Data processing systems and methods for smart hub devices

• US 10,601,604 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kozura, John, Taylor, Haley A., Mathews, Jeff, Hill, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mohammad A
• Application Number:
  US14/938,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625

Abstract

A first device receives a first command for performing a first functionality on at least a second device, the first functionality comprising a plurality of constituent functionalities, wherein the second device is not configured to execute the first command. The first command is translated into a plurality of sub-commands for execution by respective devices. Each of the plurality of sub-commands, when executed, performs a respective constituent functionality of the plurality of constituent functionalities, and execution of any one of the sub-commands individually does not perform the entire first functionality. The first device manages execution of the plurality of sub-commands by the respective devices, wherein execution of the plurality of sub-commands by the respective devices emulates performance of the first functionality on at least the second device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a smart home environment, comprising:

at a first smart home device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a first command for performing a first functionality on at least a second connected device, the first functionality comprising a plurality of constituent functionalities, wherein the second device is not configured to execute the first command;

translating the first command into a sequence of sub-commands for execution by respective devices including the first smart home device and the second device, wherein;

the sequence of sub-commands includes one or more first sub-commands that can be executed on the second device and a second sub-command that can be executed on the first smart home device;

each of the sub-commands, when executed, performs a constituent functionality of the plurality of constituent functionalities; and

execution of any one of the sub-commands individually does not perform the entire first functionality; and

managing execution of the sequence of sub-commands, including;

causing execution of the one or more first sub-commands on the second device;

executing the second sub-command on the first smart home device; and

sending results of the executed second sub-command to the second device, wherein execution of the sequence of sub-commands emulates performance of the first functionality on the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first functionality is for operating the second device in accordance with a predefined schedule;

the plurality of constituent functionalities comprises;

a first constituent functionality for enabling or disabling an operation of the second device, wherein execution of the one or more first sub-commands by the second device perform the first constituent functionality, and

a second constituent functionality for sending commands, including the first sub-command, in accordance with the predefined schedule, wherein execution of the second sub-command by the first smart home device performs the second constituent functionality, the first smart home device being configured with scheduling capabilities; and

managing execution of the sequence of sub-commands comprises executing the second sub-command on the first smart home device, including sending the one or more first sub-commands to the second device in accordance with the predefined schedule.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the first functionality is for operating the second device further in accordance with detection of a sunrise or sunset condition in a local area in which the second device is situated;

the plurality of constituent functionalities further comprises a third constituent functionality for detecting the sunrise or sunset conditions, wherein execution of a third one of the sequence of sub-commands performs the third constituent functionality;

the second constituent functionality is for sending the commands, including the one or more first sub-commands, further in accordance with detection of the sunrise or sunset conditions; and

executing the second sub-command further includes sending the one or more first sub-commands to the second device upon detection of the sunrise or sunset conditions.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second device is a smart plug device that provides power to a coupled device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second device is a thermostat device, and enabling or disabling the operation of the second device includes turning on or off the cooling or heating functionality of the thermostat device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the second device is a lock device, and enabling or disabling the operation of the second device includes permitting or denying the locking or unlocking of the lock device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more first sub-commands, when executed, cause the lock device to replace an existing list of valid access codes with a new list of valid access codes.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined schedule is specified with respect to days of the week.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined schedule is specified with respect to hours for each day of the week.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second device is a lamp device, and the first functionality is for continuously dimming or brightening the lamp device;

the plurality of constituent functionalities comprises;

a first constituent functionality for setting a dim value of the lamp device, the first constituent functionality corresponding to the one or more first sub-commands to be executed by the lamp device, wherein each of the one or more first sub-commands corresponds to a respective dim value, of a range of dim values for the lamp device, that is set upon execution of a respective first sub-command, and

a second constituent functionality for incrementally sending commands, including the one or more first sub-commands, in accordance with a timer, wherein execution of the second sub-command by the first smart home device performs the second constituent functionality; and

managing execution of the sequence of sub-commands comprises executing the second sub-command on the first smart home device, including sending the one or more first sub-commands one at a time based on the timer, in order of either decreasing dim value for continuously dimming the lamp device, or increasing dim value for continuously brightening the lamp device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second device is a garage door opener coupled to a garage door, and the first functionality is for providing an indication of a percentage by which a garage door operation is complete, wherein a garage door operation for opening the garage door is associated with a first completion time for opening the garage door, and a garage door operation for closing the garage door is associated with a second completion time for closing the garage door;

the plurality of constituent functionalities comprises;

a first constituent functionality for opening or closing the garage door, wherein execution of the one or more first sub-commands by the garage door opener perform the first constituent functionality,

a second constituent functionality for identifying an elapsed time since commencing a garage door operation, wherein execution of a third one of the sequence of sub-commands by a timer device performs the second constituent functionality, and

