U.S. patent application number 14/701451 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for service-improvements based on input-output analysis.
The applicant listed for this patent is LEEO, INC.. Invention is credited to Eddy Y. Chan, Adam M. Gettings, Bjorn H. Hovland, Lucas D. Ivers, Nina S. Joshi, Andrew G. Stevens.
Application Number | 20160071184 14/701451 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55437457 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160071184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joshi; Nina S. ; et
al. |
March 10, 2016 |
SERVICE-IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS
Abstract
A control mechanism in a system monitors inputs and outputs
exchanged among components in combinations that provide services in
environments, where the components in a given combination include
at least one of: environmental monitoring devices in the
environments and one or more of the partner electronic devices in
the environments and/or service providers. Note that the inputs and
the outputs from a given component in the given combination
include: sensor data representing one or more environmental
conditions in one or more of the environments, sub-services in the
services, and/or compensation within the given combination for the
sensor data and the sub-services. Moreover, the control mechanism
stores the monitored inputs and outputs, and analyzes the monitored
inputs and outputs to determine: sensor-data patterns, suggested
services, and/or suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the
services and the suggested services.
Inventors: |
Joshi; Nina S.; (Saratoga,
CA) ; Gettings; Adam M.; (Red Wing, MN) ;
Chan; Eddy Y.; (Mountain View, CA) ; Stevens; Andrew
G.; (Palo Alto, CA) ; Ivers; Lucas D.;
(Mountain View, CA) ; Hovland; Bjorn H.;
(Woodside, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LEEO, INC. |
Palo Alto |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55437457 |
Appl. No.: |
14/701451 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62047440 |
Sep 8, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 40/08 20130101;
H04L 43/08 20130101; H04L 41/0806 20130101; H04L 67/12 20130101;
G06F 3/0484 20130101; G06Q 30/0252 20130101; H04W 84/18 20130101;
G06Q 50/163 20130101; G06Q 30/0283 20130101; G06Q 30/0641 20130101;
H04L 67/16 20130101; G06Q 30/0631 20130101; H04L 67/20 20130101;
H04M 15/68 20130101; G05D 23/1393 20130101; G06F 21/6218 20130101;
G06F 21/52 20130101; G06F 9/451 20180201; G06F 11/3452 20130101;
G06Q 30/0269 20130101; G06F 11/3409 20130101; G06F 11/0793
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: an interface mechanism configured to
communicate with environmental monitoring devices of entities,
partner electronic devices of partners of a second entity that is
associated with the system, and service-provider electronic devices
of service providers, wherein the environmental monitoring devices
and the partner electronic devices are included in environments;
and wherein the service providers include one of: a maintenance
service, an installation service, a retail service, and an
emergency-monitoring service; a control mechanism, coupled to the
interface mechanism, configured to: monitor inputs and outputs
among components in combinations that provide services in the
environments, wherein the components in a given combination include
at least one of the environmental monitoring devices and one or
more of: the partner electronic devices and service providers, and
wherein the inputs and the outputs from a given component in the
given combination include: sensor data representing one or more
environmental conditions in one or more of the environments,
sub-services in the services, and compensation within the given
combination for the sensor data and the sub-services; store the
monitored inputs and outputs; and analyze the monitored inputs and
outputs to determine one of: sensor-data patterns, suggested
services, and suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the
services and the suggested services.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis compares current
monitored inputs and outputs and historical inputs and outputs from
at least a subset of the combinations.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the combinations in the subset
have one of: a common type of service, and a common type of sensor
data.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is
configured to store information specifying the combinations and the
services.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor data is acquired by
one or more of: the environmental monitoring devices, and the
partner electronic devices.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least the one of the
environmental monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner
electronic devices and the service providers in the given
combination are associated with different entities.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein, based on data privileges, at
least some of the different entities have different access rights
to the inputs and the outputs, and to the analysis.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is
configured to provide modification information specifying a
modification to one of the combinations based on the analysis.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is
configured to provide a notification based on the analysis.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis determines one of:
purchasing patterns, recommended product features, recommended
retail inventory, recommended pricing of the services and the
suggested services, and recommended durations of the services and
the suggested services.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is
configured to: receive requests for the services; and provide
configuration information specifying the combinations and functions
of the components in the combinations.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least some of the
combinations provide the services in at least a subset of the
environments without action by occupants of at least the subset of
the environments.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the requests for the services
for at least some of the combinations is associated with one of: a
governmental organization, an insurance provider, and an owner of
at least the subset of the environments.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism comprises:
a processor coupled to the interface mechanism; and memory, coupled
to the processor, which stores a program module configured to be
executed by the processor, the program module including
instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the
system.
15. A computer-program product for use in conjunction with a
system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism
embedded therein to analyze inputs and outputs, the
computer-program mechanism including: instructions for monitoring
the inputs and the outputs among components in combinations that
provide services in environments that include environmental
monitoring devices and partner electronic devices, wherein the
environmental monitoring devices are associated with entities and
the partner electronic devices are associated with partners of a
second entity that is associated with the system; wherein the
components in a given combination include at least one of the
environmental monitoring devices and one or more of: the partner
electronic devices and service providers; wherein the service
providers include one of: a maintenance service, an installation
service, a retail service, and an emergency-monitoring service; and
wherein the inputs and the outputs include: sensor data
representing one or more environmental conditions in one or more of
the environments, sub-services in the services, and compensation
within the combination for the sensor data and the sub-services;
instructions for storing the monitored inputs and outputs; and
instructions for analyzing the monitored inputs and outputs to
determine one of: sensor-data patterns, suggested services, and
suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the services and the
suggested services.
16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein at least the
one of the environmental monitoring devices and the one or more of
the partner electronic devices and the service providers in the
given combination are associated with different entities; and
wherein, based on data privileges, at least some of the different
entities have different access rights to the inputs and the
outputs, and to the analysis.
17. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the
computer-program mechanism includes instructions for providing
modification information specifying a modification to one of the
combinations based on the analysis.
18. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the analysis
determines one of: purchasing patterns, recommended product
features, recommended retail inventory, recommended pricing of the
services and the suggested services, and recommended durations of
the services and the suggested services.
19. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the
computer-program mechanism includes instructions for: receiving
requests for the services; and providing configuration information
specifying the combinations and functions of the components in the
combinations.
20. A system-implemented method for analyzing inputs and outputs,
wherein the method comprises: monitoring the inputs and the outputs
among components in combinations that provide services in
environments that include environmental monitoring devices and
partner electronic devices, wherein the environmental monitoring
devices are associated with entities and the partner electronic
devices are associated with partners of a second entity that is
associated with the system; wherein the components in a given
combination include at least one of the environmental monitoring
devices and one or more of: the partner electronic devices and
service providers; wherein the service providers include one of: a
maintenance service, an installation service, a retail service, and
an emergency-monitoring service; and wherein the inputs and the
outputs include: sensor data representing one or more environmental
conditions in one or more of the environments, sub-services in the
services, and compensation within the combination for the sensor
data and the sub-services; storing the monitored inputs and
outputs; and using a control mechanism in the system, analyzing the
monitored inputs and outputs to determine one of: sensor-data
patterns, suggested services, and suggested sensor-data
sub-contracting during the services and the suggested services.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/047,440,
entitled "Systems and Methods for Transferring Data and Revenue,"
by Nina S. Joshi, Adam M. Gettings, Eddy Y. Chan, Andrew G.
Stevens, Lucas D. Ivers and Bjorn H. Hovland, Attorney Docket
Number LEEOPZ01300, filed on Sep. 8, 2014, the contents of which
are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The described embodiments relate generally to environmental
monitoring of environments, and more specifically to techniques for
dynamically recommending service improvements based on analysis of
inputs and outputs exchanged among combinations of components that
provide services in the environments.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Trends in connectivity and in portable electronic devices
are resulting in dramatic changes in people's lives. For example,
the Internet now allows individuals access to vast amounts of
information, as well as the ability to identify and interact with
individuals, organizations and companies around the world. This has
resulted in a significant increase in online financial transactions
(which are sometimes referred to as `ecommerce`). Similarly, the
increasingly powerful computing and communication capabilities of
portable electronic device (such as smartphones and tablets), as
well as a large and growing set of applications, are accelerating
these changes, providing individuals access to information at
arbitrary locations and the ability to leverage this information to
perform a wide variety of tasks.
[0006] Recently, it has been proposed these capabilities be
included in other electronic devices that are located throughout
our environments, including those that people interact with
infrequently. In the so-called `Internet of things,` it has been
proposed that future versions of these so-called `background`
electronic devices be outfitted with more powerful computing
capabilities and networking subsystems to facilitate wired or
wireless communication. For example, the background electronic
devices may include: a cellular network interface (LTE, etc.), a
wireless local area network interface (e.g., a wireless network
such as described in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard or Bluetooth.TM. from the
Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Wash.), and/or
another type of wireless interface (such as a
near-field-communication interface). These capabilities may allow
the background electronic devices to be integrated into information
networks, thereby further transforming people's lives.
[0007] However, the overwhelming majority of the existing
background electronic devices in people's homes, offices and
vehicles have neither enhanced computing capabilities (such as a
processor that can execute a wide variety of applications) nor
networking subsystems. Given the economics of many market segments
(such as the consumer market segment), these so-called `legacy`
background electronic devices (which are sometimes referred to as
`legacy electronic devices`) are unlikely to be rapidly
replaced.
[0008] These barriers to entry and change are obstacles to widely
implementing the Internet of things. For example, in the absence of
enhanced computing capabilities and/or networking subsystems it may
be difficult to communicate with the legacy electronic devices.
Furthermore, even when electronic devices include enhanced
computing capabilities and/or networking subsystems, it may be
difficult to communicate with electronic devices that use different
communication protocols. These challenges may make it difficult to
perform basic tasks such as identifying particular electronic
devices and exchanging data, and thus may limit the applications
and tasks that can be performed.
SUMMARY
[0009] The described embodiments relate to a system. This system
includes an interface mechanism that communicates with
environmental monitoring devices of second entities, partner
electronic devices of partners of a third entity that is associated
with the system, and service-provider electronic devices of service
providers, where the environmental monitoring devices and the
partner electronic devices are included in environments. Note that
a given partner electronic device may include, on behalf of the
third entity, at least a module and/or a sensor, and the service
providers include one of: a maintenance service, an installation
service, a retail service, and/or an emergency-monitoring service.
Moreover, the system includes a control mechanism (such as a
processor or control logic) coupled to the interface mechanism. The
control mechanism monitors inputs and outputs among components in
combinations that provide services in the environments, where the
components in a given combination include at least one of the
environmental monitoring devices and one or more of: the partner
electronic devices and service providers, and the inputs and the
outputs from a given component in the given combination include:
sensor data representing one or more environmental conditions in
one or more of the environments, sub-services in the services,
and/or compensation (or information specifying the compensation)
within the given combination for the sensor data and the
sub-services. Furthermore, the control mechanism: stores the
monitored inputs and outputs; and analyzes the monitored inputs and
outputs to determine: sensor-data patterns, suggested services,
and/or suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the services
and the suggested services.
[0010] Note that the analysis may compare current monitored inputs
and outputs and historical inputs and outputs from at least a
subset of the combinations. Moreover, the combinations in the
subset may have: a common type of service, and/or a common type of
sensor data.
[0011] Furthermore, the control mechanism may store information
specifying the combinations and the services.
[0012] Additionally, the sensor data may be acquired by one or more
of: the environmental monitoring devices, and/or the partner
electronic devices.
[0013] In some embodiments, at least the one of the environmental
monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner electronic
devices and the service providers in the given combination are
associated with different entities. Note that, based on data
privileges, at least some of the different entities may have
different access rights to the inputs and the outputs, and to the
analysis.
[0014] Moreover, the control mechanism may provide: modification
information specifying one or more modifications to one or more of
the combinations based on the analysis; and/or a notification based
on the analysis.
[0015] Furthermore, the analysis may determine: purchasing
patterns, recommended product features, recommended retail
inventory, recommended pricing of the services and the suggested
services, and/or recommended durations of the services and the
suggested services.
[0016] Additionally, the control mechanism may: receive requests
for the services; and provide configuration information specifying
the combinations and functions of the components in the
combinations. Note that at least some of the combinations may
provide the services in at least a subset of the environments
without action by occupants of at least the subset of the
environments. Moreover, the requests for the services for at least
some of the combinations may be associated with: a governmental
organization, an insurance provider, and/or an owner of at least
the subset of the environments.
[0017] In some embodiments, the control mechanism includes: a
processor coupled to the interface mechanism; and memory, coupled
to the processor, which stores a program module that is executed by
the processor. The program module includes instructions for at
least some of the operations performed by the system.
[0018] Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for
use in conjunction with the system. This computer-program product
may include instructions for at least some of the aforementioned
operations performed by the system.
[0019] Another embodiment provides a method for analyzing the
inputs and the outputs. During operation, the system communicates
the inputs and the outputs among the components in the combinations
that provide the services in the environments that include the
environmental monitoring devices and the partner electronic
devices, where the environmental monitoring devices are associated
with the second entities and the partner electronic devices are
associated with the partners of the third entity that is associated
with the system, and the given partner electronic device may
include, on behalf of the third entity, at least the module and/or
the sensor. Note that the components in the given combination
include at least one of the environmental monitoring devices and
one or more of the partner electronic devices and the service
providers, and the service providers include: the maintenance
service, the installation service, the retail service, and/or the
emergency-monitoring service. Moreover, the inputs and the outputs
include: the sensor data representing one or more environmental
conditions in one or more of the environments, the sub-services in
the services, and/or the compensation within the combination for
the sensor data and the sub-services. Then, the system stores the
monitored inputs and outputs. Next, the system analyzes the inputs
and the outputs to determine: the sensor-data patterns, the
suggested services, and/or the suggested sensor-data
sub-contracting during the services and the suggested services.
[0020] The preceding summary is provided as an overview of some
exemplary embodiments and to provide a basic understanding of
aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the
above-described features are merely examples and should not be
construed as narrowing the scope or spirit of the subject matter
described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and
advantages of the subject matter described herein will become
apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and
Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating electronic devices
communicating in an ecosystem in accordance with an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device
in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a component in the
ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating communication among
the components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from
a nightlight in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from
nightlights in a space in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from
an electronic device of a user in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from
an ecosystem network from a provider of the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from
a service-provider electronic device in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating layers with electronic
devices of a partner of a provider of the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 18 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 21 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIG. 22 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 23 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 24 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] FIG. 25 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0046] FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
providing a service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 27 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 26 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0048] FIG. 28 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
providing subsets of sensor data in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0049] FIG. 29 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 28 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0050] FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
providing a service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0051] FIG. 31 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 30 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0052] FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
providing a service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0053] FIG. 33 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 32 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0054] FIG. 34 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
providing a service offer for a service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0055] FIG. 35 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 34 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0056] FIG. 36 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
identifying a combination in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0057] FIG. 37 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 36 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0058] FIG. 38 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
performing a remedial action in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0059] FIG. 39 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 38 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0060] FIG. 40 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
analyzing inputs and outputs in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0061] FIG. 41 is a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method of FIG. 40 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0062] Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding
parts throughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the
same part are designated by a common prefix separated from an
instance number by a dash.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0063] In some embodiments, a control mechanism in a system
monitors inputs and outputs exchanged among components in
combinations that provide services in environments, where the
components in a given combination include at least one of:
environmental monitoring devices in the environments and one or
more of the partner electronic devices in the environments and/or
service providers. Note that the inputs and the outputs from a
given component in the given combination include: sensor data
representing one or more environmental conditions in one or more of
the environments, sub-services in the services, and/or compensation
(or information specifying the compensation) within the given
combination for the sensor data and the sub-services. Moreover, the
control mechanism stores the monitored inputs and outputs, and
analyzes the monitored inputs and outputs to determine: sensor-data
patterns, suggested services, and/or suggested sensor-data
sub-contracting during the services and the suggested services.
[0064] In this way, the system may dynamically analyze the inputs
and outputs to improve the services offered via the system. For
example, the analysis may determine: purchasing patterns,
recommended product features, recommended retail inventory,
recommended pricing of the services and the suggested services,
and/or recommended durations of the services and the suggested
services. Consequently, these capabilities may increase customer
satisfaction and the satisfaction of the participants in the
combinations with the system and/or the services.
[0065] Communication between devices in the system (which is
sometimes referred to as an `ecosystem`), such as environmental
monitoring devices, electronic devices of users or entities,
partner electronic devices and/or service-provider electronic
devices, may utilize wired, optical and/or wireless communication.
In particular, the communication may involve communicating packets
or frames that are transmitted and received by radios in the
devices in accordance with a communication protocol, such as:
Bluetooth.TM. (from the Bluetooth Special Interests Group of
Kirkland, Wash.), an Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 standard (such as ZigBee.RTM. from the
ZigBee.RTM. Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.), an Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard,
Z-Wave, a power-line communication (PLC) standard, an infra-red
communication standard, a universal serial bus (USB) communication
standard, a near-field-communication standard or specification
(from the NFC Forum of Wakefield, Mass.), another wireless ad-hoc
network standard, and/or another type of wireless interface. In
some embodiments, the communication protocol may be compatible with
a 2.sup.nd generation or mobile telecommunication technology, a
3.sup.rd generation of mobile telecommunications technology (such
as a communication protocol that complies with the International
Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International
Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), a 4.sup.th
generation of mobile telecommunications technology (such as a
communication protocol that complies with the International Mobile
Telecommunications Advanced specification by the International
Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), and/or another
cellular-telephone communication technique. For example, the
communication protocol may include Long Term Evolution or LTE. In
the discussion that follows, ZigBee.RTM. is used as an illustrative
example. In addition, the communication may occur via a wide
variety of frequency bands, including frequencies associated with
the so-called `white space` in frequencies bands associated with
analog television broadcasting. In some embodiments, the
communication is unidirectional, while in other embodiments the
communication is bidirectional.
[0066] The communication between the devices is shown in FIG. 1,
which presents a block diagram illustrating communication among
electronic devices 108 (such as a cellular telephone or a portable
electronic device of a user or an entity), environmental monitoring
devices 110, optional electronic devices 114 (such as regulator
devices e.g., electronic device 114-2, legacy electronic devices,
e.g., electronic device 114-1), optional partner electronic devices
116, service-provider electronic devices 118 and computers 120
(which collectively are sometimes referred to as `components`)
using wireless signals and communication via network 122 (such as
the Internet, a wireless local area network, an Ethernet network,
an intra-net, an optical network, etc.). As described further below
with reference to FIGS. 26-41, environmental monitoring devices
110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider
electronic devices 118 may monitor environmental conditions (or
environmental states) in one or more environments 112 that include
or are associated with environmental monitoring devices 110,
electronic devices 114, partner electronic devices 116 and/or
service-provider electronic devices 118. For example, environments
112 may include: a portion of a building (e.g., an apartment, a
hotel room, an office suite, a storage unit, etc.), the building, a
region proximate to or adjacent to a building, an outdoor space or
region, a container (such as a box, a package or a shipping
container), a vehicle (such as a car, a truck or a boat), a liquid,
and/or a train car. (Note that one or more of environmental
monitoring devices 110, electronic devices 114, partner electronic
devices 116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 may be
immersed in a liquid, and environments 112 may be at fixed
locations or time-varying locations.) Moreover, at least some of
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 may include
sensors that provide sensor data that reflects the environmental
conditions in the one or more environments 112. (In the discussion
that follows, note that `sensor data` may include: information or
measurements collected by one or more devices, such as one or more
of the sensors. Sensor data can be a dependent variable as a
function of one or more independent variables, for example time
and/or space. Moreover, sensor data can be collected continuously
or at discrete intervals. Furthermore, sensor data can refer to
information collected by a single sensor or a compilation of data
collected by two or more sensors. In some embodiments, sensor data
refers to a raw measurement collected by a sensor, while in other
embodiments sensor data refers to a measurement that has been
processed in some way, such as transformed from one form to
another.)
