U.S. patent application number 14/450899 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-19 for system and method for automating electrical devices at a building structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is AMEER SAMI. Invention is credited to AMEER SAMI.
Application Number | 20150331396 14/450899 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52461860 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150331396 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAMI; AMEER |
November 19, 2015 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING ELECTRICAL DEVICES AT A BUILDING
STRUCTURE
Abstract
An electrical control system for automatically controlling the
operation of a plurality of electronic control units, each of which
is operatively connected to one or more electrical devices. The
electronic control units are configured to communicate with a
client device having access to a user application configurable by a
user. The user application is configured to automatically control
the operation of the electrical devices, which include consumer
appliances used at a home or business to perform functions such as
cooking, cleaning, lighting, heating or refrigeration. Each of the
electrical devices is operatively connected to one or more of the
control units, each of which is programmed to operate according to
the user application which is stored in the client device and/or
the cloud as a user application.
Inventors: |
SAMI; AMEER; (Vienna,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMI; AMEER |
Vienna |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52461860 |
Appl. No.: |
14/450899 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61862259 |
Aug 5, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/2642 20130101;
H04L 12/2829 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05B 11/32 20060101
G05B011/32; H04L 12/28 20060101 H04L012/28 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An electrical device control system for controlling the
operation of a plurality of electrical devices located at a
building and configured to communicate with a plurality of
individual client devices wherein each of the plurality of
individual client devices is utilized by a different one of a
plurality of users, the control system comprising; a cloud-based
user application configured to be accessible by each of the
plurality of the client devices, the cloud-based user application
configured to transmit and to receive user data through the
could-based user application and provided by a user; a first
control unit including: (i) an electrical power connection
configured to provide electrical power to one of the electrical
devices, the electrical device including one of a home appliance, a
consumer electronic device, and a light; (ii) communication
circuitry configured to communicate with the user application, the
communication circuitry including one of a Bluetooth module and a
wi-fi module; and (iii) control circuitry operable to: access data
provided as input data to the client device; change a state of the
electrical device; and determine a change in the state of the
electrical device; a second control unit including: (i) a user
input component configured to respond to a user input, wherein the
user input includes a signal strength of a signal provided by the
individual client device; (ii) communication circuitry configured
to communicate with the user application, the communication
circuitry including one of a Bluetooth module and a wi-fi module;
and (iii) control circuitry operable to: generate a signal in
response to the user input; determine an identity of the user based
on the generated signal; and a third control unit including: (i) an
electrical power connection configured to provide electrical power
to one of the electrical devices; (ii) a power port configured to
provide electrical power to the client device; (iii) communication
circuitry configured to communicate with the user application, the
communication circuitry including one of a Bluetooth module and a
wi-fi module; and (iv) control circuitry operable to; change a
state of the electrical device; determine a change in the state of
the electrical device; wherein each of the communication circuitry
of each of the first control unit, the second control unit and the
third control unit is configured to communicate with each of the
other first control unit, the second control unit and the third
control unit; wherein at least one of the first, second, and third
control units includes: (i) an illumination device operatively
coupled to the user application and configured to provide a visible
alert signal; and (ii) a proximity device configured to detect a
proximity of the closest of each of the plurality of individual
client devices to the proximity device, wherein the proximity
device includes one of a laser sensor, a motion sensor, and a
signal strength sensor of the control unit, the signal strength
sensor configured to determine a signal strength provided by each
of the plurality of individual client devices; and wherein the
proximity device is configured to determine a closest one of the
plurality of individual client devices to the proximity device and
the communication circuitry of at least one of the first, second,
and third control units is operable to provide a communication to
the closest one of the plurality of individual client devices; and
wherein the at least one first, second, and third control units
including the illumination device and the proximity device is
configured to execute program code to: determine the receipt of a
communication directed to one of the plurality of the individual
client devices through the cloud-based system application:
determine if the first one of the plurality of individual client
devices is closest to one of the first, second, and third control
units or a user of the first one of the plurality of individual
client devices is closest to one of first, second, and third
control units; illuminate the illumination device of the closest
one of the first, second, and third control units based on the
result of the second determine step; and not illuminate the
illumination device of the other of the first, second, and third
control units not closest to the first one of the plurality of
individual client devices or not closest to the first one of the
plurality of individual client devices.
16. The electrical device control system of claim 15 wherein the
first control unit includes electrical prongs extending from the
device configured to be inserted into an electrical socket and an
outlet disposed in the unit, the unit configured to receive an
electrical plug of one of the plurality of electrical devices.
17. The electrical device control system of claim 16 wherein the
second control unit includes a digital communication port
configured to enable digital communication between the client
device and at least one of the first, second, and third control
units.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. The electrical device control system of claim 15 wherein the
communication circuitry of at least one of the first, second, and
third control units is configured to communicate using the standard
interne protocol suite to link to the cloud based user
application.
21-32. (canceled)
33. A building automation system for controlling the operation of a
plurality of electrical devices located at a building and
configured to communicate with a plurality of individual client
devices, wherein each of the plurality of individual client devices
is utilized by a different one of a plurality of users, comprising:
a cloud based system software application configured to control the
plurality of electrical devices, the cloud based system application
being located in a cloud based computing system; a user software
application configured to reside on each of the plurality of the
client devices, the user application configured to: 1) receive
individualized user data specific to the user of one of the
plurality of individual client devices and 2) to transmit the
individualized user data to the cloud-based system application; a
plurality of control units each including (i) an electrical power
connection configured to provide electrical power to an electrical
device including at least one of a home appliance, a consumer
electronic device, and a light; (ii) communication circuitry
configured to communicate with the user application and the cloud
based system application, the communication circuitry including one
of a Bluetooth module and a wi-fi module; (iii) an illumination
device operatively coupled to the user application and configured
to provide a visible alert signal; a (iv) a proximity device
configured to detect a proximity of each of the plurality of
individual client devices to the control unit, wherein the
proximity device includes one of a laser sensor, a motion sensor,
and a signal strength sensor, the laser sensor and motion sensor
configured to detect the presence of a user, and the signal
strength sensor configured to determine a signal strength provided
by each of the plurality of individual client devices; and (iv)
control circuitry configured to execute program code to: determine
the receipt of a communication directed to a first one of the
plurality of the individual client devices; determine a location of
each of the plurality of individual client devices with respect to
each of the plurality of control units detected with the proximity
device; determine which one of the plurality of control units is
closest to the first one of the plurality of individual client
devices; illuminate the illumination device of the determined one
of the plurality of control units closest to the first one of the
plurality of individual client devices; and wherein the cloud based
system application is configured to execute program code to: learn
and store a user schedule for each of the plurality of users using
the plurality of individual client devices, wherein the learned
user schedule is determined according to electrical device usage
patterns made by the user; store a manually entered user schedule
for each of the plurality of users using one of the plurality of
individual client devices; control the operation of the electrical
device connected to each of the plurality of control units
according to one of the learned user schedule and the manually
entered schedule; determine a conflict between user schedules based
on a classification of the users and the proximity of one of the
plurality of individual client devices or user with respect to one
of the plurality of control units; resolve the determined conflict
according to predetermined rules; and control the operation of the
electrical device connected to one of the plurality of control
units based on the resolved conflict.