a third constituent functionality for determining whether the garage door is fully opened or fully closed, wherein execution of a fourth one of the sequence of sub-commands by a sensor device performs the third constituent functionality; and

managing execution of the sequence of sub-commands comprises;

for a garage door operation for opening the garage door, until receiving a determination that the garage door is fully open;

determining the percentage by which the garage door operation is complete by dividing the elapsed time by the first completion time; and

providing the indication of the determined percentage; and

for a garage door operation for closing the garage door, until receiving a determination that the garage door is fully closed;

determining the percentage by which the garage door operation is complete by dividing the elapsed time by the second completion time; and

providing the indication of the determined percentage.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second device is a thermostat device, and the first functionality is for operating the thermostat device in accordance with temperature readings obtained from a distinct sensor device located remotely from the thermostat device;

the plurality of constituent functionalities comprises;

a first constituent functionality for turning the thermostat device on or off, wherein execution of the one or more first sub-commands by the thermostat device perform the first constituent functionality, and

a second constituent functionality for obtaining temperature readings, wherein execution of a third one of the plurality of sub-commands by the sensor device performs the second constituent functionality;

wherein execution of the first sub-command by the thermostat device is in accordance with the temperature readings obtained by the sensor device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first functionality is for operating the second device in accordance with an occupancy model developed by presence detection readings obtained from a plurality of sensor devices;

the plurality of constituent functionalities comprises;

a first constituent functionality for enabling or disabling an operation of the second device, wherein execution of the one or more first sub-commands by the second device perform the first constituent functionality, and

a second constituent functionality for obtaining presence detection readings, wherein execution of a third one of the sequence of sub-commands by the plurality of sensor devices performs the second constituent functionality;

wherein execution of the one or more first sub-commands by the second device is in accordance with the occupancy model developed by presence detection readings obtained from the plurality of sensor devices.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensor devices includes IR sensors.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second device is a sound system for playing audio from multiple sources, and the first functionality is for operating the sound system in response to detecting activation of a push button;

the plurality of constituent functionalities comprises;

a first constituent functionality for playing audio on the sound system, wherein execution of the one or more first sub-commands by the sound system perform the first constituent functionality, and

a second constituent functionality for transmitting a trigger signal to one or more remote devices, including the sound system, in response to detecting activation of the push button, wherein execution of a third one of the sequence of sub-commands by the push button performs the second constituent functionality; and

wherein execution of the first sub-command by the sound system is in response to the sound system receiving the trigger signal from the push button, the push button transmitting the trigger signal in response to detecting activation of the push button.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the first functionality is for further operating a camera device in response to detecting activation of the push button; and

the plurality of constituent functionalities further comprises a third constituent functionality for capturing an image, wherein execution of a fourth one of the sequence of sub-commands by the camera device performs the third constituent functionality,

wherein execution of the fourth sub-command by the camera device is in response to the camera device receiving the trigger signal from the push button, the push button transmitting the trigger signal in response to detecting activation of the push button.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first smart home device is a hub device communicably coupled to at least the second device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first smart home device is a remote server distinct from the second device.

19. A method for operating a smart home environment, comprising:

at a computer system;

identifying a first functionality to be performed, the first functionality comprising a plurality of constituent functionalities;

obtaining respective sets of functionalities for a plurality of devices including a first smart home device and at least a second device;

identifying two or more devices, of the plurality of devices and including the first smart home device and the second device, having respective sets of functionalities that together include the plurality of constituent functionalities;

generating a sequence of sub-commands including one or more first sub-commands and a second sub-command, wherein;

the one or more first sub-commands are for execution by the second device;

the second sub-command is for execution by the first smart home device;

execution of a respective one of the sequence of sub-commands enables performance of one of the plurality of constituent functionalities; and

execution of the sequence of sub-commands emulates performance of the first functionality.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a first smart home device operating in a smart home environment, the one or more programs including instructions for:

receiving a first command for performing a first functionality on at least a second connected device, the first functionality comprising a plurality of constituent functionalities, wherein the second device is not configured to execute the first command;

translating the first command into a sequence of sub-commands for execution by respective devices including the first smart home device and the second device, wherein;

the plurality of sub-commands includes one or more first sub-commands that can be executed on the second device and a second sub-command that can be executed on the first smart home device;

each of the sub-commands, when executed, performs a constituent functionality of the plurality of constituent; and

execution of any one of the sub-commands individually does not perform the entire first functionality; and

managing execution of the sequence of sub-commands, including;

causing execution of the one or more first sub-commands on the second device;

executing the second sub-command on the first smart home device; and

sending results of the executed second sub-command to the second device,

wherein execution of the sequence of sub-commands emulates performance of the first functionality on at least the second device.