[0067] In addition, partner electronic devices 116 may include
sensors and/or program modules on behalf of a provider of a system
(who may also provide at least some of environmental monitoring
devices 110). This system may facilitate dynamic aggregation of
sensor data and the dynamic configuration of combinations of the
components in the system (such as a non-homogenous group of
components) in the system to providing services in environments
112. (Note that at least one of computers 120 may be operated by or
on behalf of the provider of the system.) In general, the sensor
data may be provided without or excluding direct interaction (such
as wireless communication and/or electrical coupling) between
environmental monitoring devices 110 and electronic devices 114.
Thus, sensors in environmental monitoring devices 110 may
indirectly infer information about the operation and/or the
performance of electronic devices 114 based on the monitored
environmental conditions. However, in some embodiments at least
some of environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic
devices 116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 interact
directly with at least some of electronic devices 114 (via wireless
communication or electrical coupling), thereby facilitating direct
measurement of the sensor data, as well as feedback control of
these electronic devices by at least some of environmental
monitoring devices 110. In some embodiments, one or more of
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 is integrated
into one or more other electronic device, such as one or more of
electronic devices 114.
[0068] The sensor data may be analyzed locally by at least one of
environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or remotely by
service-provider electronic devices 118 and computers 120 (some of
which may be associated with the provider of the system and/or one
or more partners of the provider of the system). Moreover, the
sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be communicated
among environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic
devices 116, service-provider electronic devices 118 and computers
120. In particular, environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or
partner electronic devices 116 may form a ZigBee.RTM. mesh network,
with ZigBee.RTM. end devices communicating with a ZigBee.RTM.
coordinator (such as environmental monitoring device 110-1) via one
or more optional ZigBee.RTM. routers. (Thus, at least some of
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 may function as
sensor-data hubs for other environmental monitoring devices 110.)
Then, environmental monitoring device 110-1, partner electronic
devices 116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 may
communicate (wirelessly and/or via computers 120 and network 122)
the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data to other components
in the system (such as one of electronic devices 108), as well as
with remote servers or computers not shown in FIG. 1. Note that,
while ZigBee.RTM. is used as an illustrative example, in other
embodiments different communication protocols are used.
[0069] In addition to the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor
data, other inputs and outputs from the components in the system
may be communicated in FIG. 1. In particular, compensation (or
information specifying compensation, which in the following
discussion may include: an electronic payment, credit-card or
debit-card information, a bank-account number, the compensation
amount in a particular currency, a promise of future goods or
services, a bartered good or service, a rebate and/or a service
value token) for sensor data and/or services may be communicated
among the components. Thus, one of environmental monitoring devices
110 may advertise the availability of sensor data associated with
one of environments 112 via the system and, in response to a
request for the sensor data, may sell the sensor data to another
component in the system. In this way, the system may allow the
components to subcontract for sensor data and, more general, the
system may provide a sensor-data and sensor-data-based services
marketplace. The system may also allow the components to provide
sub-services to each other in the context of a broader service
being provided by at least some of the components. In general, the
inputs and the outputs from the components in FIG. 1 may include:
sensor data, analyzed sensor data, services, sub-services (which
are associated with one or more of the services), compensation (for
the sensor data, the analyzed sensor data, the services and/or the
sub-services), and information (such as alerts associated with
occurrences of environmental conditions in environments 112).
[0070] The input and outputs from the components that are
communicated in FIG. 1 may be protected. For example, the sensor
data (and, more generally, any of the inputs and outputs) may be
encrypted, digitally signed and/or securely hashed (such as using a
one-way cryptographic hash function) by environmental monitoring
devices 110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider
electronic devices 118. Furthermore, one or more of computers 120
(such as those that are associated with the provider of the
system), which function as archive devices, may store the inputs
and the outputs (or information specifying the inputs and the
outputs, such as pointers to locations in one or more of the
components where a particular input or output is stored). In some
embodiments, at least some of this information is stored in secure,
certified historical records or logs, such as records of the
environmental conditions in environments 112. In principle, the
information stored by the one or more of computers 120 may be
protected. However, in some embodiments, users of environmental
monitoring devices 110 or entities associated with environmental
monitoring devices 110, who, in general, control how their data is
used and shared, instruct environmental monitoring devices 110 to
provide, via the mesh network, information to the one or more of
computers 120 that allows the one or more of computers 120 to
unprotect the stored inputs and outputs. (Alternatively or
additionally, the users or the entities may provide such
authorization to the one or more of computers 120 using one or more
of electronic devices 108.) Similarly, in response to requests from
authorized recipients (e.g., from one of service-provider
electronic devices 118) for inputs and outputs, such as the sensor
data and/or the analyzed sensor data, the one or more of computers
120 may provide access to the stored sensor data and/or the
analyzed sensor data. If the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor
data is protected, the associated ones of environmental monitoring
devices 110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider
electronic devices 118 may provide protection information to the
one or more of computers 120 that allows the one or more of
computers 120 to unprotect the sensor data and/or the analyzed
sensor data.
[0071] Note that the components in FIG. 1 may be associated with a
variety of entities, including: individuals, organizations,
for-profit companies, non-profit companies, and/or governmental
agencies. In particular, the entities associated with at least some
of environmental monitoring devices 110 may include users or owners
of environmental monitoring devices 110 (which are henceforth
referred to as `user entities`). Alternatively or additionally, the
user entities may also be associated with environments 112, such
as: a tenant of an apartment or a building (which may be
encompassed within one of environments 112), a hotel guest, a
property owner (such as a landlord) of an apartment or a building,
maintenance personnel that help maintain one or more of
environments 112, and/or a property manager of one or more of
environments 112. In some embodiments, at least some of
environmental monitoring devices 110 are owned by different
entities than the entities associated with environments 112 (which
are henceforth referred to as `third-party owner entities`). In
these embodiments, a user entity may rent one or more of
environmental monitoring devices 110 from the third-party owner
entities and/or may pay for a service facilitated by the one or
more of environmental monitoring devices 110. As noted previously,
at least some of environmental monitoring devices 110 may be
provided by or fabricated by the provider of the system, and at
least some of computers 120 may be operated by or on behalf of the
provider of the system.
[0072] Moreover, some of electronic devices 114 (such as electronic
device 114-2, which may be a regulator device) may be associated
with one or more so-called `regulator entities,` such as one that
provides a regulation service in which an environmental condition
in one of environments 112 is modified or changed. Partner
electronic devices 116 may be associated with `partner entities`
that are partners of the provider of the system. A partner
electronic device may provide sensor data, analyzed sensor data,
sub-services and/or services to other components in FIG. 1 that are
associated with the provider of the system based on a pre-defined
business relationship or agreement with the provider of the system
(and, thus, may not need to be directly compensated via outputs
from the recipient components or other components that manage
services in FIG. 1). Alternatively or additionally, at least some
of partner electronic devices 116 may include modules and/or
sensors on behalf of the provider of the system, which may allow
these partner electronic devices to monitor and provide sensor data
and/or analyzed sensor data to other components in the system.
[0073] Furthermore, service-provider electronic devices 118 may be
associated with service providers. In contrast with partner
entities, service providers may provide sensor data, analyzed
sensor data, sub-services, goods and/or services to other
components in FIG. 1 in exchange for compensation, which may be
directly communicated via outputs from the recipient component or
other components that manages services in FIG. 1. For example, the
service providers may include: a maintenance service (which can
repair or clean at least a portion of one or more of environments
112), an installation service (which can install equipment in one
or more of environments 112), a retail service (which can provide
or deliver a product to one or more of environments 112, such as
suppliers of components or spare parts), an insurance carrier, a
utility (which may customize services, insurance coverage or
billing based on a user's utility usage pattern), and/or an
emergency-monitoring service (which can provide an alert about one
or more of environments 112 or can contact emergency services or a
911 dispatcher to send the police, ambulance and/or fire department
to one or more of environments 112). In some embodiments, the
service providers include insurance companies or insurance brokers
that can provide insurance for: items in one or more of
environments 112, a portion of one or more of environments 112,
and/or one or more of environments 112.
[0074] Note that the entities associated with different components
in FIG. 1 may be different from each other. However, in some
embodiments at least some of the entities associated with different
components in FIG. 1 are the same (thus, the provider of the system
may also provide at least some of environmental monitoring devices
110). Moreover, in general, environmental monitoring devices 110,
partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronic
devices 118 may: provide sensor data, refine or analyze sensor data
(which may be acquired by the same electronic device or may, at
least in part, be received from another component in the system),
and/or provide services or sub-services in the services. Thus, the
roles of the electronic devices associated with the different
entities in the system of FIG. 1 may, at least for some of the
components, overlap each other.
[0075] Components in FIG. 1 may allow a variety of services to be
offered to the user entities, to the service providers and/or third
parties (such as realtors, leasing agents, businesses,
organizations, governments or governmental agencies, potential
buyers of physical objects, a shipping or transportation company,
etc.). As described below with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, one of
environmental monitoring devices 110 (such as environmental
monitoring device 110-1) may provide a service in response to an
alert. In particular, if, based on sensor data provided by a sensor
mechanism in environmental monitoring device 110-1, environmental
monitoring device 110-1 determines the alert (such as an alert
associated with the occurrence of an environmental condition in
and/or associated with environment 112-1 that includes
environmental monitoring device 110-1), environmental monitoring
device 110-1 may provide a service offer to one of electronic
devices 108 that is associated with a user entity. This service
offer may include information associated with the environmental
condition. For example, the service offer may indicate that there
is an alert available for environment 112-1. Then, if environmental
monitoring device 110-1 receives a response that authorizes the
service, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may perform the
service.
[0076] Note that the service may include providing the alert, such
as via one of electronic devices 108 (e.g., on a display, using
speakers and, more generally, on a physiological output device that
provides sensory information). Thus, a user entity may be alerted
if a legacy electronic device in an environment is not functioning
properly. For example, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may
include one or more sensors that monitor the environmental
condition in environment 112-1 (such as an acoustic signal from a
legacy electronic device, e.g., a fire or carbon-monoxide detector,
which indicates a failing battery). More generally, the service may
provide feedback that indicates the presence of an environmental
condition in environment 112-1, such as: the presence of an
allergen, the presence of mold, excess moisture or humidity,
flooding in a room or building, the presence of radon, a chemical
contaminant, poor air quality, cleanliness of a room (e.g., a hotel
room), a chemical contaminant, an infestation (e.g., bed bugs,
insects or rodents), a pluming problem (e.g., low water pressure or
the acoustic signature of an impending pipe failure), a radiator
problem, high winds (e.g., an approaching hurricane or a tornado),
flooding or a flood warning for a region external to the external
environment, extreme weather (e.g., very low temperatures or a
blizzard), a power outage (or conditions that may result in a power
outage), fire, etc. In some embodiments, determining the alert
involves comparing a measured sensor value to a threshold or target
value of the environmental condition and/or computing a derived
value of a parameter that is a function of the sensor value, such
as a statistical or probabilistic analysis of how likely an alarm
output by a legacy electronic device is likely to be associated
with an occurrence of an environmental condition, e.g., a fire,
based on historical alarm occurrence data for one or more of
electronic devices 114 in one or more of environments 112).
[0077] Alternatively or additionally, the service may include
regulating or maintaining the environmental condition in
environment 112-1 by providing an instruction to a regulator device
in environment 112-1. For example, the regulator device may
maintain the environmental condition in environment 112-1 (such as
temperature, humidity, an illumination pattern, etc.) based on a
medical condition of an individual (such as an allergy, a chemical
sensitivity, a light sensitivity or an illumination preference, an
illness, a chronic disease, etc.). In particular, the instruction
may modify an operating condition of a regulator device (such as
electronic device 114-2, e.g., a thermostat, a heater, an air
conditioner, a humidifier, an air purifier or an air filter, a
ventilator device or a fan, a window opener, a door opener, etc.)
that regulates the environmental condition. The modified operating
condition may be based on a comparison of the sensor data and a
target value of the environmental condition in environment 112-1
(which may be determined based on the medical condition). Moreover,
the modified operation condition may include a control signal for
the regulator device. Note that the medical condition of an
individual can include a psychological comforting effect (e.g.,
warming up a room before the user enters it), or even a placebo
effect in which the environmental factor has no known benefits (and
may even have drawbacks or random effects) according to scientific
studies, but by making a user more comfortable, the modified
environmental factor(s) provides psychological comfort to the user
(which can be categorized as a form of placebo effect).
[0078] Instead of providing the instruction, in some embodiments
environmental monitoring device 110-1 is electrically coupled to
the regulator device. Then, environmental monitoring device 110-1
may control operation of the regulator device by selectively
electrically coupling power signal(s) to the regulator device. For
example, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may include a
switch, such as an electrically operated switch or relay, or an
electromechanical component that can interrupt a circuit and/or
divert current from the regulator device. The switch may be single
pole or multiple pole, and may (or may not) be make before break.
Thus, the switch may selectively switch between a closed state and
an open state. Note that electrical-connection between these
components may include: a light socket, a rotatable connector
configured to electrically couple to a light socket, an AC power
plug, an AC power socket, a multi-wire electrical terminal, a DC
power plug, a DC power socket, and/or a USB-compatible connector.
In some embodiments, electrical-connection nodes between these
components includes: male connectors, female connectors and/or
wires.
[0079] For example, the modified operating condition may be based
on a user preference, e.g., lowering the temperature of a bedroom
before bedtime, as desired lighting conditions at a particular time
of day, etc. In particular, the user preference may specify a
threshold value for the environmental condition (such as a maximum
temperature of 80 F or a minimum temperature of 65 F, a maximum
humidity of 80% or a minimum humidity of 30%, a maximum or a
minimum concentration of a chemical or an allergen in the external
environment, etc.) and, during the service, one of environmental
monitoring devices 110 may directly (via a switch) or indirectly
(by providing information or an instruction) electrically couple or
decouple the regulator device from a power source based on the
threshold value. In this way, the regulator device may be
selectively activated. Note that, while preceding discussion
illustrated selective activation based on a static or fixed user
preference, more generally, the user preference may evolve or
change as a function of time or as a function of the environmental
condition, which may allow one or more of environmental monitoring
devices 110 to dynamically respond to or control the environmental
condition.
[0080] Furthermore, the service may include providing a maintenance
notification based on the analyzed sensor data, which is associated
with the operation of one of electronic devices 114 (such as a
legacy electronic device or an electronic device that is included
in a feedback loop with one of environmental monitoring devices
110), and which represents an environmental condition in one of
environments 112. For example, the maintenance notification may
include an instruction to: change a filter, perform maintenance,
replace a battery, order a replacement component, etc. Based on the
environmental condition, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may
provide a maintenance notification to a user entity's cellular
telephone (e.g., one of electronic devices 108) to replace the
battery or to perform another remedial action (such as a repair or
service to be performed on one of electronic devices 114).
Alternatively or additionally, the maintenance notification may be
provided to one of service-provider electronic devices 118, who, at
least in part, may perform the maintenance or the remedial action.
Note that the maintenance notification and any subsequent remedial
action (such as a repair or service performed on one of electronic
devices 114) may be stored in a historical record or log for
environment 112-1 (such as a historical record maintained by one or
more of computers 120).
[0081] Thus, whether the user entity owns environmental monitoring
device 110-1 or not, they may be provided the service offer for the
service (possibly for a fee) when the alert is determined or
detected (such as based on an alarm sounded by a legacy electronic
device) by environmental monitoring device 110-1. In some
embodiments, in order to perform the service, environmental
monitoring device 110-1: downloads software (such as a software
module or an application from one of computers 120) that, when
executed by environmental monitoring device 110-1, performs the
service; and/or enables a software module that, when executed by
environmental monitoring device 110-1, performs the service.
[0082] Components in the system may also selectively communicate
the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data to another
component based on data privileges of different entities. As
described below with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29, one of
environmental monitoring devices 110 (such as environmental
monitoring device 110-1) may generate and then provide different
subsets of the sensor data (and/or the analyzed sensor data) based
on different data privileges of different entities. For example,
different sensor data may be provided to a tenant and their
landlord. This may protect the tenant's privacy, while allowing the
landlord to monitor their property for problems, such as: fire,
flooding, mold, infestation, loud noise, etc. Moreover,
environmental monitoring device 110-1 may use the system (such as
one or more of computers 120) to post data-availability information
specifying available sensor data for environment 112-1 (e.g.,
environmental monitoring device 110-1 may use the system as a
sensor-data marketplace). Then, environmental monitoring device
110-1 may receive requests for at least some of the sensor data
from one or more of electronic devices 108, other environmental
monitoring devices, partner electronic devices 116 and/or
service-provider electronic devices 118. These requests may
explicitly include the data privileges of the different entities,
or may implicitly specify the data privileges (e.g., based on the
type of data requested or based on the requestor if the request
comes from an entity other than the user entity or user entities of
environmental monitoring device 110-1). In response, environmental
monitoring device 110-1 may generate and provide the different
subsets of the sensor data. In some embodiments, a user entity
defines or specifies the data privileges, so that a
security-monitoring company has access to a subset of the sensor
data, while an insurance company does not have access to the subset
of the sensor data.
[0083] Note that the data privileges may vary as a function of:
time, and/or the environmental condition. For example, a landlord
may have access to more sensor data at times of day when a tenant
is not at home or when there is a fire or a potential emergency
(and, more generally, an occurrence of the environmental
condition). Moreover, the data privileges may specify: different
spatial extents in environment 112-1 monitored by environmental
monitoring device 110-1 (e.g., the landlord may only have access to
sensor data acquired within a region that is proximate to
environmental monitoring device 110-1, such as within 10 ft, in the
kitchen or near the furnace, while the tenant may have access to
sensor data acquired throughout environment 112-1, such as a house
the tenant rents); and/or different types of information associated
with environment 112-1 (e.g., the landlord may have access to
sensor data associated operation of utilities, heat, air
conditioning, and other services, as well as sensor data associated
with emergencies, such as life-threatening events or events that
could damage environment 112-1, while the tenant may have access to
a broader variety of sensor data, such as sensor data the
represents temperature, humidity, allergens, lighting conditions,
monitoring of a child, etc.).
[0084] The system may also allow subcontracting for sensor data
that enables a service. As described below with reference to FIGS.
30 and 31, one of computers 120 (such as computer 120-1) may
receive a request for a service associated with one of environments
112 (such as environment 112-1) and, in response, may subcontract
for the sensor data that enables the service. In particular,
computer 120-1 may identify one of environmental monitoring devices
110 (such as environmental monitoring device 110-1) based on the
requested service, a type of sensor data and/or analyzed sensor
data. For example, if the requested service involves regulating
concentrations of an allergen or a chemical in environment 112-1,
computer 120-1 may access stored information about the capabilities
of environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116, and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 in environment
112-1, and based on these capabilities may identify one or more
components that include sensor mechanisms capable of measuring the
allergen or the chemical. Alternatively, if the service includes
insurance on an item in environment 112-1, computer 120-1 may
determine or may access predetermined risk mechanisms that can
adversely impact the item (and, thus, which can degrade its value),
including the environment at or near the location where the item is
stored. Based on the risk mechanisms, computer 120-1 may determine
types of sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data that can provide
feedback about the occurrence of different risk mechanisms. Then,
computer 120-1 may access the stored information about the
capabilities of one or more components in the system to match these
capabilities with the necessary sensory and/or computational
capabilities in environment 112-1 for determining the risk
mechanisms.
[0085] Next, computer 120-1 may provide a data request(s) for the
sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data to the identified
environmental monitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or
service-provider electronic devices in environment 112-1. In
response to the data request(s), computer 120-1 may receive (either
once, during a time interval, such as a week, a month, six months,
etc., or on an ongoing basis) the requested sensor data and/or the
analyzed sensor data from one or more of these components, and
computer 120-1 may provide (possibly in conjunction with one or
more additional components in the system) the requested service
(such as one of the services described previously). In some
embodiments, if the necessary sensor data and/or analyzed sensor
data is unavailable in environment 120-1, computer 120-1 provides
instructions to one or more of the identified environmental
monitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or
service-provider electronic devices in environment 112-1 to
download software (or an application) and/or to activate a
previously installed program module, so that these components can
provide the necessary sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data
that is used to provide the service.