34. The building automation system of claim 33 wherein the
proximity device includes the signal strength sensor and one of the
laser sensor and the motion sensor.
35. The building automation system of claim 34 wherein the control
circuitry configured to execute program code includes being
configured to illuminate the illumination device of the determined
one of the plurality to provide an alert including: i) an
electrical device alert to indicate a status of one of the
plurality of electrical devices; and ii) an individual client
device alert to indicate the receipt of a message at the individual
client device.
36. The building automation system of claim 35 wherein the cloud
based system application is further configured to execute program
code to: monitor usage of each of the plurality of electrical
devices to determine usage of by each of the plurality of users;
and provide a usage report for each of the plurality of users,
wherein the usage report includes electricity usage and is arranged
to indicate specific electricity usage by each of the plurality of
users.
37. The building automation system of claim 36 wherein the cloud
based system application is further configured to execute program
code to: provide the usage report to include electricity usage by
the type of electrical device and electricity usage for each
arranged to indicate a room of the building in which the
electricity usage occurred.
38. The building automation system of claim 37 wherein the cloud
based system application is further configured to execute program
code to: transmit current electricity usage to each of the
plurality of user communication devices to indicate which of the
plurality of the electrical devices is one of: 1) currently
operational; and currently being used.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/862,259 entitled "System and Method for
Automating Electronic Devices in a Building Structure" by Ameer
Sami, filed Aug. 5, 2013, the disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present application is directed to a system and method
for automating electrical devices, and in particular to an
intelligent system and method for automating the control of
electrical devices at a building structure, such as a home or
business, using a smartphone or tablet device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A building automation system is an automated,
electronically-controlled system that can provide centralized
control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air
conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and
other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy
efficiency and security. Some elements of a building automation
system include sensors (such as temperature, daylight, or motion
detection), controllers (such as a general-purpose personal
computer or a dedicated automation controller) and actuators, such
as motorized valves, light switches, motors, and others. One or
more human-machine interface devices are required so that occupants
of the building structure can interact with the system for
monitoring and control. This may be a specialized terminal located
within the building structure.
SUMMARY
[0004] An adaptive electrical device control system monitors,
learns and controls electrical devices include home appliances,
consumer electronic devices, and electrical devices such as lamps,
here collectively identified as "electrical devices", that are
plugged into one or more electronic control units. The electrical
devices are located at a home or a business where a user's habits
or schedules are monitored to provide for the control of the
operation of the electrical devices. The adaptive control system is
used, in different embodiments, to control the operation of dumb
and smart electrical devices. In one embodiment, one or more smart
devices, such as mobile devices, are connected to other devices or
networks through communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Near
Field Communication (NFC), WiFi, 3G networks, 4G networks and other
communication protocols. The smart device operates responsively to
a communication received from other smart devices. The smart device
also transmits information to other devices either to control the
other devices or to indicate a status of the smart device. In
another embodiment, "dumb" devices, those which do not include a
communication device, are also controlled.
[0005] In addition, the devices are controlled according to a
sensed motion of or a proximity to user activities. The system
switches the devices on and off automatically when needed and/or
when based on a user's activity within a predetermined environment,
also identified herein as "context". Each device is assigned a
unique identifier which is stored, in one embodiment, in the
"cloud" of a cloud based environment, where the "cloud" is
generally defined as the storing and accessing data and programs
over the Internet instead of or in combination with using a
computer's hard drive or memory. The adaptive electrical device
control system enables the connected devices to obtain status
information and control the attached devices automatically or
manually by a device input or by an application based control
system, wherein software of the application is configured to adapt
to one or more users' habits and to enable control of the
electrical devices.
[0006] In one embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling
the operation of a plurality of electrical devices located at a
building according to a user's schedule. The method includes
sensing, by a plurality of control units each operatively connected
to one of the plurality of electrical devices, an operation as
initiated by a user of each of the electrical devices over a first
period of time, storing the sensed operation of each of the
electrical devices in a memory, and comparing the stored sensed
operations with other stored sensed operations during the first
period of time. The method further includes providing a schedule of
the compared stored sensed operations based on compared stored
sensed operations which are similar and controlling the operation
of the plurality of electronic devices according to the provided
schedule.
[0007] In another embodiment, there is provided a method of
controlling the operation of a plurality of electrical devices
located at a building according to a plurality of user's schedules.
The method includes assigning, by a portable electronic device, a
first identifier to a first user of the plurality of users,
assigning, by the portable electronic device, a second identifier
to a second user of the plurality of users, and determining, by a
plurality of control units each operatively connected to one of the
plurality of electrical devices, a first schedule for the first
user and a second schedule for the second user, wherein each of the
first and second schedules are configured to control the operation
of the plurality of electrical devices according to the first
schedule and the second schedule. The method further includes
determining, by a first control unit of the plurality of control
units, a location of the first user and the second user with
respect to the first control unit based on the first and second
identifiers and controlling the operation of the first control unit
based on the determined location of the first user and second
user.
[0008] In still another embodiment, there is provided an electrical
device control system for controlling the operation of a plurality
of electrical devices located at a building and configured to
communicate with a client device utilized by a user. The control
system includes a user application configured to be accessible by
the client device, the user application configured to receive user
data. A first control unit includes: (i) an electrical power
connection configured to provide electrical power to one of the
electrical devices; (ii) communication circuitry configured to
communicate with the user application; and (iii) control circuitry
operable to access data provided as input data to the client
device, change a state of the electrical device, and determine a
change in the state of the electrical device. A second control unit
includes: (i) a user input component configured to respond to a
user input; (ii) communication circuitry configured to communicate
with the user application; and (iii) control circuitry operable to
generate a signal in response to the user input and determine an
identity of the user based on the generated signal. A third control
unit includes: (i) an electrical power connection configured to
provide electrical power to one of the electrical devices; (ii) a
power port configured to provide electrical power to the client
device; (iii) communication circuitry configured to communicate
with the user application; and (iv) control circuitry operable to
change a condition of the electrical device and determine a change
in the state of the electrical device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention and the
manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the
invention itself will be better understood by reference to the
following description of the embodiments of the invention, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated electrical device control
system incorporating a user communication device, device control
units coupled to electrical devices including appliances, and a
cloud computing system.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an outlet box control
unit.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a wall socket control
unit.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wall plate switch control
unit.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method to provide individual
schedules for one or more users of an automated electrical device
control system.
