PROXIMITY CONTROL USING WIFI CONNECTION

• US 20120093141A1
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,416,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 : variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 : Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 : Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• 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 12/2818 : 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 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• 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 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller is disposed at a site and includes a communication device capable of establishing a WIFI network to communicate with a mobile device. The controller is further configured to detect the mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network, alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection and alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection. A method of proximity control using a WIFI connection includes detecting a mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network, altering an operating condition of a site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection and altering an operating condition of the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller disposed at a site and including a communication device capable of establishing a WIFI network to communicate with a mobile device; and

said controller configured to;

detect the mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection to said WIFI network;

alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing said WIFI connection; and

alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing said WIFI connection.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said controller including a proximity mode to control the operating condition; and

wherein said controller is configured to;

enable an away mode in response to detecting the mobile device losing said WIFI connection; and

disable said away mode in response to detecting the mobile device establishing said WIFI connection.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

said controller is configured to receive a control setting during said away mode using a second network that is not the said WIFI network to alter the operating condition in response to the mobile device being disposed away from the site.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said controller configured to communicate an operating condition of the site to a server operably associated with enabling a user to access using a browser.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable a first user schedule associated with the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing said WIFI connection.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable a second user schedule in response to detecting the mobile device losing said WIFI connection.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

said controller is configured to communicate with a second mobile device operably linked to the second user schedule;

said controller is configured to enable use of the second user schedule in response to detecting the second mobile device establishing said WIFI connection; and

said controller is configured to disable use of the second user schedule in response to detecting the second mobile device losing said WIFI connection.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a thermostat.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises one or more of a set top box or a DSL gateway or a cable system gateway or a fiber optic gateway.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one network device disposed at the site and operably coupled to the controller to establish the operating condition.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more of:

a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart phone, a cellular or mobile phone a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server or storage device, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first user schedule operably associated with a first mobile device,

a second user schedule operably associated with a second mobile device, and

said controller is configured to;

detect the first mobile device and the second mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection to said WIFI network; and

determine whether to alter the operating condition based on the status of WIFI connections of the first and second mobile devices.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable the first user schedule in response to detecting the first mobile device establishing a WIFI connection in the absence of the second mobile device establishing a WIFI connection.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable the second user schedule in response to detecting the first mobile device losing the WIFI connection and the second mobile device establishing and maintaining the WIFI connection.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable the second user schedule in response to detecting the second mobile device establishing a WIFI connection in the absence of the first mobile device establishing a WIFI connection.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

said controller is configured to enable the first user schedule in response to detecting the second mobile device losing the WIFI connection and the first mobile device establishing and maintaining the WIFI connection.

17. A method comprising:

detecting a mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network;

altering an operating condition of a site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection; and

altering an operating condition of the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

enabling an away mode of a network device disposed at the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection; and

disabling an away mode of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising:

detecting a location change of the mobile device during the away mode; and

altering the operating condition of the network device in response to the mobile device being disposed away from the site.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

detecting a temperature setting of a network device at the site; and

initiating a communication of the temperature setting to the mobile device using the WIFI network.

21. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

initiating use of a first user schedule in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising:

initiating use of a second user schedule in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection.

23. The method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising:

detecting a second mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with the WIFI network; and

determining when to alter the operating condition based on the status of the WIFI connections of the first and second mobile devices.

24. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising:

enabling a first schedule associated with the first mobile device in response to detecting the first mobile device establishing a WIFI connection in the absence of the second mobile device establishing a WIFI connection.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24 further comprising:

enabling a second schedule associated with the second mobile device in response to detecting the first mobile device losing the WIFI connection and the second mobile device establishing and maintaining the WIFI connection.

26. The method as set forth in claim 18 further comprising the network device including one or more of:

a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart phone, a cellular or mobile phone a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server or storage device, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router.

27. A system comprising:

a network device capable of communicating using a WIFI network at a site;

an application capable of being used on a mobile device, which is operably associated with the network device and the WIFI network, wherein the application is configured to;

detect a WIFI connection to the WIFI network at the site;

initiate communicating data using the WIFI connection;

detect the WIFI network not being available; and

initiate communicating data using a second network.

28. The system as set forth in claim 27, further comprising:

a thermostat operably coupled to the network device;

the application capable of communicating a temperature set point using the WIFI network; and

the application capable of receiving operating condition data using the second network.

29. The system as set forth in claim 27, further comprising:

a smart energy device located at the site and capable of communicating using the WIFI network; and

the application configured to initiate altering an operating condition of the smart energy device using the second network.

30. The system as set forth in claim 27 wherein the network device includes one or more of:

a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart phone, a cellular or mobile phone a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server or storage device, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router.