Home automation control system

• US 9,939,823 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wise Spaces Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Wise Spaces Ltd.
• Inventors: Ovadia, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Tzeng, Forrest F
• Application Number:
  US14/296,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20150355649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 700 19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0438 Sensor means for detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/16 using artificial neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/20 Speech recognition techniques specially adapted for robustness in adverse environments, e.g. in noise, of stress induced speech G10L21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces

Abstract

A smart premises controller unit for processing data received from a plurality of sensors and for controlling and monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to the processing includes an alarm resolver to activate an alarm, a climate resolver to control a climate in the room and a presence resolver to determine at least the presence of a human in the room. Each resolver receives input from a subset of the plurality of sensors and each the resolver comprises a sensor processor and scorer for at least one of its associated subset of sensors. Each resolver comprises a set of models for each of its associated sensors according to its type of resolver. Each sensor processor and scorer matches its sensor data against its models to produce a score for each of its associated models.

Claims

1. A first automation unit and at least one second automation unit for controlling and/or monitoring two or more pieces of equipment in a premises, to form, when implemented in said premises, a distributed control system, the first automation unit comprising:

a first, local database to store at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled by said first unit and at least events determined by said first unit;

at least one second database to store at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled by said at least one second unit and events determined by controller of said at least one second unit;

a controller, forming part of said distributed system to analyze data in said first local database for activating equipment and to use data in said at least one second database for activating controlled equipment controlled by said at least one second unit; and

a communication module to communicate at least said first local database with said at least one second unit;

and said at least one second automation unit comprising;

a third, local database to store at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled by said second unit and at least events determined by said second unit;

at least one fourth database to store at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled at least by said first unit and events determined at least by said controller of said first unit;

a controller, forming part of said distributed system to analyze data in said third local database for activating equipment and to use data in said at least one fourth database for activating controlled equipment controlled by at least said first unit; and

a communication module to communicate at least said third local database with at least said first unit, to update its said second unit database.

2. The unit according to claim 1 and also comprising a recovery unit to take over the operation of a non-functioning portion of one of said units using data in said shared database associated with said non-functioning portion.

3. An automation unit for controlling and/or monitoring pieces of equipment in a room, the unit comprising:

a touch screen display having an initial set of pre-determined screens providing access to said pieces of equipment, said touch screen to display one of said initial screens;

a database to store at least events for said pieces of equipment with at least an indication of whether or not the event was a user-generated event;

an event statistical analyzer to analyze said user-generated events for each of the controlled pieces of equipment within a pre-defined time-frame; and

a proactive unit to review said analysis, to determine the most frequently used ones of said pieces of equipment of different categories and to generate a new operational screen, not part of said initial set, for said touch screen, said new screen at least providing direct access to said frequently used ones of said pieces of equipment on said new screen.

4. A cognitive automation unit for processing data received from a plurality of sensors and controlling and/or monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to said processing, the cognitive automation unit comprising:

at least one resolver activating said pieces of equipment in response to said at least two sensors of different disciplines;

an event resolver to control said pieces of equipment at least in response to events, wherein said event resolver comprises;

a data base to store at least recorded events per controlled equipment with at least its time of occurrence and an indication of whether or not the event was a user-generated event, a resolver-generated event from a decision by said at least one resolver or scenario-generated event from a pre-determined scenario defining which piece or pieces of equipment to operate;

an event statistical analyzer to statistically analyze recorded events of a controlled piece of equipment to find patterns of activation of said equipment within pre-defined time intervals; and

a cognitive module to analyze said patterns of recorded scenario-generated events for at least one piece of equipment in comparison to user-generated events and resolver-generated events for said at least one piece of equipment and to modify said associated scenario as a result.

26. The unit according to claim 4, wherein said at least one resolver is one of the following resolvers:

an alarm resolver, a presence resolver, a climate resolver and a voice resolver.

5. A proactive automation unit for processing data received from a plurality of sensors and controlling and/or monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to said processing, the proactive automation unit comprising:

at least one resolver activating said pieces of equipment in response to said at least two sensors of different disciplines; and

an event resolver to control said pieces of equipment at least in response to events, wherein said event resolver comprises;

a data base to store at least recorded events per controlled equipment with at least its time of occurrence and an indication of whether or not the event was a user-generated event, a resolver-generated event from a decision by said at least one resolver or scenario-generated event from a pre-determined scenario defining which piece or pieces of equipment to operate;

an event statistical analyzer to statistically analyze recorded events of a controlled piece of equipment to find patterns of activation of said equipment within pre-defined time intervals;

a cognitive unit updater to analyze said patterns of said recorded scenario-generated events for at least one piece of equipment in comparison to user-generated events and resolver-generated events for said at least one piece of equipment and to modify said associated scenario as a result; and

a proactive module to analyze said patterns of said recorded user-generated and said resolver-generated events and to create at least one new scenario for at least one piece of equipment based on said analysis.