[0086] Alternatively, as described below with reference to FIGS. 32
and 33, in a variation on the preceding example, the system may
subcontract for sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data that enable
the service in response to an alert associated with environment
112-1 (as opposed to in response to a request for the service). In
these embodiments, after identifying the one or more environmental
monitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or
service-provider electronic devices that can provide the necessary
sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, computer 120-1 may
provide a service offer to the user entity associated with
environment 112-1. This service offer may include information
associated with the environmental condition. For example, the
service offer may indicate that the humidity or the temperature in
environment 112-1 is excessive, and may offer to regulate or modify
the humidity or the temperature (such as by instructing or
selectively turning on a regulator device). If the user entity
authorizes the service, computer 120-1 may provide the data request
and, after receiving the requested sensor data and/or the analyzed
sensor data, may provide the service.
[0087] Moreover, components in the system may be used to
dynamically provide a service (such as insurance). As described
below with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35, one of computers 120 (such
as computer 120-1) may receive sensor data from environmental
monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or
service-provider electronic devices 118 in environments 112, which
may include current and/or historical sensor data representing the
environmental conditions in environments 112. This sensor data may
be analyzed to determine the probability of the environmental
condition (such as flooding or a fire) occurring during a time
interval (such as a day, a week, a month, a year, etc.) in at least
one of the environments (such as environment 112-1). In particular,
the probability may be determined from the ratio of the number of
occurrences during a first time interval (such as a week or a
month) in environments 112 and the total number of possible
occurrences (such as the number of environments 112), divided by
the number of environments, and times a ratio of a second time
interval (such as a month or a year) and the first time
interval.
[0088] Moreover, computer 120-1 may calculate the price-duration
range of the insurance associated with the environmental condition
(such as insurance for flood damage, fire damage, theft, etc.) in
environment 112-1 necessary for profitability of the insurance (on
a statistical or an absolute basis) based on the determined
probability and the estimated cost associated with the insurance.
For example, given fixed and variable costs associated with a type
of insurance in environment 112-1 (such as property insurance) and
the probability (i.e., the likelihood of having to pay a claim),
computer 120-1 may calculate a range of prices (or premiums) and
durations of the insurance necessary for profitability of the
insurance (at least on a statistical basis, such as a 50, 75, 90,
95 or 99% confidence of profitability, where the confidence
percentage may be based on a size of a population of user entities
that have or contract for the insurance). Thus, a lower (or higher)
price may be associated with a shorter (or longer) duration, and a
higher (or lower) price may be associated with a lower (or higher)
probability. Alternatively or additionally, computer 120-1 may
assess the impact of one or more environmental factors (and, more
generally, the environmental condition) on the quality and/or value
of a physical object associated with environment 112-1. For
example, computer 120-1 may determine a risk metric for the
physical object by comparing the sensor data in different
environments 112. This risk metric may be used to calculate a
financial value, such as a commercial value of the physical object.
Then, based on a minimum acceptable commercial value of the
physical object and the probability, the price-duration range may
be determined so that the insurance compensates an owner of the
physical object if the commercial value drops below the minimum
acceptable commercial value. In some embodiments, the sensor data
is used to assess the safety of one or more high-value items, e.g.,
artwork, antiques, wine, rare instruments, and other items that can
be sensitive to light, heat, humidity and, more generally,
environmental conditions. Based on sensor data for ultraviolet
exposure, temperature, and/or humidity in a storage area for the
one or more high-value items, the probability and the
price-duration range can be calculated.
[0089] Next, computer 120-1 may provide a service offer (with at
least a price or an insurance premium and a duration) for the
insurance to one of electronic devices 108 associated with a user
entity (such as electronic device 108-1). Alternatively, the
service offer may include multiple pairs of prices and durations
based on the calculated price-duration range, which may allow the
user entity to select, a la carte, the desired service. (Thus, the
service offer may oblige the user entity to continue the insurance
for the duration, e.g., the user entity may have to pay the price
in advance or there may be a penalty for early cancellation of the
insurance.) Note that the insurance may cover: an item in one of
environments 112, a portion of one of environments 112, an
individual inhabiting or who is in one of environments 112, and/or
one of environments 112.
[0090] If computer 120-1 subsequently receives a response from
electronic device 108-1 authorizing the insurance (and, more
generally, the service) at a particular price and/or duration,
computer 120-1 may subsequently (directly or indirectly, such as in
conjunction with a service provider) provide the insurance. For
example, the response may be received from electronic device 108-1
with or without action by the user entity (e.g., in some
embodiments an application executing on electronic device 108-1
dynamically authorizes the insurance on behalf of the user, such as
when there is a high risk of fire or flooding, or when environment
112-1 is included in a Federal disaster area). Note that the
insurance may be based on subsequent sensor data received from
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 in environments
112 (or, at least, in environment 112-1). In particular, the
insurance may be selectively provided based on one or more
occurrences of the environmental condition (e.g., when there is a
risk of flooding, fire damage, high or low temperatures, high or
low humidity, etc.). Therefore, the duration may include or may
encompass one or more occurrences of the environmental condition.
In addition, the subsequent sensor data received from environmental
monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116, and/or
service-provider electronic devices 118 in environments 112 may be
used by computer 120-1 to dynamically update the calculated
probability and/or the price-duration range, which may allow
computer 120-1 to modify the insurance (such as to change the
price, the duration, a deductible, etc.).
[0091] In some embodiments, computer 120-1 provides a data request
for additional sensor data to environmental monitoring devices 110,
partner electronic devices 116, and/or service-provider electronic
devices 118 in environments 112 (or, at least, environment 112-1),
and the insurance (and, more generally, the service) is provided
based on the additional sensor data (which may have been collected
after the initial sensor data that was used to determine the
probability and/or the price-duration range). For example, the
additional sensor data may represent another (related)
environmental condition (such as humidity or barometric pressure),
which can be used to improve the determined estimate of the
probability (such as the probability of flooding), as well as to
update the price and/or the duration. Moreover, the additional
sensor data may assess or monitor whether secure or safe habits are
practiced, such as locking doors, turning on burglar alarms or
home-monitoring sensors, exchanging smoke-detector batteries, etc.
In addition, an insurance company may utilize the additional sensor
data to detect, prevent and/or deter insurance fraud. More
generally, the additional sensor may provide independent feedback
about the insurance.
[0092] Additionally, the system may dynamically identify and
aggregate or assemble combinations of components in the system to
provide a service. As described below with reference to FIGS. 36
and 37, based on sensor data from one of more of environmental
monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116, and/or
service-provider electronic devices 118 in at least one of
environments 112 (such as environment 112-1), one of computers 120
(such as computer 120-1) may identify a combination that provides a
service related to environment 112-1, where the combination
includes one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 and
one or more of partner electronic devices 116 and/or the service
providers. For example, the service may involve monitoring for fire
and carbon monoxide in environment 112-1. In the identified
combination, electronic device 114-1 may monitor for fire, and
partner electronic device 116-1 may monitor for carbon monoxide. In
addition, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may use an acoustic
sensor to detect a sound indicating that a battery in electronic
device 114-1 needs to be replaced. When this sound is detected,
environmental monitoring device 110-1 may alert service-provider
electronic device 118-1, which instructs the service provider to
ship a new battery to an address associated with environment 112-1
and/or to install the new battery in electronic device 114-1. In
some embodiments, the service is associated with a type of the
sensor data, and at least the one or more of environmental
monitoring devices 110 are identified based on the type of the
sensor data.
[0093] After identifying the combination, computer 120-1 may
communicate configuration information specifying the combination
and functions in the service to the one or more of environmental
monitoring devices 110 and the one or more of partner electronic
devices 116 and/or the service providers. Note that the
configuration information may specify interrelationships among the
components in the combination that define a service-data hierarchy.
In addition, the service-data hierarchy may specify exchange of the
sensor data, sub-services in the service, and compensation within
the combination for the sensor data and the sub-services (which are
sometimes collectively referred to as `inputs and outputs`).
Moreover, at least some of the combinations specified may provide
the services in at least a subset of environments 112 without
action by occupants or user entities of at least the subset of
environments 112.
[0094] Furthermore, the combination may be identified in response
to a request, such as a request for the service, such as a request
from: a governmental organization, an insurance provider, an owner
of one or more environments 112, etc. In particular, the computer
120-1 may receive a request for the service from an electronic
device (such as electronic device 108-1) associated with a user
entity that is associated with environment 112-1, which is
different from the provider of the system, the partners and/or the
service providers. However, in some embodiments the combination is
identified without a request from the user entity. For example, as
noted previously, the computer 120-1 may identify the combination:
when an alert about an occurrence of the environmental condition in
environment 112-1 is received (such as from environmental
monitoring device 110-1); when the environmental condition occurs
in environment 112-1; and/or when a risk of occurrence of the
environmental condition exceeds a threshold. Consequently, in some
embodiments computer 120-1: provides a service offer for the
service to electronic device 108-1; receives a response to the
service offer from electronic device 108-1, where the response
authorizes the service; and notifies the combination to provide the
service.
[0095] Subsequently, computer 120-1 may receive additional sensor
data from one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110
and/or an additional environmental monitoring device in environment
112-1. Based on the additional sensor data, computer 120-1 may
determine and then provide modification information specifying one
or more modifications to the combination. For example, the
additional sensor data may indicate a change in the environmental
condition or a risk metric associated with environment 112-1.
Consequently, computer 120-1 may determine that different or
additional sensors are need, and may identify different or
additional components in the system that can provide the service.
Alternatively or additionally, computer 120-1 may determine
revision information specifying one or more revisions to the
service based on the additional sensor data, and then may
modification information specifying one or more modifications to
the combination based on the one or more revisions to the service.
For example, if the additional sensor data indicates the presence
of an individual in environment 112-1 who has a medical condition
or an allergy, the service may be revised to reflect a different
threshold for the allergen or a need to monitor the allergen in
environment 112-1.
[0096] One challenge associated with aggregating components
associated with different entities into combinations is the risk of
incorrect data and/or fraudulent behavior. This problem may be
addressed by the system. In particular, as described below with
reference to FIGS. 38 and 39, the system may identify bad sensor
data and/or fraudulent payments in combinations in the ecosystem,
and then may perform remedial action. For example, one of computers
120 (such as computer 120-1) may monitor inputs and outputs
exchanged among components in combinations that provide services in
environments 112, where the components in a given combination
include at least one of: environmental monitoring devices 110 and
one or more of partner electronic devices 116 and/or the service
providers. As noted previously, the inputs and the outputs from a
given component in the given combination may include: sensor data
representing one or more environmental conditions in one or more of
environments 112 (which may be acquired by one of more of:
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118), sub-services
in the services, and/or compensation within the given combination
for the sensor data and the sub-services.
[0097] Computer 120-1 may: store the monitored inputs and outputs;
analyze the monitored inputs and outputs based on quality criteria
(such as predefined signatures of failure mechanisms in the
combinations that result in particular sensor-data values or
inferred environmental conditions as a function of time, and/or
predefined signatures of previous fraudulent activity in the
combinations) and historical inputs and outputs exchanged within
the combinations; identify, based on the analysis, an instance in
the inputs and the outputs of incorrect sensor data and/or
fraudulent compensation; and perform the remedial action based on
the identified instance. For example, computer 120-1 may identify
the instance based on a variance (such as at least a 36 difference
relative to a historical norm or mean value) in sensor data, or may
detect a change relative to typical inputs and outputs at a given
time of day or day of the week. In some embodiments, the quality
criteria and the historical inputs and outputs are used to train a
supervised-learning model (using a machine-learning technique, such
as: support vector machines, classification and regression trees, a
neural network, logistic regression, etc.) that predicts the
likelihood (with an associated confidence, such as 95 or 99%
confidence) that a given input or output is incorrect or
fraudulent. Note that the analysis may compare the monitored inputs
and outputs and historical inputs and outputs from at least a
subset of the combinations. Moreover, the combinations in the
subset may have: a common type of service, and/or a common type of
sensor data. Thus, the analysis may use techniques such as
collaborative filtering.
[0098] In response to identifying an instance, computer 120-1 may
perform a variety of remedial actions. For example, the remedial
action may include providing a notification about the identified
instance to an affected combination. Alternatively or additionally,
the remedial action may include providing modification information
specifying a modification to an affected combination that includes
the identified instance. In particular, the modification may
include excluding a source of the identified instance from the
affected combination, where the source may include one of:
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or the service providers. Note that the remedial action may
include banning the source from inclusion in subsequent
combinations. In some embodiments, the modification includes
replacing the source of the identified instance in the affected
combination, where a replacement for the source may include one of:
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116 and/or the service providers that is different than the
source.
[0099] Moreover, the remedial action may include: discontinuing the
service provided by an affected combination that includes the
instance; and/or adjusting a level of the service provided by the
affected combination that includes the instance. For example, a
service that includes or that is based on the instance may be
intentionally degraded (such as delaying the service or
intentionally reducing its reported quantitative accuracy to
reflect the impact of the inaccurate sensor data), which may
function as a warning or which may punish misbehavior by the
source. Alternatively or additionally, the remedial action may
include removing the incorrect sensor data from the inputs and the
outputs. Furthermore, the remedial action may include replacing the
incorrect sensor data from the inputs and the outputs with modified
sensor data (such as interpolated sensor data from timestamps
before and after the suspect sensor data). Additionally, the
remedial action may include instructions (such as to one of the
service providers) for performing maintenance on the source of the
identified instance in an affected combination (which may correct
or eliminate the incorrect sensor data).
[0100] In addition to maintaining the quality of existing services
provided in the system, the system may also perform analysis on the
inputs and outputs to identify opportunities for improving the
services and/or for offering additional services. In particular, as
described below with reference to FIGS. 40 and 41, computer 120-1
may analyze the monitored inputs and outputs, as well as
information specifying the combinations and the services, to
determine: sensor-data patterns, suggested services, and/or
suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the services and the
suggested services. For example, the analysis may determine:
purchasing patterns (of products, replacement parts and/or sensor
data), recommended product features, recommended retail inventory,
recommended pricing of the services and the suggested services,
and/or recommended durations of the services and the suggested
services. The recommendations based on the analysis may improve:
the speed of the service, the accuracy of the service (such as the
accuracy with which an environmental condition is monitored), the
ability to perform a service (such as the ability to monitor a
particular environmental condition), the cost of the service, the
value proposition of the service to user entities, etc.
[0101] Note that the analysis may compare current monitored inputs
and outputs and historical inputs and outputs from at least a
subset of the combinations. Moreover, the combinations in the
subset may have: the common type of service, and/or the common type
of sensor data. However, in some embodiments the subset includes
combinations that use different types of sensor data and/or that
provide different types of service. As an illustration, metadata
about the components in the combinations may be used to relate
seemingly disparate components and/or services, so that, by these
association or based on these comparisons, the services and/or the
sensor-data sub-contracting to different sub-components can be
identified. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor-data patterns
may be used to relate the seemingly disparate components and/or
services, so that the services and/or the sensor-data
sub-contracting to different sub-components can be identified.
Based on the analysis, computer 120-1 may provide: modification
information specifying a modification to the combinations; and/or a
notification.
[0102] In these ways, one or more components in the system may
dynamically provide services to the user entities associated with
environments 112 based on occurrences of environmental conditions
and/or alerts. This capability may allow the services to be
provided as needed and/or when the user entities want the services.
Moreover, the flexibility and adaptability of the system may allow
different combinations of components to be identified and
dynamically aggregated in order to provide the services. These
combinations may allow sensor data and sub-services to be
sub-contracted to components that are associated with different
entities. Furthermore, the system may allow sensor data and/or
analyzed sensor data to be selectively shared (e.g., based on data
privileges of different entities), which may protect entity privacy
while facilitating the monitoring of the environments that is
needed for the services. Consequently, the system may provide a
dynamic sensor-data marketplace with appropriate structure. The
services provided by the system may be improved (e.g., the services
may be more cost effective for the user entities, incorrect data
and/or fraudulent activity may be identified and eliminated or
mitigated, etc.), which may increase customer confidence and
satisfaction with the components and/or the system.
[0103] Moreover, as described further below with reference to FIG.
2, environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116, service-provider electronic devices 118, computers 120 and/or
optionally some of electronic devices 114 (such as electronic
device 114-2) may include subsystems, such as: a networking
subsystem, a memory subsystem, a processing subsystem, feedback
subsystem and a sensor subsystem. In addition, these electronic
devices may include radios 124 in the networking subsystems. More
generally, environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic
devices 116, service-provider electronic devices 118, computers 120
and/or optionally some of electronic devices 114 can include (or
can be included within) any electronic devices with networking
subsystems that enable wirelessly communication with another
electronic device. This can comprise transmitting packets or frames
on wireless channels to enable the electronic devices to make
initial contact, followed by exchanging subsequent data/management
frames (such as connect requests or petitions to establish a
connection or link), configuring security options (e.g., encryption
on a link or in a mesh network), transmitting and receiving packets
or frames on one or more wireless channels, etc.
[0104] As can be seen in FIG. 1, wireless signals 126 (represented
by a jagged line) are transmitted from/received by radios 124 in
environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices
116, at least some of service-provider electronic devices 118, at
least some of computers 120 and/or optionally some of electronic
devices 114. In general, wireless communication among these
electronic devices may or may not involve a connection being
established between the electronic devices, and therefore may or
may not involve communication via a wireless network. (Note that
the communication between service-provider electronic devices 118
and computers 120 may occur via network 122, which may involve
wired or optical communication with a different communication
protocol than wireless signals 126.)
[0105] Furthermore, the processing of a packet or frame in an
electronic device (such as environmental monitoring device 110-1)
may include: receiving wireless signals 126 with the packet or
frame; decoding/extracting the packet or frame from received
wireless signals 126 to acquire the packet or frame; and processing
the packet or frame to determine information contained in the
packet or frame (such as an input to environmental monitoring
device 110-1 and/or an output from another component in the
system).
[0106] As noted previously, in general communication among the
components in FIG. 1 may be protected. This may involve encryption
using an encryption key (such as an encryption key associated with
one of environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or a self-contained
secure channel in a processor in one of environmental monitoring
devices 110). The encryption key may use symmetric or asymmetric
encryption techniques. Alternatively or additionally, a secure hash
function (such as SHA-256) may be used. For example, the secure
hash may supplement encryption that is associated with a network
interface in one or more of environmental monitoring devices
110.
[0107] Although we describe the environment shown in FIG. 1 as an
example, in alternative embodiments, different numbers or types of
electronic devices or components may be present. For example, some
embodiments comprise more or fewer electronic devices or
components. Furthermore, while not shown in FIG. 1, one or more
components in electronic device 110 may be coupled or connected by
additional signals lines or a bus.
[0108] We now describe embodiments of components in the system in
FIG. 1. FIG. 2 presents a block diagram illustrating electronic
device 200, such as one of environmental monitoring devices 110
(FIG. 1). (However, similar subsystems and at least some of the
functionality described below may be included in other components
in FIG. 1, such as electronic devices 108, at least some of
electronic devices 114, partner electronic devices 116,
service-provider electronic devices 118 and/or computers 120.) This
electronic device includes processing subsystem 210 (and, more
generally, an integrated circuit or a control mechanism), memory
subsystem 212, a networking subsystem 214, power subsystem 216,
optional switching subsystem 220, optional sensor subsystem 224
(i.e., a data-collection subsystem and, more generally, a sensor
mechanism) and feedback subsystem 236. Processing subsystem 210
includes one or more devices configured to perform computational
operations and to execute techniques to process sensor data. For
example, processing subsystem 210 can include one or more
microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),
microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more
digital signal processors (DSPs).
[0109] In addition, processing subsystem 210 may include an
optional secure channel that performs secure processing of
information, securely communicates with other components in
electronic device 200, and more generally performs secure services.
This secure channel may include one or more processors, a secure
boot ROM, one or more security peripherals, and/or other
components. The security peripherals may be hardware-configured to
assist in the secure services performed by the optional secure
channel. For example, the security peripherals may include:
authentication hardware implementing various authentication
techniques, encryption hardware configured to perform encryption,
secure-interface controllers configured to communicate over a
secure interface to other components, and/or other components. In
some embodiments, instructions executable by the optional secure
channel are stored in a trust zone in memory subsystem 212 that is
assigned to the optional secure channel, and the optional secure
channel fetches the instructions from the trust zone for execution.
