CONNECTED HOME USER INTERFACE SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20140068486A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Stallings, Heath, Sellers, Jayson
• Granted Patent: US 9,397,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

Exemplary connected home user interface systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a user interface subsystem communicatively coupled to a home monitor and control subsystem providing a graphical user interface view for display on a display screen, the graphical user interface view including a graphical representation of a floor plan of a home associated with the home monitor and control subsystem and a graphic representing an element of the home monitor and control subsystem, wherein the graphic is positioned relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan in the graphical user interface view to visually indicate a location of the element at the home. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, by a user interface subsystem communicatively coupled to a home monitor and control subsystem, a graphical user interface view for display on a display screen, the graphical user interface view including;

a graphical representation of a floor plan of a home associated with the home monitor and control subsystem, and

a graphic representing an element of the home monitor and control subsystem, wherein the graphic is positioned relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan in the graphical user interface view to visually indicate a location of the element at the home.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a callout window overlaid on the graphical representation of the floor plan of the home.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphic further comprises a textual description of the element within the callout window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic indicates a current connection status of the element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic indicates a current operational status of the element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the element comprises a video camera; and

the graphic comprises a display of a video feed captured by the video camera.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises at least one option configured to be selected by a user to remotely control operation of the element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a user selectable link to settings information for the element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a user selectable link to historical notification information for the element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a user selectable link to video recording information for the element.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by the user interface subsystem within the graphical user interface view, a populated list of elements included in the home monitor and control subsystem; and

providing, by the user interface subsystem, an element placement tool configured to allow a user to select an element included in the list and to place a graphic representing the selected element relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the element placement tool is configured to allow the user to drag a graphical object representing the element included in the list from the list and to place the graphical object representing the element onto the graphical representation of the floor plan.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by the user interface subsystem within the graphical user interface view, a populated list of operational modes of the home monitor and control subsystem;

detecting, by the user interface subsystem, a user selection of an operational mode included in the list of operational modes;

determining, by the user interface subsystem, that the element is included in the selected operational mode; and

modifying, by the user interface subsystem, the graphic representing the element to visually indicate that the element represented by the graphic is included in the selected operational mode.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the user interface subsystem within the graphical user interface view, a populated list of one or more additional elements available to be added to the home monitor and control subsystem.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the user interface subsystem, a floor plan definition tool configured to allow a user to define the graphical representation of the floor plan.

16. The method of claim 1, embodied as computer-executable instructions on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium.

17. A method comprising:

providing, by a user interface subsystem communicatively coupled to a home monitor and control subsystem, a graphical user interface for display on a display screen;

providing, by the user interface subsystem within the graphical user interface, a floor plan definition tool configured for use by a user to define a floor plan of a home;

receiving and maintaining, by the user interface subsystem, data representative of the floor plan of the home;

providing, by the user interface subsystem for display within the graphical user interface, a graphical representation of the floor plan of the home;

providing, by the user interface subsystem for display together with the graphical representation of the floor plan of the home within the graphical user interface, a populated list of elements included in the home monitor and control subsystem; and

providing, by the user interface subsystem, an element placement tool for use by the user to select an element included in the list and to place a graphic representing the selected element relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan within the graphical user interface such that a position of the graphic relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan visually indicates a location of the element at the home.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the element placement tool is configured to allow the user to drag a graphical object representing the element included in the list from the list and to place the graphical object representing the element onto the graphical representation of the floor plan.

19. The method of claim 17, embodied as computer-executable instructions on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium.

20. A system comprising:

a user interface subsystem comprising at least one processor and communicatively coupled to a home monitor and control subsystem;

wherein the user interface subsystem is configured to provide a graphical user interface view for display on a display screen, the graphical user interface view including;

a graphical representation of a floor plan of a home associated with the home monitor and control subsystem, and

a graphic representing an element of the home monitor and control subsystem, wherein the graphic is positioned relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan in the graphical user interface view to visually indicate a location of the element at the home.