[0015] FIG. 6 is flow diagram of one embodiment of an automated
electrical device control system operating in a learning mode to
determine user schedules.
[0016] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, illustrate one possible configuration
of an automated electrical device control system where one of the
users is an administrator and the remaining users are
non-administrators.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a user interface screen, displaying a
menu of electrical devices located within an office, which is
displayed on a client device.
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a user interface screen displaying a menu
of a control application to enable a user to select and control
electrical devices based on a location or zone at a building.
[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of a hierarchal
selection menu that enables a user to quickly select the electrical
devices in each of the zones or rooms to be controlled.
[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates a user interface screen, displayed on a
client device, configured to provide a configuration of the
system.
[0021] FIG. 12 illustrates a user interface screen, displayed on a
client device, configured to provide an alarm function.
[0022] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the control system
controlling three items in a single room based on two users.
[0023] FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a front face of an
outlet box control unit.
[0024] FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a front face of a wall
plate switch control unit.
[0025] FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment of a front face of a wall
socket control unit.
DESCRIPTION
[0026] The embodiments of the present invention described below are
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description.
Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others
skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and
practices of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of automation system 10 with
a plurality of control units 12 including an outlet box control
unit 14, a wall socket control unit 16 and a wall plate switch
control unit 18, interacting with one or more user communication or
client devices 20, which include a smartphone 22, a tablet device
24, a desktop computer 26, a laptop computer 28, and a smartwatch
30, also known as a computerized wristwatch. Each of the user
communications devices 20 supports the use of a software
application, also known as an "app" which communicates with the
control units 12 through a cloud computing system 32, also known as
the "cloud". The apps are stand-alone software applications which
run on a user's device, such as the cell phone 22.
[0028] The applications described herein can be embodied as program
code in software and/or firmware resident in one or more control
units 12, one or more of the client devices, in the user interface
of a client device, or in remote devices which are coupled to the
system 10 through hardwired connections, wireless connection,
connections to the internet, or other means of communication to
software or firmware either wired or wireless.
[0029] The automation system 10 is an adaptive electrical control
system configured to be controlled through the cloud by one or more
users 33 interacting with one or more of the devices 20. By using
the cloud, the adaptive control system leverages application
programming interfaces (APIs) through the use of mobile, tablet,
television, wearable devices, and personal computer (PC)
application clients which bi-directionally communicate over
communication protocols including Bluetooth, wifi, NFC, ethernet,
and/or 3G communication networks or 4G communication networks.
[0030] The control system 10 is configured to enable a user 33 to
interact with the adaptive electrical device control system in
different ways. In one embodiment, the user interacts indirectly
via a user sensing device, such as a motion sensor, a proximity
sensor, or a laser sensor, which detects a presence of a user. The
sensing device is triggered by the user when the user is in the
proximity of the sensing device or when entering a portion of a
space in a defined environment. In another embodiment, the user
interacts directly with the adaptive electrical control device
system and connected devices by using an application client on a
cell phone, a mobile device, a television, a tablet, a wearable
device, a personal computer, and/or other compatible device. The
user 33, in another embodiment, interacts directly with the
connected devices. The user 33 is enabled to check status, schedule
tasks, and control functions of devices of the control device
system using the client application. One or more user profiles and
activity/command conflict resolution rules are provided.
[0031] In one embodiment, the user 33 initially logs into the user
communication device 20 and the device receives signals identifying
each of the control units 12 that are controllable by the user
communication device 20, and therefore the user 33. The user 33 is
presented with a list of control devices that are controllable and
the user is allowed to select start-up times, in one embodiment for
specific control devices. Each of the control devices control one
or more appliances 34 such as a fan 36, a television 38, a light
40, a kitchen appliance 42, and a digital video disc (DVD) player
44. While certain embodiments are directed to the control of
appliances, the embodiments are not limited to the control of only
appliances and are directed to the control of any electrical device
configured to perform a specific task, which includes
entertainment, refrigeration, cooking, cleaning, lighting, HVAC
(heating, ventilation and air conditioning), security devices,
including video cameras and locks, and other systems.
[0032] FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 respectively represent an electrical block
diagram of the outlet box control unit 14, the wall socket control
unit 16, and the wall plate switch control unit 18. Each of the
devices is considered to be a smart device, as each includes a
microcontroller configured to provide the functions described
herein. In different embodiment, each of the outlet box control
unit 14, the wall socket control unit 16, and the wall plate switch
control unit 18, include computer processors, transitory and
non-transitory computer memory, amp meters, wireless communication
devices such as Bluetooth and 802.11 compliant wireless
communicators, motion detectors, light meters, clocks, sound
meters, and toggle switches for manually controlling the control
units 14, 16, and 18.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outlet box control unit 14
includes a microcontroller 50 operatively connected to a power
supply 52 which is coupled to a plug 54. The plug 54 is adapted to
plug into a standard wall outlet and connects the power supply 52
to the standard voltage provided through the wall outlet. The power
supply 52, in one embodiment, is a direct current (DC) power supply
which converts the standard alternating current provided by the
wall outlet to a DC voltage and current adapted to provide power to
the microcontroller 50. A USB charging port 55 is also operatively
coupled to the power supply 52 which provides power sufficient to
charge one or more app clients 20. The outlet box 14 further
includes communication circuitry 56, which in different embodiment
includes one of, or both of, a Bluetooth module 58 and a wi-fi
module 60. The communication circuitry 56 is configured to
communicate with an internet service provider (ISP) or another
device capable of communicating with an ISP using the standard
internet protocol suite. Other communication modules are also
contemplated as described herein. A memory 62 provides for data
storage on the device 14 which holds data which the microcontroller
50 either has stored there or which is retrieved by the
microcontroller 50.
