BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM WITH GEO-FENCING

• US 20200133214A1
• Filed: 12/27/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Quam, David, Weirich, Kevin, Klein, Aaron, Bergman, Gabriel, Goh, Christopher, Frenz, Jonathan, Gerszewski, Riley, Gamberini, Rudolph, Nichols, Steven C., Ix
• Granted Patent: US 10,768,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• 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 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• 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: H05K 7/12 : Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure

Abstract

A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing building automation, the apparatus comprising a building automation controller implemented in circuitry and configured to:

determine, based on a first message from a first mobile device, whether the first mobile device is positioned within a first geofence configured for a first sensitivity of a first user'"'"'s location as determined by the first mobile device relative to a building;

determine, based on a second message from a second mobile device, whether the second mobile device is positioned within a second geofence configured for a second sensitivity of a second user'"'"'s location as determined by the second mobile device relative to the building, wherein the first sensitivity is higher than the second sensitivity; and

adjust an operating parameter at the building based on the determination of whether the first mobile device is positioned within the first geofence and on the determination of whether the second mobile device is positioned within the second geofence.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first geofence has a smaller area than the second geofence.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first geofence has a first area and the second geofence has a second area and wherein the second area is at least 25% greater than the first area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first geofence has a smaller radius than the second geofence.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first geofence has a different shape than the second geofence.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, to adjust the operating parameter, the building automation controller being configured to cause an HVAC system at the building to adjust a temperature setting inside a space of the building.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, to adjust the temperature setting, the building automation controller is configured to:

determine an allowed drift from a comfort setting based on a first area of the first geofence and/or a second area of the second geofence.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, to adjust the operating parameter, the building automation controller being configured to:

select a first user profile for the first user or a second user profile for the second user based on a set of hierarchical rules.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, to adjust the operating parameter, the building automation controller being configured to cause a security system at the building to arm or disarm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, to adjust the operating parameter, the building automation controller being configured to cause a lighting system at the building to turn off one or more lights.

11. A method for providing building automation, the method comprising:

determining, by a building automation controller implemented in circuitry and based on a first message from a first mobile device, whether the first mobile device is positioned within a first geofence configured for a first sensitivity of a first user'"'"'s location as determined by the first mobile device relative to a building;

determining, by the building automation controller and based on a second message from a second mobile device, whether the second mobile device is positioned within a second geofence configured for a second sensitivity of a second user'"'"'s location as determined by the second mobile device relative to the building, wherein the first sensitivity is higher than the second sensitivity; and

adjusting, by the building automation controller, an operating parameter at the building based on the determination of whether the first mobile device is positioned within the first geofence and on the determination of whether the second mobile device is positioned within the second geofence.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first geofence has a smaller area than the second geofence.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first geofence has a first area and the second geofence has a second area and wherein the second area is at least 25% greater than the first area.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first geofence has a smaller radius than the second geofence.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first geofence has a different shape than the second geofence.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the operating parameter comprises:

causing an HVAC system at the building to adjust a temperature setting inside a space of the building.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the operating parameter comprises:

determining an allowed drift from a comfort setting based on a first area of the first geofence and/or a second area of the second geofence.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the operating parameter comprises:

selecting a first user profile for the first user or a second user profile for the second user based on a set of hierarchical rules.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the operating parameter comprises:

causing a security system at the building to arm or disarm.

20. A system for providing building automation, the system comprising:

a first mobile device comprising;

a first memory for storing a first user profile for a first user, the first user profile specifying a first geofence configured for a first sensitivity of the first user'"'"'s location as determined by the first mobile device relative to a building; and

a first controller implemented in circuitry and configured to output a first message indicating whether the first mobile device is positioned within the first geofence;

a second mobile device comprising;

a second memory for storing a second profile for a second user, the second profile specifying a second geofence configured for a second sensitivity of the second user'"'"'s location as determined by the second mobile device relative to the building, wherein the first sensitivity is higher than the second sensitivity; and

a second controller implemented in circuitry and configured to output a second message indicating whether the second mobile device is positioned within the second geofence; and

a building automation controller implemented in circuitry and configured to adjust an operating parameter at the building based on the first message and the second message.