24. A unit according to claim 5 and wherein said pre-defined time intervals are clusters defined by similar days, weeks and months.

25. The unit according to claim 5, wherein said at least one resolver is one of the following resolvers:

an alarm resolver, a presence resolver, a climate resolver and a voice resolver.

6. An energy controller for processing data received from a plurality of sensors and controlling and/or monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to said processing, the energy controller comprising:

a movement sensor for detecting movement in the at least one room;

an acoustic sensor for sensing sound in the at least one room;

a light sensor for sensing a level of illumination in the at least one room;

a CO2 sensor for sensing a CO2 level in the at least one room;

an image sensor for imaging the at least one room;

a presence resolver to determine the presence of a human in said room using sensor data from said movement, acoustic, light, CO2 and image sensors;

a thermometer for sensing an ambient temperature in the at least one room;

a humidity sensor for sensing a humidity level in the at least one room;

a climate resolver, receiving sensor data from said temperature, humidity and CO2 sensors, to maintain a climate at least in said room as defined by a user of said room with minimal energy expenditure and in response to output of said presence resolver and the processed output of said temperature, humidity and CO2 sensors; and

an event resolver to control pieces of equipment affecting said climate in response to output of said climate and presence resolvers.

7. The energy controller according to claim 6 and wherein at least one resolver comprises a cognitive automation unit to learn from at least its sensor data, to modify parameters of operation of said resolver.

8. The energy controller according to claim 6 and also comprising a proactive module to generate a change of state for said at least one piece of equipment and/or a scenario for said pieces of equipment based on event data from said resolvers.

9. An automation unit for a premises, the automation unit comprising:

a movement sensor for detecting movement in at least one room of said premises and at least one movement model having multiple sectors, wherein said sectors are defined according to height above the floor of said at least one room;

an acoustic sensor for sensing sound in the at least one room, at least one acoustic model of human sounds and at least one acoustic model of pet sounds;

an image sensor for imaging the at least one room at least one image model of a human and at least one image model of a pet; and

a presence resolver to receive the output of said sensors and said models to determine if a human or a pet is at least in said room, said presence resolver comprising a multifunctional processor to compare said models to their associated said sensor output and to calculate together weighted versions of said comparisons to determine said presence.

21. A unit according to claim 9 and also comprising a light sensor for sensing illumination in the at least one room and wherein said weighted versions are weighted differently if said illumination indicates that said room is dark.

10. An alarm system protecting a predefined space, the alarm system comprising:

an acoustic sensor to sense sound at least in said space and at least one acoustic model of unusual sounds as defined by its duration, amplitude and frequencies;

a movement sensor to detect movement in said space and at least one movement model having multiple sectors, wherein said sectors are defined according to a height above a floor;

an image sensor for imaging at said space, at least one image model of a human and at least one image model of a pet; and

an alarm resolver to receive the output of said sensors and said models wherein said alarm resolver comprises a multifunctional processor to compare said models to said their associated sensor output and to calculate together weighted versions of said comparisons to determine if said space has been invalidly entered and to activate an alarm when said determination is positive.

22. A unit according to claim 10 and also comprising a light sensor for sensing illumination and wherein said weighted versions are weighted according to the output of said light sensor.

23. A unit according to claim 10 and wherein said weighted versions are weighted differently if said alarm system is currently armed versus if said alarm system is currently not armed.

11. A method for a first automation unit and at least one second automation unit for controlling and/or monitoring two or more pieces of equipment in a premises, the method for the first automation unit comprising:

storing in a first, local database at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled by said first unit and at least events determined by said first unit;

storing in at least one second database at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled by said at least one second unit and events determined by controller of said at least one second unit;

as part of a distributed control system analyzing data in said first local database for activating equipment and using data in said at least one second database for activating controlled equipment controlled by said at least one second unit;

communicating said first local database with said at least one second automation unit;

and said at least one second automation unit comprising;

storing in a third, local database to store at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled by said second unit and at least events determined by said second unit;

storing in at least one fourth database to store at least data from sensors and controlled equipment controlled at least by said first unit and events determined at least by said controller of said first unit;

as part of said distributed system, analyzing data in said third local database for activating equipment and using data in said at least one fourth database for activating controlled equipment controlled by at least said first unit; and

communicating at least said third local database with at least said first unit, to update its said second unit database.

12. The method according to claim 11 and also comprising taking over the operation of a non-functioning portion of one of said units using data in said shared database associated with said non-functioning portion.

13. A method for controlling and/or monitoring pieces of equipment in a room, the method comprising:

having an initial set of pre-determined screens providing access to said pieces of equipment said touch screen to display one of said initial screens;

receiving input from a user via said touch screen;

storing at least events for said pieces of equipment with at least an indication of whether or not the event was a user-generated event;

analyzing said user-generated events for each of the controlled pieces of equipment within a pre-defined time-frame;

reviewing said analyzing to determine the most frequently used ones of said pieces of equipment of different categories; and

generating a new operational screen, not part of said initial set, for said touch screen, said new screen at least providing direct access to said frequently used ones of said pieces of equipment on said new screen.

