METHOD AND APPARATUS OF TEMPLATE MODEL VIEW GENERATION FOR HOME MONITORING AND CONTROL

• US 20110071656A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McKiel, Frank A. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation

Abstract

An approach is provided for template model view generation for home monitor and control interface. A platform receives a model view specified by a user, where the model view includes a floor plan of a premise. The platform generates a template model view based on the received model view by removing identifying information associated with the user. Also, the platform stores the template model view for access by another user, where the template model view is used to capture location information of one or more sensors or one or more actuators within the floor plan.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a model view specified by a user, wherein the model view includes a floor plan of a premise;

generating a template model view based on the received model view by removing identifying information associated with the user; and

storing the template model view for access by another user, wherein the template model view is used to capture location information of one or more sensors or one or more actuators within the floor plan.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the template model view with stored template model views; and

classifying the template model view based on the comparison.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the other user to access the template model view, the request specifying a criterion;

determining that the template model view satisfies the criterion; and

permitting access to the template model view in response to the request, if the criterion is satisfied.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the criterion relates to another premise of the other user.

5. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

prompting the other user with one or more questions to determine information about the other premise, wherein the permission to access the template model view is further based on the determined information.

6. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a plurality of template model views that satisfy the criterion;

retrieving information about another premise based on the request; and

selecting one or more of the template models using the retrieved information.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the information includes at least one of geographical location, architectural description, and information associated with a developer of the other premise.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the architectural description includes information relating to at least one of style, elevation, number of stories, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the template model view is stored in a database managed by a service provider, the method further comprising:

initiating transmission of the template model view for customization and use by a user device configured to present a graphical user interface for controlling and displaying the sensors or the actuators within the customized model view as part of a home monitoring service provided by the service provider.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive a model view specified by a user, wherein the model view includes a floor plan of a premise, to generate a template model view based on the received model view by removing identifying information associated with the user, and to store the template model view for access by another user, wherein the template model view is used to capture location information of one or more sensors or one or more actuators within the floor plan.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the template model view with stored templates, and to classify the template model view based on the comparison.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request from the other user to access the template model view, the request specifying a criterion, to determine that the template model view satisfies the criterion, and to permit access to the template model view in response to the request, if the criterion is satisfied.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the criterion relates to another premise of the other user.

14. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to prompt the other user with one or more questions to determine information about the other premise, wherein the permission to access the template model view is further based on the determined information.

15. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a plurality of template model views that satisfy the criterion, to retrieve information about another premise based on the request, and to select one or more of the template models using the retrieved information.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the information includes at least one of geographical location, architectural description, and information associated with a developer of the other premise.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the architectural description includes information relating to at least one of style, elevation, number of stories, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms.

18. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the template model view is stored in a database managed by a service provider, the processor is further configured to initiate transmission of the template model view for customization and use by a user device configured to present a graphical user interface for controlling and displaying the sensors or the actuators within the customized model view as part of a home monitoring service provided by the service provider.

19. A system comprising:

a template generation module configured to receive a model view specified by a user, wherein the model view includes a floor plan of a premise, and to generate a template model view based on the received model view by removing identifying information associated with the user; and

a database configured to store the template model view among a plurality of template model views for access by another user, wherein the template model view is used to capture location information of one or more sensors or one or more actuators within the floor plan.

20. A system of claim 19, further comprising:

a template suggestion module configured to select one of the template model views stored in the database in response to a request by the other user, wherein the selected model view provides a baseline model view for customization by the other user.