[0034] The microcontroller 50 can include one or more individual
controllers and can include at least one processor coupled to a
memory. The microcontroller can include one or more processors
(e.g. microprocessors), and the memory can include random access
memory (RAM) devices comprising the main memory storage of the
microcontroller, as well as any supplemental levels of memory,
e.g., cache memories, non-volatile or backup memories (e.g.
programmable or flash memories), read-only memories, etc.
[0035] An illumination device 64, such as a light emitting diode
(LED) is located on a housing of the device at a location, such as
a front plate, which is observable by the user. The illumination
device 64, which is coupled to the microcontroller 50, receives a
signal from the microcontroller to illuminate the device. In one
embodiment, the signal provided by the microcontroller 50 indicates
that the outlet box 14 is operative, where a non-illuminated light
indicates that the outlet box is inoperative. In another
embodiment, the microcontroller 50 provides a varying signal, such
as a pulsed signal to repetitively turn the illumination device 64
on and off. In this embodiment, the pulsed signal indicates that
one of the users has received a text message, a voice mail message,
or an e-mail message at the user's client device. The
microcontroller 50, however, is not limited to providing only
alerts of this type, but other alerts are possible.
[0036] An outlet 66 is coupled to the plug 54 to provide the power
available at the wall outlet to which the plug 54 is coupled. In
addition, the outlet 66 is coupled to the microcontroller 50
through a current sensor 68, such as a Hall current sensor, which
measures the amount of current drawn through the outlet 66 by an
electrical device plugged into the outlet 66. In addition, a relay
70 is coupled between the current sensor 68 and the plug 54. The
relay 70 is also coupled to the microcontroller 50. The relay 70 is
turned on and off by the microcontroller 50, such that the power
delivered to the electrical device through the outlet 66 controls
the operation of the plugged-in appliance. The current sensor 68
provides to the microcontroller 50 a signal indicating that the
plugged-in appliance is drawing current, thereby providing to the
microcontroller 50 a status signal of the appliance. In addition,
the microcontroller 50 is configured not only monitor the state of
the appliance, on or off in one embodiment, but also record the
time at which the appliance is turned on or off. By monitoring the
state of the appliance as well as the operation times, the system
10 learns user habits to generate a schedule reflective of the user
or users.
[0037] The outlet box control unit 14 is constructed such that when
the outlet box control unit 14 is plugged into a standard two
outlet wall electrical receptacle or electrical outlet, the outlet
not used by the outlet box 14 is accessible for another electrical
plug. While the illustrated outlet box control unit 14 includes one
outlet for receiving a plug and controlling a device, in different
embodiments, outlet boxes with multiple outlets are possible.
Multi-outlet boxes, in one embodiment, control each outlet
individually such that multiple unique devices with different
schedules are controlled by a single outlet box control unit 14, or
in another embodiment, the multiple outlets are controlled in
unison. Additionally, the outlet box control unit 14, in different
embodiments, controls one outlet based on the usage or expected
usage of another. For example, the two outlet box temporarily turns
off a first device when a second device is being powered up and
requires a large electrical current draw. After the start-up period
of the second device, the outlet box control unit 14 repowers the
first device. In yet another embodiment, the outlet box control
unit 14 is constructed to be wired directly into a building's
electrical system so that it may completely replace a standard two
plug outlet in the wall, as described with respect to wall socket
18.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates an electronic block diagram of the wall
socket control unit 16 which is configured similarly to the outlet
box 14 of FIG. 2. Consequently, components in FIG. 3 which are
similar in function to components of FIG. 2 are shown with the same
element numbers. In addition to the previously described components
of the outlet box control unit 14, the wall socket control unit 16
further includes two outlets 72, wherein, in one embodiment, the
entire wall socket control unit 16 is configured to fit within a
standard electrical box which is recessed in a wall. One of the two
outlets is coupled to the previously described hall current sensor
and relay 70, while the second outlet is coupled to a second hall
current sensor 74 and a relay 76. The current sensor 74 and relay
76 are configured to operate as described above with respect to the
current sensor 68 and relay 70. The wall socket 18 further includes
multiple illumination devices 78 located on a front plate of the
wall socket wherein one illumination device is associated with each
of the two outlets 72. The wall socket control unit 16, in
different embodiments, includes one or more USB charging ports 55.
The power supply 52 is coupled to building wiring 79.
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic block diagram of the wall
plate switch control unit 18, which is configured similarly to the
outlet box control unit 14 of FIG. 2. Consequently, components in
FIG. 4 which are similar in function to components of FIG. 2 are
shown with the same element numbers. The wall plate switch control
unit 18 is configured to replace the standard wall switch and wall
switch plate. In addition to the previously described components of
the outlet box control unit 14, the wall plate switch control unit
18 includes a button 80 which is coupled to the microcontroller 50.
The button 80 is accessible by a user and is configured to turn on
or to turn off a connected electrical device by a user input. The
button 80 is surrounded by at least one light that indicates to the
user when the wall plate control unit 18 is about to perform an
action. A capacitive touch panel 82 is also operatively coupled to
the microcontroller 50 and is configured to enable a user to dim
lights which are controlled through the wall plate control unit 18.
Additionally, the wall plate control unit 18 includes a
photoresistor 84 which is operatively connected to the
microcontroller 50. The photoresistor 84 is configured to sense the
presence of a user in the vicinity of the wall plate control unit
18 and provides a signal to the microcontroller 50 which is
configured to identify the sensed user by tracking the user's
identifying signal provided by the user's app client 20.
[0040] The wall plate control unit 18 includes a design similar to
a standard switch plate that is mounted to a wall at a location
where an electrical switch is disposed. The wall plate control unit
18 replaces the switch plate, such that one or more holes through
which a screw or similar fastener can be used to mount the wall
plate control unit 18 to a wall. In addition, the wall plate
control unit includes the electrical switch or button 80 that
triggers an electrical connection to an electrical device. For
instance, actuation of the switch or button may trigger a light or
ceiling fan on and off. In an exemplary embodiment, the wall plate
control unit 18 includes a push button toggle in which users
utilize the same action to both power and depower an object
controlled by the wall plate.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a flow diagram of a
method to provide individual schedules for one or more users of the
automation system. As seen in FIG. 5, the system is turned on
(block 100). Once turned on, a unique identifier is stored for each
of the one or more users (block 102) who will be using the system.
