CONTROLLING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• US 20070173978A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panifare Union LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Panifare Union LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene
• Application Number:
  US11/619,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more environmental conditions may be controlled via a control unit.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first environmental device capable of modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building;

a second environmental device comprising an olfactory system capable of modifying the environment of at least a portion of the building; and

a control unit in communication with the first and second environmental devices, the control unit capable of regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first environmental device comprises one or more of the following:

a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more appliance systems in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more appliance systems.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more appliance systems in communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more appliance systems, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with a security system, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating operation of the security system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with a lawn sprinkler system, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating operation of the lawn sprinkler system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with an automobile, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the environment within the automobile.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a person in the portion of the building; and

wherein the control unit is in communication with the sensor, the control unit capable of regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices based at least in part on information from the sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a wireless system capable of communicating between the control unit and the first and second environmental devices, and wherein the wireless system comprises an RFID device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of transferring one or more established environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

12. A method, comprising:

modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via two or more environmental devices capable of being regulated by a control unit; and

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via an olfactory system type of environmental device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least the portion of the building via at least one of the two or more environmental devices comprising one or more of the following:

a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the two or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting the presence of a person in the portion of the building via a sensor; and

regulating the operation of the two or more environmental device via the control unit based at least in part on information from the sensor.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating between the control unit and the first and second environmental devices via a wireless system comprising an RFID device.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for the two or more environmental devices via the control unit for at least the portion of the building; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

23. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via two or more environmental devices capable of being regulated by a control unit; and

wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via an olfactory system type of environmental device.

24. The article of claim 23, wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least the portion of the building via at least one of the two or more environmental devices comprising one or more of the following:

a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

25. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

26. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

27. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

28. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

29. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

30. The article of claim 23, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the two or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

31. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in:

detecting the presence of a person in the portion of the building via a sensor; and

regulating the operation of the two or more environmental device via the control unit based at least in part on information from the sensor.

32. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in communicating between the control unit and the first and second environmental devices via a wireless system comprising an RFID device.

33. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for the two or more environmental devices via the control unit for at least the portion of the building; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with a first environmental device and a second environmental device; and

means for regulating the operation of the first environmental device and the second environmental device to modify the environment of at least a portion of a building.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a security system.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the environment within an automobile.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for regulating comprises means for regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

means for detecting the presence of a person in a portion of the building; and

wherein the means for regulating comprises means for regulating the operation of the first environmental device and the second environmental device based at least in part on information from the means for detecting the presence of a person.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for RFID communication between the means for regulating and the first and second environmental devices.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

means for establishing one or more environmental system settings for at least the portion of the building; and

means for transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

43. A system, comprising:

a first environmental device capable of modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building;

a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a person in the portion of the building; and

a control unit in communication with the first environmental device and the sensor, the control unit capable of regulating the operation of the first environmental device based at least in part on information from the sensor.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the sensor comprises a motion detector.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting an identification device located on the person to detect the presence of the person.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the sensor comprises a biometric sensor capable of distinguishing between two or more persons to detect the presence of the person.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the first environmental device comprises one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

48. The system of claim 43, further comprising one or more appliance systems in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more appliance systems.

49. The system of claim 43, further comprising one or more appliance systems in communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more appliance systems, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with a security system, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating operation of the security system.

51. The system of claim 43, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with a lawn sprinkler system, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating operation of the lawn sprinkler system.

52. The system of claim 43, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with an automobile, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the environment within the automobile.

53. The system of claim 43, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the first device based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

54. The system of claim 43, wherein the control unit further comprises a wireless system capable of communicating between the control unit and the first environmental device, and wherein the wireless system comprises an RFID device.

55. The system of claim 43, wherein the control unit is capable of transferring one or more established environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

56. A method, comprising:

modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via an environmental device;

detecting the presence of a person in the portion of the building via a sensor; and

regulating the operation of the environmental device via a control unit based at least in part on information from the sensor.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the detecting the presence of a person comprises detecting the presence of a person via a motion detector type sensor.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the detecting the presence of a person comprises detecting an identification device located on the person.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the detecting the presence of a person comprises detecting the presence of a person via a biometric type sensor capable of distinguishing between two or more persons.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least the portion of the building via the environmental device comprising one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

61. The method of claim 56, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

62. The method of claim 56, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

63. The method of claim 56, further comprising regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

64. The method of claim 56, further comprising regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

65. The method of claim 56, further comprising regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

66. The method of claim 56, further comprising regulating the operation of the environmental device via the control unit based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

67. The method of claim 56, further comprising communicating between the control unit and the environmental device via a wireless system comprising an RFID device.

68. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for the environmental device via the control unit for at least the portion of the building; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

70. The article of claim 59, wherein the detecting the presence of a person comprises detecting the presence of a person via a motion detector type sensor.

71. The article of claim 59, wherein the detecting the presence of a person comprises detecting an identification device located on the person.

72. The article of claim 59, wherein the detecting the presence of a person comprises detecting the presence of a person via a biometric type sensor capable of distinguishing between two or more persons.

73. The article of claim 59, wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least the portion of the building via the environmental device comprising one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

74. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

75. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

76. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

77. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

78. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

79. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of the environmental device via the control unit based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

80. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in communicating between the control unit and the environmental device via a wireless system comprising an RFID device.

81. The article of claim 59, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for the environmental device via the control unit for at least the portion of the building; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

69. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via an environmental device;

detecting the presence of a person in the portion of the building via a sensor; and

regulating the operation of the environmental device via a control unit based at least in part on information from the sensor.

