Internet based home communications system

• US 7,187,986 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Jeff, Schulz, Dan, Malmstrom, Dan, Iverson, Thor
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US10/254,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700 19- 20, 700286-287, 700/83, 700/9, 340/3.1, 340/825.06, 340/825.22, 702/188
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

An Internet based home communications system for allowing a homeowner to monitor and control various features of their home. The system comprises a plurality of control devices positioned within a home, a control unit in communication with the plurality of control devices wherein the control unit is connected to a global computer network, and a data center connected to the global computer network and in communication with the control unit. The homeowner is capable of monitoring and controlling the control device within the home by accessing a web page displayed by the data center through a web browser on a computer. The homeowner can view, monitor and control features of their home through the web page. In addition, the control unit may notify the appropriate supplier when propane or food becomes low within the home through the global computer network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a control unit to communicate with the plurality of home monitoring control devices that monitor features of a plurality of local systems via a local network at a home location and to monitor data of operations of the features received from the plurality of home monitoring control devices, the control unit further to periodically connect to a data center and transmit data received from the plurality of home monitoring control devices to the data center, the control unit further configured to operate in one of a plurality of modes and direct a device of the plurality of home monitoring control devices to perform at least one function based on a selected mode from the plurality of modes upon detection of an event, the plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode associated with a presence of a user at the home location and a second mode associated with an absence of the user from the home location; and

a data center configured to receive data from the control unit of the plurality of home monitoring control devices via a global computer network, the data center further configured to provide a user-customizable control page for a user to remotely monitor the data provided by the plurality of home monitoring control devices and provide commands to the control unit to be executed at the plurality of the local systems at the home location,

wherein the plurality of home monitoring control devices includes at least one lighting control, at least one temperature control, at least one moisture control, at least one freeze control, at least one pet feeding device, at least one grocery bar code reader, at least one propane gauge, at least one security system, at least one smoke alarm and at least one carbon monoxide alarm.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to provide alerts to the data center when restrictions are violated.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the data center is configured to provide alerts to the user via communication means.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the communication means include e-mail.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of home monitoring control devices includes at least one interior camera.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of home monitoring control devices includes at least one exterior camera.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the control page is capable of providing video images.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the control page is a web page displayed through a web browser.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit is programmable by the user via the control page.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the data center includes at least one server computer, wherein the server computer is configured to communicate with the global computer network.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of home monitoring control devices includes a security system.

12. A method comprising:

monitoring data received from a plurality of home monitoring control devices, the plurality of home monitoring control devices monitoring a plurality of features of a plurality of local systems via a local network at a home location;

periodically communicating the monitored data of operations of the features to a data center over a global computer network and directing a device of the plurality of home monitoring control devices to perform at least one function based on a selected mode from a plurality of modes upon detection of an event, the plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode associated with a presence of a user at the home location and a second mode associated with an absence of the user from the home location; and

presenting the monitored data to a user via a user-customizable control page and directing a device from the plurality of home monitoring control devices to perform commands provided by the user via the control page, wherein the plurality of home monitoring control devices includes at least one lighting control, at least one temperature control, at least one moisture control, at least one freeze control, at least one pet feeding device, at least one grocery bar code reader, at least one propane gauge, at least one security system, at least one smoke alarm and at least one carbon monoxide alarm.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the user-customizable control page is a web page presented via a web browser.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing alert to the user when restrictions are violated by at least one device from the plurality of home monitoring control devices.

15. A machine-readable storage medium having instructions to cause a machine to perform a computer-implemented method comprising:

monitoring data received from a plurality of home monitoring control devices, the plurality of home monitoring control devices monitoring a plurality of features of a plurality of local systems via a local network at a home location;

periodically communicating the monitored data of operations of the features to a data center over a global computer network and directing a device of the plurality of home monitoring control devices to perform at least one function based on a selected mode from a plurality of modes upon detection of an event, the plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode associated with a presence of a user at the home location and a second mode associated with an absence of the user from the home location; and

presenting the monitored data to a user via a user-customizable control page and directing a device from the plurality of home monitoring control devices to perform commands provided by the user via the control page, wherein the plurality of home monitoring control devices includes at least one lighting control, at least one temperature control, at least one moisture control, at least one freeze control, at least one pet feeding device, at least one grocery bar code reader, at least one propane gauge, at least one security system, at least one smoke alarm and at least one carbon monoxide alarm.