These unique identifiers are provided by the users or are generated
by the user application in response to the user inputting the
requested information into the user application. In some
situations, a single user will be using the system, but in other
situations, multiple users will be using the system. While not
necessary in the situation of a single user, one of the users, in
different embodiments having a plurality of users, is identified as
an administrator and this identity is stored in the application
(block 104) as an administrator identifier. In most situations, a
user is identified by an actual name of the user or a pseudonym
adopted by the user. Each of the names is associated with an
electrical device used by the user such that the electrical device
can be tracked throughout a building by the system (block 106). As
used herein, all of the individuals using the system are considered
to be users, and one of the users, in some embodiments, is also
identified as an administrator or an administrative user. Those
users, who are not considered to be an administrative user, are
also called non-administrative users.
[0042] While in one embodiment the system is configured to operate
in a manual mode where all of the electrical devices being
controlled are scheduled according to user inputs through the
application, the system in other embodiments is configured to
automatically determine a user's schedule over a predetermined
period of time (block 108) and as further described with respect to
FIG. 6. During the predetermined period of time, the user's
schedule is sensed, determined, stored and updated automatically by
each of the units 12. As previously described, each of the devices
includes a communication circuit which is configured to track the
operations made to the connected devices by the identified user.
This information is transmitted to the user's application which is
configured to store a schedule of a devices usage or operation and
to transmit the schedule to the cloud system (block 108). Once the
predetermined period of time has elapsed, a final time schedule is
stored for each of the uniquely identified devices associated with
an identified user (block 110). Once stored, the user is able to
modify the time schedule manually through the client device, such
that the time schedule is adapted to the user's desired schedule
(block 112). For instance, if the user determines that the lights
are turned off at the end of the day at a certain time, the user
may change the turn off time to a later time if desired. Once the
schedule has been modified by a user, the modified schedule is
transmitted to each of the units 12, such that operation of each of
the units 12 is scheduled according to the user's schedule (block
114).
[0043] FIG. 6 is flow diagram of one embodiment of an automation
system, located in a residence, operating in the learning mode to
determine user schedules with respect to FIG. 5 and block 108. As
illustrated in FIG. 6, the system 10 records each of the user's
habits over a period of 2 weeks after installation of the device.
The system 10 records when a device is turned on or off by tracking
the current flowing through each of the units 12 as determined by
the hall current sensors of each device. In some embodiments where
an electrical device draws current at all times, a threshold level
of current is established by the system to indicate a turning on or
off of the device. In other embodiments, any amount of current
sensed by the current sensor is used to determine the status of an
electrical device (block 120). While the system 10 described in
FIG. 6 is configured to operate in a residence, the present
description is not limited to systems configured to operate in a
residence, but is also applicable to other buildings and building
locations including surrounding property.
[0044] Because many users maintain a routine schedule from one week
to a following week, the habits are detected over the two week
period of time where the first week's stored data is compared to
the second week stored data. If there are similarities between the
first week's stored data and the second week's stored data, the
determined similarities are permanently recorded to construct a
weekly time schedule (block 122). In addition, during the recording
of habits made at block 120, the system turns on or off the
electrical devices according to a user's location within a
residence. These changes are recorded by the system 10 and used to
construct the weekly time schedule of block 122.
[0045] Once the initial two week schedule has been determined, the
electrical device usage within the residence is tracked an
additional two weeks to determine whether the usage patterns, or
habits, that were recorder during the initial two week period have
been maintained. If so, these usage patterns are determined to be
correct. If anything is determined to be incorrect, i.e. outside of
the determined usage pattern, the system 10 updates or corrects the
usage pattern with the new schedules or habits. During each of the
initial schedules and any follow-up schedules, data reflecting
usage patterns for each devices and the identity of the user
following the usage pattern are stored (block 124).
[0046] Once the second two week pattern has been completed, the
system 10 has stored a usage pattern which is followed from the end
of that time period forward (block 126). At the same time, the
user's location and a current pattern of use of the electrical
devices is continuously monitored by the system (block 128). The
current pattern of use is stored in a temporary memory for a one
week period of time by the system. The stored current pattern is
compared to the previously stored pattern and compared to the most
recently updated two week stored pattern of use. If there are any
differences or irregularities between the current pattern and the
stored pattern, the previously stored pattern is updated (block
130) and the system continues to operate as before as described for
blocks 126 and 128. While habits are being determined, the system
10 turns electrical devices on and off according to the user's
location (block 132).
[0047] While one embodiment is described using a two-week period of
time to determine a user's habit, other periods of time are also
possible. For instance, in one embodiment a time period of four
weeks is used to determine a user's pattern of usage of a period of
four weeks. Such a time period is useful for a user who works two
full workweeks of 12 hour days followed by two full weeks of time
off. Consequently, the system described herein includes a default
period of learning time of two weeks which can be changed and set
to a preferred learning time of a user. In other embodiments, the
learning period of time is set by a user with a selectable menu,
such as a pull-down menu, which provides a selection of
predetermined periods of learning time.
[0048] As previously described with respect to FIG. 5, the system
is configurable to determine whether a user is designated as an
administrator. If so, the system 10 is configured to recognize the
difference between a non-administrative user and an administrator.
FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, illustrate one possible configuration of the
system 10 where one of the users is an administrator and the
remaining users are non-administrators. To illustrate such a
configuration, it is assumed that the system is in a "shutdown"
mode which occurs when all of the users have left the premises, for
instance when parents have gone to work and children have gone to
school. In this case, the system sensing that all users, including
the designated administrator have left the premises, the system
moves to the shutdown mode, which has either been determined
through the learning process or established with input from the
administrator.
[0049] Once in the shutdown mode, the system monitors, through the
use of a proximity sensor, for the return of a first one of the
users, whether the administrator of one of the non-administrative
user (block 150). The proximity sensor, in different embodiments,
is located at the entrance to the residence or in the residence at
the wall plate 16 closest to the entrance. If the proximity sensor
determines that an administrative user or a non-administrative user
has been detected (block 152), then the system determines whether
the user is an administrator (block 154). If a user has not been
detected, the system continues the monitoring as block 150. If the
user is an administrator, the system determines whether the
administrator's schedule has changed when compared to the
previously stored schedule (block 156). If the administrator's
schedule has changed, the administrator's schedule is modified
(block 158) from the previously stored schedule and is applied. In
any event, the administrator's stored schedule or modified schedule
is used by the system to control the electrical devices (block
160).
[0050] If at block 154 it is determined that the user is a
non-administrative user, it is determined at block 162, whether the
non-administrative user's schedule has changed when compared to the
previously stored schedule (block 162). If the non-administrative
user's schedule has changed, the non-administrative user's schedule
is modified (block 164) from the previously stored schedule and is
applied. In any event, the non-administrative user's stored
schedule or modified schedule is used by the system to control the
electrical devices (block 166).
