REMOTE DEVICE CONTROL AND ENERGY MONITORING

• US 20100289643A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slavin, Alison Jane, Hutz, David James, Trundle, Stephen Scott, Martin, Jean-Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• 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 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing remote device (e.g., thermostat, lighting, appliance, etc.) control and/or energy monitoring. A system monitors sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties and status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties. The system analyzes the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules and performs an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.

Claims

1. A method for performing an operation related to controlling one or more energy consuming devices, the method comprising:

monitoring sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties;

monitoring status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties;

analyzing the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules; and

performing, using at least one processor, an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises automatically, without human intervention, controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises sending, to a user associated with the one or more monitored properties, an alert with a suggestion for controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.

4. The method of claim 1:

wherein monitoring sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties comprises determining whether a property is occupied based on at least one of a door sensor that senses whether a door at the property is oriented in an open position or a closed position, a motion sensor that senses motion within the property, and an image sensor that captures images of the property;

wherein monitoring status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties comprises monitoring a temperature setting of a thermostat that controls a heating and cooling system for the property;

wherein analyzing the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules comprises comparing the determination of whether the property is occupied and the temperature setting of the thermostat with the set of one or more rules; and

wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing an operation related to changing the temperature setting of the thermostat based on the comparison.

5. The method of claim 1:

wherein monitoring sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties comprises determining whether an area of a property corresponding to a lighting device is occupied based on at least one of a door sensor that senses whether a door at the area of the property is oriented in an open position or a closed position, a motion sensor that senses motion within the area of the property, and an image sensor that captures images of the area of the property;

wherein monitoring status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties comprises monitoring an operating state of the lighting device that provides lighting for the area of the property;

wherein analyzing the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules comprises comparing the determination of whether the area of the property is occupied and the operating state of the lighting device with the set of one or more rules; and

wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing an operation related to changing the operating state of the lighting device based on the comparison.

6. The method of claim 1:

wherein monitoring sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties comprises;

monitoring, over time for a property, sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes at the property, the monitored sensor data including at least one of door sensor data captured by a door sensor that senses whether a door at the property is oriented in an open position or a closed position, motion sensor data captured by a motion sensor that senses motion within the property, image sensor data captured by an image sensor that captures images of the property, and security system arming data captured by a security panel that enables a user to arm or disarm a security system that monitors the property, and

determining a presence pattern for the property based on the monitoring of the sensor data over time for the property;

wherein analyzing the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules comprises analyzing the determined presence pattern for the property and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules; and

wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing an operation related to controlling one or more energy consuming devices associated with the property based on the analysis of the determined presence pattern for the property and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the operation related to controlling one or more energy consuming devices associated with the property based on the analysis of the determined presence pattern for the property and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules comprises automatically, without human intervention, controlling the one or more energy consuming devices associated with the property to conserve energy when the determined presence pattern for the property indicates that the property is not occupied.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing weather data;

analyzing the accessed weather data in conjunction with the monitored sensor data and the monitored status of one or more energy consuming devices with respect to the set of one or more rules;

based on the analysis of the accessed weather data in conjunction with the monitored sensor data and the monitored status of one or more energy consuming devices, determining an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices that accounts for the accessed weather data; and

performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices that accounts for the accessed weather data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring geographic location data of one or more users associated with the one or more monitored properties;

inferring future occupancy status of the one or more users in the one or more monitored properties based on the monitored geographic location data;

determining an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties based on the inferred future occupancy status of the one or more users in the one or more monitored properties; and

performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices.

10. The method of claim 9:

wherein inferring future occupancy status of the one or more users in the one or more monitored properties based on the monitored geographic location data comprises;

determining a distance of a user from a property based on the monitored geographic location data,

comparing the distance of the user from the property to a threshold distance from the property,

determining whether the user is within the threshold distance from the property based on the comparison,

inferring that the user will occupy the property within a particular period of time based on a determination that the user is within the threshold distance from the property, and

inferring that the user will not occupy the property within the particular period of time based on a determination that the user is outside of the threshold distance from the property; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises;

performing an operation related to preparing the property for occupation by the particular period of time based on an inference that the user will occupy the property within the particular period of time, and

performing an operation related to conserving energy during the particular period of time based on an inference that the user will not occupy the property within the particular period of time.

11. The method of claim 9:

wherein inferring future occupancy status of the one or more users in the one or more monitored properties based on the monitored geographic location data comprises;

determining a direction in which the user is traveling based on the monitored geographic location data,

determining whether the user is traveling toward the property or away from the property based on the determined direction in which the user is traveling,

inferring that the user will occupy the property within a particular period of time based on a determination that the user is traveling toward the property, and

inferring that the user will not occupy the property within the particular period of time based on a determination that the user is traveling away from the property; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises;

performing an operation related to preparing the property for occupation by the particular period of time based on an inference that the user will occupy the property within the particular period of time, and

performing an operation related to conserving energy during the particular period of time based on an inference that the user will not occupy the property within the particular period of time.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event that triggers an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the monitored sensor data;

determining a user identity for one or more users associated with the detected event;

determining a user-specific operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the detected event and the determined user identity for the one or more users; and

performing the user-specific operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices.

