Home monitoring and control

• US 9,772,612 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: McCarthy, III, Bernard A., Thomason, IV, Charles Y., Caughman, Henry, Olley, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Small, Naomi
• Application Number:
  US14/567,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150160636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

Various arrangements for monitoring and control applications are presented. A television receiver may be configured to monitor sensor reading and or provide signals to control units for monitoring and home automation applications.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a computing device, a command to activate a plurality of sensors each positioned at a particular location of a residence and communicatively coupled to the computing device, to acquire data to determine a location of a pet or animal at the residence;

analyzing, by the computing device, particular data as acquired by each of the plurality of sensors to determine the location of the pet or animal at the residence;

causing, by the computer device, actuation of a lock of a pet door based on the determined location of the pet or animal at the residence in relation to the pet door;

analyzing, by the computing device, data received from a sensor of the plurality of sensors that determines a direction of travel of the pet door for use in determining the location of the pet or animal;

determining a distance away from the residence that the pet or animal has moved using the location of the pet or animal;

determining that the pet or animal has moved beyond a boundary distance away from the residence by comparing the location of the pet or animal with a threshold distance, wherein the threshold distance includes a maximum desired distance away from the residence as desired by a user; and

outputting, by the computing device for presentation by another computing device, at least one notification that provides an indication of location of the pet or animal is beyond the maximum desired distance.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device via a television receiver or the another computing device, the command to activate the plurality of sensors to determine location of the pet or animal at the residence.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, at least one of audio data, video data, motion data, and thermal imaging data to determine location of the pet or animal within the residence.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining location of the pet or animal at the residence based upon particular data acquired by multiple sensors of the plurality of sensors from a tag or beacon coupled to the pet or animal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to activate a food dispenser installed at the residence and communicatively coupled to the computing device; and

activating the food dispenser to dispense food for the pet or animal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to activate a water dispenser installed at the residence and communicatively coupled to the computing device; and

activating the water dispenser to dispense water for the pet or animal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to output, for presentation by the another computing device, a usage indicator of at least one appliance or component of a home automation system installed to the residence; and

outputting, for presentation by the another computing device and based on the command, the usage indicator of at least one appliance or component of the home automation system installed to the residence.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to control at least one appliance or component of a home automation system installed to the residence; and

controlling, based on the command, status of at least one appliance or component of the home automation system installed to the residence.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, by the computing device for presentation by the another computing device, at least one notification that provides an indication of location of the pet or animal at the residence over a particular time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the computing device, the command to activate the plurality of sensors based upon a user-defined timing schedule.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a training sensor reading indicative of a particular location at the residence;

receiving an indication to capture and save the training sensor reading for the particular location;

monitoring additional sensor readings;

comparing the additional sensor readings to the saved training sensor reading; and

generating a user indication when the additional sensor readings are consistent with the training sensor reading and wherein the user indication is associated with location of the pet or animal at the residence.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving vital statistic information about the pet or animal based upon readings taken by at least one vitals acquisition sensor coupled to the pet or animal; and

outputting the at least one notification that provides the indication of location of the pet or animal at the residence and that also provides a summary of the vital statistic information.

13. A television receiver, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

detect a command to activate a plurality of sensors each positioned at a particular location of a residence and communicatively coupled to the television receiver, to acquire data to determine a location of a pet or animal at the residence;

analyze particular data as acquired by each of the plurality of sensors to determine the location of the pet or animal at the residence;

cause actuation of a lock of a pet door based on the determined location of the pet or animal at the residence in relation to the pet door;

analyze data received from a sensor of the plurality of sensors that determines a direction of travel of the pet door for use in determining the location of the pet or animal;

determine a distance away from the residence that the pet or animal has moved using the location of the pet or animal;

determine that the pet or animal has moved beyond a boundary distance away from the residence by comparing the location of the pet or animal with a threshold distance, wherein the threshold distance includes a maximum desired distance away from the residence as desired by a user of the television receiver; and

output, for presentation by a computing device, at least one notification that provides an indication of location of the pet or animal is beyond the maximum desired distance.

14. The television receiver of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

determine location of the pet or animal at the residence based upon particular data acquired by multiple sensors of the plurality of sensors from a tag or beacon coupled to the pet or animal.

15. The television receiver of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a command to activate a food dispenser installed at the residence and communicatively coupled to the television receiver; and

activate the food dispenser to dispense food for the pet or animal.

16. The television receiver of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a command to activate a water dispenser installed at the residence and communicatively coupled to the television receiver; and

activate the water dispenser to dispense water for the pet or animal.

17. The television receiver of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a command to control at least one appliance or component of a home automation system installed to the residence; and

control, based on the command, status of at least one appliance or component of the home automation system installed to the residence.

18. The television receiver of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

generate the command to activate the plurality of sensors based upon a user-defined timing schedule.

19. The television receiver of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive a training sensor reading indicative of a particular location at the residence;

receive an indication to capture and save the training sensor reading for the particular location;

monitor additional sensor readings;

compare the additional sensor readings to the saved training sensor reading; and

generate a user indication when the additional sensor readings are consistent with the training sensor reading and wherein the user indication is associated with location of the pet or animal at the residence.

20. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

detecting, by a home automation system, a command to activate a plurality of sensors each positioned at a particular location of a residence and communicatively coupled to the home automation system, to acquire data to determine a location of a pet or animal at the residence;

analyzing, by the home automation system, particular data as acquired by each of the plurality of sensors to determine the location of the pet or animal at the residence;

causing, by the home automation system, actuation of a lock of a pet door based on the determined location of the pet or animal at the residence in relation to the pet door;

analyzing data received from a sensor of the plurality of sensors that determines a direction of travel of the pet door for use in determining the location of the pet or animal;

determining a distance away from the residence that the pet or animal has moved using the location of the pet or animal;

determining that the pet or animal has moved beyond a boundary distance away from the residence by comparing the location of the pet or animal with a threshold distance, wherein the threshold distance includes a maximum desired distance away from the residence as desired by a user; and

outputting, by the home automation system for presentation by a computing device, at least one notification that provides an indication of location of the pet or animal is beyond the maximum desired distance.