The optional secure channel may be isolated from the rest of
processing subsystem 210 except for a carefully controlled
interface, thus forming a secure region for the optional secure
channel and its components. Because the interface to the optional
secure channel is carefully controlled, direct access to components
within the optional secure channel (such as a processor or a secure
boot ROM) may be prevented. In some embodiments, the optional
secure channel decrypts inputs and/or encrypts outputs communicated
via networking subsystem 214, and encrypts and/or decrypts
information (such as sensor data) communicated with optional sensor
subsystem 224.
[0110] Memory subsystem 212 includes one or more devices for
storing data and/or instructions for processing subsystem 210,
networking subsystem 214 and/or optional sensor subsystem 224. For
example, memory subsystem 212 can include dynamic random access
memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/or other
types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processing
subsystem 210 in memory subsystem 212 include one or more program
modules 232 or sets of instructions, which may be executed in an
operating environment (such as operating system 234) by processing
subsystem 210. Note that the one or more computer programs may
constitute a computer-program mechanism or a program module.
Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memory subsystem
212 may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language, an
object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or
machine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be
compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which
may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to be executed by
processing subsystem 210.
[0111] In addition, memory subsystem 212 can include mechanisms for
controlling access to the memory. In some embodiments, memory
subsystem 212 includes a memory hierarchy that comprises one or
more caches coupled to a memory in electronic device 200. In some
of these embodiments, one or more of the caches is located in
processing subsystem 210.
[0112] In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 is coupled to one
or more high-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For
example, memory subsystem 212 can be coupled to a magnetic or
optical drive, a solid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage
device. In these embodiments, memory subsystem 212 can be used by
electronic device 200 as fast-access storage for often-used data,
while the mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used
data.
[0113] Networking subsystem 214 includes one or more devices
configured to couple to and communicate on a wired, optical and/or
wireless network (i.e., to perform network operations and, more
generally, communication), including an interface circuit 228 (such
as a ZigBee.RTM. communication circuit) and one or more optional
antennas 230. For example, networking subsystem 214 may include: a
ZigBee.RTM. networking subsystem, a Bluetooth.TM. networking system
(which can include Bluetooth.TM. Low Energy, BLE or Bluetooth.TM.
LE), a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G network such as
UMTS, LTE, etc.), a USB networking system, a networking system
based on the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi
networking system), an Ethernet networking system, an infra-red
communication system, a power-line communication system and/or
another communication system (such as a near-field-communication
system or an ad-hoc-network networking system).
[0114] Moreover, networking subsystem 214 includes processors,
controllers, radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices
used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and
events for each supported networking or communication system. Note
that mechanisms used for coupling to, communicating on, and
handling data and events on the network for each network system are
sometimes collectively referred to as a `network interface` for the
network system. Moreover, in some embodiments a `network` between
the electronic devices does not yet exist. Therefore, electronic
device 200 may use the mechanisms in networking subsystem 214 for
performing simple wireless communication between electronic device
200 and other electronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising
frames, petitions, beacons and/or information associated with
near-field communication.
[0115] Moreover, electronic device 200 may include power subsystem
216 with one or more power sources 218. Each of these power sources
may include: a battery (such as a rechargeable or a
non-rechargeable battery), a DC power supply, a transformer, and/or
a switched-mode power supply. Moreover, the one or more power
sources 218 may operate in a voltage-limited mode or a
current-limited mode. Furthermore, these power sources may be
mechanically and electrically coupled by a male or female adaptor
to: a wall or electrical-outlet socket or plug (such as a two or
three-pronged electrical-outlet plug, which may be collapsible or
retractable), a light socket (or light-bulb socket), electrical
wiring (such as a multi-wire electrical terminal), a generator, a
USB port or connector, a DC-power plug or socket, a
cellular-telephone charger cable, a photodiode, a photovoltaic
cell, etc. This mechanical and electrical coupling may be rigid or
may be remateable. Note that the one or more power sources 218 may
be mechanically and electrically coupled to an external power
source or another electronic device by one of the
electrical-connection nodes in switch 246 in optional switching
subsystem 220.
[0116] In some embodiments, power subsystem 216 includes or
functions as a pass-through power supply for one or more electrical
connectors to an external electronic device (such as an appliance
or a regulator device) that can be plugged into the one or more
electrical connectors. Power to the one or more electrical
connectors (and, thus, the external electronic device) may be
controlled locally by processing subsystem 210, optional switching
subsystem 220 (such as by switch 246), and/or remotely via
networking subsystem 214.
[0117] Furthermore, optional sensor subsystem 224 may include one
or more sensor devices 226 (or a sensor array), which may include
one or more processors and memory. For example, the one or more
sensor devices 226 may include: a thermal sensor (such as a
thermometer), a humidity sensor, a barometer, a camera or video
recorder (such as a CCD or CMOS imaging sensor), one or more
microphones (which may be able to record acoustic information,
including acoustic information in an audio band of frequencies, in
mono or stereo), a load-monitoring sensor or an
electrical-characteristic detector (and, more generally, a sensor
that monitors one or more electrical characteristics), an infrared
sensor (which may be active or passive), a microscope, a particle
detector (such as a detector of dander, pollen, dust, exhaust,
etc.), an air-quality sensor, a particle sensor, an optical
particle sensor, an ionization particle sensor, a smoke detector
(such as an optical smoke detector or an ionizing smoke detector),
a fire-detection sensor, a radon detector, a carbon-monoxide
detector, a chemical sensor or detector, a
volatile-organic-compound sensor, a combustible gas sensor, a
utility-usage sensor, an Internet-usage sensor, a wireless-network
usage sensor, a burglar-alarm sensor, a voltmeter, an ammeter, a
chemical-analysis device, a mass spectrometer, a microanalysis
device, a nano-plasmonic sensor, a genetic sensor (such as a
micro-array), an accelerometer, a forced-entry detector, a break-in
detector, a detector that measures a parameter associated with an
emotional state or a mood of an individual, a position or a
location sensor (such as a location sensor based on the Global
Positioning System or GPS), a gyroscope, a motion sensor (such as a
light-beam sensor), an ambient-light sensor, a contact sensor, a
strain sensor (such as a strain gauge), a pressure sensor, a
proximity sensor, a microwave/radar sensor (which may be active or
passive), an ultrasound sensor, a vibration sensor, a fluid flow
sensor, a photo-detector, a Geiger counter, a radio-frequency
radiation detector, and/or another device that measures a physical
effect or that characterizes an environmental factor or physical
phenomenon (either directly or indirectly). Note that the one or
more sensor devices 226 may include redundancy (such as multiple
instances of a type of sensor device) to address sensor failure or
erroneous readings, to provide improved accuracy and/or to provide
improved precision.
[0118] During operation of electronic device 200, processing
subsystem 210 may execute one or more program modules 232, such as
an environmental monitoring application. In particular,
environmental monitoring application may instruct one or more
sensor devices 226 to measure or acquire sensor data that
represents one or more environmental conditions in an environment
that includes electronic device 200 (which is sometimes referred to
as an `external environment`). For example, the environmental
condition may include: presence of an individual (such as a
resident or a potential burglar), opening of a door, an individual
getting out of bed, an individual waking up, an individual crying,
an individual tossing and turning in bed, an individual shivering,
presence of a chemical compound (such as exhaust, carbon monoxide,
radon, smoke, a non-volatile organic compound and/or a volatile
organic compound), presence of an allergen (such as dander or
pollen), presence of dust, presence of a fungus, a fire, presence
of smoke, flooding, a water leak, a chemical leak, presence of an
insect or rodent (and, more generally, an infestation), discharge
of a firearm, a possible altercation or criminal act (such as
domestic violence), a medical emergency, a change in health
condition of an individual, availability of electrical power (such
as whether there is a power failure), a lighting condition (such as
whether the lights are on or off), temperature deviating from a
predefined target, and/or humidity deviating from a predefined
target. In some embodiments, the environmental condition is
associated with the operation of a regulator device (which may or
may not be a legacy electronic device). The regulator device (and,
more generally, one of electronic devices 114 in FIG. 1) may
include: a smoke detector, a thermostat, a carbon-monoxide
detector, an appliance, a pet or animal feeder, a plant or animal
watering device, a clock, a security alarm, a humidifier, an air
filter, a switch, a light, etc. Note that the monitoring of the
sensor data may be continuous, periodic (such as after a time
interval has elapsed) or as needed (such as event-driven
monitoring).
[0119] Alternatively or additionally, instead of measuring the
sensor data using optional sensor subsystem 224 or in conjunction
with the measured sensor data from optional sensor subsystem 224,
electronic device 200 may receive the sensor data from another
electronic device (such as one of partner electronic devices 116 in
FIG. 1) that includes one or more sensor devices that are similar
to sensor devices 226. In particular, the sensor data may be
received from the other electronic device using networking
subsystem 214. (Similarly, electronic device 200 may communicate
the sensor data to another component in FIG. 1 using networking
subsystem 214 for analysis and/or for use in implementing a
sub-service or a service.)
[0120] The measured and/or the received sensor data may be
communicated to processing subsystem 210. Then, the environmental
monitoring application may optionally analyze the sensor data, such
as: calculating a discrete or a Fourier transform, determining a
histogram, performing filtering or signal processing, performing
data compression, calibrating one or more of sensor devices 226,
managing power consumption of electronic device 200, identifying
one or more of sensor devices 226 that are not working or which are
outputting erroneous sensor data, applying another transformation,
converting data from one format to another, calculating statistics
(such as moments of a distribution), performing supervised learning
(such as Bayesian analysis), performing noise reduction,
normalizing the sensor data, scaling the sensor data, partitioning
the sensor data, aggregating or compiling the sensor data,
converting units, etc. (Alternatively or additionally, the sensor
data or a document summarizing the sensor data may be communicated
to another electronic device using networking subsystem 214 and the
analysis may be performed remotely, e.g. by one of computers 120 in
FIG. 1.) For example, the analysis may determine whether an
environmental condition is present in the environment. In some
embodiments, this analysis is based on information, such as sensor
data and/or environmental conditions, received from other
environmental monitoring devices. This may allow calibration
settings, such as environment-specific threshold values, to be
determined for the environment and/or electronic device 200.
(Alternatively or additionally, the calibration settings may be
manually set by a user entity or by software that implements a
calibration technique.) In addition, the analysis may be based on
information from external data sources, such as datasets of weather
and environmental phenomena, e.g., tornados, hurricanes,
earthquakes, tsunamis, weather forecasts, etc.
[0121] Then, the environmental monitoring application may provide
feedback to a user entity associated with electronic device 200
(such as to one of electronic devices 108 in FIG. 1) and/or
directly to one of electronic devices 114 in FIG. 1 (if this
electronic device is able to communicate with electronic device 200
via networking subsystem 214). In particular, the environmental
monitoring application may instruct feedback subsystem 236 to
provide sensory information, such as; a text or graphical message,
a graph, a report, a chart, a spectrum, a video displayed on a
display 240, a sound or audio message (such as an alert) output by
optional speakers 242 and/or an illumination pattern output by
optional light sources 244. For example, the sensory information
may include: a range of values, numerical measurements, shades of
gray (or grayscale), colors, chemical formulas, images,
illumination patterns, textures, patterns (which may correspond to
one or more environmental conditions), tessellations with gradients
of larger or smaller element sizes, and/or tessellations of
increasing or decreasing element sizes (such as tessellation that
are adjusted to be larger or smaller as a given environmental
condition increases or decreases). Thus, in some embodiments the
sensory information includes a change in the color of electronic
device 200. Alternatively or additionally, the feedback may include
a change in the illumination pattern provided by optional light
sources 244. In some embodiments, the feedback is communicated
using networking subsystem 214 and presented to the user entity (or
other individuals) on another electronic device, such as one of
electronic devices 108 in FIG. 1 (e.g., a user's cellular
telephone, tablet computer or computer) that is used for remote
visualization of: the sensor data, the analyzed sensor data, the
environmental condition and/or the feedback.
[0122] For example, in response to an environmental condition, a
potential threat or an actual threat, electronic device 200 may
provide or output an alert, which may include audible sound (or
feedback) in the environment and/or information that is wirelessly
communicated to one or more electronic devices (such as one of
electronic devices 108 in FIG. 1). There may be different types of
alerts (such as different warning sounds, lights, messages, etc.)
for different environmental conditions or as the severity of one or
more environmental conditions changes. Additionally, electronic
device 200 may output or provide more than one alert at the same
time. Note that electronic device 200 may provide or output an
alert that was received from another electronic device (such as one
of partner electronic devices 116 in FIG. 1).
[0123] In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring
application may provide, via networking subsystem 214, the feedback
to one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1),
partner electronic devices 116 (FIG. 1), service-provider
electronic devices 118 (FIG. 1), computers 120 (FIG. 1) and/or
other electronic devices (such as computers or servers associated
with or operated on behalf of: component suppliers, retailers,
insurance companies, security personnel, emergency service
personnel, utilities, maintenance organizations, shipping
companies, landlords or property owners, a corporate-compliance
organization, inspectors, businesses, government agencies, etc.).
For example, the environmental monitoring application may utilize a
Short Message Service, email, a social network and/or a messaging
service with a restricted number of characters per message.
Alternatively or additionally, the feedback may be posted to a web
page or website (and, more generally, a location on a network), and
one or more recipients may be notified via networking subsystem
214, e.g., a link to the location on the network may be provided to
the recipients.
[0124] In turn, an authorized entity may use an electronic device
(such as one of electronic devices 108 in FIG. 1) may, via
networking subsystem 214, modify settings of electronic device 200
(such as alarm settings, user preferences, etc.) that change how
the feedback is provided locally (e.g., using optional speakers
242) and/or remotely (e.g., using networking subsystem 214), and
which more generally change one or more functions of electronic
device 200. For example, a user of electronic device 108-1 in FIG.
1 may access a web page associated with a provider of electronic
device 200 or the system to modify one or more settings, such as to
disable the providing of alerts or feedback.
[0125] When the providing of the alert is disabled, processing
subsystem 210 may continue to assess a potentially threatening
environmental condition (such as the possible presence of smoke or
carbon monoxide) based on subsequent sensor data and, if the threat
is increasing (such as if the concentration of carbon monoxide is
increasing or has become dangerous), may reactivate the providing
of the alert. Alternatively, after a time interval (such as 5, 10,
15 or 30 minutes), the modified alert setting may automatically
revert to the original alert setting, so that electronic device 200
can provide alerts again. In some embodiments, a user subsequently
changes the modified alert setting back to the original alert
setting or resets the alert setting to default. Thus, electronic
device 200 may continue to assess the impact of one or more
environmental factors (and, more generally, the environmental
condition) on the safety of the environment, while also providing a
user operational control over alerts. In addition, electronic
device 200 may provide fail-safes, both in how alerts are disabled
and by reactivating alerts in case the threat is increasing.
[0126] In some embodiments, processing subsystem 210 performs a
remedial action in response to an alert or an alarm (i.e., based on
one or more environmental conditions). This remedial action may
include communicating with a regulator device to correct the
environmental condition(s). For example, via networking subsystem
214, processing subsystem 210 may instruct the regulator device to:
ventilate the area, activate a humidifier, power on or power off a
regulator device, initiate the operation of a mode on a regulator
device, etc. In some embodiments, this same function (and, more
generally, the remedial action) is performed without directly
communicating with the regulator device by changing a state of
switch 246 in optional switching subsystem 220. Alternatively,
processing subsystem 210 may provide a maintenance notification
(such as a notification to change an air filter). Furthermore, the
alert may indicate a remedial action, such as positive or negative
changes that can restore the environmental condition to a safe
value. Thus, the alert may indicate that a user should turn on the
ventilation or wear a safety mask when painting or vacuuming,
and/or may encourage the user to stop applying a chemical product
(such as paint) or to slow down the rate of application.
[0127] Furthermore, the one or more program modules 232 may include
a maintenance application. This maintenance application may provide
a maintenance notification related to the operation of electronic
device 200, one of the other components in FIG. 1 and/or one or
more environmental conditions in the environment. For example, the
maintenance application may provide an instruction to: perform
maintenance, replace a battery (and, more generally, one of power
sources 218), replace one of the one or more sensor devices 226,
order another replacement component (such as a filter) and/or to
take out the garbage. When providing the maintenance notification,
the maintenance application may instruct feedback subsystem 236 to
present the maintenance notification to the user entity,
maintenance personnel or a service provider, and/or may instruct
networking subsystem 214 to communicate the maintenance
notification to another electronic device, such as a user entity's
cellular telephone. In some embodiments, maintenance application
suggests or recommends a specific service provider or product to
address or perform a remedial action in response to a maintenance
notification. Alternatively, maintenance application may direct a
user to a document (such as a web page or website) that includes
information related to a maintenance notification.
[0128] Note that the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data
may be stored, at least temporarily, in a data structure in memory
subsystem 212. In particular, the data structure may include
entries with: sensor data, timestamps, locations, optional analyzed
sensor data and/or environmental conditions. (More generally,
memory subsystem 212 may store inputs to and/or outputs from
components in the system of FIG. 1.) Note that the locations (or
location information) may specify locations were the sensor data
was acquired or measured and/or may include pointers to locations
were the sensor data (and, more generally, inputs and/or outputs)
are stored. For example, the location information may be measured
using a sensor device in electronic device 200 (such as a location
monitor) and/or the location information may be received from
another electronic device that is proximate to electronic device
200 in FIG. 2 (such as a user's cellular telephone that is within
1-10 m). Thus, the location may be determined via GPS and/or a
cellular-telephone network (e.g., triangulation or
trilateration).
[0129] Moreover, the one or more program modules 232 may include a
data-sharing application. This data-sharing application may enable
a designated or authorized recipient to access protected sensor
data that is stored on archive device, such as one of computers 120
(FIG. 1). In particular, when executed by processing subsystem 210,
the data-sharing application may instruct optional sensor subsystem
224 to measure or collect sensor data that represents the
environmental condition. Then, the data-sharing application may
protect the sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. For example,
the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be encrypted
using an encryption key by processing subsystem 210 and/or optional
secure channel 222. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor data
and/or the analyzed sensor data may be protected using a secure
hash function in conjunction with an identifier of electronic
device 200 and/or a random (or pseudorandom) number generated by
processing subsystem 210. Next, data-sharing application may
instruct networking subsystem 214 to provide the protected sensor
data and/or the analyzed sensor data to at least one of computers
120 (FIG. 1).
[0130] Subsequently, when electronic device 200 receives, via
networking subsystem 214, a request for the sensor data from
data-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1), the data-sharing
application may access a predefined authorization preference of a
user of electronic device 200 that is stored in memory subsystem
212. If the predefined authorization preference of the user
authorizes the recipient associated with the request, the
data-sharing application may provide, via networking subsystem 214,
authorization information to at least one of computers 120 (FIG. 1)
to release the sensor data to one of electronic devices 108 (FIG.
1). Alternatively, the data-sharing application may instruct a
feedback subsystem 236 to request feedback about the request from
the user. This user feedback may be received via an optional user
interface 248 (FIG. 1). If the user feedback approves the request,
the data-sharing application may provide, via networking subsystem
214, authorization information to one of electronic devices 108
(FIG. 1) to release the sensor data to at least the one of
electronic devices 108 (FIG. 1). (Thus, the user of electronic
device 200 may control when other parties are allowed to access the
sensor data.) Note that the data-sharing application may also
provide, via networking subsystem 214, protection information
specifying how to unprotect the sensor data to at least the one of
electronic devices 108 (FIG. 1) and/or to at least one of computers
120 (FIG. 1). For example, the data-sharing application may provide
the encryption key and/or may indicate the secure hash function,
the random (or pseudorandom) number and/or the identifier. In some
embodiments, this protection information is received from the user
of electronic device 200, e.g., via networking subsystem 214 and/or
optional user interface 248.
