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that measure the environmental characteristics and provide the thermostat unit with the measurements.

Claims

1. A method for environmental control and information processing associated with a structure, the method comprising:

a. providing a user with a remote control unit, said remote control unit;

receiving through short message service (SMS) from a control unit in the structure a status message directly over a cellular network related to the status of an environmental unit at said structure,

notifying said user of receipt of said status message'"'"' and displaying said status message on said remote control unit;

b. providing by said user at said remote control unit in response to said status message a control message containing control information to use for controlling said environmental control units;

c. delivering said control message from said remote control unit to the cellular network as a SMS message and relaying said control message to said control unit;

d. creating a control command for said environmental control unit based on the control information of the control message; and

e. delivering the control commands to the plurality of environmental control units.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising sending as an SMS message to the remote control unit a response message indicating delivery of a control command to the environmental control unit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the response message includes status information for the environmental control unit.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising controlling environmental conditions within the structure using the plurality of environmental control units.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising detecting presence of an authorized person and sending said status message to the remote control unit indicating the presence of the authorized person.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting presence of the authorized person includes detecting the authorized person proximate to the structure.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the remote control unit includes global positioning satellite (GPS) capabilities and detecting the authorized person proximate to the structure comprises receiving GPS information from the remote control unit.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a heating system and comprising sending a control command to the heating system to adjust the temperature within the structure in response to detecting the authorized person proximate to the structure.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a lighting system and comprising sending a control command to the lighting system to turn on lighting associated with the structure in response to detecting the authorized person proximate to the structure.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising detecting presence of an unauthorized person and sending an SMS message to the remote control unit indicating the presence of the unauthorized person.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a burglar alarm and detecting presence of the unauthorized person includes detecting a structural breach of the structure via the burglar alarm.

12. The method of claim 1 comprising accessing remote information, creating a control command based on the remote information, and delivering the control command to at least one of the plurality of environmental control units.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising sending an SMS message to the remote control unit based on the remote information and the control command delivered to the at least one of the plurality of environmental control units.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein accessing the remote information includes accessing a weather forecasting service and the remote information relates to local weather conditions.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a sprinkler system and the control command includes an instruction to bypass a scheduled watering cycle for the sprinkler system when the local weather conditions include a forecast for rain.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a power control system and the control command includes an instruction to power down sensitive electronics when the local weather conditions include a forecast for severe weather.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a window control system and the control command includes an instruction to adjust at least one of windows and window coverings that are associated with the structure to conserve energy when the local weather conditions include a forecast for a change in weather conditions.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein accessing remote information includes accessing a school system'"'"'s notification information service and the remote information includes school related information.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a heating system and the control command includes an instruction to adjust the heat when the school related information includes a notification that schools are being released early due to inclement weather.

20. A system for environmental control and information processing associated with a structure, the method comprising:

a controller adapted to interface with an environmental control unit associated with the structure; and

a wireless module adapted to;

receive from a remote control unit a control message delivered from a remote control unit from a cellular network as a short message service (SMS) message comprising control information to use for controlling the environmental control unit;

create control commands for the environmental control unit based on the control information of the SMS messages;

deliver the control commands to the environmental control unit via the controller; and

deliver to said remote control unit for receipt as a SMS message a revised status message indicating execution of said control information; and

means at remote control device for notifying a user of said remote control device of said receipt and displaying information related to said revised status message.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the environmental control unit is adapted to control environment conditions within the structure.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the wireless module is adapted to detect presence of an authorized person and to send an SMS message to the remote control unit indicating the presence of the authorized person.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein, in being adapted to detect presence of the authorized person, the wireless module is adapted to detect the authorized person proximate to the structure.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the remote control unit includes global positioning satellite (GPS) capabilities and wherein, in being adapted to detect the authorized person proximate to the structure, the wireless module is adapted to detect the authorized person by receiving GPS information from the remote control unit.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the environmental control unit is a heating system and wherein the wireless module is adapted to send a control command to the heating system via the controller to adjust the temperature within the structure in response to detecting the authorized person proximate to the structure.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the environmental control unit is a lighting system and wherein the wireless module is adapted to send a control command to the lighting system via the controller to turn on lighting associated with the structure in response to detecting the authorized person proximate to the structure.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein the environmental control unit IS a burglar alarm and wherein, in being adapted to detect the unauthorized person proximate to the structure, the wireless module is adapted to detect a structural breach of the structure via the burglar alarm.

28. The system of claim 20 wherein the wireless module is adapted to access remote information, to create a control command based on the remote information, and to deliver the control command to at least one of the plurality of environmental control units via the controller.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the wireless module is adapted to send an SMS message to the remote control unit based on the remote information and the control command delivered to the environmental control unit.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the wireless module is adapted to access remote information by accessing a weather forecasting service and the remote information relates to local weather conditions.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the environmental control unit is a sprinkler system and the wireless module is adapted to create the control command to instruct the sprinkler system to bypass a scheduled watering cycle when the local weather conditions include a forecast for rain.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the environmental control unit is a power control system and the wireless module is adapted to create the control command to instruct the power control system to power down sensitive electronics when the local weather conditions include a forecast for severe weather.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the environmental control unit is a window control system and the wireless module is adapted to create the control command to instruct the window control system to adjust at least one of windows and window coverings that are associated with the structure to conserve energy when the local weather conditions include a forecast for a change in weather conditions.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the wireless module is adapted to access remote information by accessing a school system'"'"'s notification information service and the remote information includes school related information.

35. The system of 34 wherein the at least one of the plurality of environmental control units includes a heating system and wherein the wireless module is adapted to create the control command to instruct the heating system to increase the heat when the school related information includes a notification that schools are being released early due to inclement weather.

36. A method for environmental control and information processing associated with a structure, the method comprising:

a. providing a user with a remote control unit, said remote control unit;

receiving a status message from a control unit in the structure a status message directly over a cellular network using short message and/or data bearer services, said status message related to the status of an environmental unit at said structure,

notifying said user of receipt of said status message'"'"' and displaying said status message on said remote control unit;

b. providing by said user at said remote control unit in response to said status message a control message containing control information to use for controlling said environmental control units;

c. delivering said control message from said remote control unit to the cellular network using short message and/or data bearer services and relaying said control message to said control unit;

d. creating a control command for said environmental control unit based on the control information of the control message; and

e. delivering the control commands to the plurality of environmental control units.

37. A system for environmental control and information processing associated with a structure, the method comprising:

a controller adapted to interface with an environmental control unit associated with the structure; and

a wireless module adapted to;

receive from a remote control unit a control message delivered from a remote control unit from a cellular network using short message and/or data bearer services, said control message comprising control information to use for controlling the environmental control unit;

create control commands for the environmental control unit based on the control information;

deliver the control commands to the environmental control unit via the controller;

deliver to said remote control unit for receipt using said services of said cellular network a revised status message indicating execution of said control information; and

means at remote control device for notifying a user of said remote control device of said receipt and displaying information related to said revised status message.