Ubiquitous connectivity and control system for remote locations

• US 10,344,999 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Original Assignee: Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP (Nomad Communications, L.L.C.)
• Inventors: Shamoon, Charles, Shamoon, Deborah, Neal, Franklin Eugene, Fehnel, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Akonai, Olumide Ajibade
• Application Number:
  US15/405,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20170115017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 455418, 455419, 455420, 455423, 370338, 34053911, 34053913, 34053922, 34053924, 34053927, 34053929, 340540
• 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 system configured to communicate with a cellular remote unit, the system comprising:

an environmental device configured to control an environmental characteristic;

a communication interface configured to communicate with the environmental device;

a wireless circuit 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 environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of the environmental characteristic;

wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including a command for the environmental device, the command being initiated by a user via the cellular remote unit and indicating to change the environmental characteristic;

a microcontroller configured to generate a control instruction from the command included in the second message and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface;

wherein the environmental device is configured to change the environmental characteristic responsive to the control instruction; and

a housing configured to mount to a wall of a building, the housing physically supporting the environmental device, the communication interface, the wireless circuit, and the microcontroller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the command indicates to enter an energy conservation mode, and the energy conservation mode is associated with multiple environmental devices that are in communication with the communication interface, the multiple environmental devices including the environmental device.

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

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental device is configured to turn on or off responsive to the control instruction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental device is configured to raise or lower a setting associated with the environmental device responsive to the control instruction.

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

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

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is an energy conservation command associated with multiple environmental devices that are in communication with the communication interface, the multiple environmental devices including the environmental device.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein the cellular communications network includes a data bearer service;

and

wherein the cellular remote unit is a mobile remote unit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to process the environmental information into the representation.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental device comprises a thermostat.

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

13. The system the of claim 1,

wherein the wireless circuit is configured to receive a third message from an external web service, the third message including another command for the environmental device;

and

wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate another control instruction from the another command included in the third message and to send the another control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to change an operation of the environmental device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first message, upon receipt by the cellular remote unit, causes the cellular remote unit to display one or more icons stored on the cellular remote unit.

15. A base unit comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with an environmental device;

a wireless circuit configured to;

send a first message to a first cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network, the first message including a first representation of first environmental information, the first environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface,

receive a second message from the first cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the second message including a first command for the environmental device, the first command indicating to change an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device,

send a third message to a second cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the third message including a second representation of second environmental information, the second environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface, and

receive a fourth message from the second cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the fourth message including a second command for the environmental device, the second command indicating to change the environmental characteristic; and

a microcontroller configured to;

determine that the first cellular remote unit is authorized to change the environmental characteristic and that the second cellular remote unit is unauthorized to change the environmental characteristic,

responsive to determining that the first cellular remote unit is authorized to change the environmental characteristic, generate a control instruction from the first command included in the second message and send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to cause the environmental device to change the environmental characteristic, and

responsive to determining that the second cellular remote unit is unauthorized to change the environmental characteristic, not provide any control instructions to the environmental device based on the second command included in the fourth message.

16. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the microcontroller is configured to:

determine from a first class in which the first cellular remote unit is assigned that the first cellular remote unit is authorized to change the environmental characteristic, and

determine from a second class in which the second cellular remote unit is assigned that the second cellular remote unit is unauthorized to change the environmental characteristic, the second class being different from the first class.

17. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the control instruction causes the environmental device to raise or lower a setting associated with the environmental device.

18. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the first command indicates to perform the same operation to change the environmental characteristic as the second command.

19. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the first environmental information is indicative of a first measurement of the environmental characteristic, and the second environmental information is indicative of a second measurement of the environmental characteristic.

20. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate wirelessly with the environmental device.

21. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the environmental device comprises at least one of a light, a thermostat, or an alarm system.

22. The base unit of claim 15, wherein the second message is received from the first cellular remote unit using a data bearer service.

23. A base unit comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with an environmental device;

a wireless circuit configured to;

send a first message to a first cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network, the first message including a representation of environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device,

receive a second message from the first cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the second message including a command for the environmental device, the command indicating to change the environmental characteristic, and

send a third message to a second cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the third message indicating receipt of the command from the first cellular remote unit; and

a microcontroller configured to;

determine that the command from the first cellular remote unit should be reported to the second cellular remote unit,

responsive to determining that the command from the first cellular remote unit should be reported to the second cellular remote unit, initiate sending of the third message to the second cellular remote unit using the wireless circuit, and

generate a control instruction from the command included in the second message and send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to cause the environmental device to change the environmental characteristic.

24. The base unit of claim 23, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine from a first class in which the first cellular remote unit is assigned and a second class in which the second cellular remote unit is assigned that the command from the first cellular remote unit should be reported to the second cellular remote unit, the first class being different from the second class.

25. A base unit comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with an environmental device;

a wireless circuit configured to;

send a first message to a first cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network, the first message including a representation of environmental information, the environmental information being received from the environmental device via the communication interface and indicative of a measurement of an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device,

receive a second message from the first cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network, the second message including a single character or a single word; and

a microcontroller configured to;

activate a plurality of commands according to the single character or the single word in the second message, the plurality of commands including a first command indicating to change the environmental characteristic; and

generate a control instruction from the first command and send the control instruction to the environmental device via the communication interface to cause the environmental device to change the environmental characteristic.