[0131] In some embodiments, the data-sharing application
selectively provides or shares different subsets of the sensor data
(or analyzed sensor data) to different entities based on data
privileges of these entities. For example, the environmental
monitoring application may generate subsets of the sensor data
based on data privileges of different entities, and then, via
networking subsystem 214, the data-sharing application may provide
the subsets of the sensor data to electronic devices associated
with the entities (such as one or more user entities, partner
entities and/or service providers). Note that the data privileges
may specify: different spatial extents in the external environment
monitored by the sensor mechanism (such as monitoring of different
regions in an apartment or a building at different times of day to
protect tenant privacy); and/or different types of information
associated with the external environment (thus, a tenant may
monitor and access different types of information than a landlord,
e.g., information about a sleeping child versus information about
the operation of a heating or an air-conditioning system). In
addition, the data-sharing application may post data-availability
information specifying available sensor data for the external
environment. As described further below, the data-availability
information may enable subcontracting for sensor data and/or the
dynamic aggregation of sensor data, partner entities and/or service
providers to provide services. In particular, in response to a
request for at least some of the sensor data from another entity
(such as a partner entity or a service provider), which is received
via networking subsystem 214, the data-sharing application
optionally generates (if the requested subset of the sensor data
does not already exist in memory subsystem 212) and then provides a
subset of the sensor data to the other entity via networking
subsystem 214.
[0132] Moreover, the one or more program modules 232 may include a
service application that allows environmental monitoring device to,
directly or indirectly, selectively (and, thus, dynamically) enable
or provide a service (such as on a per-alert basis or as needed).
In particular, alone or in conjunction with one of the preceding
program modules, this service application may selectively enable
the providing of the service in response to an alert associated
with and/or indicating an occurrence of the environmental condition
in the environment. When one or more of sensor devices 226 measures
or acquires sensor data that represents one or more environmental
conditions in the external environment, the environmental
monitoring application may determine, based on the sensor data, an
alert associated with the environmental condition and/or the
external environment. Note that determining the alert may involve
optionally analyzing the sensor data.
[0133] Based on the alert, the service application may provide, via
networking subsystem 214, a service offer to an electronic device
of an entity. For example, the service offer may be provided to a
cellular telephone or a computer of a user entity (such a user or
an owner of environmental monitoring device 200, a tenant, a
property owner, maintenance personnel, and/or a property manager).
This service offer may include information associated with the
environmental condition, such as the type or service (maintenance,
regulation of the environmental condition, dynamic insurance, etc.)
and/or an indication that there is an alert available for the
external environment.
[0134] Then, if networking subsystem 214 receives a response that
authorizes the service, the service application may perform the
service. Note that performing the service may involve: feedback
subsystem 236 providing the alert (or information specifying the
alert) on display 240, via optional speaker(s) 242, etc.; and/or
networking subsystem 214 providing the alert (or information
specifying the alert) to the electronic device of the entity.
Furthermore, the service application may perform the service, such
as: providing an instruction or a command, via networking subsystem
214, to change on operating condition of a regulator device
(thereby changing one or more environmental conditions);
controlling the regulator device via optional switching subsystem
220 (e.g., by opening or closing switch 246, selecting a grey-scale
value of an impedance of switch 246 that is between open and
closed, etc.); providing, via networking subsystem 214, a
maintenance notification about or associated with an electronic
device (e.g., a legacy electronic device, the regulator device, an
electronic device in a feedback loop, etc.) to the user entity or a
service provider to perform particular maintenance or a remedial
action; and/or ordering, via networking subsystem 214, a
replacement part or component for the electronic device from a
supplier (e.g., a retailer); and/or providing, via networking
subsystem 214, an instruction to an insurance company to provide
insurance for an object in and/or for at least a portion of the
external environment (e.g., a room or a building).
[0135] In some embodiments, in order to perform the service, the
service application: downloads or installs software (such as a
software module, an application or a driver) that, when executed by
processing subsystem 210, performs the service; and/or enables a
software module or a driver that, when executed by processing
subsystem 210, performs the service. For example, the software or
the driver may facilitate an additional capability of environmental
monitoring device 200, such as the ability to monitor another
environmental condition using one or more of sensor devices 226 or
the ability to perform different analysis on the measured sensor
data to determine the other environmental condition.
[0136] Note that the service provided by environmental monitoring
device 200 may be based on the sensor data from one or more of
sensor devices 226 and/or sensor data received (via networking
subsystem 214) from another electronic device in the external
environment (such as other environmental monitoring devices,
partner electronic devices, and/or service-provider electronic
devices). This sensor data may include current and/or historical
sensor data representing the environmental conditions in one or
more external environments that include environmental monitoring
devices. Using the sensor data, the service application may
facilitate or enable the dynamic providing of insurance. For
example, the service application may analyze the sensor data to
determine the probability of an environmental condition occurring
during a time interval in one of the external environments.
Furthermore, the service application may calculate a price-duration
range of the insurance associated with the environmental condition
necessary for profitability of the insurance. Then, the service
application may provide, via networking subsystem 214, a service
offer (with at least a price or an insurance premium and a
duration) for the insurance to a user entity (such as to the
cellular telephone of a user). After receiving, via networking
subsystem 214, a response that accepts the service offer (and,
thus, that authorizes the service), the service application may
(alone or in conjunction with a service provider) provides the
insurance to the user entity. (However, in some embodiments, the
service application initiates the insurance even when the user
entity has not explicitly authorized it, such as when probability
of the environmental condition occurring during the time interval,
such as the next 24-72 hours, exceeds a threshold, e.g., 5, 10, 25
or 50%.) In some embodiments, the service application dynamically
adapts the price and/or the duration of the insurance based on
subsequent sensor data to ensure profitability.
[0137] As noted previously, the service application may allow
dynamic subcontracting for (and, thus, dynamic aggregating of)
sensor data that enables a service. This subcontracting may be
based on a service request, received via networking subsystem 214
(e.g., from a user entity or from a computer system in an ecosystem
that includes environmental monitoring device 200), for a service
and/or based on an alert associated with the external environment,
such as when the environmental monitoring application determines
the presence of one or more environmental conditions based on
sensor data. (Thus, the subcontracting can occur with or without an
explicit request for the service. Instead, in some embodiments,
environmental monitoring device 200 identifies a need based on an
alert and/or the presence of an environmental condition, and
subcontracts for sensor data that allows environmental monitoring
device 200 to provide the service.)
[0138] In response to the request and/or the alert, the service
application may identify, based on the requested service and/or the
alert, another electronic device (which is sometimes referred to as
a `subcontracting electronic device`) that can provide at least
some of the information (such as a type of sensor data and/or
analyzed sensor data) needed to provide the service. For example,
the service application may identify the other electronic device
based on the capabilities, stored in memory subsystem 212 (and/or
stored remotely), of other environmental monitoring devices,
partner electronic devices, and/or service-provider electronic
devices in the external environment. Then, the service application
may provide, via networking subsystem 214, a request for the sensor
data and/or the analyzed sensor data to the one or more identified
environmental monitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or
service-provider electronic devices in the external environment.
Next, the service application receives (e.g., once, during a time
interval or on an ongoing basis), via networking subsystem 214, the
requested sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data from the one
or more identified environmental monitoring devices, partner
electronic devices and/or service-provider electronic devices.
Using the requested sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data,
the service application provides the service.
[0139] Note that, if the necessary sensor data and/or analyzed
sensor data is unavailable in the external environment, the service
application may provide, via networking subsystem 214, instructions
to at least one of the one or more identified environmental
monitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or
service-provider electronic devices in the external environment to
download (or install) software, an application or a driver and/or
to activate a previously installed program module or driver, so
that at least this subcontracting electronic device can provide the
necessary sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data. In the
embodiments where the service application identifies the
subcontracting electronic device based on the alert, the service
application optionally provides, via networking subsystem 214, a
service offer to a user entity (such as providing information
specifying an environmental condition to a user's cellular
telephone with a service offer to monitor the environmental
condition or to perform a remedial action) and, if the user
authorizes the request (e.g., by accepting the service offer),
provides the service (and, thus, subcontracts for the sensor data
and/or the analyzed sensor data).
[0140] In conjunction with a combination of other components in the
ecosystem of electronic devices and service providers, the service
application may enable environmental monitoring device 200 to
provide a service. For example, the service application (and/or a
computer system in the ecosystem) may identify the combination
based on the sensor (such as sensor data measured by one or more
sensor devices 226 and/or from another environmental monitoring
device, partner electronic device, or service-provider electronic
device). Note that the combination may include one or more of
environmental monitoring devices, one or more partner electronic
devices and/or one or more of the service providers (which are
sometimes collectively referred to as `components` in the
combination). Moreover, note that the sensor application (and/or
the computer system) may identify the combination in response to a
request (from a user entity or another entity, such as an insurance
company or a government agency) or without there being an explicit
request (thus, the service may be provided even if a user or a user
entity has not authorized the service). For example, if sensor data
from multiple homes in a neighborhood indicate an increase in
attempted or successful burglaries, an insurance provider may
provide a request for enhanced surveillance or home security, which
may involve environmental monitoring devices in neighboring homes
so that audio and video feeds from these environmental monitoring
devices can provide a dynamic neighborhood-watch capability.
[0141] In some embodiments, the combination allows the service
application to track and predict the activities of a user (such as
an individual in their home) based on sensor data from multiple
electronic devices (i.e., in a collaborative manner) as the user
moves through and in and out of their home. Moreover, the service
application may use the sensor data to determine the mood or
emotional state of the user or another individual in the external
environment. Then, the service application may provide, via
networking subsystem 214, a forecast (which includes the predicted
activities and/or the user's emotional state) to a service provider
(such as cable-television provider or an over-the-top content
provider) that allows the service provider to select and distribute
audio, video and/or text content to the user (e.g., on a
television, an electronic device, speakers, etc.) at suitable or
convenient times for the user without requiring any explicit action
by the user. For example, the service application may use spectral
analysis of audio to determine that a baby is crying, and thus may
conclude that the baby's parent is stressed, so the service
provider may be alerted to provide soothing music, a children's
program on a television as a distraction and/or calming lighting.
Alternatively or additionally, the service application may use
natural language processing of audio of a phone conversation to
determine that the user has a particular problem, and the service
provider may be alerted to conduct a corresponding search using a
search engine and may display useful results on the user's cellular
telephone. Furthermore, the service application may determine a
user's shopping intent based on natural language processing of
audio and the user's activities (such as cooking and placing an
empty milk cartoon on a counter), and may alert a service provider
to order and deliver select groceries to the user's home.
[0142] As the environmental condition(s) in the external
environment change (i.e., based on additional sensor data, such as
sensor data that indicates when the user is in different locations
or performing different tasks), the service application (and/or the
computer system) may dynamically identify and aggregate different
combinations to provide the service(s). The service application
(and/or the computer system) may, via networking subsystem 214,
communicate configuration information specifying the combination,
interrelationships and functions in the service to the components
in the combination at a given time, including: the sensor data
exchanged, sub-services performed and/or compensation (or
information specifying the compensation) in the service.
[0143] Because the combinations may include bad sensor data and/or
fraudulent activity, the one or more program modules 232 may
include a quality application that monitors, via networking
subsystem 214 (and/or in conjunction with the computer system), the
inputs and outputs exchanged among the components in combinations
that provide services in one or more external environments. Then,
the quality application (and/or the computer system) analyzes the
monitored inputs and outputs based on quality criteria (such as
signatures of failure mechanisms in the combinations and/or
signatures of previous fraudulent activity in the combinations) and
historical inputs and outputs exchanged within the combinations,
which are stored in memory subsystem 212 (and/or remotely). When
the quality application (and/or the computer system) identifies an
instance in the inputs and the outputs of incorrect sensor data
and/or fraudulent compensation, the service application (and/or the
computer system) may perform a remedial action. In particular, the
service application may, via networking subsystem 214, provide to
an affected combination that includes the identified instance: a
notification about the identified instance; modification
information specifying a modification to the affected combination
(such as an instruction to exclude or replace a source of the
identified instance); a notification to discontinue a service
provided by an affected combination; and/or information specifying
an adjustment to a level of the service provided by the affected
combination (such as an instruction to delay or intentionally
degrade the service).
[0144] The one or more program modules 232 may also include an
analysis application that identifies opportunities for improving
the services and/or for offering additional services based on
analysis of the inputs and outputs exchanged in the combinations.
In particular, the analysis application (and/or the computer
system) may identify: sensor-data patterns, suggested services,
and/or suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the services
and the suggested services. For example, the analysis application
may determine: purchasing patterns, recommended product features,
recommended retail inventory, recommended pricing of the services
and the suggested services, and/or recommended durations of the
services and the suggested services. Moreover, the service
application may, via networking subsystem 214, communicate
information specifying a modification to a combination based on one
or more of the identified opportunities.
[0145] Within electronic device 200, processing subsystem 210,
memory subsystem 212, networking subsystem 214, power subsystem
216, optional switching subsystem 220, optional sensor subsystem
224 and/or feedback subsystem 236 may be coupled using one or more
interconnects, such as bus 238. These interconnects may include an
electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that the
subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one
another. Note that different embodiments can include a different
number or configuration of electrical, optical, and/or
electro-optical connections among the subsystems.
[0146] Electronic device 200 can be (or can be included in) a wide
variety of electronic devices. For example, electronic device 200
can be (or can be included in): a sensor (such as a smart sensor),
a tablet computer, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, an
appliance, a regulator device, a consumer-electronic device (such
as a baby monitor), a portable computing device, test equipment, a
digital signal processor, a controller, a personal digital
assistant, a laser printer (or other office equipment such as a
photocopier), a personal organizer, a toy, a set-top box, a
computing device (such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a
server, and/or a subnotebook/netbook), a light (such as a
nightlight), an alarm, a smoke detector, a carbon-monoxide
detector, a monitoring device, and/or another electronic device
(such as a switch or a router).
[0147] Although specific components are used to describe electronic
device 200, in alternative embodiments, different components and/or
subsystems may be present in electronic device 200. For example,
electronic device 200 may include one or more additional processing
subsystems, memory subsystems, networking subsystems, power
subsystems, switching subsystems, and/or sensor subsystems.
Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present in
electronic device 200. Moreover, in some embodiments, electronic
device 200 may include one or more additional subsystems that are
not shown in FIG. 2.
[0148] Although separate subsystems are shown in FIG. 2, in some
embodiments, some or all of a given subsystem or component can be
integrated into one or more of the other subsystems or components
in electronic device 200. For example, in some embodiments the one
or more program modules 232 are included in operating system 234.
In some embodiments, a component in a given subsystem is included
in a different subsystem.
[0149] Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device
200 may be implemented using any combination of analog and/or
digital circuitry, including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or
transistors. Furthermore, signals in these embodiments may include
digital signals that have approximately discrete values and/or
analog signals that have continuous values. Additionally,
components and circuits may be single-ended or differential, and
power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.
[0150] An integrated circuit may implement some or all of the
functionality of networking subsystem 214 (such as a radio) and,
more generally, some or all of the functionality of electronic
device 200. Moreover, the integrated circuit may include hardware
and/or software mechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless
signals from electronic device 200 to, and receiving signals at
electronic device 200 from other electronic devices. Aside from the
mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in the art
and hence are not described in detail. In general, networking
subsystem 214 and/or the integrated circuit can include any number
of radios. Note that the radios in multiple-radio embodiments
function in a similar way to the radios described in single-radio
embodiments.
[0151] In some embodiments, networking subsystem 214 and/or the
integrated circuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one
or more hardware and/or software mechanisms) that configures the
radio(s) to transmit and/or receive on a given communication
channel (e.g., a given carrier frequency). For example, in some
embodiments, the configuration mechanism can be used to switch the
radio from monitoring and/or transmitting on a given communication
channel to monitoring and/or transmitting on a different
communication channel. (Note that `monitoring` as used herein
comprises receiving signals from other electronic devices and
possibly performing one or more processing operations on the
received signals, e.g., determining if the received signal
comprises an advertising frame, a petition, a beacon, etc.)
[0152] While some of the operations in the preceding embodiments
were implemented in hardware or software, in general the operations
in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety
of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of the
operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in
hardware, in software or both.
[0153] We now further describe exemplary embodiments of the
ecosystem. FIG. 3 presents a drawing illustrating a component 300
in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. This component may be capable of
receiving one or more inputs 310, such as a service, information or
goods or SIG (which may include a service, a sub-service in the
service, a product, analyzed sensor data, configuration
information, notifications, fraud-detection information,
fraudulent-payment information, faulty-sensor information,
additional information, etc.), compensation and/or sensor data. For
example, component 300 may include an application programming
interface with a structured format of the one or more inputs 310,
which allows component 300 to: collect or receive sensor data,
receive analyzed sensor data, receive a service or a sub-service,
receive a fraud alert or information specifying a fraudulent
payment, receive a notification about a faulty sensor, receive
information that configures component 300 (such as into a
combination that provides a sub-service or a service), receive
payment for sensor data, a sub-service or a service, receive
calibration information, receive location information, receive
characteristics of an external environment (such as a laser scan of
a room, a thermal profile of a room, etc.), receive user
preferences, receive encryption keys, receive authentication
information and permissions, etc. Similarly, component 300 may be
capable of providing one or more outputs 312, such as an SIG,
compensation and/or sensor data. For example, component 300 may
include another application programming interface with a structured
format of the one or more outputs 312, which allows component 300
to: provide or forward sensor data, provide or forward analyzed
sensor data, provide a service or a sub-service, provide a fraud
alert or information specifying a fraudulent payment, provide a
notification about a faulty sensor, provide information to
configure another component (such as into a combination that
provides a sub-service or a service), provide payment for sensor
data, a sub-service or a service, provide identifying information
about component 300, the external environment and/or an entity with
which component 300 is associated, etc. Note that component 300 may
include: an environmental monitoring device, a partner electronic
device, a regulator device, a service-provider electronic device, a
computer system in the ecosystem, another electronic device (such
as an electronic device of a user entity), etc.
[0154] For example, a component that receives or provides
compensation (such as a payment) includes an environmental
monitoring device that is enabled for a subscription to a service,
or that charges another electronic device (such as another
environmental monitoring device) an amount for a prepaid service
(such as a prepaid `service value token` or SVT that is used for
each instance of a notification or an alert). Moreover, a component
that receives a service may include an environmental monitoring
device that remotely receives a firmware upgrade, a software
application or a program module that expands the functionality or
capability of the environmental monitoring device after a user pays
for an upgraded service or the expanded functionality.
Alternatively a component that receives a sub-service may include a
smoke detector that receives motion-sensor data, which allows the
smoke detector to determine the location of an individual or an
animal during a fire. Furthermore, a component that provides a
service may include an air purifier purifying the air, a smoke
detector or a carbon-monoxide detector providing an alert or a
notification, or a volatile-organic-compound sensor providing
measurements of harmful chemicals in an external environment.
[0155] Components in the ecosystem may be arranged into a service
hierarchy, which allows different combinations (which may be
arranged or assembled dynamically) to provide services in
environments. This is illustrated in FIG. 4, which presents a block
diagram illustrating communication among the components in the
ecosystem of FIG. 1. In particular, environmental monitoring
devices (EMD) 410 and/or partner electronic devices (such as
partner electronic device or PED 412-1) in sub-spaces 416 in spaces
418 (such as hallways and/or rooms in a house or building) may
interact with each other (i.e., may exchange the inputs and the
outputs) to form collector systems 414 (such as groups of
interacting environmental monitoring devices 410). Moreover,
environmental monitoring devices 410, partner electronic device
412-1 and/or collector systems 414 may, via optional intermediary
network 420-1 (such as a network associated with a partner of a
provider of at least some of environmental monitoring devices 410)
and/or ecosystem network 422-1 (which may include one or more
computer systems and one or more communication networks), interact
with service-provider electronic devices 424 (and, more generally,
the service providers). In addition, environmental monitoring
devices 410, partner electronic device 412-1 and/or collector
systems 414 may, directly or via an intermediary, communicate with
one or more electronic device(s) 426 of users or user entities
(such as a homeowner or a group of homeowners) that pay for a
service based on the monitored sensor data.
[0156] Thus, there may be multiple environmental monitoring devices
410, partner electronic devices and collector systems in sub-spaces
416 and/or spaces 418. For example, there may be multiple smoke
detectors in a long hallway, or a smoke detector, a nightlight and
an air purifier in the same room, and there can be multiple
sub-spaces in a space (such as rooms in a house, rooms in a hotel,
offices in a building, buildings in a work campus, houses in a
housing association, etc.). Moreover, there can be many different
users, partners and entities that exchange the inputs and outputs
with different or varying data privileges or information rights
across these electronic devices, collector systems, sub-spaces and
spaces. For example, landlords or property managers, property
owners, maintenance staff and tenants can have varying access to
information (such as sensor data, analyzed sensor data,
environmental conditions, alerts, notifications, etc.) in a space
that represents a multi-unit housing community.
