ANTICIPATORY UTILITY CONTROL DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for controlling information flow to a premises user, said method comprising:
- monitoring various parameters on a continuous basis; and
from time to time changing a user presentation on a utility control device to reflect an anticipated present need of a particular user, said control device being primarily available to a plurality of users to control a specific piece of premises equipment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system and method which a utility control device is designed to anticipate the needs of user'"'"'s and to conform to those anticipated needs. In one embodiment, the device senses the presence of a particular user and conforms its operation to operate in accordance with a pre-established user profile. The device can anticipate the user by directly sensing the user, such as by weight biometrics, size, voice recognition, electronic key tag, and the like or by time or location. The pre-established profile can, for example, be user programmed or can be based on previous actions taken by the user under the came conditions. In another embodiment, the user carries, in addition to his/her identity profile, the user'"'"'s preferences in accessible electronic form to allow the utility control device to assemble a customized response without requiring a pre-established user profile. The accessible electronic form can include: a key fob, electronic bracelet or any other electronically available formation of relevant data that can be applicable to generate a custom response.
92 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for controlling information flow to a premises user, said method comprising:
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monitoring various parameters on a continuous basis; and from time to time changing a user presentation on a utility control device to reflect an anticipated present need of a particular user, said control device being primarily available to a plurality of users to control a specific piece of premises equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A premises monitoring system comprising:
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a utility control device primarily associated with a particular utility to be controlled from a particular location; display on said device changeable from time to time to allow a user to observe a plurality of different utilities; and control operative in response to user a presence of a particular user for adjusting said changeable display in accordance with preferences of said particular user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for use within a premises for controlling at least one utility;
- said device comprising;
means for connection to said utilities to be controlled; a processor for accepting a sensed presence of a particular user; means for enabling the operation of said device to conform to parameters associated with said particular user; and means for enabling the operation of said device to conform to parameters associated with an unexpected absence of said user. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- said device comprising;
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27. A premises control system comprising:
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a plurality of devices adapted for interconnection via a utility distributed throughout said premises; each said device temporarily configurable to provide a service as well as information desired by a user, said service selected from the list of;
light switch, power outlet, thermostat, touch screen, appliance, communications device, keypad, access card, security card, credit card, scanner, electronic ID, RFID, telephone, microphone, VoIP, speaker, television, remote control, doorbell, and said information selected from the list of;
color, humidity, motion, voice, weight, speed, direction, impact, vibration, odor, temperature, smoke, alerts, odor, electronic identification, (e.g., cellular telephone, RF devices (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, intelligent remote controls), telephones, environmental condition, power consumption, power grid conditions, Internet access;
announcements;
the real-time price of power, status of the security system, occupancy, CO and CO2, equivalent and avoided greenhouse gas emissions, messages, notification of an important call, status of investments/stock portfolio/exchange rates, compliance issues, medication alerts, exercise alerts and messages, medical alerts, health of aging parent/loved ones, status of future meeting/conference call, a “
times-up”
warning for TV or computer games, heavy traffic warning for the commute home, accidents, pollen index, allergy alerts, homeland security, biohazard warnings, the upcoming weather, indicators as to equipment health, score of the game, alerts for local merchant specials, real-time asset management/maintenance;each said device comprising; an interface for accepting input from a user and for displaying messages to said user; and means for configuring said device to achieve an anticipated usage of said user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A utility control device comprising:
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terminals for connecting to at least one utility of a premises; a processor for configuring said device to perform at least one set of operations; an interface for presenting to a plurality of users any said configuration pertaining to operations currently available to be performed by said device; and said processor further operable for configuring said device to conform to pre-established preferences of a particular user in proximity to said device at a particular time. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification