Synchronization of appliances to a schedule of a user

• US 9,541,912 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Grossman, John Henry IV, Bartlett, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): JUNG, JAY YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/713,413
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13063 Synchronization between modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users'"'"' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining sensor data from a sensor, the sensor data indicating a state of a first appliance;

determining a user location;

obtaining a first characteristic of the first appliance;

based upon the user location and the sensor data, determining a schedule indicating when a user will desire a state change of the first appliance;

dynamically modifying a feature of the first appliance to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule; and

synchronizing an end time of a second appliance to an end time of the first appliance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a hygrometer, a barometer, a thermometer, an accelerometer, an amp meter, a volt meter, a water meter, an air flow sensor, an air purity sensor or other gas composition analysis tool, a water purity sensor, a timer, a volume sensor, a tachometer, a speedometer, a fuel consumption meter, a watt meter, a clock, and a phase meter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user location is determined by a GPS device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

a model year, a power consumption, a wiring schematic, a water consumption, a gas consumption, a model number, a manufacturer, a history of a performance of the first appliance, and a history of a performance of other appliances that match the first appliance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule comprises an expected time of an interaction between the user and the first appliance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a notice to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notice comprises status information about the first appliance.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving sensor data from a second sensor located external to the first appliance.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting usage of a household fixture.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dynamically modifying the feature of the first appliance is responsive to the detected usage of the household fixture.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the household fixture is selected from the group consisting of:

a shower, a bath, and a sink.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature of the first appliance is selected from the group consisting of:

the end time, the start time, a cycle start time, a cycle end time, a power consumption, a fan speed, a spin speed, a temperature, a pressure, an acceleration, a velocity, a gas consumption, a gas flow rate, and a water flow rate.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically modifying a feature of the second appliance based on the schedule.

14. A system comprising:

a central controller comprising a processor and computer readable storage, the processor configured to;

obtain sensor data from a sensor, the sensor data indicating a state of a first appliance;

determine a user location;

obtain a first characteristic of the first appliance;

based upon the user location and the sensor data, determine a schedule indicating when a user will desire a state change of the first appliance;

dynamically modify a feature of the first appliance to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule; and

synchronize an end time of a second appliance to an end time of the first appliance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer readable storage is configured to store data selected from the group consisting of:

the sensor data, the user location, and the first characteristic.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the central controller is physically connected to the first appliance.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the central controller is connected to the first appliance by a network.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a hygrometer, a barometer, a thermometer, an accelerometer, an amp meter, a volt meter, a water meter, an air flow sensor, an air purity sensor or other gas composition analysis tool, a water purity sensor, a timer, a volume sensor, a tachometer, a speedometer, a fuel consumption meter, a watt meter, a clock, and a phase meter.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the user location is determined by a GPS device.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the first characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

a model year, a power consumption, a wiring schematic, a water consumption, a gas consumption, a model number, a manufacturer, a history of a performance of the first appliance, and a history of a performance of other appliances that match the first appliance.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the schedule comprises an expected time of an interaction between the user and the first appliance.

22. The system of claim 14, the processor further configured to send a notice to the user.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the notice comprises status information about the first appliance.

24. The system of claim 14, the processor further configured to receive sensor data from a second sensor located external to the first appliance.

25. The system of claim 14, the processor further configured to detect usage of a household fixture.

26. The system of claim 25, the processor further configured to dynamically modify the feature of the first appliance responsive to the detected usage of the household fixture.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the household fixture is selected from the group consisting of:

a shower, a bath, and a sink.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the feature of the first appliance is selected from the group consisting of:

the end time, the start time, a cycle start time, a cycle end time, a power consumption, a fan speed, a spin speed, a temperature, a pressure, an acceleration, a velocity, a gas consumption, a gas flow rate, and a water flow rate.

29. The system of claim 14, the processor further configured to dynamically modify a feature of the second appliance based on the schedule.