[0157] Note that a service provider and a partner can be associated
with the same or a different organization or company. In general, a
partner is a company that manufacturers or provides a product (such
as partner electronic device 412-1) that is compatible with one or
more of environmental monitoring devices 410, such as a product
that is designed by a provider of one or more of environmental
monitoring devices 410 or that includes a processing subsystem that
is compatible with one or more of environmental monitoring devices
410 (such as a processor or a microcontroller that uses the same
libraries as one or more of environmental monitoring devices 410).
In some embodiments, a partner electronic device includes a sensor
or a program module on behalf of the provider of one or more of
environmental monitoring devices 410. This sensor or program module
may enable functionality of the partner electronic device that, in
conjunction with one or more of environmental monitoring devices
410, facilitates a sub-service or a service. Furthermore, a partner
may exchange inputs and outputs with one or more environmental
monitoring devices 410 without requiring compensation at the time
of the exchange (e.g., based on a pre-existing business agreement
between the partner and the provider of one or more of
environmental monitoring devices 410). In contrast, a service
provider is an individual, an organization, a company or a
government entity that uses the outputs (such as sensor data) to
provide a sub-service or a service in a combination, such as: a
more competitive insurance quote, a fire or security monitoring
service, automatic battery and filter shipments, automatic
maintenance and repair-service scheduling, etc. In some
embodiments, partners and/or service providers can also use their
own data and payment gateways to provide services directly to
customers or user entities.
[0158] In some embodiments, a provider of environmental monitoring
devices 410 provides incentives to entities to install
environmental monitoring devices 410. For example, an incentive can
be a monthly rebate, a per-use rebate, or an initial discount on
environmental monitoring devices 410 or a discount on the
installation of environmental monitoring devices 410. Similarly,
the provider can provide incentives for partners to manufacture
partner electronic devices that are compatible with the ecosystem,
such as a payment for each partner electronic device. In addition,
agreements between the provider and a partner may allow one or both
to have access to sensor data, analyzed sensor data and/or
environmental condition information that they would not otherwise
be able to access.
[0159] Another view of the service hierarchy is shown in FIG. 5,
which presents a drawing illustrating different components and
layers in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Yet another view of the service
hierarchy is shown in FIG. 6, which presents a drawing illustrating
different components and layers in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Note
that an air-aware platform 610 in the ecosystem may include:
climate control (such as temperature and humidity monitoring),
air-quality control, lighting or illumination control, and/or
health and comfort. A space-aware platform 612 in the ecosystem may
include: security (including monitoring for hazards such as
burglary), safety (including monitoring for hazards such as fire)
and/or access control. Moreover, a resource-aware platform 614 may
include: shared-resource metering or monitoring (such as use of a
utility in a multiple occupancy residence, e.g., gas, electric,
trash or water services), more-efficient resource consumption
and/or resource distribution. An entity can choose to subscribe to
one or more of the services facilitated by these platforms. For
example, a user may opt-in to some services and opt-out of others
for a rate reduction. Note that the services can be grouped into
subsets such that an entity can subscribe to a specific subset of
the services.
[0160] In the embodiments of the ecosystem, ecosystem network 616
(or cloud) may include different (but linked or connected)
sub-components. For example, a portion of ecosystem network 616
(such as air-aware platform 610, space-aware platform 612 and/or
resource-aware platform 614) may provide an interface that
exchanges, collects and/or stores the sensor data, the analyzed
sensor data, environmental conditions, component configurations,
the alerts and notifications, payments or compensation, and user or
entity accounts, and that provides access to different entities to
this information. In addition, another portion of ecosystem network
616 may provide an interface to the service providers to receive
service orders and notifications, to provide products and services,
to receive compensation, to receive fraud-detection and payment
analytics, etc.
[0161] FIG. 7 presents a drawing illustrating components and layers
in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. In particular, ecosystem network 422-1
(which provides an independent infrastructure for dynamically
establishing, monitoring, and/or modifying combinations of
components) is illustrated as a horseshoe shape with environmental
monitoring devices 410 on one side, service-providers electronic
devices 424 on the other side, and partner electronic devices 412
in the middle. Different positions along the horizontal length of
ecosystem network 422-1 may represent connections or channels in
different combinations 710 that can be implemented by ecosystem
network 422-1. For example, using combination 710-1, a user entity
can leverage sensor data from environmental monitoring device 410-1
that is installed in a space or space system. This environmental
monitoring device may be provided by a provider of ecosystem
network (or on whose behalf ecosystem network is operated).
Moreover, environmental monitoring device 410-1 may communicate
sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data to service-provider
electronic device (SPED) 424-1 via ecosystem network 422-1, and
service-provider electronic device 424-1 may provide a service to a
user (e.g., via ecosystem network 422-1 and/or environmental
monitoring device 410-1). Alternatively, in combination 710-2,
environmental monitoring device 410-2 may exchange sensor data
and/or analyzed sensor data with partner electronic device 412-1 in
a space or a space system via ecosystem network 422-1, and partner
electronic device 412-1 may communicate the sensor data, the
analyzed sensor data, additional sensor data and/or additional
analyzed sensor data to service-provider electronic device 424-2
via ecosystem network 422-1. In turn, service-provider electronic
device 424-2 may provide a service to a user (e.g., via ecosystem
network 422-1, partner electronic device 412-1 and/or environmental
monitoring device 410-2).
[0162] In combination 710-3, environmental monitoring device 410-3
may exchange sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data with partner
electronic device 412-2 in a space or a space system via ecosystem
network 422-1. For example, partner electronic device 412-2 may
provide additional functionality or capability in combination 710-3
by leveraging the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data from
environmental monitoring device 410-3, such as by further analyzing
the sensor data. In particular, if partner electronic device 412-2
is a smoke detector, its emergency capabilities may be expanded
based on live-person detection information from environmental
monitoring device 410-3, which may allow partner electronic device
412-2 to alert the fire department to the location of individuals
in an external environment in the event of a fire. Alternatively or
additionally, if partner electronic device 412-2 is the smoke
detector, its emergency capabilities may be expanded based on
temperature measurements from environmental monitoring device
410-3, which may allow partner electronic device 412-2 to provide
information to the fire department about the location of a fire in
the external environment. In another example, if partner electronic
device 412-2 is the burglar alarm, ecosystem network 422-1 may
allow sensor data from a lock sensor in environmental monitoring
device 410-3 (which may detect lock picking or vibrations) to be
used to increase the accuracy of a detected space intrusion (and,
thus, may decrease the number of false alarms).
[0163] Furthermore, in combination 710-4 partner electronic device
412-3 communicates with environmental monitoring device 410-4 via
ecosystem network 422-1, and uses ecosystem network 422-1 to
communicate with one or more service-provider electronic devices
424. This may allow partner electronic device 412-3 to access
service-provider electronic devices 424 with reduced costs. In
turn, this may allow service-provider electronic devices 424-4 to
have access to a richer set of sensor data and analysis, and to
provide a wide variety of services to users.
[0164] However, in some embodiments, such as combination 710-5,
environmental monitoring device 410-5, partner electronic device
412-4 and service-provider electronic device 424-5 communicate with
each other without using ecosystem network 422-1. For example, this
communicate may involve a separate or dedicated infrastructure that
only supports communication between electronic devices associated
with or provided by a common provider or manufacturer.
[0165] In order to achieve the aforementioned dynamic combinations
in the ecosystem, the components may need to exchange data or
information, which is sometimes referred to as `data permeability.`
This is shown in FIG. 8, which presents a drawing illustrating
components and layers in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. In FIG. 8, data
permeability is illustrated among one or more partners and a
provider of ecosystem network 422-1. However, the concept of data
permeability may be extended to an arbitrary component in the
ecosystem. In particular, the data permeability can occur between
partners that are using ecosystem network 422-1 to collect and
analyze sensor data and/or partners that have their own partner
networks (such as partner network 810) that are owned and managed
by the partners. The data permeability can be defined by a
partnership agreement between one or more partners and a provider
of environmental monitoring devices 410 and/or ecosystem network
422-1. Moreover, the data permeability can be further influenced by
user preferences or settings. The data permeability can be
bi-directional, meaning that a first partner can share data with a
second partner, and a second partner can reciprocally share data
with the first partner. However, in some embodiments the data
permeability is unidirectional. For example, as indicated by
boundary 812, the sensor data captured by environmental monitoring
devices 410 may have completely bi-directional data permeability
with one or more partners. Alternatively, in some embodiments a
partner (who may be associated with partner electronic device
412-1) can choose not to have data permeability. In these
embodiments, partner network 810 may communicate with ecosystem
network 422-1 to achieve the analytical capability and/or
connection to one of service providers 424. Partner network 810 may
not be able to achieve this functionality by having access to
sensor data from other partner electronic devices (as indicated by
boundary 816). In another embodiment, partner network 814 has
unidirectional data permeability. In these embodiments, partner
network 814 accepts sensor data from other partner electronic
devices, but partner network 814 may not provide a fraction or all
of its sensor data to the other partner electronic devices.
[0166] The service hierarchy in the ecosystem may provide different
paths for exchanging information between components in
combinations. This is shown in FIG. 9, which presents a drawing
illustrating communication among components in the ecosystem of
FIG. 1.
[0167] We now consider some specific examples of combinations of
components in the ecosystem, including: a nightlight in a single
family home and a nightlight in an apartment building. Referring
back to FIG. 4, in the case of a nightlight in a single family
home, environmental monitoring devices 410 and partner electronic
device 412-1 may be nightlights, one of electronic devices 426 may
be associated with a user (such as a home owner), and
service-provider electronic devices 424 may be associated with
service providers, such as: a maintenance service, an installation
service, a retailer, and an emergency-monitoring service. FIG. 10
presents a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from one of
these nightlights, such as nightlight 1000, in the ecosystem of
FIG. 1. Inputs 1010 to nightlight 1000 may include: SIG such as
services (upgrades, automation management, device-relationship
management, batch management, etc.) and information (such as a
notification of an event, a call to action, etc.); compensation
information including when (non-recurring or recurring revenue),
how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token or event) and
frequency (time period, event or installment); and the data may
include metadata (such as a location, privacy rights, a nightlight
identifier, frequency and quantity of events, user identification,
mode, configuration, authorization, etc.). Moreover, outputs 1012
from nightlight 1000 may include: SIG such as services (led color
indicators of what the nightlight is monitoring and of other
indications related to other products, real-time monitoring of
events, lights that guide a user's path, the nightlight saves
energy by turning on when there is motion, the nightlight provides
security by listening for smoke detectors, etc.) and information
(such as a notification of an event, a call to action, etc.);
compensation information including when (a non-recurring or
recurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash,
token or event) and frequency (time period, event or installment);
and the data may include sensor data (such as samples of
temperature, humidity, volatile-organic compounds, etc.), sensor
packets (such as audio recordings from a microphone, motion
information, etc.), sensor streaming (such as the microphone, a
motion detector, etc.), events (such as from the microphone, from
the motion detector, a software trigger, a button, etc.) and
metadata (such as a location, privacy rights, a nightlight
identifier, frequency and quantity of events, user identification,
an operating mode, etc.). An example of good is an actual product
shipped from a retailer, or a digital download or firmware upgrade
for nightlight 1000, a service is a security or fire-monitoring
service, and information includes alerts (such as a notification
when a chemical reaches an unsafe level in the home).
[0168] The example of nightlights in an apartment building is shown
in FIG. 11, which presents a drawing illustrating inputs to and
outputs from nightlights 1110 in a space 1100 (such as a long
hallway) in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Inputs 1112 to nightlights
1110 may include: SIG such as services (upgrades, automation
management, relationship management, etc.) and information (such as
a notification of an event, a call to action, etc.); compensation
information including when (non-recurring or recurring revenue),
how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token or event) and
frequency (time period, event or installment); and the data may
include events (such as within type, across type, across brand,
feature enablement after payment authentication, etc.) and metadata
(such as a location, a location size, privacy rights, a nightlight
identifier, frequency and quantity of events, user identification,
mode, configuration, authorization, etc.). Moreover, outputs 1114
from nightlights 1110 may include: SIG such as services (such as
security, batching, safety, timely information communication,
batch-access controls based on the space, etc.) and information
(such as a notification of an event, a call to action, etc.);
compensation information including when (a non-recurring or
recurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash,
token or event) and frequency (time period, event or installment);
and the data may include events (such as within type, across type,
across brand, specified combinations of occurrences to trigger an
event, etc.) and metadata (such as: a location, a location size,
privacy rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity of
events, user identification, an operating mode, configuration,
etc.).
[0169] As shown in FIG. 12, which presents a drawing illustrating
inputs to and outputs from an electronic device 1200 of a user in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1 (such as an example in which the user
entity is a homeowner), inputs 1210 to electronic device 1200 may
include: SIG such as services (upgrades, automation management,
device-relationship management, etc.) and information (such as a
notification of an event, a call to action, etc.); compensation
information including when (non-recurring or recurring revenue),
how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token or event) and
frequency (time period, event or installment); and the data may
include events (such as within type, across type, across brand,
etc.) and metadata (such as a location, privacy rights, a
nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity of events, user
identification, mode, configuration, authorization, etc.).
Moreover, outputs 1212 from electronic device 1200 may include: SIG
such as services (such as security) and information (such as a
notification of an event, a call to action, etc.); compensation
information including when (a non-recurring or recurring expense)
how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token or event) and
frequency (time period, event or installment); and the data may
include events (such as within type, across type, across brand,
etc.) and metadata (such as a location, a location size privacy
rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity of events,
user identification, a configuration, etc.).
[0170] As shown in FIG. 13, which presents a drawing illustrating
inputs to and outputs from an ecosystem network 1300 from a
provider of the ecosystem of FIG. 1, inputs 1310 to ecosystem
network 1300 may include: SIG such as services (upgrades,
automation management, device-relationship management, etc.) and
information (such as a notification of an event, a call to action,
etc.); compensation information including when (non-recurring or
recurring revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash,
token or event) and frequency (time period, event or installment);
and the data may include events (such as within type, across type,
across brand, etc.) and metadata (such as a location, privacy
rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity of events,
user identification, mode, configuration, authorization, etc.).
Moreover, outputs 1312 from ecosystem network 1300 may include: SIG
such as services (such as security, quarantined corruption,
high-quality data guaranteed, access and connection to the
ecosystem of service providers, partner-anonymized aggregated data,
etc.) and information (such as a notification of an event, a call
to action, etc.); compensation information including when (a
non-recurring or recurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit),
what (cash, token or event) and frequency (time period, event or
installment); and the data may include events (such as within type,
across type, across brand, etc.) and metadata (such as a location,
a location size privacy rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency
and quantity of events, user identification, a configuration,
etc.).
[0171] As shown in FIG. 14, presents a drawing illustrating inputs
to and outputs from a service-provider electronic device 1400 in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1, inputs 1410 to service-provider electronic
device 1400 may include: SIG such as services (upselling, cross
selling, market access, load management, etc.) and information
(such as a notification of an event, a call to action, etc.);
compensation information including when (non-recurring or recurring
revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token or
event) and frequency (time period, event or installment); and the
data may include user-entity information (such as a location, a
user identifier, assignment, timing, access, etc.) and supply
information (such as identification, specifications, etc.).
Moreover, outputs 1412 from service-provider electronic device 1400
may include: SIG such as services (such as security, safety,
quality guarantee, etc.) and information (such as a notification of
an event, a call to action, etc.); compensation information
including when (a non-recurring or recurring expense) how (prepaid,
credit or debit), what (cash, token or event) and frequency (time
period, event or installment); and the data may include offerings
(such as services offered, constraints, timing, location,
quantities, frequency, load, confirmation, status, etc.).
[0172] FIG. 15 presents a drawing illustrating layers with
electronic devices of a partner of a provider of the ecosystem of
FIG. 1. In particular, partner electronic devices 412 may include a
combined smoke detector, carbon-monoxide detector and motion
sensor. The provider of the ecosystem may pay the partner to
include one or more of these sensors in partner electronic devices
412. Moreover, one of service-providers electronic devices 424
(such as a security service) may work with the partner to exchange
sensor data, goods and service, and compensation via the ecosystem.
Partner electronic devices 412 may communicate with each other
about: their location, battery status, sensor data, user-access
rights, motion detection data (such as where each user is, etc.).
The sensor data can be transmitted redundantly to verify data
quality and ensure that important real-time sensor data is
received.
[0173] One or more of partner electronic devices 412 in the
external environment or the space may communicate sensor data
and/or environmental conditions with electronic device 426-1 and/or
ecosystem networks 422 (which may record and process the sensor
data, and may determine if a notification needs to be sent out the
ecosystem). Moreover, one or more of partner electronic devices 412
may exchange share information with the partner and/or the partner
may receive information from the ecosystem. The partner may use the
sensor data to offer an emergency-monitoring service.
[0174] Furthermore, a homeowner may pay for a security-monitoring
service using the motion sensors in partner electronic devices 412.
The provider of the ecosystem may: pay a retailer in the service
providers for replacement batteries, upgraded smoke alarms or
additional smoke alarms that are shipped to the space (such as a
home); pay an installation service in the service providers a
monthly fee (or a rebate to a landlord), a prepaid fee for a number
of notifications, or an initial payment or discount as an incentive
to install partner electronic devices 412; notify and pay the
security service for security-officer patrols and visits to the
space; notify the emergency-monitoring service, which may prompt a
visit from emergency personnel to the space. In addition, note that
the provider of the ecosystem may share revenue with the partner in
exchange for motion-sensor data from partner electronic devices
412.
[0175] Note that the margins in the preceding example may be
associated with a bulk service agreement with the security service,
in which the security service is paid per event, and a subscription
fee can be charged to each individual user. Alternatively, there
can be a flat subscription fee charged by the security service per
user, and with some markup charged by the provider of the ecosystem
as a subscription fee. In addition, the provider of the ecosystem
can charge customers per event or per usage. For example, with a
remote cabin that is visited once a year, and that has, on average,
one or two alerts per year, a full subscription service may not be
worth it. However, a subscription `lite` service or a fixed number
of notifications with an offer to `top up` or upgrade the service
to a full subscription as needed may be more useful for a user, or
may be perceived as a better value for the user.
[0176] The inputs to the partner electronic device may include: SIG
(such as space overview, a full-system fire test for the space,
firmware updates to support, space-specific features, custom
configurations between products and spaces, e.g., sprinkler
programming); compensation (such as credit-card registration,
prepayments, gift cards, service value tokens or other cash
equivalent to purchase subscriptions or on-demand services); and
the data (such as a Global Positioning System location, authorized
users, a sound profile, acoustic transfer function or
characterization of the space, configurations, connections between
devices, connections between spaces, privacy rights for users,
devices, identifying parameters for a sub-space within the space
and for the space, a device identifier, location naming, etc.).
Moreover, the outputs to the partner electronic device may include:
SIG (such as the space provides protection, shelter, security,
safety, storage, etc.); compensation (such as the space can be
rented out for living, hotel stay, events, storage or other
purposes, notifications of security breaches, etc.); and the data
(such as a Global Positioning System location, authorized users,
guests, privacy rights, identifying parameters, a size of the
space, user preferences, etc.).
[0177] Data flow in the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15
is shown in FIG. 16, which presents a drawing illustrating
communication among components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Note
that in this example, partner electronic devices may mesh or
combine their sensor data together (from primary to secondary
storage) for redundant data transmission and improved reliability
using possibly existing mesh network or communication techniques
such as Zigbee.RTM. or Z-wave.
[0178] Data flow in the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15
is also shown in FIG. 17, which presents a drawing illustrating
communication among components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1.
Moreover, compensation flow in the service hierarchy in the example
of FIG. 15 is shown in FIG. 18, which presents a drawing
illustrating communication among components in the ecosystem of
FIG. 1. Note that, in general, SIG may flow or be exchanged between
any pair of the components in the service hierarchy in the example
of FIG. 15.
[0179] Datagram flows between some of the components in the service
hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 are shown in FIG. 19, which
presents a drawing illustrating communication among components in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1. The datagrams include permissions as well
as sensor data. In some embodiments, the datagrams include
encryption keys.
[0180] An embodiment of datagram flows between additional
components in the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 are
shown in FIG. 20, which presents a drawing illustrating
communication among components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Another
embodiment of datagram flows between some of the components in the
service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 are shown in FIG. 21,
which presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1.
[0181] We now describe examples of timing diagrams during different
types of services. FIG. 22 presents a timing diagram illustrating
communication among components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 for an
alarm service. Moreover, FIG. 23 presents a timing diagram
illustrating communication among components in the ecosystem of
FIG. 1 for a product shipment or service scheduling in a retail
service. Furthermore, FIG. 24 presents a timing diagram
illustrating communication among components in the ecosystem of
FIG. 1 during a utility metering service. Additionally, FIG. 25
presents a timing diagram illustrating communication among
components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 during service origination,
installation and/or registration.
[0182] We now describe embodiments of service techniques that can
be performed using components in the ecosystem. FIG. 26 presents a
flow diagram illustrating a method 2600 for providing a service in
response to an alert in the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be
performed by an environmental monitoring device (such as one of
environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1). During operation,
the environmental monitoring device determines, based on sensor
data representing an environmental condition in an external
environment that is provided by a sensor mechanism in the
environmental monitoring device, the alert (operation 2612)
associated with the environmental condition and/or the external
environment. For example, the environmental monitoring device may
receive the sensor data from the sensor mechanism and/or may access
sensor data that is stored in memory.
[0183] Then, the environmental monitoring device provides, via an
interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device, a service
offer (operation 2614) to an electronic device based on the alert,
where the service offer includes information associated with the
environmental condition (e.g., the information may indicate the
environmental condition is present or may indicate that, if the
service offer is accepted, information about the environmental
condition will be provided), and the electronic device is of an
entity that is associated with the external environment (such as a
cellular telephone of a user entity, e.g., a user or an owner of
the environmental monitoring device, a tenant, a property owner, a
landlord, maintenance personnel, and/or a property manager).
Moreover, the environmental monitoring device receives, via the
interface circuit, a response to the service offer (operation 2616)
from the electronic device, where the response authorizes a service
based on the environmental condition.
[0184] Next, the environmental monitoring device performs the
service (operation 2618). Note that the service may include
providing the alert. For example, the environmental monitoring
device may communicate the alert to the electronic device.
Alternatively or additionally, during the service the environmental
monitoring device may provide an instruction to a regulator device
in the external environment to modify the environmental condition,
where the regulator device may be associated with a second entity
(such as a regulator entity) that is different from the entity and
a provider of the environmental monitoring device. This instruction
may include compensation (or information specifying the
compensation, such as a credit to a particular financial account or
a payment from a financial vehicle, e.g., a debit card or a credit
card) for the second entity. In particular, the compensation may be
for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-alert basis;
and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a time
interval (such as an hour, a day, a week, a month, while the entity
is present in the external environment, while the entity is absent
from the external environment, etc.). In some embodiments, the
service includes insurance for: an item in the external
environment, a portion of the external environment (such as a room
in a building), and/or the external environment.
[0185] Moreover, note that the service may be provided on a
per-alert basis. Alternatively or additionally, the service may be
selectively provided as a function of time based on the
environmental condition (such as when there are occurrences of the
environmental condition or when the environmental condition is
absent). Thus, in some embodiments, the service is provided as
needed. In some embodiments, a user can opt-in or opt-out of a
per-alert service plan.
[0186] Furthermore, a spatial extent of the service in the external
environment may be varied as a function of time based on the
environmental condition. For example, the service may be extended
to different rooms in a house or a building when the environmental
condition is present or absent.
[0187] Additionally, performing the service (operation 2618) may
involve: downloading software for the environmental monitoring
device (such as a software upgrade or antivirus software) that,
when executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs the
service; and/or enabling a software module in the environmental
monitoring device (i.e., that is already installed in the
environmental monitoring device) that, when executed by the
environmental monitoring device, performs the service. Thus,
performing the service (operation 2618) may involve obtaining or
activating additional functionality of the environmental monitoring
device, such as a different sensor capability or a different
sensor-data analysis capability.
[0188] In some embodiments, performing the service (operation 2618)
involves: communicating the sensor data to another electronic
device of the second entity or a third entity (such as a service
provider or a partner entity), which may be different from the
entity; and providing compensation for the sensor data to: the
electronic device, and/or an account-management computer system
that manages a financial account associated with the entity. For
example, the environmental monitoring device may provide the sensor
data to the regulator device, which allows the regulator device to
modify the environmental condition (e.g., using a feedback-control
system). In exchange for providing the sensor data that enables the
service in this example, the entity may be compensated or may
receive a credit in their financial account. In some embodiments,
the entity is compensated with a credit in a non-financial account,
such as a scoreboard, or a credit of services from a service
provider or a partner entity.
[0189] Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may
optionally receive additional sensor data (operation 2610) from
other environmental sensors in other environments, and the
determination (operation 2612) may be based on the additional
sensor data. Thus, the environmental monitoring device may use a
collaborative filtering technique to make the determination. For
example, sensor data from environmental monitoring devices in other
rooms or houses in a neighborhood may be used to determine if the
environmental condition (such as a regional power failure) is
present.
[0190] FIG. 27 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during method 2600 (FIG. 26). In
particular, optional sensor subsystem 224 in environmental
monitoring device 200 may provide sensor data 2710 to processing
subsystem 210. Then, processing subsystem 210 may analyze sensor
data 2710, and may determine alert 2712 based on the environmental
condition in the external environment of environmental monitoring
device 200. In some embodiments, at least another environmental
monitoring device, such as environmental monitoring device 2714, in
the same or a different external environment optionally provides
sensor data 2716 to environmental monitoring device 200. Networking
subsystem 214 may receive sensor data 2716 and may provide sensor
data 2716 to processing subsystem 210, which uses sensor data 2716
when determining alert 2712.
[0191] Moreover, processing subsystem 210 may provide service offer
2718 for service 2722 to networking subsystem 214. Next, networking
subsystem 214 may communicate service offer 2718 to electronic
device 108. Subsequently, electronic device 108 may provide
response 2720 authorizing service 2722 to networking subsystem 214,
which forwards response 2720 to processing subsystem 210. In
response, processing subsystem 210 performs service 2722.
[0192] FIG. 28 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 2800
for providing subsets of sensor data based on data privileges in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmental
monitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices
110 in FIG. 1). During operation, the environmental monitoring
device receives sensor data (operation 2810) representing an
environmental condition in an external environment that is provided
by a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device. For
example, the environmental monitoring device may receive the sensor
data from the sensor mechanism and/or may access sensor data that
is stored in memory.
[0193] Then, the environmental monitoring device generates the
subsets of the sensor data (operation 2818) based on the data
privileges of entities, where the data privileges of at least some
of the entities are different and at least some of the
corresponding subsets of the sensor data are different. For
example, the entities may include two or more of: a tenant in the
external environment, a property manager of the external
environment, an owner of the external environment (such as a
landlord), and maintenance personnel who maintain the external
environment.
[0194] Next, the environmental monitoring device provides, via an
interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device, the
subsets of the sensor data (operation 2820) to electronic devices
of the entities.
[0195] Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may:
optionally provide, via the interface circuit, data-availability
information (operation 2812) specifying available sensor data for
the external environment; and optionally receive, via the interface
circuit, requests (operation 2814) from the electronic devices in
response to the data-availability information, where the data
privileges correspond to the requests. For example, the data
privileges may be specified in the requests. Alternatively or
additionally, the environmental monitoring device may optionally
determine the data privileges (operation 2816) based on the
requests. In particular, the data privileges of an entity may be
determined based on the entity and the requested data (such as the
type of data). Note that the data-availability information may be
provided to: the electronic devices, and/or a system that
implements a sensor-data marketplace, which allows the entities to
determine the sensor data that is available.
[0196] In some embodiments, the data privileges vary as a function
of: time, and/or the environmental condition. Thus, an entity may
have access to different sensor data at different times of the day
and/or when the environmental condition is present or absent (such
as when a fire alarm or a carbon-monoxide detector is sounding an
alarm). Moreover, the data privileges may specify: different
spatial extents in the external environment monitored by the sensor
mechanism; and/or different types of information associated with
the external environment. For example, an entity (such as a
landlord) may have access to sensor data for a rental property at
certain times of day or when the tenants are not present.
Similarly, a tenant may have full access to the sensor data from
the rental property, while a landlord may have access to sensor
data that indicates an emergency (such as a fire or carbon
monoxide) and/or the availability or quality of certain services
(such as hot water, heating and air conditioning).
[0197] In an exemplary embodiment, environmental monitoring devices
are included in retail stores and a warehouse. The ecosystem may
aggregate and maintain the monitored sensor data and environmental
conditions. User entities in this embodiment may include: a
warehouse, a retail store and a trucking service. The ecosystem may
have different data privileges for these user entities, including:
general data privileges, warehouse access rights, and trucking
access rights. Service providers in this example may include: a
supplier, a logistics service, a consumer-rating service and the
corporate headquarters of the retailer. This service hierarchy may
facilitate supply-chain management.
[0198] FIG. 29 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during method 2800 (FIG. 28). In
particular, optional sensor subsystem 224 in environmental
monitoring device 200 may provide sensor data 2910 to processing
subsystem 210. Then, processing subsystem 210 may optionally
provide data-availability information 2912 to networking subsystem
214, which may optionally provide data-availability information
2912 to electronic devices 2914 of entities and/or a sensor-data
marketplace.
[0199] Moreover, one or more of electronic devices 2914 may
optionally provide one or more requests 2916. In response to
networking subsystem 214 receiving the one or more requests 2916
and forwarding the one or more requests 2916 to processing
subsystem 210, processing subsystem 210 may optionally determine
data privileges 2918. Alternatively or additionally, processing
subsystem 210 may optionally access predefined data privileges 2918
in memory subsystem 212. However, in some embodiments data
privileges 2918 are included in the one or more requests 2916.
[0200] Next, processing subsystem 210 may generate subsets 2920 of
sensor data 2910 based on data privileges 2918 of the entities, and
may, via networking subsystem 214, provide one or more of subsets
2920 to one or more of electronic devices 2914.
[0201] FIG. 30 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3000
for providing a service and subcontracting for sensor data that
enables the service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be
performed by an environmental monitoring device (such as one of
environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1), a computer system
(such as one of computer systems 120 in FIG. 1) and/or, more
generally, a system at one or more locations in the ecosystem. In
the discussion that follows, the system is used as an illustrative
example.
[0202] During operation, the system receives, via an interface
mechanism in the system, a service request for the service
(operation 3010) associated with an environment from an electronic
device of an entity (such as a user entity). Note that the service
request may include compensation (or information specifying
compensation) to or for a third entity associated with the system
(such as a provider of the system) for the service.
[0203] Then, the system identifies an environmental monitoring
device within the environment (operation 3012) in response to the
service request, where the environmental monitoring device provides
the sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the
environment, and the environmental monitoring device is associated
with a second entity that is different from the entity (such as
another user entity, a third-party owner entity, a partner entity,
a service provider, etc.) and/or the third entity. Note that the
service may be associated with a type of the sensor data, and the
environmental monitoring device may be identified based on the type
of the sensor data.
[0204] Moreover, the system: provides, via the interface mechanism,
a data request for the sensor data (operation 3014) to the
environmental monitoring device; and receives, via the interface
mechanism, the sensor data (operation 3016) from the environmental
monitoring device in response to the data request. Note that the
second entity may include a service provider, and the data request
may include compensation (or information specifying compensation)
to the second entity for the sensor data. Alternatively, the second
entity may include a partner of the third entity, and the sensor
data may be received without compensation to the second entity for
the sensor data.
[0205] Furthermore, the system provides the service (operation
3020) to the entity based on the environmental condition. In some
embodiments, the system optionally analyzes the sensor data
(operation 3018), and the service may be provided based on the
analyzed sensor data.
[0206] For example, the system may provide an instruction to a
regulator device in the environment to modify the environmental
condition, where the regulator device is associated with: the
second entity and/or a fourth entity that is different from the
entity, the second entity and the third entity (such as a regulator
entity). Moreover, the instruction may include compensation (or
information specifying the compensation) for modifying the
environmental condition. In particular, the compensation may be
for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis;
and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a time
interval. Thus, the service may be provided on a one-time basis.
(More generally, in the present discussion compensation may include
a flat-rate subscription paid at a predefined periodicity, such as
monthly, bi-yearly or yearly, which may cover a predefined number
of instances of the environmental condition or an unlimited number
of instances.) Alternatively or additionally, the service may be
selectively provided as a function of time based on the
environmental condition.
[0207] Note that performing the service may involve: downloading
software for the environmental monitoring device that, when
executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs the
service; and/or remotely enabling a software module in the
environmental monitoring device (i.e., that is already installed in
the environmental monitoring device) that, when executed by the
environmental monitoring device, performs the service. Thus, the
service may involve adding a capability or functionality to the
environmental monitoring device, such as a different sensor
capability and/or a different sensor-data analysis capability.
[0208] In some embodiments, the service includes insurance for: an
item in the environment, a portion of the environment, and/or the
environment.
[0209] FIG. 31 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during method 3000 (FIG. 30). In
particular, networking subsystem 3112 in system 3110 may receive a
service request 3114 for service 3130 associated with the
environment from electronic device 3116 of the entity, and
networking subsystem 3112 may forward service request 3114 to
processing subsystem 3118. Then, processing subsystem 3118 may
identify 3120 an environmental monitoring device 3124 within the
environment in response to service request 3114.
[0210] Moreover, the processing subsystem 3118 may provide, via
networking subsystem 3112, a data request 3122 for the sensor data
to environmental monitoring device 3124. In response, environmental
monitoring device 3124 may provide sensor data 3126. After
networking subsystem 3112 receives sensor data 3124 and forwards
sensor data 3126 to processing subsystem 3118, processing subsystem
3118 may provide service 3130 based on the environmental condition.
In some embodiments, processing subsystem 3118 optionally performs
analysis 3128 on sensor data 3126 prior to providing service 3130
based, at least in part, on a result of analysis 3128.
[0211] FIG. 32 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3200
for providing a service and subcontracting for sensor data that
enables the service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be
performed by an environmental monitoring device (such as one of
environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1), a computer system
(such as one of computer systems 120 in FIG. 1) and/or, more
generally, a system at one or more locations in the ecosystem. In
the discussion that follows, the system is used as an illustrative
example.
[0212] During operation, the system receives, via an interface
mechanism in the system, an alert (operation 3210) associated with
an environment, such as an alert based on an environmental
condition in the environment (such as an alert from an electronic
device in the environment or external to the environment). Then,
the system identifies an environmental monitoring device within the
environment (operation 3212) in response to the alert, where the
environmental monitoring device provides the sensor data that
represents the environmental condition in the environment, and the
environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity
(such as another user entity, a third-party owner entity, a partner
entity, a service provider, etc.) that may be different than a
third entity associated with the system (such as a provider of the
system). Note that the service may be associated with a type of the
sensor data, and the environmental monitoring device may be
identified based on the type of the sensor data.
[0213] Moreover, the system: provides, via the interface mechanism,
a service offer (operation 3214) to an electronic device of an
entity associated with the environment (such as a cellular
telephone of a user entity), where the service offer includes
information associated with the environmental condition (e.g., the
information may indicate the environmental condition is present or
may indicate that, if the service offer is accepted, information
about the environmental condition will be provided), and the entity
is different from the second entity and the third entity; and
receives, via the interface mechanism, a response (operation 3216)
to the service offer from the electronic device, where the response
authorizes a service. Note that the response may include
compensation (or information specifying compensation) for the third
entity for the service.
[0214] Furthermore, the system: provides, via the interface
mechanism, a data request for the sensor data (operation 3218) to
the environmental monitoring device; and receives, via the
interface mechanism, the sensor data (operation 3220) from the
environmental monitoring device in response to the data request.
Note that the second entity may include a service provider, and the
data request may include compensation (or information specifying
compensation) to the second entity for the sensor data.
Alternatively, the second entity may include a partner of the third
entity, and the sensor data may be received without compensation to
the second entity for the sensor data.
[0215] Additionally, the system provides the service (operation
3224) to the entity based on the environmental condition. In some
embodiments, the system optionally analyzes the sensor data
(operation 3222), and the service may be provided based on the
analyzed sensor data.
[0216] For example, the system may provide an instruction to a
regulator device in the environment to modify the environmental
condition, where the regulator device is associated with: the
second entity and/or a fourth entity that is different from the
entity, the second entity and the third entity (such as a regulator
entity). Moreover, the instruction may include compensation (or
information specifying the compensation) for modifying the
environmental condition. In particular, the compensation may be
for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis;
and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a time
interval. Thus, the service may be provided on a one-time basis.
Alternatively or additionally, the service may be selectively
provided as a function of time based on the environmental
condition.
[0217] Note that performing the service may involve: downloading
software for the environmental monitoring device that, when
executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs the
service; and/or remotely enabling a software module in the
environmental monitoring device (i.e., that is already installed in
the environmental monitoring device) that, when executed by the
environmental monitoring device, performs the service. Thus, the
service may involve adding a capability or functionality to the
environmental monitoring device, such as a different sensor
capability and/or a different sensor-data analysis capability.
[0218] In some embodiments, the service includes insurance for: an
item in the environment, a portion of the environment, and/or the
environment.
[0219] FIG. 33 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during method 3200 (FIG. 32). In
particular, networking subsystem 3312 in system 3310 may receive an
alert 3314 associated with the environment from electronic device
3316, and networking subsystem 3312 may forward alert 3314 to
processing subsystem 3318. Then, processing subsystem 3318 may
identify environmental monitoring device 3320 within the
environment in response to alert 3314.
[0220] Moreover, the processing subsystem 3318 may provide, via
networking subsystem 3312, service offer 3322 for service 3324 to
electronic device 3326 of the entity. In response, electronic
device 3326 may provide response 3328 authorizing service 3324.
[0221] After networking subsystem 3312 receives response 3328 and
forwards response 3328 to processing subsystem 3318, processing
subsystem 3318 may provide a data request 3330 for the sensor data
to environmental monitoring device 3320. In response, environmental
monitoring device 3320 may provide sensor data 3332. Furthermore,
after networking subsystem 3312 receives sensor data 3332 and
forwards sensor data 3332 to processing subsystem 3318, processing
subsystem 3318 may provide service 3324 based on the environmental
condition. In some embodiments, processing subsystem 3318
optionally performs analysis 3334 on sensor data 3332 prior to
providing service 3324 based, at least in part, on a result of
analysis 3334.
[0222] FIG. 34 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3400
for providing a service offer for a service (such as dynamic
insurance) in the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an
environmental monitoring device (such as one of environmental
monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one
of computer systems 120 in FIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system
at one or more locations in the ecosystem. In the discussion that
follows, the system is used as an illustrative example.
[0223] During operation, the system receives, via an interface
mechanism in the system, sensor data (operation 3410) from
environmental monitoring devices in environments, where the sensor
data represent environmental conditions in the environments, and
where the environmental monitoring devices are associated with
second entities (such as another user entity, a third-party owner
entity, a partner entity, a service provider, etc.) that are
different from a third entity associated with the system (such as a
provider of the system). Note that the system may provide
compensation (or information specifying the compensation) to the
second entities for the sensor data.
[0224] Then, the system analyzes the sensor data (operation 3412)
to determine a probability of an environmental condition occurring
during a time interval in at least one of the environments, where
an entity (such as a user entity) is associated with at least the
one of the environments. Moreover, the system calculates a
price-duration range (operation 3414) of a service in the
environment necessary for profitability of the service based on the
determined probability and an estimated cost associated with the
service.
[0225] Next, the system provides, via the interface mechanism, a
service offer (operation 3416) for the service associated with the
environmental condition to an electronic device associated with the
entity, where the service offer includes at least a price and a
duration based on the calculated price-duration range.
