USER INTERFACE WITH ADAPTIVE EXTENT OF USER CONTROL BASED ON USER PRESENCE INFORMATION

• US 20160069585A1
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: SINITSYN, ALEXANDRE GEORGIEVICH, SHRUBSOLE, PAUL ANTHONY
• Granted Patent: US 10,024,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0205 not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/135 by determining the type of light source being controlled electrical parameters of light source being controlled H05B47/14
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A control device (110) for controlling the environment in a region (102) within a structure (104) by means of controlling operation of a control system (120), which is adapted to adjust at least one property of the environment in the region (102), is disclosed. The control device comprises a user interface (112) adapted to selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region (102) that is adjustable by the control system (120) at least based on presence information of any persons being present within the region (102) such that the extent of control of the environment in the region (102) by means of the control device (120) that is thereby enabled the user is based at least partly on the presence information.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling the environment in a region within a structure by means of controlling operation of a control system adapted to adjust at least one property of the environment in the region, the control device comprising:

a user interface adapted to;

selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system; and

enable the user to control the represented at least one property, whereby the control device is provided with user input; and

a communication unit adapted to adjust the at least one property by means of communicating a control signal corresponding to said user input to the control system;

wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system at least based on presence information of any persons being present within the region such that the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is thereby enabled the user is based at least partly on the presence information;

wherein the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is enabled the user is greater the lower the number of persons being present within the region.

2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to adapt the number and/or type of properties and/or the range of available values of the respective properties which are indicated to the user by the user interface at least based on the presence information.

4. A control device according to claim 1, wherein, on a condition that the user is located within the region, the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is enabled the user is greater the lower the number of persons being present within a predefined distance from the user.

5. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is adapted to receive a signal from a presence information sensor unit indicative of the presence information, the presence information sensor unit being adapted to determine the presence information.

6. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system further based on preferences of any persons being present within the region for properties of the environment in the region that are adjustable by the control system.

7. A control device according to claim 6, wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system further based on a comparison of preferences of the user for properties of the environment in the region that are adjustable by the control system with preferences of any other persons being present within the region for properties of the environment in the region that are adjustable by the control system.

8. A control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an estimation unit adapted to estimate an effect on the environment in the region of a selection of a chosen value in the range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region indicated to the user by the user interface;

wherein the user interface is further adapted to indicate to the user the effect estimated by the estimation unit.

9. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the presence information includes identity information identifying at least the user within the region, and wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system further based on the identity information identifying the user.

10. A control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit adapted to store data relating to the user'"'"'s usage of the control device;

wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system further based on at least some of the data stored in the memory unit.

12. A system comprising:

a control system adapted to adjust at least one property of the environment in a region within a structure; and

a control device according to claim 1 for controlling the environment in the region by means of controlling operation of the control system.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the structure is a building, and wherein the control system includes a building management system for controlling and/or monitoring mechanical and/or electrical equipment in the building.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the control system is adapted to control lighting, heating, cooling, humidity, sound level and/or air circulation in the region, wherein the at least one property of the environment in the region includes at least one lighting property, at least one thermal property, at least one acoustic property, humidity and/or at least one air circulation property.

3. (canceled)

11. A user interface for a control device for controlling the environment in a region within a structure by means of controlling operation of a control system adapted to adjust at least one property of the environment in the region, the user interface being adapted to:

selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system; and

enable the user to control the represented at least one property, whereby the control device is provided with user input, wherein the control device is adapted to adjust the at least one property by means of communicating a control signal corresponding to said user input to the control system;

wherein the user interface is adapted to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system at least based on presence information of any persons being present within the region such that the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is thereby enabled the user is based at least partly on the presence information;

wherein the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is enabled the user is greater the lower the number of persons being present within the region.

15. A computer program product adapted to be executed in a processing unit of a control device for controlling the environment in a region within a structure by means of controlling operation of a control system adapted to adjust at least one property of the environment in the region, the control device comprising a user interface adapted to selectively indicate to a user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system, and enable the user to control the represented at least one property, whereby the control device is provided with user input, the control device further comprising a communication unit adapted to adjust the at least one property by means of communicating a control signal corresponding to said user input to the control system, the processing unit being coupled to the user interface;

the computer program product comprising computer-readable means carrying computer program code configured to, when executed in the processing unit, based at least on presence information of any persons being present within the region, cause the user interface to selectively indicate to the user a range of available values representing at least one property of the environment in the region that is adjustable by the control system, such that the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is thereby enabled the user is based at least partly on the presence information;

wherein the extent of control of the environment in the region by means of the control device that is enabled the user is greater the lower the number of persons being present within the region.