Remote device control and energy monitoring by analyzing data and applying rules

• US 8,350,697 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• 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: Trundle, Stephen Scott, Slavin, Alison Jane, Martin, Jean-Paul, Hutz, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/782,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 34053926-53928, 340/539.3, 700/19, 700/20, 700275-278, 700/291
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• 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;

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 and the monitored sensor 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices; and

performing, using at least one processor, the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices.

2. The method of claim 1:

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.

3. The method of claim 1:

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.

16. The method of claim 1:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining to automatically control the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises automatically, without user intervention, controlling the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties.

17. The method of claim 1:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining to suggest one or more changes for the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises suggesting the one or more changes for the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties.

18. The method of claim 1:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining an operation related to controlling one or more lighting devices located in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more lighting devices located in the one or more monitored properties.

19. The method of claim 1:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining an operation related to controlling one or more thermostats located in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more thermostats located in the one or more monitored properties.

20. The method of claim 1:

wherein monitoring geographic location data of one or more users associated with the one or more monitored properties comprises detecting travel patterns of the one or more users associated with the one or more monitored properties; and

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 and the monitored sensor data comprises inferring future occupancy status of the one or more users in the one or more monitored properties based on the detected travel patterns.

4. 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,

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,

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.

5. A method for performing an operation related to controlling one or more energy consuming devices, the method 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, using at least one processor, 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,

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.

6. A monitoring system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations 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,

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.

7. A monitoring system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations 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 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,

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,

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.

8. A monitoring system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations 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;

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 and the monitored sensor 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices; and

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

9. The monitoring system of claim 8:

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.

10. The monitoring system of claim 8:

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.

11. The monitoring system of claim 8:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining to automatically control the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises automatically, without user intervention, controlling the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties.

12. The monitoring system of claim 8:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining to suggest one or more changes for the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises suggesting the one or more changes for the one or more energy consuming devices in the one or more monitored properties.

13. The monitoring system of claim 8:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining an operation related to controlling one or more lighting devices located in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more lighting devices located in the one or more monitored properties.

14. The monitoring system of claim 8:

wherein determining the 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 the monitored status of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises determining an operation related to controlling one or more thermostats located in the one or more monitored properties; and

wherein performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices comprises performing the determined operation related to controlling the one or more thermostats located in the one or more monitored properties.

15. The monitoring system of claim 8:

wherein monitoring geographic location data of one or more users associated with the one or more monitored properties comprises detecting travel patterns of the one or more users associated with the one or more monitored properties; and

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 and the monitored sensor data comprises inferring future occupancy status of the one or more users in the one or more monitored properties based on the detected travel patterns.