METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HOME AUTOMATION USING AN INTERNET OF THINGS PLATFORM

• US 20190146442A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 05/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Associated Materials LLC (Associated Materials Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Associated Materials LLC (Associated Materials Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cirino, Christian Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,488,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/4484 Special provisions for mounting or dismounting sashes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66 Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/92 Doors or windows extensible when set in position foldable wings E06B3/48; sliding wings for windows E06B3/42; wall-closing devices which may be rolled up, e.g. shutters, E06B9/11 E06B3/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0425 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A window is described, comprising a frame, a sash, a window pane mounted in the sash, a computer system, the computer system comprising a housing, the housing configured to be mounted into a receiving area of the frame, into the sash, into a window valence, or into a window casing. A processing device is located within the housing. Non-transitory memory located within the housing configured to store instructions to be executed by the processing device, a network interface, at least a first sensor fixed to the casing, frame, or window pane, the first sensor coupled to the computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to take at least a first action in response to at least a first sensor reading from the first sensor.

Claims

1. An openable barrier unit comprising a window, a door, or a skylight, comprising:

a frame;

a glass pane;

a wireless network interface;

an openable barrier unit computer system, the openable barrier unit computer system comprising;

a housing;

a processing device located within the housing;

non-transitory memory located within the housing configured to store instructions to be executed by the processing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, enable the openable barrier unit to;

communicate using the wireless network interface with other openable barrier units as a node in a mesh network; and

a plurality of sensors of different types affixed to the openable barrier unit and coupled to the openable barrier unit computer system, including at least one of;

a temperature sensor,

a humidity sensor,

a light intensity sensor,

a barometric pressure sensor,

a moisture sensor,

a smoke sensor, or

a carbon monoxide sensor;

wherein the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take at least a first action in response to at least a first sensor reading from a first sensor.

2. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a sash

a sash sensor configured to detect a position of the sash, the sash sensor coupled to the openable barrier unit computer system;

a magnet or ferrous material comprised by the frame or the sash configured to magnetically couple a module to the openable barrier unit; and

an interface configured to receive and/or transmit signals to one or more devices included in the module.

3. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless network interface comprises at least one of a Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or cellular wireless network interface.

4. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wired network interface.

5. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising an AC power supply configured be connected to an AC power source and/or a battery configured to power at least the openable barrier unit computer system and the wireless network interface.

6. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a battery; and

an integral photovoltaic system configured to recharge the battery and/or power at least one sensor.

7. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic device substantially transparent to visible light overlaying the glass pane.

8. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a sash;

a sash sensor coupled to the openable barrier unit computer system, the sash sensor configured to detect at least;

an open position of the sash;

a closed position of the sash; and

an intermediate position of the sash, the intermedia position between the open position and the closed position.

9. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a sash; and

a sash sensor configured to detect a position of the sash, the sash sensor coupled to the openable barrier unit computer system.

10. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors of different types comprises at least one sensor wireles sly coupled to the openable barrier unit computer system.

11. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors of different types comprises at least one lock sensor configured to detect a lock position.

12. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors of different types comprises a motion sensor, a rain sensor, a light sensor, and a vibration sensor.

13. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises providing a control signal to a shade motor and/or a blind motor.

14. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the glass pane further comprises an electro-chromatic panel, wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor is to change a light transmissivity of the electro-chromatic panel.

15. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises:

turning on a light; and

transmitting a notification message reporting the first sensor reading to one or more remote devices.

16. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors of different types comprises a camera, wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises causing the camera to record an image.

17. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1:

further comprising at least one motor coupled to a lock,

wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises controlling the motor coupled to the lock.

18. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises activating a motor affixed to a different openable barrier unit.

19. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises activating a motor configured to limit movement of a movable component of a first device.

20. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive control.

21. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein in response to the first sensor reading indicating heat or smoke, the first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises:

turning on at least one light;

transmitting a notification message reporting the first sensor reading to one or more remote devices; and

instructing a first device remote from the openable barrier unit to cease a first operation.

22. The openable barrier unit as defined in claim 1, wherein first action that the openable barrier unit computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises adjusting a setting of a thermostat.

23. A method of operating an openable barrier comprising at least a first pane, the method comprising:

monitoring,

by a computer system included in the openable barrier, the openable barrier comprising a door, a window, or a skylight,

signals from a plurality of different types of sensors, including at least two sensor types of the following sensor types;

a temperature sensor,

a humidity sensor,

a light intensity sensor,

a barometric pressure sensor,

a moisture sensor,

a smoke sensor, or

a carbon monoxide sensor;

communicating data using a wireless network interface with other openable barriers as a node in a mesh network; and

initiating a first action in response to at least a first sensor reading from a first sensor.

24. The method of operating an openable barrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the first action that the openable barrier computer system is configured to take in response to at least the first sensor reading from the first sensor comprises providing a control signal to a shade motor and/or a blind motor.

25. The method of operating an openable barrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the pane comprises an electro-chromatic panel, wherein the first action comprising changing a light transmissivity of the an electro-chromatic panel.

26. The method of operating an openable barrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the first action comprises activating a motor associated with a different openable barrier.

27. The method of operating an openable barrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the first action comprises transmitting an instruction to a thermostat or a camera.

28. The method of operating an openable barrier as defined in claim 23, wherein the first action comprises:

turning on, by the computer system included in the openable barrier, at least one light remote from the openable barrier; and

transmitting, by the computer system included in the openable barrier, a notification message reporting the first sensor reading to one or more remote destinations.

29. The method of operating an openable barrier as defined in claim 23, the method further comprising:

monitoring at least one sensor configured to sense a position of a movable portion of the openable barrier;

monitoring weather information; and

at least partly in response to detecting, from position information from the at least one sensor that the movable portion of the openable barrier is in an open position, and on the monitored weather information, commanding an actuator to close the movable portion of the openable barrier.

30. A barrier unit comprising a window, a door, or a skylight, comprising:

a frame;

a glass pane;

a network interface;

an barrier unit computer system, the barrier unit computer system comprising;

a housing;

a processing device located within the housing;

non-transitory memory located within the housing configured to store instructions to be executed by the processing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, enable the barrier unit to;

communicate using the network interface with other devices as a node in a mesh network; and

a plurality of sensors of different types affixed to the barrier unit and coupled to the barrier unit computer system, including at least one of;

a temperature sensor,

a humidity sensor,

a light intensity sensor,

a barometric pressure sensor,

a moisture sensor,

a position sensor,

a smoke sensor, or

a carbon monoxide sensor;

wherein the barrier unit computer system is configured to generate a first signal in response to at least a first sensor reading from a first sensor.