Personalized ambient temperature management

• US 9,900,173 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Robinson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Van
• Application Number:
  US14/459,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20160047565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1928 sensing the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management are disclosed. First input corresponding to a first set of sensors may be processed. A location of a first occupant of a home may be determined based on the first input. Second input corresponding to a second set of sensors may be processed. A first temperature in the location may be determined based on the second input corresponding to the second set of one or more sensors. A first state of the first occupant in the location may be determined based on third input corresponding to the first set of sensors or corresponding to a third set of sensors. An adjustment may be determined based on the location, the first temperature, and the first state of the first occupant. One or more components of the home may be caused to adjust based on the adjustment.

Claims

1. A method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management, the method comprising:

receiving, by a control device, first input from a first set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to the first set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of a presence of an occupant in and/or about a home, where the first input corresponds to the detected indicia of the presence of the occupant;

processing, by the control device, the first input from the first set of one or more sensors to determine a location of the occupant in the home based at least in part on the first input;

receiving, by the control device, second input from a second set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to the second set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of temperature corresponding to the location;

processing, by the control device, the second input from the second set of one or more sensors to determine a temperature in the location based at least in part on the second input;

analyzing, by the control device, third input from the first set of one or more sensors or from a third set of one or more sensors to determine a state of the occupant in the location based at least in part on the third input, the state of the occupant corresponding to an activity of the occupant in the location for at least a threshold period of time;

determining, by the control device, an initial adjustment and a steady-state adjustment based at least in part on the location, the determined temperature, and the state of the occupant, the initial adjustment and the steady-state adjustment corresponding to activating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of one or more devices under control in the home to cause at least two changes in temperature;

causing, by the control device, the one or more devices under control to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the initial adjustment for an initial time period; and

causing, by the control device, the one or more devices under control to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the steady-state adjustment after initial time period.

2. The method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the control device, one or more preferences associated with the occupant;

wherein at least one of the initial adjustment and the steady-state adjustment is determined to meet user constraints based at least in part on the one or more preferences.

3. The method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the control device, a presence of a second occupant of the home;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the presence of the second occupant and a set of rules for multi-occupant situations.

4. The method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 3, further comprising:

causing, by the control device, presentation of one or more user-selection options via one or more notification interfaces; and

processing, by the control device, one or more user selections corresponding to the one or more user-selection options;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the one or more user selections.

5. The method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 4, wherein a plurality of user selections are processed, the plurality of user selections corresponding to votes from a plurality of occupants comprising the occupant and the second occupant, the method further comprising:

determining, by the control device, a compromise based at least in part on the votes;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the compromise.

6. The method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the control device, one or more outdoor conditions;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the one or more outdoor conditions.

7. The method for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 1, wherein the state of the occupant in the location comprises a proximity to a heat source or a heat sink.

8. A system for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management, the system comprising:

a control device configured to communicatively couple to a first set of one or more sensors, a second set of one or more sensors, and one or more components of a home, the control device comprising;

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

process first input from to the first set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to the first set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of a presence of an occupant in and/or about a home, where the first input corresponds to the detected indicia of the presence of the occupant;

determine a location of the occupant in the home based at least in part on the first input from the first set of one or more sensors;

process second input from the second set of one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control device, consequent to the second set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of temperature corresponding to the location;

determine a temperature in the location based at least in part on the second input from the second set of one or more sensors;

analyze third input from the first set of one or more sensors or from a third set of one or more sensors to determine a state of the occupant in the location based at least in part on the third input, the state of the occupant corresponding to an activity of the occupant in the location for at least a threshold period of time;

determine an initial adjustment and a steady-state adjustment based at least in part on the location, the determined temperature, and the first state of the occupant, the initial adjustment and the steady-state adjustment corresponding to activating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of one or more devices under control in the home to cause at least two changes in temperature;

cause the one or more devices under control to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the initial adjustment for an initial time period; and

cause the one or more devices under control to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the steady-state adjustment after initial time period.

9. The system for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 8, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

identify one or more preferences associated with the occupant;

wherein at least one of the initial adjustment and the steady-state adjustment is determined to meet user constraints based at least in part on the one or more preferences.

10. The system for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 8, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

identify a presence of a second occupant of the home;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the presence of the second occupant and a set of rules for multi-occupant situations.

11. The system for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 10, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

cause presentation of one or more user-selection options via one or more notification interfaces; and

process one or more user selections corresponding to the one or more user-selection options;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the one or more user selections.

12. The system for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 8, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine one or more outdoor conditions;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the one or more outdoor conditions.

13. The system for automation control for personalized ambient temperature management of claim 8, wherein the state of the occupant in the location comprises a proximity to a heat source or a heat sink.

14. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable media having machine-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processing devices, facilitates automation control for personalized ambient temperature management, causing the one or more processing devices to:

process first input from to a first set of one or more sensors, consequent to the first set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of a presence of an occupant in and/or about a home, where the first input corresponds to the detected indicia of the presence of the occupant;

determine a location of the occupant in the home based at least in part on the first input from the first set of one or more sensors;

process second input from a second set of one or more sensors, consequent to the second set of one or more sensors detecting indicia of temperature corresponding to the location;

determine a temperature in the location based at least in part on the second input from the second set of one or more sensors;

analyze third input from the first set of one or more sensors or from a third set of one or more sensors to determine a state of the occupant in the location based at least in part on the third input, the state of the occupant corresponding to an activity of the occupant in the location for at least a threshold period of time;

determine an initial adjustment and a steady-state adjustment based at least in part on the location, the determined temperature, and the state of the occupant, the initial adjustment and the steady-state adjustment corresponding to activating, deactivating, and/or changing a setting of one or more devices under control in the home to cause at least two changes in temperature;

cause the one or more devices under control to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the initial adjustment for an initial time period; and

cause the one or more devices under control to activate, deactivate, and/or change the setting in accordance with the steady-state adjustment after initial time period.

15. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 14, wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to:

identify one or more preferences associated with the occupant;

wherein at least one of the initial adjustment and the steady-state adjustment is determined to meet user constraints based at least in part on the one or more preferences.

16. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 14, wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to:

identify a presence of a second occupant of the home;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the presence of the second occupant and a set of rules for multi-occupant situations.

17. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 16, wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to:

cause presentation of one or more user-selection options via one or more notification interfaces; and

process one or more user selections corresponding to the one or more user-selection options;

wherein the determining of the initial adjustment and/or the steady-state adjustment is based in part on the one or more user selections.