Ubiquitous connectivity and control system for remote locations

• US 9,602,655 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Original Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Inventors: Neal, Franklin Eugene, FEHNEL, MICHAEL, Shamoon, Charles, Shamoon, Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US13/271,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 4554561-4566, 455418-420, 455/566, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.22, 340/539.24, 340/539.27, 340/539.29, 340/540
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 : Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 : wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 : PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A thermostat control system for monitoring and controlling environmental characteristics of a building includes a base station unit and a remote access unit continuously interfacing through instant wireless private direct connectivity. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that measure the environmental characteristics and provide the thermostat unit with the measurements.

Claims

1. A base unit configured to communicate with an environmental device and to communicate with a cellular remote unit having wireless connectivity capable of communicating from a geographically remote location, the base unit comprising:

a first communication interface configured to receive environmental information from the environmental device and to send a control instruction to the environmental device;

a wireless communication interface configured to send a first message to the cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network and to receive a second message from the cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network,

wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a representation of the environmental information, and

wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including a command regarding the environmental device; and

a microcontroller configured to process the second message, to provide the control instruction based on the command, and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the first communication interface, and

wherein the command is for the base unit initiated by a user from the cellular remote unit, and

wherein the control instruction to the environmental device is associated with the command for the base unit, wherein the cellular remote unit is configured to determine position data of the cellular remote unit, and determine when the cellular remote unit is outside a geo-fence, wherein the cellular remote unit is configured to transmit a notification via a simple message service responsive to determining that the cellular remote unit is outside of the geo-fence.

2. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the command regards entering an energy conservation mode, and wherein the energy conservation mode is associated with multiple environmental devices.

3. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the command is associated with an icon on the remote unit.

4. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control instruction is configured to adjust a temperature of a water heater.

5. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control instruction is configured to adjust an air handling system.

6. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the cellular communications network includes a data bearer service.

7. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit is a mobile remote unit.

8. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control instruction includes an environmental control instruction;

and wherein the command includes an environmental command.

9. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the command is an energy conservation command associated with multiple environmental devices.

10. The base unit of claim 1,

wherein the cellular communications network includes a data bearer service;

wherein the remote unit is a mobile remote unit;

wherein the control instruction includes an environmental control instruction; and

wherein the command includes an environmental command.

11. The base unit of claim 10, wherein the second message includes an energy conservation command associated with multiple environmental devices.

12. The base unit of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller is configured to process the environmental information into the representation and to process the command into the control instruction.

13. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit is a cellular telephone, and wherein the environmental device comprises a thermostat.

14. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the environmental device comprises at least one of a light, thermostat, or an alarm system.

15. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the base unit and the environmental device are contained in the same enclosure.

16. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the cellular communications network includes a simple message service.

17. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the cellular remote unit is configured to determine when the remote control unit is within a geo-fence.

18. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the base unit is configured to receive data from an external web service, and responsive to receiving the data the base unit sends the control instruction.

19. The base unit of claim 18, wherein the external web service is a weather service.

20. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the command includes cellular data.

21. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the command is initiated by a user from the cellular remote unit responsive to the user interacting with an icon on the remote control unit associated with the environmental device.

22. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a cellular module configured to communicate data over the cellular communications network.

23. The base unit of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is configured to send status information to the cellular remote unit on a periodic basis.

24. A base unit configured to communicate with an environmental device and to communicate with a remote unit having wireless connectivity, the base unit comprising:

a first communication interface configured to receive environmental information from the environmental device and to send a control instruction to the environmental device;

a wireless communication interface configured to send a first message to the remote unit via a communications network and to receive a second message from the remote unit via the communications network,

wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a representation of the environmental information, and

wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including a command regarding the environmental device; and

a microcontroller configured to process the second message and to send the control instruction based on the command via the first communication interface to the environmental device, and

wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to send a third message to a subordinate remote unit via the communications network and to receive a fourth message from the subordinate remote unit via the communications network,

wherein the fourth message includes a subordinate command to the environmental device, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to process the fourth message and to send selectively a second control instruction based on the subordinate command via the first communication interface to the environmental device.