Intelligent device control system
First Claim
1. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
- defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space;
at an initial state, receiving an event indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space;
changing from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space;
while in the first state;
initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay;
resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer;
upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and
while in the second state;
responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal;
responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal represents an event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space;
responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to a third state and disabling the event timer when the query response signal represents an event corresponding to an occupant action by the subject, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; and
changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for controlling devices in a monitored space. A sensor senses an event in an initial state indicating an occupant may be present in the monitored space. A switch activates the controlled device in response to the sensed event. A processor enables the device to change from the initial state to a first state in response to the sensed event, with the first state indicating that the occupant may be in the monitored space. The device also changes from the first state to a second state while determining whether the occupant continues to be in the monitored space in response to a query challenge. The device next changes from the second state to the initial state in response to the determining indicating that the occupant is not in the monitored space. The switch deactivates the controlled device in the initial state in the monitored space.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
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defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space; at an initial state, receiving an event indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space; changing from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; while in the first state; initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay; resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer; upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and while in the second state; responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal represents an event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space; responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to a third state and disabling the event timer when the query response signal represents an event corresponding to an occupant action by the subject, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; and changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
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defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space; at an initial state, receiving an event indicating an open door to the monitored space; changing, in response to the received open door event, from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized; while in the first state; changing, in response to receiving an event indicating a closed door to the monitored space, from the first state to a second state in which the controlled device remains energized, said second state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; while in the second state; initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay; resetting the event timer in response to receiving the door open event before the expiration of the event timer and changing from the second state to the first state; responsive to receiving an event indicating an occupant action by the subject before the expiration of the event timer, disabling the event timer and changing from the second state to a third state, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; upon expiration of the event timer, changing from the second state to a fourth state; while in the third state; responsive to receiving the door open event, changing from the third state to the first state; and while in the fourth state; responsive to receiving the occupant action event before the expiration of the event timer, changing from the fourth state to the third state; and responsive to receiving the door open event, changing from the fourth state to the first state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for a controller to control one or more devices associated with a monitored space, said method comprising:
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defining a plurality of states of the controller controlling a controlled device associated with the monitored space; at an initial state, receiving an event indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space; changing from the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; while in the first state; initiating an event timer set to expire after a delay; resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer; upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and while in the second state; responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; and responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space; changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge.
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17. A system for controlling one or more devices associated with a monitored space comprising:
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a controlled device, said controlled device operable to be energized or de-energized and located within a monitored space; a sensor for receiving an event signal indicating a possible presence of a subject within the monitored space; a processor responsive to the sensor receiving the event signal for transitioning among a plurality of states, wherein the processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions for; changing from an initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized to a first state in which the controlled device is energized and in response to the received event, said first state indicating that the subject can provisionally be in the monitored space; while in the first state; initiating an event timer set to expire after a first delay; resetting the event timer in response to receiving a signal indicating a detection of one or more additional events before the expiration of the event timer; upon expiration of the event timer, issuing a query challenge and changing from the first state to a second state; and while in the second state; responsive to the issued query challenge, detecting a query response signal; responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to the first state and resetting the event timer when the query response signal represents an event that indicates the subject may still provisionally be in the monitored space; responsive to the query response signal, changing from the second state to a third state and disabling the event timer when the query response signal represents an event corresponding to an occupant action by the subject, said third state indicating that the subject is in the monitored space; and changing from the second state to the initial state in which the controlled device is de-energized when the subject fails to respond to the query challenge. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification