Methods, systems, and related architectures for managing network connected devices

• US 10,873,632 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2018
• Issued: 12/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Mighdoll, Lee, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Steele, Oliver W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keller, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US16/152,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20190037024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 5/12 using heat pumps
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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: H04L 12/2829 : involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/13 : Hot air central heating systems using heat pumps

Abstract

A method of monitoring or controlling electronic devices and monitoring enclosures in which the electronic devices are installed includes receiving data related to one or more electronic devices registered with a device management system and associated with a user account; and generating a user interface for monitoring or controlling the conditions from a computing device. The user interface may include an image of a first enclosure that is associated with the user account; images of first one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the first enclosure; and current conditions displayed on each of the images of the first one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the first enclosure that are controlled or monitored by the first one or more electronic devices.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring or controlling electronic devices and monitoring enclosures in which the electronic devices are installed, the method comprising:

receiving data related to one or more electronic devices registered with a device management system and associated with a user account, wherein the data comprises conditions that are controlled or monitored by the one or more electronic devices; and

generating a user interface for monitoring or controlling the conditions from a computing device, wherein the user interface comprises;

an image representative of an external view of a first building that is associated with the user account;

images of first one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the first building;

current conditions displayed on each of the images of the first one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the first building that are controlled or monitored by the first one or more electronic devices;

an image representative of an external view of a second building that is associated with the user account, wherein the image representative of the second building is deemphasized in the user interface in relation to the image representative of the first enclosure;

images of second one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the second building; and

current conditions displayed on each of the images of the second one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the second building that are controlled or monitored by the second one or more electronic devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through the user interface, one or more condition setpoints for controlling the first one or more electronic devices; and

causing the first one or more electronic devices to operate according to the one or more condition setpoints.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of the second building; and

in response to receiving the selection of the second building, deemphasizing the image of the first building in relation to the image of the second building.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the image of the first building represents a primary residence; and

the image of the second building represents a vacation residence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises:

an image depicting a first weather condition that is displayed next to the image of the first building representing a current weather condition around the first building; and

an image depicting a second weather condition that is displayed next to the image of the second building representing a current weather condition around the second building.

6. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving data related to one or more electronic devices registered with a device management system and associated with a user account, wherein the data comprises conditions that are controlled or monitored by the one or more electronic devices; and

generating a user interface for monitoring or controlling the conditions from a computing device, wherein the user interface comprises;

an image representative of an external view of a first building that is associated with the user account;

images of first one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the first building;

current conditions displayed on each of the images of the first one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the first building that are controlled or monitored by the first one or more electronic devices;

an image representative of an external view of a second building that is associated with the user account, wherein the image representative of the second building is deemphasized in the user interface in relation to the image representative of the first enclosure;

images of second one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the second building; and

current conditions displayed on each of the images of the second one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the second building that are controlled or monitored by the second one or more electronic devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the current conditions displayed on each of the images of the first one or more electronic devices copy an appearance of physical user interfaces on the one or more electronic devices.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the current conditions displayed on each of the images of the first one or more electronic devices comprise a mode of operation of the one or more electronic devices based on current occupancy conditions.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface further comprises:

one or more bar controls for receiving one or more condition setpoints for controlling the first one or more electronic devices, wherein each of the one or more bar controls corresponds to a single day of a week.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface further comprises:

images of one or more condition setpoints displayed together on the user interface, wherein the images of the one or more condition setpoints are spaced according to a timescale.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the image of the first building looks like a physical appearance of the first enclosure.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the images of the first one or more electronic devices look like physical appearances of the first one or more electronic devices.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is displayed by one of the one or more electronic devices.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is displayed by a web browser.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving data related to one or more electronic devices registered with a device management system and associated with a user account, wherein the data comprises conditions that are controlled or monitored by the one or more electronic devices; and

generating a user interface for monitoring or controlling the conditions from a computing device, wherein the user interface comprises;

an image representative of an external view of a first building that is associated with the user account;

images of first one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the first building;

current conditions displayed on each of the images of the first one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the first building that are controlled or monitored by the first one or more electronic devices;

an image representative of an external view of a second building that is associated with the user account, wherein the image representative of the second building is deemphasized in the user interface in relation to the image representative of the first enclosure;

images of second one or more electronic devices in the one or more electronic devices that are installed in the second building; and

current conditions displayed on each of the images of the second one or more electronic devices reflecting aspects of the second building that are controlled or monitored by the second one or more electronic devices.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the images of the first one or more electronic devices comprise images of user interfaces of the first one or more electronic devices such that the images of the user interfaces display condition controls and information in a manner that corresponds to user interfaces of the first one or more electronic devices.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving occupancy information for the first building indicating that the first building is occupied; and

causing images of windows in the image of a first building to appear light in response to receiving the occupancy information for the first building indicating that the first building is occupied.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving occupancy information for the first building indicating that the first enclosure is not occupied; and

causing images of windows in the image of a first enclosure to appear darker in response to receiving the occupancy information for the first building indicating that the first building is occupied.