Automated control method and apparatus

• US 20190059143A1
• Filed: 08/17/2018
• Published: 02/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrica Hive Limited (Centrica PLC)
• Original Assignee: Centrica Hive Limited (Centrica PLC)
• Inventors: McGinty, Jonathan, Burke, Richard, Leith, Nicholas Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,813,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• 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

There is described a device and method for automatically controlling a lighting system including at least two lighting devices. The method comprises the steps of: determining a set of lighting devices to be controlled in an automated mode; determining a start reference time and an end reference time; and determining that one or more criteria for operating in the automated mode are met. Then a lighting device to be the first activated lighting device is selected from deactivated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices; and the first activated lighting device is activated during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time. Subsequently a lighting device to be the first deactivated lighting device is selected from activated lighting devices; and the first deactivated lighting device is deactivated during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time.

Claims

1. An automated method of controlling a lighting system including at least two lighting devices, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a set of lighting devices to be controlled in an automated mode;

determining a start reference time and an end reference time;

determining that one or more criteria for operating in the automated mode are met;

selecting, from deactivated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices, a lighting device to be the first activated lighting device;

activating the first activated lighting device during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time;

selecting, from activated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices, a lighting device to be the first deactivated lighting device; and

deactivating the first deactivated lighting device during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first activated lighting device is activated at a first activation time;

and further comprising;

selecting, from deactivated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices, one or more further devices to be further activated devices; and

activating said one or more further activated devices during a further activation time period defined relative to the first activation time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first deactivated lighting device is deactivated at a first deactivation time;

and further comprising;

selecting, from activated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices, one or more further devices to deactivate; and

deactivating said one or more further devices to deactivate during a further deactivation time period defined relative to the first deactivation time.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the further activation time period defined relative to the first activation time is a time period of pre-determined length following the first activation time;

and/or

wherein the further deactivation time period defined relative to the first deactivation time is a time period of pre-determined length following the first deactivation time.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time is a time period of a pre-determined length following the start reference time;

and/or

the pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time is a time period of a pre-determined length preceding the end reference time.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time begins at the start reference time and/or wherein the pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time finishes at the end reference time.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of:

the pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time;

the pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time;

the further activation time period defined relative to the first activation time; and

the further deactivation time period defined relative to the first deactivation time;

are at least 5 minutes.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of:

the pre-determined time period defined relative to the start reference time;

the pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time of the activation period;

the further activation time period defined relative to the first activation time; and

the further deactivation time period defined relative to the first deactivation time;

are less than 120 minutes.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the start reference time and end reference time comprises:

receiving an input from a user indicative of a start and/or end time.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of determining the start reference time and end reference time further comprises:

presenting the user with one or more selectable options for the start and/or end reference time;

and wherein receiving an input from a user indicative of a start and/or end reference time comprises;

receiving an input indicative of the user selecting one of the one or more selectable options for the start reference time and/or end reference time.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising, prior to presenting the user with one or more selectable options for the start and/or end reference time,

determining the one or more selectable options based on one or more of:

previous user behaviour, such as previous user-initiated activation times for lighting devices; and

a predictable environmental condition, such as the time of sunrise, sunset, hours of daylight or hours of darkness.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the set of lighting devices to be controlled in an automated mode comprises:

receiving an input from a user indicative of the set of lighting devices to be controlled.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of determining the set of lighting devices to be controlled in an automated mode further comprises:

presenting the user with one or more selectable options indicative of controllable lighting devices at a premises;

and wherein receiving an input from a user indicative of the set of lighting devices to be controlled comprises;

receiving an input indicative of the user selecting one of the one or more selectable options.

14. A method according to of claim 10 wherein one or both of the steps of:

presenting the user with one or more selectable options indicative of the controllable lighting devices at the premises; and

presenting the user with one or more selectable options for the start and/or end reference time comprises;

displaying the one or more selectable options on a user-interface of a device, such as a thermostat, smartphone, tablet or the like.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising, prior to presenting the user with one or more selectable options indicative of the lighting devices to be controlled,

determining the one or more selectable options based on previous user behaviour, such as lighting devices that were previously activated by a user during periods of occupation of the premises.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining that one or more criteria for operating in the automated mode are met comprises:

receiving a user input indicating that the premises is unoccupied and/or setting the mode of the control system to an automated or unoccupied mode.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining that one or more criteria for operating in the automated mode are met comprises:

determining that user-initiated control of appliances at the premises has not occurred for a pre-determined time period;

or

determining that a mobile device associated with a user is not present at the premises and/or that a mobile device associated with a user is more than a pre-determined distance from the premises.

18. A non-transient computer-readable medium comprising software code adapted, when executed on a data processing apparatus, to perform a method as set out in claim 1.

19. A controller for controlling a lighting system including at least two lighting devices in an automated mode, the controller having:

a memory for storing information relating to the at least two lighting devices;

a communications interface for communicating with the at least two lighting devices; and

a processor operable to;

determine a set of lighting devices to be controlled in an automated mode;

determine a start reference time and an end reference;

determine that one or more criteria for operating in the automated mode are met;

select, from deactivated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices, a lighting device to be the first activated lighting device;

activate the first activated lighting device during a pre-determined time period relative to the start reference time;

select, from activated lighting devices of the set of lighting devices, a lighting device to be the first deactivated lighting device; and

deactivate the first deactivated lighting device during a pre-determined time period defined relative to the end reference time.

20. A lighting system for a premises, the lighting system comprising:

at least two lighting devices; and

a controller according to claim 19.