82. An apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with an environmental device;

means for detecting the presence of a person in a portion of the building; and

means for regulating the operation of the environmental device to modify the environment of at least a portion of a building based at least in part on information from the means for detecting the presence of a person.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for detecting the presence of a person comprises means for detecting the presence of a person via motion detection.

84. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for detecting the presence of a person comprises means for detecting an identification device located on the person.

85. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for detecting the presence of a person comprises means for detecting the presence of a person via a biometric information to distinguish between two or more persons.

86. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems.

87. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a security system.

88. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system.

89. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the environment within an automobile.

90. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the means for regulating comprises means for regulating the operation of the environmental device based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

91. The apparatus of claim 82, further comprising means for RFID communication between the means for regulating and the first and second environmental devices.

92. The apparatus of claim 82, further comprising:

means for establishing one or more environmental system settings for at least the portion of the building; and

means for transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building

93. A system, comprising:

a first environmental device capable of modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building;

a second environmental device capable of modifying the environment of at least a portion of the building; and

a control unit capable of regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices, the control unit comprising a wireless system capable of communicating between the control unit and the first and second environmental devices, and wherein the wireless system comprises an RFID device.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the first and second environmental devices comprise one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

95. The system of claim 93, further comprising one or more appliance systems in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more appliance systems.

96. The system of claim 93, further comprising one or more appliance systems in communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more appliance systems, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

97. The system of claim 93, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with a security system, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating operation of the security system.

98. The system of claim 93, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with a lawn sprinkler system, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating operation of the lawn sprinkler system.

99. The system of claim 93, wherein the control unit is capable of communication with an automobile, and wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the environment within the automobile.

100. The system of claim 93, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

101. The system of claim 93, wherein the control unit is capable of transferring one or more established environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

102. A method, comprising:

modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via two or more environmental devices;

regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices via a control unit; and

communicating between the control unit and the first and second environmental devices via a wireless system comprising an RFID device.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least the portion of the building via at least one of the two or more environmental devices comprising one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

104. The method of claim 102, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

105. The method of claim 102, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

106. The method of claim 102, further comprising regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

107. The method of claim 102, further comprising regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

108. The method of claim 102, further comprising regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

109. The method of claim 102, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the two or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

110. The method of claim 102, further comprising:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for the two or more environmental devices via the control unit for at least a portion of a first building; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

111. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

modifying the environment of at least a portion of a building via two or more environmental devices;

regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices via a control unit; and

communicating between the control unit and the first and second environmental devices via a wireless system comprising an RFID device.

112. The article of claim 111, wherein said modifying comprises modifying the environment of at least the portion of the building via at least one of the two or more environmental devices comprising one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

113. The article of claim 111, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

114. The article of claim 111, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

115. The article of claim 111, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

116. The article of claim 111, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

117. The article of claim 111, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

118. The article of claim 111, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the two or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

119. The article of claim 111, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for the two or more environmental devices via the control unit for at least the portion of the building; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

120. An apparatus, comprising:

means for regulating the operation of a first environmental device and a second environmental device to modify the environment of at least a portion of a building; and

means for RFID communication between the means for regulating and the first and second environmental devices.

121. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems.

122. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a security system.

123. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system.

124. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the environment within an automobile.

125. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the means for regulating comprises means for regulating the operation of the first and second environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

126. The apparatus of claim 120, further comprising:

means for establishing one or more environmental system settings for at least the portion of the building; and

means for transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

127. A method, comprising:

establishing one or more environmental system settings for one or more environmental devices for at least a portion of a first building;

regulating the one or more environmental devices to modify the environment of at least the portion of the first building via a control unit; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein the regulating further comprises regulating the one or more environmental devices comprising one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

129. The method of claim 127, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

130. The method of claim 127, further comprising regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

131. The method of claim 127, further comprising regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

132. The method of claim 127, further comprising regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

133. The method of claim 127, further comprising regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

134. The method of claim 127, further comprising regulating the operation of the one or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

135. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, if executed, result in;

establishing one or more environmental system settings for one or more environmental devices for at least a portion of a first building;

regulating the one or more environmental devices to modify the environment of at least the portion of the first building via a control unit; and

transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

136. The article of claim 135, wherein said regulating comprises regulating the one or more environmental devices comprising one or more of the following:

an olfactory system, a kinesthetic stimuli system, a heating system, a cooling system, an air purity system, an air humidity system, a lighting system, a natural light filtering system, a media system, or a computer, or combinations thereof.

137. The article of claim 135, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit.

138. The article of claim 135, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems via the control unit, and wherein the one or more appliance systems comprise one or more of the following:

an oven, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a wine refrigeration system, or combinations thereof.

139. The article of claim 135, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a security system via the control unit.

140. The article of claim 135, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system via the control unit.

141. The article of claim 135, wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in regulating the environment within an automobile via the control unit.

142. The article of claim 135, wherein the control unit is capable of regulating the operation of the one or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.

143. An apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing one or more environmental system settings for one or more environmental devices for at least a portion of a first building;

means for regulating the one or more environmental devices to modify the environment of at least the portion of the first building; and

means for transferring the established one or more environmental system settings to at least a portion of a second building.

144. The apparatus of claim 143, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the operation of one or more appliance systems.

145. The apparatus of claim 143, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a security system.

146. The apparatus of claim 143, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating operation of a lawn sprinkler system.

147. The apparatus of claim 143, wherein the means for regulating further comprises means for regulating the environment within an automobile.

148. The apparatus of claim 143, wherein the means for regulating comprises means for regulating the operation of the one or more environmental devices based at least in part on one or more of the following:

preset data, external data, past user history, or likely user usage patterns, or combinations thereof.