[0051] Once the schedules of the administrator and the
non-administrative user have been applied, the system determines
whether manual operation is being used (block 167). If so, the
system determines whether the administrator has limited a function
of one of the controlled devices (block 168). If yes, then the
administrator's device limits are applied at block 170. Such a
feature is useful, where the administrator is a parent who has
limited the amount of time a television or computer is used during
a day. For instance, if a predetermined total amount of television
time (set by the administrator) has been exceeded, then the system
will not enable turning on of the television. In this embodiment,
the system removes power from the television by adjusting the state
of the relays 70 or 76 to disconnect the power needed to turn the
television on. If the function of the device has not been limited,
manual operation is allowed (block 172).
[0052] The system 10 in different embodiments continues to monitor
the proximity sensors in the residence, if manual operation is not
being used as determined at block 166. If one of the proximity
sensors detects the presence of an administrator and user (block
174), then the system determines the proximity of each of the
administrator and non-administrative user to the proximity sensor
(block 176). Depending on which of the administrator or
non-administrative user is closest to the proximity sensor, the
system applies the schedule of the closest person (block 178). If
no non-administrative user or administrator is detected, the system
continues to monitor the proximity sensors by responding to signals
generated by the sensors when necessary (block 180).
[0053] Each of the units 12, in different embodiments, includes the
proximity sensor that allows the units 12 to determine when a user
is near a specific device 12. In an exemplary embodiment, each of
the units 12 measures the strength of a wireless signal from a user
communication device 20 to determine the proximity of a user 33 to
a specific device. Other methods of determining the proximity of a
specific user, in different embodiments, are utilized. For example,
the user communication device 20, in one embodiment, determines a
location of the device 20 using the Global Positioning System or
other comparable system (GLONASS, Galileo, etc.) and transmits the
location to the cloud computing system 32 which then relays the
location of the user with respect to one or more of the units 12,
or typically the appropriate device 12 which is the closest to the
user. In this embodiment, the proximity sensors determine proximity
through signal strength provided by the user's devices through
Bluetooth, wi-fi or other signals transmitted and received.
[0054] Using proximity, location, and schedule data, the units 12
are configured to power on and turn off specific devices based on
predetermined rules. For example, if a user 33 exceeds a
predetermined distance from the user's house, the devices
controlling the lights, in one embodiment, are configured to turn
off all of the lights in the house if the time is between the hours
of 8 am and 5 pm, and some of the lights if the time is between the
hours of 6 pm and 6 am. The rules associated with the units 12 are
also based on specific users. For example, a specific device 12, in
one embodiment, is configured to turn on a device when a first user
gets to within 15 feet of the specifically identified device.
Proximity of a user to a device is determined using the Bluetooth
module 58 of the communication circuitry 56 in one of the control
units 12. In other embodiments, other means of determining
proximity include communication protocols, including those
described herein such as GPS.
[0055] The same device 12, in this embodiment, is configured to
turn on the same item when a second user stays within 10 feet of
the specific device 12 for more than 90 seconds. When it is
determined that there are no users present in the home, the system
10 places the house in "shutdown mode" as previously described,
where everything that the user has not specified to be turned off
is turned off therefore allowing the user to conserve
electricity.
[0056] The client application residing on one of the client devices
include a plurality of user interface screens illustrated in FIG.
8-12. As illustrated in FIG. 8, a user interface screen 200, which
is displayed on the device client 20, identifies each of the units
12 by a text identifier associated with the electronic device 34
which is being controlled, for instance, speakers, desk lamp and
fan. The identifiers, in other embodiments, are random, or
pseudo-random, codes associated with the devices, such as
DEVICE_KJT723. In an exemplary embodiment, the device identifiers
are automatically received by the application from the units 12
based on the proximity of the client 20 and user 33 to the units
12. It is contemplated, however, that the user, in different
embodiments, manually enters a unique code to identify a specific
device 12 that is to be controlled.
[0057] In one embodiment, the user 33 enters the time schedule for
a specific appliance and the user's communication device 20
wirelessly transmits a user identification (ID) code associated
with the user's account to the selected device 12 along with a
requested on time and off time. The user ID code transmitted to
selected device 12, in one embodiment, is the same as a username
adopted by the user when setting up the system, although a username
is not required. In an exemplary embodiment, the user communication
device 20 also transmits the user ID code and on times and off
times to the cloud based computing system 32 that stores the user
ID. Alternatively, the user communication device 20 transmits the
user ID and start-up time only to the cloud based computing system,
which then forwards the data to a specifically identified device
12. In addition to allowing a user to control the units 12, and
therefore the electrical devices 34, from a distance, the cloud
computing system 32 also acts to save the user's preferences in the
event that the user's communication device and/or the units 12 are
lost or damaged. Based in part on the user input schedules the
units 12 control the specified appliances 34 to which the units 12
are connected. In another embodiment, because the client device 20
is operatively connected to the cloud 32, a user controls
electrical devices 34 at the building when located at a distance
where proximity sensors are not effective and the only
communication is through the cloud 32. For instance, a user on
vacation sets a furnace to increase the temperature in the house so
that the house is at the desired temperature upon arrival of the
user.
[0058] As can be seen from the user interface screen 200, each of
the units 12 is controllable by being configured to be manually
scheduled to be manually turned on or off. Selection of the buttons
at the user interface screen 200 manually turns on or off the
associated appliance 34 through control by the units 12. The
application residing in the communication device 20, which is being
used by the user, is configured to store the manually controlled
operations as well as the times at which units 12 manually
controlled operations occur, and therefore the electrical devices
34 are turned on and off. This information is stored in the memory
of the communication devices 20 and in the cloud 32. In addition,
the same screen 200 including one and off times is used to provide
a manually entered time schedule, as opposed to the previously
described learned time schedule.
[0059] Because each user has access to the system application and
can program the system application to his or hers time schedule, a
schedule for one or more of the units 12 may be in conflict. For
example, a first user may schedule a light bulb to turn on at 7:00
am and turn off at 8:00 am while a second user may schedule the
same light bulb to turn on at 6:45 am and turn off at 7:30 am. The
device 12 is configured, in one embodiment, to resolve the schedule
conflicts based on a plurality of secondary factors. The designated
administrator, for instance, overrides the schedule input by the
other user. In the given example, if the second user was an
administrator, the administrator's schedule overrides the first
user's schedule and the light bulb would be shut off between 7:30
am and 8:00 am. In addition to resolving conflicts based on the
classifications of the users, the units 12, in different
embodiments, resolve schedule conflicts based on the proximity of
the users so that the user who is closest to the device 12 that has
the dominant schedule.
