Generation and implementation of household policies for the smart home

• US 9,998,803 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Matsuoka, Yoky, Sloo, David, Veron, Maxime
• Primary Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/639,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 34087007
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 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

Embodiments provided herein relate to implementing a household policy within a household environment. In one example, a method includes: receiving, at a processor, the household policy; interpreting the household policy to extract one or more conditional events associated with the household policy; monitoring, via at least one sensing smart device in the household environment, for satisfaction of the one or more conditional events; and when the one or more events is satisfied, implement one or more controls on at least one conditionally controlled smart device in the household environment, the at least one smart device affecting the household environment.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a household policy within a household environment, comprising:

receiving, at a processor, the household policy, wherein the household policy comprises statistics associated with the household environment;

interpreting the household policy to extract one or more conditional events associated with the household policy;

monitoring, via at least one sensing smart device in the household environment, for satisfaction of the one or more conditional events, wherein the one or more conditional events is not directly observable via the at least one sensing smart device, and wherein the monitoring comprises;

receiving contextual data from each of the at least one sensing smart device; and

inferring, based on the received contextual data and the statistics associated with the household environment, whether the one or more conditional events, which is not directly observable via the at least one sensing smart device, is satisfied; and

when the one or more conditional events, which is not directly observable via the at least one sensing smart device, is satisfied, implement one or more controls on at least one conditionally controlled smart device in the household environment, the at least one conditionally controlled smart device affecting the household environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more controls comprise posting information to a digital dashboard, a mobile application, transitioning one or more device indicators, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the household policy comprises a virtual grounding policy wherein internet usage is restricted or limited to particular websites in a particular room of the household environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the household policy relates to a latchkey child situation where a child is in the household environment alone;

and

wherein the one or more controls comprise controls restricting;

access to particular content outside the presence of adult supervision, an ability to unlock a door when an unknown person approaches the door, or both.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditional events comprises meeting a threshold amount of study time, a threshold amount outside time, or both.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more controls comprise increasing an allotment of screen time for at least one electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditional events comprise an individual having unused screen time from a budgeted screen time allotted to the individual over a first time period;

and wherein the one or more controls comprise allocating the unused screen time to the individual for use over a second time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditional events comprise an individual having used all screen time allotted to the individual over a first time period;

and wherein the one or more controls comprise restricting access of the individual to one or more electronic devices during the remainder of the first time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprises a television.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor, configured to;

receive a household policy, wherein the household policy comprises statistics associated with a household environment; and

interpret the household policy to extract one or more conditional events associated with the household policy;

at least one sensing smart device configured to monitor for satisfaction of the one or more conditional events, wherein the one or more conditional events is not directly observable via the at least one sensing smart device; and

at least one controlled smart device, configured to operate based upon one or more control commands provided by the processor when the one or more conditional events are satisfied or not satisfied, and wherein the processor is configured to;

receive contextual data from each of the at least one sensing smart device; and

infer, based on the received contextual data and the statistics associated with the household environment, whether the one or more conditional events, which is not directly observable via the at least one sensing smart device, is satisfied.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the processor is configured to;

receive a situational household policy to be implemented only upon the occurrence of a particular situation;

interpret the situational household policy to extract the particular situation and one or more situational conditional events associated with the situational household policy;

the sensing smart device is configured to;

monitor for occurrence of the particular situation; and

upon occurrence of the particular situation, monitor for satisfaction of the one or more situational conditional events; and

the processor is configured to provide one or more situational controls to the at least one conditionally controlled smart device when the one or more situational conditional events is satisfied.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular situation comprises non-parent supervision of a child.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more situational conditional events comprise the one or more conditional events with an increased sensitivity.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein conditionally controlled smart device comprise an electronic device;

and

the one or more situational controls are configured to limit usage of the electronic device, limit content that may be consumed on the electronic device, or both.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more situational controls are configured to provide a specialized notification regarding the child, the non-parent supervision, or both.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular situation comprises grounding of a household occupant.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more situational controls are configured to:

limit electronic device usage, electronic device content, or both in a particular area of the household environment associated with the grounded household occupant;

limit electronic device usage, electronic device content, or both attributed to the grounded household occupant, or both.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more situational controls are configured to:

reduce lighting in a particular area of the household environment associated with the grounded household occupant at a “

lights out”

time indicated in the situational household policy.