14. A cognitive method for processing data received from a plurality of sensors and controlling and/or monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to said processing, the method comprising:

at least one resolving activating said pieces of equipment in response to said at least two sensors of different disciplines;

controlling at least one of said pieces of equipment at least in response to events, wherein said controlling comprises;

storing at least recorded events per controlled equipment with at least its time of occurrence and an indication of whether or not the event was a user-generated event, a resolver-generated event from a decision by said at least one resolver or scenario-generated event from a pre-determined scenario defining which piece or pieces of equipment to operate;

statistically analyzing recorded events of a controlled piece of equipment to find patterns of activation of said equipment within pre-defined time intervals; and

analyzing said patterns of recorded scenario-generated events for at least one piece of equipment in comparison to user-generated events and resolver-generated events for said at least one piece of equipment and modifying said associated scenario as a result.

31. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one resolving is one of the following:

alarm resolving, presence resolving, climate resolving and voice resolving.

15. A proactive method for processing data received from a plurality of sensors and controlling and/or monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to said processing, the proactive method comprising:

resolving the control of said pieces of equipment at least in response to events, wherein said resolving comprises;

storing at least recorded events per controlled equipment with at least its time of occurrence and an indication of whether or not the event was a user-generated event, a resolver-generated event from a decision by said at least one resolver or scenario-generated event from a pre-determined scenario defining which piece or pieces of equipment to operate;

statistically analyzing recorded events of a controlled piece of equipment to find patterns of activation of said equipment within pre-defined time intervals;

analyzing said patterns of recorded scenario-generated events for at least one piece of equipment in comparison to user-generated events and resolver-generated events for said at least one piece of equipment and to modify said associated scenario as a result; and

proactively analyzing said patterns of said recorded user-generated and said resolver-generated events to create at least one new scenario for at least one piece of equipment based on said analysis.

30. A method according to claim 15 and wherein said pre-defined time intervals are clusters defined by similar days, weeks and months.

16. A method for controlling energy use by processing data received from a plurality of sensors and controlling and/or monitoring one or more pieces of equipment in at least one room in a premises responsive to said processing, the method comprising:

having a movement sensor for detecting movement in the at least one room;

having an acoustic sensor for sensing sound in the at least one room;

having a light sensor for sensing a level of illumination in the at least one room;

having a CO2 sensor for sensing a CO2 level in the at least one room;

having an image sensor for imaging the at least one room;

presence resolving the presence of a human at least in said room using sensor data from said movement, acoustic, light, CO2 and image sensors;

having a thermometer for sensing an ambient temperature in the at least one room;

having a humidity sensor for sensing a humidity level in the at least one room;

resolving said climate, using sensor data from said temperature, humidity and CO2 sensors, as defined by a user with minimal energy expenditure and in response to output of said presence resolving and the processed output of said temperature, humidity and CO2 sensors;

and also comprising resolving events to control pieces of equipment affecting said climate in response to output of said resolving climate and presence.

17. The method according to claim 16 and wherein at least one of said resolving comprises learning from at least its sensor data and modifying parameters of operation.

18. The method according to claim 16 and also comprising proactively generating a new change of state for said at least one piece of equipment and/or a scenario for said pieces of equipment based on event data from said resolving.

19. A method for determining if a human or a pet is in a room, the method comprising:

sensing movement at least in said room and having at least one movement model having multiple sectors, wherein said sectors are defined according to height above the floor of said at least one room;

sensing sound at least in said room and having at least one acoustic model of human sounds and at least one acoustic model of pet sounds;

imaging the at least in said room and having at least one image model of a human and at least one image model of a pet; and

determining if said human or pet is at least in said room at least from comparing said models to their associated said sensor output and calculating together weighted versions of said comparisons.

27. A method according to claim 19 and also comprising sensing illumination in the at least one room and wherein said weighted versions are weighted differently if said illumination indicates that said room is dark.

20. A method for protecting a predefined space, the method comprising:

sensing sound at least in said space and having at least one acoustic model of unusual sounds as defined by its duration, amplitude and frequencies;

sensing movement at least in said space and having at least one movement model having multiple sectors, wherein said sectors are defined according to a height above a floor;

imaging the at least said space and having at least one image model of a human and at least one image model of a pet;

determining if said space has been invalidly entered at least from comparing said models to their associated said sensor output and calculating together weighted versions of said comparisons; and

when said method is activated, activating an alarm if said determining is positive.

28. A method according to claim 20 and also comprising sensing and wherein said weighted versions are weighted according to the output of said light sensor.

29. A method according to claim 20 and wherein said weighted versions are weighted differently if said alarm is currently armed versus if said alarm system is currently not armed.