[0060] In other embodiments, manual operation of a controllable
input device, such as a toggle, a switch, or user interface at the
units 12 generally overrides any previously entered rules for
controlling the device. In addition, manual control is achieved in
other embodiments, through the user interface 200 of FIG. 8. In
other configurations, the predetermined schedule overrides the
manual input as previously described. For example, if an
administrative user desires to limit the number of hours per day
that a specific device is utilized, such as a television or gaming
console, the device 12 is programmed to ignore even operation
responsive to a manual input designating a desired operation. For
example, in other embodiments, the administrator programs a light
to be off during a child's nap time and to be unaffected by manual
input through a wall or other light switch. In this situation, the
programming prevents the light from being turned on by the child
who does not wish to take the nap.
[0061] Each of the units 12, in different embodiments, transmits
power usage data back to the user communication devices either
wirelessly or through the cloud computing system. The power usage
data allows the user to remotely tell which of the electrical
devices 34 is currently operational or being used. For instance,
some appliances draw power continuously, but at different levels,
depending on use. The units 12, in different embodiments, include
the Hall current sensors (amp meters) which measure the flow of
electrical current to the items controlled by the units 12. For
specific appliances 34, the units 12 to which the appliances are
connected, are programmed to provide an alert, either at the device
12 or at user communication device 20, if the device 12 is enabled
to deliver flow of electrical current, but no current is being
measured. For example, if a device 12 is allowing electrical
current to flow to a light bulb, but no current flow is measured,
the user, in one embodiment, receives an electronic message, such
as an SMS text message, or email alert, indicating that a bulb has
burnt out and needs to be replaced. The system 10, in other
embodiments, provides monthly electricity usage reports for each
user broken down by item (blender, television, etc.), by item class
(lighting, kitchen appliances, etc.), or by room (basement,
bedroom, etc.).
[0062] In another embodiment, the units 12 are configured to
briefly test electrical current flow through an item at
predetermined times and provide a user alert if no current flow is
detected. For example, a coffee maker often includes an on/off
switch that enables a user to control the operation of the coffee
maker. As an example for instance, on one morning, the user
manually turns off the coffee maker when finished but neglects to
turn it on for the next morning. In that situation, the following
morning the device 12 allows electrical current to flow to the
coffee maker, but the on/off switch will prevent the operation of
the coffee maker and inconvenience the user. If the device 12 to
which the coffee maker is connected and the system is configured to
provide a test current, for instance .about.1 second the previous
evening and detected no current flow, the system 10 transmits to
the user an email or SMS text reminder to turn the coffee maker on
so that coffee is made for the following morning. Other
communication platforms, in different embodiments, are also used to
communicate device status including social media platforms such as
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
[0063] In addition to controlling electric items based on a user
input schedule and a proximity of the user to the device 12, the
system has the ability to learn a user's schedule and automate the
control of an item accordingly as described above. The user,
carrying their user communication device, controls the operation of
the electrical devices 36 according to the user's normal routine.
Based on the proximity of the user communication device, the device
12 determines which user has turned on or off a specific device at
a certain time. The system 10 learns the user's routine and is able
to automate these tasks according to the routine. For example, if a
user normally turns on a bathroom heater from 7 am to 8 am on
weekdays in the winter, after the device 12 has learned the user's
schedule to a reasonable confidence level, over a period of 2 weeks
for instance, the device 12 automatically turns on the bathroom
heater at 7 am. In addition to monitoring a user's actual usage of
a particular item, the system 10 enables users to enter a schedule
for when specific items are to be turned on or off which will help
the system better learn the user's schedule.
[0064] Users' routines, however, do change over time and the system
10 continually monitors the users' activities for anomalies,
changes, and differences from the schedules. From the previous
example, if the bathroom heater was automatically turned on at 7 am
and the user shut the heater off a few minutes after 7 am, the
system 10 would detect and record a difference in the user's
schedule. The following day, the device 12 would still turn on the
bathroom heater at 7 am since the device 12 was unable to determine
if the previous day's activity was an anomaly, such as a snow day
in which the user slept in, or whether the change was a significant
or longer term change in the user's routine which requires a change
of the learned schedule in the device 12. If the user continues to
turn off the bathroom heater every day a few minutes after 7 am,
the device 12 and system 10 determine that the change is not an
anomaly in the user's routine and adjusts the schedule stop turning
on the bathroom heater at 7 am on weekdays.
[0065] The units 12, in other embodiments, also communicate with
other units 12 to refine the automatic control of appliance
connected thereof. For example, consider a user's morning routine
which is to turn off a coffee pot at 7:30 am, use a microwave for
five minutes afterwards, and then sit down and turn on a television
in another room. If the user is running late, i.e. outside their
usual routine, and the coffee pot is not shut off until 7:40 am,
the device 12 controlling the coffee pot communicates with the
device 12 controlling the television to adjust the schedule such
that the television is not turned on until a quarter till eight,
five minutes after the coffee pot was turned off. In this way, the
sequence of events is maintained at the predetermined schedule or
sequence of events, but all are delayed by the same amount of time
due to the first event being delayed.
[0066] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a user interface screen 202
displaying a menu 204 of a control application to enable a user to
select and control the units 12 based on their location. The
locations in the menu are shown as rooms in a house. Consequently,
control of the appliances in each of the rooms is configurable by
the user if desired. Any one of or all of the appliances 34
connected to one of the units 12 are controllable through the menu
204. For instance, the user can configure the application to
control all of the units 12 connected to lights in a specific room
or area, such as a basement. In one configuration, the lights are
programmed to be turned on or off with a single command from the
user control device 20. Additionally, all of those units 12 are
configured to be programmed to turn on or off on a specific
schedule or in response to a specific trigger. For example, when a
user turns off the lights to a set of stairs leading to the
basement, all of the lights in the basement are automatically
turned off after 60 seconds to conserve electricity in case one of
the other basement lights has been accidentally left on.
[0067] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of a hierarchal
selection menu 206 that enables a user to quickly select the
appliances in each of the rooms to be controlled. For instance,
after entry into the application is enabled through a login screen
208, the zones in the house screen 202 are displayed. From the
zones screen 202, the menu 204 enables a user to access a user
interface screen for each of the rooms, such as a kitchen screen
210, a family room screen 212, the office screen 200, and a master
bedroom screen 216. Each of rooms or zone screens is configured to
display each of the controllable devices within the room or zone,
such as illustrated in FIG. 8. A settings user interface screen 217
is accessed by the settings button of user interface 204 of FIG. 9.
