AUTOMATED PRESENCE DETECTION AND PRESENCE-RELATED CONTROL WITHIN AN INTELLIGENT CONTROLLER

• US 20180299163A1
• Filed: 06/22/2018
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Yoky, Fisher, Evan J., Malhotra, Mark, Stefanski, Mark D., Sharan, Rangoli, Astier, Frank E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,690,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 11/58 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• 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: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 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

Abstract

A method includes operating a controller according to a control schedule; detecting events that indicate occupancy; storing a record of the events that indicate occupancy in one or more memory devices; and causing the controller to enter an auto-away state. A determination that the controller should enter the auto-away state may be based at least in part on a length of a time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected; and the stored record of the events that indicate occupancy. The method also includes detecting a pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

operating according to a control schedule;

detecting events that indicate occupancy;

storing a record of the events that indicate occupancy in the one or more memory devices;

causing the controller to enter an auto-away state, wherein a determination that the controller should enter the auto-away state is based at least in part on;

a length of a time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected; and

the stored record of the events that indicate occupancy;

detecting a pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and

adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the record of the events that indicate occupancy are stored in a plurality of memory buckets, wherein each of the plurality of memory buckets represents a predefined time interval on a day of the week.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the plurality of memory buckets represents a histogram of the events that indicate occupancy.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days comprises at least two repeated instances of entering the auto-away state at approximately a same time of day on a same day of the week.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and

adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the control schedule comprises a plurality of setpoints, wherein each of the plurality of setpoints comprises a time and a control setting.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the events that indicate occupancy are received from the one or more occupancy sensors.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the auto-away state causes an external system to use less energy than would otherwise be used without entering the auto-away state.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing an indication of adjusting the control schedule to a user prior to adjusting the control schedule; and

receiving an acceptance from the user prior to adjusting the control schedule.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein adjusting the control schedule comprises adding setpoints corresponding to a beginning and an end of an auto-away state interval.

11. A method comprising:

operating a controller according to a control schedule;

detecting events that indicate occupancy;

storing a record of the events that indicate occupancy in one or more memory devices;

causing the controller to enter an auto-away state, wherein a determination that the controller should enter the auto-away state is based at least in part on;

a length of a time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected; and

the stored record of the events that indicate occupancy;

detecting a pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and

adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the record of the events that indicate occupancy are stored in a plurality of memory buckets, wherein each of the plurality of memory buckets represents a predefined time interval on a day of the week.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of memory buckets represents a histogram of the events that indicate occupancy.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days comprises at least two repeated instances of entering the auto-away state at approximately a same time of day on a same day of the week.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and

adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the control schedule comprises a plurality of setpoints, wherein each of the plurality of setpoints comprises a time and a control setting.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the events that indicate occupancy are received from the one or more occupancy sensors.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the auto-away state causes an external system to use less energy than would otherwise be used without entering the auto-away state.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an indication of adjusting the control schedule to a user prior to adjusting the control schedule; and

receiving an acceptance from the user prior to adjusting the control schedule.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the control schedule comprises adding setpoints corresponding to a beginning and an end of an auto-away state interval.