[0226] Furthermore, the system: receives, via the interface
mechanism, a response (operation 3418) to the service offer from
the electronic device, where the response authorizes the service;
and provides the service (operation 3420) to the entity based on
subsequent sensor data from one or more of the environmental
monitoring devices. Note that the response may be received without
action by the entity (e.g., the electronic device may authorize the
service based on one or more predefined criteria). Additionally,
note that the service may be selectively provided based on the
environmental condition, such as when the environmental condition
occurs or is present, or when the environmental condition is
absent. In some embodiments, the sensor data is received on an
ongoing basis, and the analysis is performed dynamically to update
the price-duration range.
[0227] Note that performing the service may involve: downloading
software for at least the one environmental monitoring device that,
when executed by at least the one environmental monitoring device,
performs the service; and/or remotely enabling a software module in
at least the one environmental monitoring device (i.e., that is
already installed in the environmental monitoring device) that,
when executed by at least the one environmental monitoring device,
performs the service. Thus, the service may involve adding a
capability or functionality to the environmental monitoring device,
such as a different sensor capability and/or a different
sensor-data analysis capability.
[0228] In some embodiments, the service offer includes multiple
pairs of prices and durations based on the calculated
price-duration range. In these embodiments, the response to the
service offer from the electronic device authorizes the service at
one of the pairs of prices and durations.
[0229] The sensor data may include current and historical sensor
data representing the environmental conditions in the environments.
Furthermore, the service may include insurance for: an item in at
least the one environment, a portion of at least the one
environment, and/or at least the one environment. Additionally, the
duration may include: one occurrence of the environmental
condition, or a predefined number of instances (such as 1, 3, 5, 10
or 100 occurrences).
[0230] Moreover, the system may: optionally provide, via the
interface mechanism, a data request (operation 3422) for additional
sensor data to at least: one or more of the environmental
monitoring devices, and/or one or more additional environmental
monitoring devices in at least the one environment; and optionally
receive, via the interface mechanism, the additional sensor data
(operation 3424) in response to the data request. For example, the
additional sensor data may provide an independent verification of
the price and the duration (thus, the additional sensor data may be
the same or a different type of sensor data than the sensor data).
The system may update the price and/or the duration based on the
additional sensor data. Note that the additional sensor data may be
associated with or may have timestamps after those of the sensor
data. Moreover, the service may be provided based on the additional
sensor data and/or the system may provide compensation (or
information specifying the compensation) for the additional sensor
data.
[0231] FIG. 35 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during method 3400 (FIG. 34). In
particular, networking subsystem 3512 in system 3510 may receive
sensor data 3514 from environmental monitoring devices 3516 in
environments, and networking subsystem 3512 may forward sensor data
3514 to processing subsystem 3518. Then, processing subsystem 3518
may analyze sensor data 3514 to determine probability 3520 of the
environmental condition occurring during the time interval in at
least one of the environments. Moreover, processing subsystem 3518
may calculate a price-duration range 3522 of service 3524 in the
environment necessary for profitability of service 3524 based on
probability 3522 and an estimated cost associated with service
3524.
[0232] Next, processing subsystem 3518 may provide, via networking
subsystem 3512, service offer 3526 for service 3524 to electronic
device 3528 associated with the entity, where service offer 3526
includes at least a price and a duration based on calculated
price-duration range 3522. In response, electronic device 3528 may
provide response 3530 to service offer 3526 authorizing service
3524. After networking subsystem 3512 receives response 3530 and
forwards response 3530 to processing subsystem 3518, processing
subsystem 3518 may provide service 3524 to the entity based on
subsequent sensor data 3532 from one or more of environmental
monitoring devices 3516.
[0233] In some embodiments, processing subsystem 3518 optionally
provides, via networking subsystem 3512, data request 3534 for
additional sensor data to one or more of environmental monitoring
devices 3516. In response, the one or more of environmental
monitoring devices 3516 may optionally provide additional sensor
data 3536. After networking subsystem 3512 receives additional
sensor data 3536 and forwards additional sensor data 3536 to
processing subsystem 3518, processing subsystem 3518 may update
3538 the price and/or the duration based on additional sensor data
3536.
[0234] FIG. 36 presents a flow diagram illustrating method 3600 for
identifying a combination of components that provides a service in
the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmental
monitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices
110 in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one of computer systems
120 in FIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system at one or more
locations in the ecosystem. In the discussion that follows, the
system is used as an illustrative example.
[0235] During operation, the system identifies, based on sensor
data from (or a type of sensor data available from) at least one of
environmental monitoring devices of second entities that represents
an environmental condition in an environment, the combination
(operation 3614) that provides the service related to the
environment, where the combination includes one or more of the
environmental monitoring devices of an entity and/or the second
entities and one or more of: partner electronic devices and/or
service providers. Note that the one or more of the environmental
monitoring devices may be included in the environment, and the
partner electronic devices may be included in the environment and
may be associated with partners or partner entities of a third
entity that is associated with the system (such as a provider of
the system). Moreover, a given partner electronic device may
optionally include, on behalf of the third entity, at least a
module and/or a sensor (i.e., the module or the sensor may be
pre-installed in the given partner electronic device), and the
service providers may include: a maintenance service, an
installation service, a retail service, and/or an
emergency-monitoring service. Furthermore, the one or more of the
environmental monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner
electronic devices and the service providers may be associated with
different entities. In some embodiments, the service is associated
with a type of the sensor data, and the one or more of the
environmental monitoring devices are identified based on the type
of the sensor data. For example, the service may involve providing
useful information (such as discount offers or advertisements) for
products a user may need, and the sensor data may allow the system,
as a function of time, to identify the user's needs and their
emotional state (such as when the user is interested or feeling
like shopping or purchasing something, e.g., when the user is
happy, when the user is motivated to solve a problem, etc.). Thus,
the environmental condition may include a user's emotional state,
needs and/or shopping intent.
[0236] Then, the system communicates, via an interface mechanism in
the system, configuration information (operation 3616) specifying
the combination and functions in the service to the one or more of
the environmental monitoring devices and one or more of the partner
electronic devices and/or service-provider electronic devices of
the service providers. The configuration information specifies
interrelationships among the combination that define the
service-data hierarchy, and the service-data hierarchy may specify
the exchange of the sensor data, the sub-services in the service,
and the compensation (including instructions for how to provide the
compensation) within the combination for the sensor data and the
sub-services.
[0237] In some embodiments, the system optionally receives a
request (operation 3610) for the service from an electronic device
associated with the entity that is associated with the environment,
where the entity may be different from the second entities, the
third entity, the partners and the service providers, and the
combination may be identified based on the request. However, in
some embodiments the combination is identified without a request
from the entity that is associated with the environment.
Furthermore, the combination may be identified when: the
environmental condition occurs; and/or a risk of occurrence of the
environmental condition exceeds a threshold (such as 1, 5, 10, 25
or 50%). Additionally, the system may optionally receive, via the
interface mechanism, an alert (operation 3612) about an occurrence
of the environmental condition in the environment, where the one or
more of the environmental monitoring devices are identified based
on the alert.
[0238] Moreover, the system may optionally: provide a service offer
(operation 3618) for the service to the electronic device
associated with the entity; receive a response (operation 3620) to
the service offer from the electronic device, where the response
authorizes the service; and notify the combination (operation 3622)
to provide the service based on the response.
[0239] Furthermore, the system may optionally perform remedial
action (operation 3624). For example, the system may provide
modification information specifying one or more modifications to
the combination based on additional sensor data from: the one or
more of the environmental monitoring devices; and/or an additional
environmental monitoring device in the environment. Alternatively
or additionally, the system may provide revision information
specifying one or more revisions to the service based on additional
sensor data from: the one or more of the environmental monitoring
devices; and/or an additional environmental monitoring device in
the environment. Note that the system may provide the modification
information based on the one or more revisions to the service.
Thus, if the service changes, the combination may be modified.
[0240] FIG. 37 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during method 3600 (FIG. 36). In
particular, networking subsystem 3712 in system 3710 may receive
sensor data 3714 and/or alert 3716 from one or more of
environmental monitoring devices 3718 in environments. Moreover,
networking subsystem 3712 may optionally receive request 3720 for
service 3722 from electronic device 3724 associated with the entity
in one of the environments, and may optionally forward request 3720
to processing subsystem 3726.
[0241] Then, processing subsystem 3726 may analyze sensor data 3714
(or the type(s) of sensor data 3714) to identify combination 3728
that provides service 3722 related to the environment.
[0242] Furthermore, processing subsystem 3726 may communicate, via
networking subsystem 3712, configuration information 3730
specifying combination 3728 and functions in service 3722 to one or
more of environmental monitoring devices 3718 and one or more of
partner electronic devices 3732 of the partners and/or
service-provider electronic devices 3734 of the service
providers.
[0243] Additionally, processing subsystem 3726 may optionally
provide, via networking subsystem 3712, a service offer 3736 for
service 3722 to electronic device 3724. In response, electronic
device 3724 may optionally provide response 3738 authorizing
service 3722, which is received by networking subsystem 3712 and
forwarded to processing subsystem 3726. Then, processing subsystem
3726 may optionally provide, via networking subsystem 3712,
notification 3740 to combination 3728 to provide service 3722.
[0244] Based on optional additional sensor data 3742, which is
received by networking subsystem 3712 from one or more of
environmental monitoring devices 3718 and/or one or more of partner
electronic devices 3732, and forwarded to processing subsystem
3726, processing subsystem 3726 may optionally perform remedial
action 3744, such as a modification to combination 3728 and/or a
revision to service 3722.
[0245] FIG. 38 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3800
for performing a remedial action in response to bad sensor data
and/or fraudulent payments in one or more combinations in the
ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmental
monitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices
110 in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one of computer systems
120 in FIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system at one or more
locations in the ecosystem. In the discussion that follows, the
system is used as an illustrative example.
[0246] During operation, the system monitors inputs and outputs
(operation 3810) exchanged among components in combinations that
provide services in the environments, where the environments
include environmental monitoring devices (which are associated with
user entities and/or second entities) and partner electronic
devices (which are associated with partners or partner entities of
a third entity associated with the system, such as a provider of
the system). Note that the components in a given combination
include at least one of: the environmental monitoring devices, and
one or more of the partner electronic devices and/or service
providers. The given partner electronic device may include, on
behalf of the third entity, at least a module and/or a sensor
(i.e., the module and/or the sensor may be pre-installed in the
given partner electronic device). Moreover, the service providers
include: a maintenance service, an installation service, a retail
service, and/or an emergency-monitoring service Furthermore, the
inputs and the outputs from a given component in the given
combination include: sensor data representing one or more
environmental conditions in one or more of the environments,
sub-services in the services, and/or compensation (or information
specifying the compensation) within the given combination for the
sensor data and the sub-services. Then, the system: optionally
stores the monitored inputs and outputs (operation 3812); analyzes
the inputs and outputs (operation 3814) based on quality criteria
and historical inputs and outputs exchanged within the
combinations; identifies, based on the analysis, an instance in the
inputs and the outputs of: incorrect sensor data and/or fraudulent
compensation (operation 3816); and performs a remedial action
(operation 3818) based on the identified instance.
[0247] Note that the analysis (operation 3814) may compare the
monitored inputs and outputs and historical inputs and outputs from
at least a subset of the combinations. Moreover, the combinations
in the subset may have: a common type of service, and/or a common
type of sensor data.
[0248] Moreover, the quality criteria may include: pre-defined or
pre-determined signatures of failure mechanisms in the
combinations, and/or signatures of previous fraudulent activity in
the combinations.
[0249] Furthermore, the sensor data may be acquired by one or more
of: the environmental monitoring devices, and/or the partner
electronic devices.
[0250] Additionally, at least the one of: the environmental
monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner electronic
devices and the service providers in the given combination may be
associated with different entities.
[0251] In some embodiments, the system optionally provides
modification information (operation 3820) specifying one or more
modifications to one or more of the combinations based on the
sensor data and/or the environmental conditions. In this way, the
combinations may be modified as the environmental condition
changes.
[0252] Moreover, the remedial action may include providing a
notification about the identified instance to an affected
combination. Alternatively or additionally, the remedial action may
include providing modification information specifying a
modification to an affected combination that includes the
identified instance. For example, the modification may include
excluding a source of the identified instance from the affected
combination, where the source may include one of: the environmental
monitoring devices, the partner electronic devices and/or the
service providers. Note that the remedial action may include
banning the source from inclusion in subsequent combinations.
Furthermore, the modification may include replacing the source of
the identified instance in the affected combination, and where a
replacement for the source may include: the environmental
monitoring devices, the partner electronic devices and/or the
service providers that is different than the source.
[0253] In some embodiments, the remedial action includes:
discontinuing a service provided by an affected combination that
includes the instance; and/or adjusting a level of the service
provided by the affected combination that includes the instance
(e.g., the service may be slowed down or intentionally degraded,
noise can be intentionally introduced in signal-based services or
in the associated sensor data, or data privileges of the source of
the instance may be changed or eliminated). Alternatively or
additionally, the remedial action may include removing the
incorrect sensor data from the inputs and the outputs. Furthermore,
the remedial action may include replacing the incorrect sensor data
from the inputs and the outputs with modified sensor data (such as
inferred or extrapolated sensor data, or sensor data that is
corrected for the incorrect sensor data). Additionally, the
remedial action may include instructions for performing maintenance
on the source of the identified instance in an affected
combination.
[0254] FIG. 39 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method 3800 (FIG. 38). In
particular, networking subsystem 3912 in system 3910 may monitor
inputs and outputs 3914 exchanged among and/or with components 3916
in the combinations that provide services in the environments. Note
that the components in a given combination may include at least one
of: the environmental monitoring devices, and one or more of the
partner electronic devices and/or service providers.
[0255] Moreover, inputs and outputs 3914 from a given component in
the given combination include: sensor data representing one or more
environmental conditions in one or more of the environments,
sub-services in the services, and/or compensation within the given
combination for the sensor data and the sub-services.
[0256] Then, networking subsystem 3912 may optionally store inputs
and outputs 3914 in memory subsystem 3918 (e.g., for future use).
Furthermore, processing subsystem 3920 may access inputs and
outputs 3914 in memory subsystem 3918 and/or may receive inputs and
outputs 3914 from networking subsystem 3912, and processing
subsystem 3920 may perform analysis 3922 on inputs and outputs 3914
based on quality criteria and historical inputs and outputs
exchanged within combinations 3916. Next, processing subsystem 3920
may identify, based on analysis 3922, an instance 3924 in inputs
and outputs 3914 of: incorrect sensor data and/or fraudulent
compensation, processing subsystem 3920 may perform a remedial
action 3926 based on instance 3924.
[0257] In some embodiments, processing subsystem 3920 optionally
provides, via networking subsystem 3912, modification information
3928 specifying one or more modifications to components 3916 in one
or more of the combinations based on the sensor data and/or the
environmental conditions.
[0258] FIG. 40 presents a flow diagram illustrating method 4000 for
analyzing inputs and outputs exchanged in combinations in the
ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmental
monitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices
110 in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one of computer systems
120 in FIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system at one or more
locations in the ecosystem. In the discussion that follows, the
system is used as an illustrative example.
[0259] During operation, the system monitors the inputs and the
outputs (operation 4010) among components in the combinations that
provide services in environments, where the environments include
environmental monitoring devices (which are associated with user
entities and/or second entities) and partner electronic devices
(which are associated with partners or partner entities of a third
entity associated with the system, such as a provider of the
system). Note that the components in a given combination include at
least one of: the environmental monitoring devices, and one or more
of the partner electronic devices and/or service providers. The
given partner electronic device may include, on behalf of the third
entity, at least a module and/or a sensor (i.e., the module and/or
the sensor may be pre-installed in the given partner electronic
device). Moreover, the service providers include: a maintenance
service, an installation service, a retail service, and/or an
emergency-monitoring service. Furthermore, the inputs and the
outputs from a given component in the given combination include:
sensor data representing one or more environmental conditions in
one or more of the environments, sub-services in the services,
and/or compensation (or information specifying the compensation)
within the given combination for the sensor data and the
sub-services. Then, the system optionally stores the monitored
inputs and outputs (operation 4012). Next, the system analyzes the
inputs and the outputs (operation 4014) to determine: sensor-data
patterns, suggested services, and/or suggested sensor-data
sub-contracting during the services and the suggested services.
[0260] Note that the analysis (operation 4014) may compare the
monitored inputs and outputs and historical inputs and outputs from
at least a subset of the combinations. Moreover, the combinations
in the subset may have: a common type of service, and/or a common
type of sensor data.
[0261] Moreover, the system may store information specifying the
combinations and the services.
[0262] Furthermore, the sensor data may be acquired by one or more
of: the environmental monitoring devices and/or the partner
electronic devices.
[0263] Additionally, at least the one of: the environmental
monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner electronic
devices and the service providers in the given combination may be
associated with different entities. Note that, based on data
privileges, at least some of the different entities may have
different access rights to the inputs and the outputs, and to the
analysis.
[0264] In some embodiments, the system optionally provides:
modification information (operation 4016) specifying one or more
modifications to one or more of the combinations based on the
analysis, and/or a notification (operation 4016) based on the
analysis. In this way, the combinations may be modified or adapted
based on identified opportunities.
[0265] Note that analysis (operation 4014) may determine:
purchasing patterns, recommended product features, recommended
retail inventory, recommended pricing of the services and the
suggested services, and/or recommended durations of the services
and the suggested services.
[0266] Additionally, the system may optionally: receive requests
for the services (operation 4018), e.g., from electronic devices of
user entities; and provide configuration information (operation
4020) specifying the combinations and functions of the components
in the combinations. Note that at least some of the combinations
may provide the services in at least a subset of the environments
without action by occupants of at least the subset of the
environments (e.g., the requests may be provided by third parties).
For example, the requests for the services for at least some of the
combinations may be associated with: a governmental organization,
an insurance provider, and/or an owner of at least the subset of
the environments.
[0267] FIG. 41 presents a drawing illustrating communication among
components in an ecosystem during the method 4000 (FIG. 40). In
particular, networking subsystem 4112 in system 4110 may monitor
inputs and outputs 4114 exchanged among and/or with components 4116
in the combinations that provide services in the environments. Note
that the components in a given combination may include at least one
of: the environmental monitoring devices, and one or more of the
partner electronic devices and/or service providers. Moreover,
inputs and outputs 4114 from a given component in the given
combination include: sensor data representing one or more
environmental conditions in one or more of the environments,
sub-services in the services, and/or compensation within the given
combination for the sensor data and the sub-services.
[0268] Then, networking subsystem 4112 may optionally store inputs
and outputs 4114 in memory subsystem 4118. Furthermore, processing
subsystem 4120 may access inputs and outputs 4114 in memory
subsystem 4118 and/or may receive inputs and outputs 4114 from
networking subsystem 4112, and processing subsystem 4120 may
perform analysis 4122 on inputs and outputs 4114 to determine
analysis results, such as: sensor-data patterns, suggested
services, and/or suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the
services and the suggested services.
[0269] Additionally, processing subsystem 4120 may optionally
provide, via networking subsystem 4112, modification information
4124 specifying one or more modifications to components 4116 in one
or more of the combinations and/or notification 4126 based on
analysis 4122.
[0270] In some embodiments, networking subsystem 4112 may
optionally receive, from one or more components 4116, one or more
requests 4128 for one or more services, and networking subsystem
4112 may optionally forward the one or more requests 4128 to
processing subsystem 4120. In response, processing subsystem 4120
may optionally provide, via networking subsystem 4112,
configuration information 4130 specifying the combinations and
functions of components 4116 in the combinations, so components
4116 can provide the one or more requested services.
[0271] In some embodiments of one or more of the preceding methods,
there may be additional or fewer operations. Furthermore, the order
of the operations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may
be combined into a single operation. In addition, in some of the
preceding embodiments there are fewer components, more components,
a position of a component is changed and/or two or more components
are combined.
[0272] In the preceding description, we refer to `some
embodiments.` Note that `some embodiments` describes a subset of
all of the possible embodiments, but does not always specify the
same subset of embodiments.
[0273] The foregoing description is intended to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided
in the context of a particular application and its requirements.
Moreover, the foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present
disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to
limit the present disclosure to the forms disclosed. Accordingly,
many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners
skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may
be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally,
the discussion of the preceding embodiments is not intended to
limit the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not
intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be
accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and
features disclosed herein.
* * * * *