Additionally, through the use of the hierarchal menu, similar items
at different locations may be given the same text identifier
without creating ambiguity. From the menu, in one embodiment, the
user also implements global controls of the system, such as
temporarily disabling all of the units 12 in the house, or
indicating that the system is to run on a weekend schedule next
Tuesday. A particular user's ability to implement global controls
of the system 10 is configured, in one embodiment, by a security
level associated with the user. In other embodiments, a user who is
listed as an administrator has complete control over the system,
while a user classified as a client is not able to adjust the
schedules of particular devices or to globally deactivate all of
the units 12 in a building. In other embodiments, a zone includes
multiple rooms or areas including a commonly controlled area, such
as a zone including multiple offices where each of the offices is
controlled according to a same schedule during the night. The
system is configurable to specify each of the rooms in a building
or home and to identify each of the electrical devices being
controlled. Consequently, while FIG. 10 illustrates a number of
rooms and certain types of rooms, less or more room having
different numbers of controllable electrical devices are
possible.
[0068] The settings screen 217, shown in FIG. 11, includes a button
to turn on or off the entire system or whether to automatically or
to manually control the schedule of events. In addition, by using
the control application, the user may activate an alarm clock
feature by selecting the options button of the alarm clock, which
provides the user interface screen 218 of FIG. 10, and as further
illustrated in FIG. 12, which includes various different user
selectable items. The user interface screen 218 includes a device
selection button, a flickering lights button, a time button and a
"days active" button. In one example, the user sets a clock radio
to turn on in a bedroom at 6:25 am on weekdays. If the device 12
controlling the clock radio is not deactivated by 6:30 am, the
system 10 escalates the alarm, in response to the user selecting
the device "Master Side Lamp" to flicker. At 6:30 am, master side
lamp which is controlled by one of the units 12, begins to flash or
flicker the lights in the room. The device 12 controlling the clock
radio may also be deactivated through the user communication
device.
[0069] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the system 10 controlling
three items in a single room based on two users. At 9:15 and 9:30
devices A and B are powered on because user 1 is located in the
room. However, device C is off because user 1 does not typically
use the device and the system 10 has learned that device C is
usually not associated with user 1. At 9:45, user 2 enters the room
and the system 10 activates device C, because user 2 often uses
device C at this time of day. From 9:45 to 10:15 the three units 12
are activated with users 1 and 2 located in the room. At 10:30 user
1 has left the room and the system 10 deactivates device B because
user 2 is not associated with device B. User 2 leaves the room at
11:00 and device C is immediately turned off by the system 10. The
system also begins a 15 minute countdown before turning off device
A. Certain devices with long start-up times may be set to go off
after a user has left the room and a predetermined amount of time
has passed. Based on the learned user schedule, the system 10 may
be configured to immediately deactivate a device when a user leaves
a room during a first time period, such as the morning, while
waiting 10 minutes to deactivate the device during a second time
period, such as the evening.
[0070] While the user communication device may actively run
processes that control the operation of the outlet box control unit
14, the wall socket control unit 16, and the wall plate control
unit 18, in an exemplary embodiment, substantially all of the
computer processing is performed within the units 12 while the user
communication device occasionally transmits a user ID to indicate
the location of the user to the units 12. Occasionally transmitting
the user ID requires only minimal power and helps conserve battery
power on the user communication device. In another embodiment, the
user communication device includes a radio-frequency identification
(RFID) tag that is detected by an RFID reader located on each of
the units 12. RFID tags readable by the units 12, in different
embodiments, are attached to a variety of items and the movement of
those items may be used to further optimize the system. For
example, if an RFID tag were placed on a dog collar, the system 12
learns that when the user communication device and the dog collar
simultaneously leave through a front door, all items inside the
house should be powered down for 50 minutes, and a light on the
front porch should be turned on in 45 minutes, since both the dog
and owner are taking a walk and will return in approximately 50
minutes. As can be seen, the front porch light has been programmed
to turn on approximately five minutes before the return of the dog
and owner.
[0071] FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 each illustrate one embodiment of a
front face respectively of the outlet box control unit 14, a wall
socket control unit 16 and a wall plate switch control unit 18. In
each of these embodiments, the LEDs 64 include a first arc 220, or
half circle, and a second arc 222, or half circle. In the outlet
box control unit 14 and the wall socket control unit 16, each of
the first and second arcs 220 and 222 surround a wall plug
receptacle 224. The first arc 220 and second arc 222 are
illuminated to alert a user that a text message has been received
on one of the client devices 20. For the wall plate switch control
unit 18, the first and second arcs 220 and 222 surround the button
80.
[0072] In one embodiment, the alert is generated on every control
unit at a building when any of the users receives a text message.
In another embodiment, the alert is generated specifically for a
user and only on the control unit or units near location of the
user. For instance, if a first user is sensed to be in the kitchen,
a second user is sensed to be in a family room, and a text message
is received for the first user, the LEDs 64 of only the control
units in the kitchen are illuminated. The illumination signifying
the receipt of a text message, in different embodiments, is
continuously on for a predetermined period of time or flashes on
and off for a predetermined time. In one embodiment, each of the
control units includes a photosensor which illuminates when the
room is sufficiently dark and flashes on and off when the text
message is received.
[0073] In the outlet box control unit 14 and wall socket control
unit 16, a first port 226 and a second port 228 are accessible
through the front face of the wall socket control unit 16, each of
which corresponds to the USB charging port 55 of FIGS. 2 and 3. In
different embodiments, the first and second ports 226 and 228
provide charging only for the battery of a user device 20. In other
embodiments, one or both of the ports 226 and 228 provide a
hard-wired communication link.
[0074] The outlet box control unit 14 is generally shaped as a
rectangular prism having a two or three pronged electrical plug
extending from the back for insertion into a wall outlet. Both the
wall socket control unit 16 and wall plate switch control unit 18
include generally planar wall plates which are substantially flush
with or which extend slightly away from a wall to which each of the
wall socket control unit 16 and the wall plate switch control unit
18 are affixed. The remaining electrical and/or electronic hardware
is inserted behind a wall generally between the wall studs.
[0075] While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of
the present invention have been disclosed herein, the present
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead,
this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or
adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further,
this application is intended to cover such departures from the
present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in
the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the
limits of the appended claims.
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