Location-Based Device Automation

• US 20130331087A1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ingrassia, Michael I. Jr., Shoemaker, David J., Hramits, Nathaniel P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• 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 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying a presence of a plurality of mobile devices at a geographic location; determining an entertainment option to be played at the geographic location based on the identified plurality of mobile devices; and based on the determination, selecting an entertainment option to be played at the geographic location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a distance of a mobile device from a location, the mobile device being associated with the location;

determining a duration that the mobile device is located beyond a threshold distance from the location; and

selecting an automation mode for an environment at the location based at least in part on the determined distance and duration,

where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting an automation mode for the location comprises adjusting the state of the one or more devices associated with the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a distance of a mobile device from a location comprises:

sending to the mobile device one or more location requests; and

in response to the sending, receiving from the mobile device one or more location indicators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a distance of a mobile device from a location comprises receiving from the mobile device one or more location indicators.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices include lighting systems, appliances, and climate control systems.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user profile, and wherein selection of an automation mode for the location results in adjusting one or more devices based on automation settings for the one or more devices stored in the user profile.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a distance of a second mobile device from the location, the second mobile device being associated with the location; and

adjusting the automation mode for the location based in part on the determined distance of the second mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusting comprising averaging automation settings for the one or more devices, wherein the automation settings are stored in user profiles for the first and second mobile devices.

9. A method comprising:

identifying a presence of a plurality of mobile devices at a particular geographic location;

determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location based on the identified plurality of mobile devices; and

based on the determination, selecting an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a song that is common among the plurality of mobile devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a song that is popular among the plurality of mobile devices.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a movie that is common among the plurality of mobile devices.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a movie that is popular among the plurality of mobile devices.

14. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

determining a distance of a mobile device from a location, the mobile device being associated with the location;

determining a duration that the mobile device is located beyond a threshold distance from the location; and

selecting an automation mode for an environment at the location based at least in part on the determined distance and duration,

where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein selecting an automation mode for the location comprises adjusting the state of the one or more devices associated with the location.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein determining a distance of a mobile device from a location comprises:

sending to the mobile device one or more location requests; and

in response to the sending, receiving from the mobile device one or more location indicators.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein determining a distance of a mobile device from a location comprises receiving from the mobile device one or more location indicators.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more devices include lighting systems, appliances, and climate control systems.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user profile, and wherein selection of an automation mode for the location results in adjusting one or more devices based on automation settings for the one or more devices stored in the user profile.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a distance of a second mobile device from the location, the second mobile device being associated with the location; and

adjusting the automation mode for the location based in part on the determined distance of the second mobile device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the adjusting comprising averaging automation settings for the one or more devices, wherein the automation settings are stored in user profiles for the first and second mobile devices.

22. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

identifying a presence of a plurality of mobile devices at a particular geographic location;

determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location based on the identified plurality of mobile devices; and

based on the determination, selecting an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a song that is common among the plurality of mobile devices.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a song that is popular among the plurality of mobile devices.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a movie that is common among the plurality of mobile devices.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a movie that is popular among the plurality of mobile devices.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a distance of a mobile device from a location, the mobile device being associated with the location;

determining a duration that the mobile device is located beyond a threshold distance from the location; and

selecting an automation mode for an environment at the location based at least in part on the determined distance and duration,

where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein selecting an automation mode for the location comprises adjusting the state of the one or more devices associated with the location.

29. The medium of claim 27, wherein determining a distance of a mobile device from a location comprises:

sending to the mobile device one or more location requests; and

in response to the sending, receiving from the mobile device one or more location indicators.

30. The medium of claim 27, wherein determining a distance of a mobile device from a location comprises receiving from the mobile device one or more location indicators.

31. The medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more devices include lighting systems, appliances, and climate control systems.

32. The medium of claim 27, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user profile, and wherein selection of an automation mode for the location results in adjusting one or more devices based on automation settings for the one or more devices stored in the user profile.

33. The medium of claim 27, further comprising:

determining a distance of a second mobile device from the location, the second mobile device being associated with the location; and

adjusting the automation mode for the location based in part on the determined distance of the second mobile device.

34. The medium of claim 33, wherein the adjusting comprising averaging automation settings for the one or more devices, wherein the automation settings are stored in user profiles for the first and second mobile devices.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a presence of a plurality of mobile devices at a particular geographic location;

determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location based on the identified plurality of mobile devices; and

based on the determination, selecting an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location.

36. The medium of claim 35, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a song that is common among the plurality of mobile devices.

37. The medium of claim 35, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a song that is popular among the plurality of mobile devices.

38. The medium of claim 35, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a movie that is common among the plurality of mobile devices.

39. The medium of claim 35, wherein determining an entertainment option to be played at the particular geographic location comprises determining a movie that is popular among the plurality of mobile devices.