AUTOMATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20070244572A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ryan N. Farr
• Original Assignee: Ryan N. Farr
• Inventors: FARR, RYAN NEIL
• Application Number:
  US11/734,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244572A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/12
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An automation system may include an automation module. The automation module is preferably configured to commence, maintain, and/or cease performing one or more automation actions in response to detecting user input, motion, proximity, other conditions, or any combination of one or more thereof. Exemplary automation actions include, but are not limited to, brightening lighting; darkening lighting; triggering a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide air flow; triggering an HVAC system to alter the temperature in one or more rooms or other generally enclosed areas; providing electricity (or other resource) to a resource consuming device; withdrawing electricity (or other resource) from a resource consuming device; increasing an amount of electricity (or other resource) provided to a resource consuming device; decreasing an amount of electricity (or other resource) provided to a resource consuming device; activating a resource consuming device; and deactivating a resource consuming device.

Claims

1. An automation system comprising:

an automation module configured to detect whether a computing system received first manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device;

and to, at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received the first manually-entered user input, interface-independently trigger the brightening of lighting.

2. The automation system as in claim 1, wherein the automation module is further configured to detect whether the computing system received, within a defined time period, second manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device;

to, at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received the second manually-entered user input within the defined time period, interface-independently keep the lighting brightened; and

to, at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system did not receive the second manually-entered user input within the defined time period, interface-independently trigger the darkening of the lighting.

3. The automation system as in claim 1, wherein the first manually-entered user input comprises mouse movement.

4. The automation system as in claim 1, wherein the first manually-entered user input comprises at least one keystroke.

5. The automation system as in claim 1, wherein the automation module is further configured to, at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received the first manually-entered user input, interface-independently trigger a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide air flow.

6. The automation system as in claim 5, wherein the automation module is further configured to detect whether the computing system received, within a defined time period, second manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device;

to, at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received the second manually-entered user input within the defined time period, interface-independently keep the HVAC system providing the air flow; and

to, at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system did not receive the second manually-entered user input within the defined time period, interface-independently trigger the HVAC system to cease providing the air flow.

7. The automation system as in claim 5, wherein the automation module is further configured to detect whether a motion sensor detected motion;

and to trigger the HVAC system to provide air flow at least partially in response to detecting that the motion sensor detected motion.

8. The automation system as in claim 7, wherein the automation module is further configured to detect whether a proximity sensor detected proximity;

and to trigger the HVAC system to provide air flow at least partially in response to detecting that the proximity sensor detected proximity.

9. The automation system as in claim 7, further comprising the computing system, the at least one manual user input device, the lighting, the HVAC system, the motion sensor, and the proximity sensor.

10. An automation method comprising:

detecting whether a computing system received manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device; and

at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device, interface independently triggering the brightening of lighting.

11. The automation method as in claim 10, further comprising:

at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device, interface-independently triggering a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide air flow.

12. The automation method as in claim 10, wherein the manually-entered user input comprises mouse movement.

13. The automation method as in claim 10, wherein the manually-entered user input comprises at least one keystroke.

14. An automation method comprising:

detecting whether a computing system received manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device; and

at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system did not receive manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device, interface independently triggering the darkening of lighting.

15. The automation method as in claim 14, further comprising:

at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system did not receive manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device, interface-independently triggering a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system to cease providing air flow.

16. The automation method as in claim 14, wherein the manually-entered user input comprises mouse movement.

17. The automation method as in claim 14, wherein the manually-entered user input comprises at least one keystroke.

18. An automation method comprising:

detecting whether a motion sensor detected motion; and

at least partially in response to detecting that the motion sensor detected motion, triggering a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide air flow.

19. The automation method as in claim 18, further comprising:

detecting whether a computing system received manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device; and

at least partially in response to detecting that the computing system received manually-entered user input via at least one manual user input device, interface independently keeping the HVAC system providing the air flow.