Devices and methods for interacting with a control system that is connected to a network
First Claim
1. A system of controlling a network connected building automation system servicing a building, comprising:
- a network;
a server located outside of the building and connected to the network;
a voice command manager implemented on the server;
a thermostat located inside of the building, the thermostat comprising a temperature sensor and a first voice sensor device, the thermostat is in communication with the voice command manager over the network and the thermostat is configured to receive natural language voice commands from a user via the first voice sensor device, and to communicate the received natural language voice commands in an audio file format to the voice command manager over the network without the thermostat attempting to recognize natural language voice commands in the audio file;
a second voice sensor device in communication with the voice command manager over the network, the second voice sensor device configured to receive natural language voice commands from a user via the second voice sensor device, and to communicate the natural language voice commands to the voice command manager over the network;
wherein the voice command manager is configured to translate the natural language voice commands received from the thermostat and the natural language voice commands received from the second voice sensor device into one or more commands understandable by the thermostat, and to transmit the one or more commands to the thermostat; and
wherein the voice command manager is configured to identify if there is a conflict between the natural language voice commands, and if so, send a query in a natural language format as to whether a second natural language voice command of the natural language voice commands should override a first natural language voice command of the natural language voice commands, and determine which one of the conflicting natural language voice commands is to be;
translated into one or more commands understandable by the thermostat; and
sent to the thermostat for execution.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A building automation system may be controlled in response to a natural language voice message. The natural language voice message may be recorded and then sent to a voice command manager via a network. The natural language voice message is then translated into a command recognizable by a building automation controller of the building automation system. Voice recognition software may be used to create a natural language text based message from the recorded natural voice message, and the natural language text based message may then be translated into the command recognizable by the building automation controller. In response to the command, the building automation controller may perform the desired action.
131 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system of controlling a network connected building automation system servicing a building, comprising:
-
a network; a server located outside of the building and connected to the network; a voice command manager implemented on the server; a thermostat located inside of the building, the thermostat comprising a temperature sensor and a first voice sensor device, the thermostat is in communication with the voice command manager over the network and the thermostat is configured to receive natural language voice commands from a user via the first voice sensor device, and to communicate the received natural language voice commands in an audio file format to the voice command manager over the network without the thermostat attempting to recognize natural language voice commands in the audio file; a second voice sensor device in communication with the voice command manager over the network, the second voice sensor device configured to receive natural language voice commands from a user via the second voice sensor device, and to communicate the natural language voice commands to the voice command manager over the network; wherein the voice command manager is configured to translate the natural language voice commands received from the thermostat and the natural language voice commands received from the second voice sensor device into one or more commands understandable by the thermostat, and to transmit the one or more commands to the thermostat; and wherein the voice command manager is configured to identify if there is a conflict between the natural language voice commands, and if so, send a query in a natural language format as to whether a second natural language voice command of the natural language voice commands should override a first natural language voice command of the natural language voice commands, and determine which one of the conflicting natural language voice commands is to be; translated into one or more commands understandable by the thermostat; and sent to the thermostat for execution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A system comprising:
-
a voice command manager for a building automation system of a building, comprising; an input port for receiving two or more natural language voice commands over a network; a memory for storing the received natural language voice commands; a processor configured to translate each of the two or more natural language voice commands into one or more translated commands understandable by a building automation controller of the building automation system; an output port for sending the one or more translated commands understandable by the building automation controller to the building automation controller for execution; and wherein the processor is further configured to identify if there is a conflict between two or more of the natural language voice commands, and if so, send a query in a natural language format as to whether a second natural language voice command of the two or more natural language voice commands should override a first natural language voice command of the two or more natural language voice commands, and determine which one of the conflicting two or more natural language voice commands is to be; translated into one or more commands understandable by the building automation controller; provided to the output port; and sent to the building automation controller for execution, so that only one of the conflicting two or more natural language voice commands is executed; and a building automation controller configured to execute the sent command. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of interfacing with a building automation system, the method comprising:
-
receiving natural language voice messages at a building automation controller, the natural language voice messages including natural language commands for the building automation controller of the building automation system; communicating the natural language voice messages in an audio file format to a server that is located remotely from and in operative communication with the building automation controller without the building automation controller first attempting to recognize the natural language commands in the natural language voice message; translating the natural language voice messages with the server to translated building controller commands understandable by the building automation controller of the building automation system; identifying, with the server, if there is a conflict between the natural language commands, and if so, send a query in a natural language format as to whether a second natural language command of the natural language commands should override a first natural language command of the natural language commands, and determining, with the server, which one of the conflicting natural language commands is to be;
translated into one or more commands understandable by the building automation controller; and
sent to the building automation controller for execution;sending the translated building controller command to the building automation controller of the building automation system for execution; and executing the translated building controller command with the building automation controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification