UBIQUITOUS CONNECTIVITY AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR REMOTE LOCATIONS

• US 20120094638A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Original Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Inventors: Shamoon, Charles G., Neal, Franklin Eugene, Fehnel, Michael, Shamoon, Deboral H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,602,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 slave remote unit configured to receive a command from a master remote unit via a base unit, the slave remote unit comprising:

a wireless interface module configured to receive a tower cell identification (ID) information associated with a tower location information;

a microprocessor configured to determine a present location of the slave remote unit based upon the tower cell identification (ID) information, and to determine a command based upon the present location;

a wireless interface module configured to send the command via the base unit wherein the base unit is further configured to obey a master set of commands from the master remote unit upon a determination that the master remote unit is the master remote unit, and to obey a slave set of commands from the slave remote unit upon a determination that the slave remote unit is slave remote unit; and

wherein the master set of commands includes at least one command which is not in the slave set of commands.

2. The slave remote unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said microprocessor is configured to determine a direction of movement from the present location by comparison with a past location, and to determine a command based upon the current location and direction.

3. The slave remote unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the command is initiated when the present location is within a programmed distance from a predetermined location.

4. The slave remote unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the command is initiated when the present location exceeds a programmed distance from a predetermined location.

5. A base unit configured to communicate with a slave remote unit and a master remote unit, the base unit comprising:

a wireless interface module configured to communicate with the slave remote unit and with the master remote unit; and

a processing portion configured to;

a) receive a command from an unknown remote unit;

b) determine an identity of the unknown remote unit;

c) upon a determination that the unknown remote unit is the slave unit and that the command is contained in a set of slave commands, obey the command; and

d) upon a determination that the unknown remote unit is the slave unit and that the command is contained in a set of master commands, obey the command, and

wherein the set of master commands contains at least one command which is not contained in the set of slave commands.

6. The base unit of claim 5, wherein processing portion of the base unit is further configured to:

e) query the remote slave unit to learn a present location of the remote slave unit.

7. The base unit of claim 6, wherein the processing portion of the base station is further configured to:

f) determine a direction of movement of the remote slave unit by comparing the present location of the remote slave unit against a previous location of the remote slave unit.