13. The method of claim 12:

wherein determining a user identity for one or more users associated with the detected event comprises;

determining a first user identity of a first user associated with the detected event; and

determining a second user identity of a second user associated with the detected event, the second user identity being different than the first user identity;

wherein determining the user-specific operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the detected event and the determined user identity for the one or more users comprises;

accessing, from electronic storage, a first device control profile defined for the determined first user identity,

accessing, from electronic storage, a second device control profile defined for the determined second user identity, the first device control profile being different than the second device control profile,

accessing, from electronic storage, one or more permission rules that indicate which device control profile controls when multiple user identities are determined to be associated with the detected event, and

determining an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the accessed first device control profile, the accessed second device control profile, and the accessed one or more permission rules; and

wherein performing the user-specific operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices determined based on the accessed first device control profile, the accessed second device control profile, and the accessed one or more permission rules.

14. The method of claim 1:

wherein monitoring sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties comprises;

monitoring sensor data captured by sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at multiple, different locations, and

aggregating the monitored sensor data from the multiple, different locations;

wherein analyzing the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules comprises analyzing the aggregated sensor data from the multiple, different locations with respect to the set of one or more rules; and

wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices associated with one of the multiple, different locations based on the analysis of the aggregated sensor data.

15. The method of claim 14:

wherein monitoring sensor data captured by sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at multiple, different locations comprises;

monitoring first sensor data captured by first local sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at a first property;

monitoring second sensor data captured by second local sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at a second property, the second property being separate and remote from the first property; and

wherein performing the operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices associated with one of the multiple, different locations based on the analysis of the aggregated sensor data comprises performing an operation related to controlling one or more energy consuming devices associated with the second property based on the first sensor data captured by the first local sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at the first property.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining an energy management profile for the one or more monitored properties;

monitoring energy usage for the one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties;

analyzing the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the energy management profile; and

performing an operation related to managing energy consumption for the one or more monitored properties based on the analysis of the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the energy management profile.

17. The method of claim 16:

wherein defining the energy management profile for the one or more monitored properties comprises defining, as part of the energy management profile, one or more rules that indicate instances in which it is acceptable to modify energy usage of the one or more energy consuming devices in accordance with utility rate data;

wherein analyzing the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the energy management profile comprises analyzing the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the one or more rules that indicate instances in which it is acceptable to modify energy usage of the one or more energy consuming devices in accordance with utility rate data; and

wherein performing the operation related to managing energy consumption for the one or more monitored properties comprises, when the analysis of the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the one or more rules reveals that it is acceptable to modify energy usage of the one or more energy consuming devices in accordance with utility rate data;

accessing utility rate data that includes data specifying low-rate time periods when energy consumption rates are at a relatively low level, medium-rate time periods when energy consumption rates are at a relatively medium level, and high-rate time periods when energy consumption rates are at a relatively high level; and

controlling the one or more energy consuming devices to reduce energy consumption expense based on the accessed utility rate data.

18. The method of claim 16:

wherein defining the energy management profile for the one or more monitored properties comprises defining, as part of the energy management profile, one or more thresholds that define circumstances in which energy conservation operations are permitted and circumstances in which energy conservation operations are forbidden;

wherein analyzing the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the energy management profile comprises analyzing the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the one or more thresholds; and

wherein performing the operation related to managing energy consumption for the one or more monitored properties comprises;

when the analysis of the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the one or more thresholds reveals that energy conservation operations are permitted, controlling the one or more energy consuming devices to conserve energy, and

when the analysis of the monitored energy usage, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status with respect to the one or more thresholds reveals that energy conservation operations are forbidden, controlling the one or more energy consuming devices without regard for energy conservation.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring energy consumption data for multiple, different monitored properties;

monitoring sensor data for the multiple, different monitored properties monitoring device status for energy consuming devices associated with the multiple, different monitored properties;

identifying an efficient energy user based on the monitored energy consumption data, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status;

determining an energy usage profile for the efficient energy user based on the monitored energy consumption data, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status; and

providing an energy usage suggestion to another user that is different than the efficient energy user based on the determined energy usage profile for the efficient energy user.

20. The method of claim 19:

wherein identifying an efficient energy user based on the monitored energy consumption data, the monitored sensor data, and the monitored device status comprises;

identifying an energy usage level of a monitored property based on the monitored energy consumption data;

identifying an activity level of the monitored property based on the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status, the activity level of the monitored property representing how frequently the monitored property is determined to be occupied based on the monitored sensor data and how frequently energy consuming devices are detected as being in use in the monitored property based on the monitored device status;

determining a ratio of the identified energy usage level of the monitored property and the identified activity level of the monitored property; and

identifying a user of the monitored property as the efficient energy user based on the determined ratio; and

wherein providing the energy usage suggestion to another user that is different than the efficient energy user comprises;

identifying another monitored property that has an activity level that is similar to the identified activity level of the monitored property and that has an energy usage level that is higher than the identified energy usage level of the monitored property; and

providing the energy usage suggestion to a user of the other monitored property.