Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to enforcing a device restriction policy. A device restriction policy may be stored that maps one or more portions of a household with particular household occupants of a plurality of household occupants. A request may be received to activate the device restriction policy on a household occupant. The device restriction policy may be activated against the household occupant based on the received request. One or more electronic devices may be disabled that are located in a portion of the household linked with the household occupant based on the received request and the device restriction policy.

Abstract: A method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event.

Abstract: A novel small format touch screen user interface for displaying, adding and editing program setpoints is described. When editing a setpoint the user's input is constrained such that the user can only alter one parameter. As soon as the user begins to drag a setpoint icon in either a horizontal (e.g. adjusting time), or vertical (e.g. adjusting temperature), the other parameter is constrained. Additionally, the disclosed user interface includes displaying information as to how the setpoint was most recently added or adjusted. For example the display can be used to indicate whether a setpoint was added or adjusted on the control device itself; by an automated learning algorithm; by a user on a web client; by a user using a mobile device, and so forth. Further, the name of the particular device may be displayed.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being pressed, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to various smart-home systems. Such a system may include a battery-powered smart home device that communicates using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates. Such a system may further include a smart wall outlet device. The smart wall outlet device may include wireless communication circuitry comprising a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate with the battery-powered smart home device using the first wireless protocol. The second wireless interface may be configured to serve as a communication bridge between the battery-powered smart home device and a wireless network that uses a second communication protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Abstract: A method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat controls an HVAC system to cool the structure using a demand response event implementation profile over the demand response event period. The thermostat can also receive a requested change to the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile and access a determination of an impact on energy shifting that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile. This determination can be communicated to the energy consumer.

Abstract: A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a body having a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint temperature are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks over a range of background tick marks on the electronic display. Different colors can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different intensities of colors can be displayed to indicate an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint temperature for the device can be altered by user rotation of the rotatable ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to the user and altered by the user by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to enforcing a device restriction policy. A device restriction policy may be stored that maps one or more portions of a household with particular household occupants of a plurality of household occupants. A request may be received to activate the device restriction policy on a household occupant. The device restriction policy may be activated against the household occupant based on the received request. One or more electronic devices may be disabled that are located in a portion of the household linked with the household occupant based on the received request and the device restriction policy.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes receiving an immediate-control input to change set point temperature, controlling temperature according to the set point temperature for a predetermined time interval, and then automatically resetting the set point temperature upon the ending of the predetermined time interval such that the user is urged to make further immediate-control inputs. A schedule for the programmable thermostat is automatically generated based on the immediate-control inputs. Methods are also described for receiving user input relating to the user's preference regarding automatically generating a schedule, and determining whether or not to automatically adopt an automatically generated schedule based on the received user input.

Abstract: A method implemented by a computer processing circuit connected to an electronic nose, for identifying a given item by an olfactory signature, the method making use of the electronic nose to obtain an olfactory signature, repeating the use of the electronic nose a first number K of times in order to acquire K olfactory signatures, making use of the computer processing circuit in order to estimate, on the basis of the K olfactory signatures, a model of the olfactory signature of the given item, acquiring, with an electronic nose of the same type, a current measurement of the olfactory signature of a current item of the same type as the given item, and comparing the current measurement to the model, in order to estimate a similarity (SIM) between the current item and the given item.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Abstract: This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Abstract: A method includes generating a utility portal interface in response to a request from a utility computer system that receives parameters that specify a demand response event; providing a display of groups of energy-consuming locations that are available to be selected to participate in the demand response event; providing a display of an energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event; receiving a selection of a subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to participate in the demand response event; causing the display of the energy demand profile for the utility during the demand response event to be dynamically updated as the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations are selected or deselected by the utility computer system to participate; and sending transmissions to thermostats associated with the subset of the groups of energy-consuming locations to execute the demand response event.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to various smart-home systems. Such a system may include a battery-powered smart home device that communicates using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates. Such a system may further include a smart wall outlet device. The smart wall outlet device may include wireless communication circuitry comprising a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate with the battery-powered smart home device using the first wireless protocol. The second wireless interface may be configured to serve as a communication bridge between the battery-powered smart home device and a wireless network that uses a second communication protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat controls an HVAC system to cool the structure using a demand response event implementation profile over the demand response event period. The thermostat can also receive a requested change to the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile and access a determination of an impact on energy shifting that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile. This determination can be communicated to the energy consumer.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein relate to enforcing a device restriction policy. A device restriction policy may be stored that maps one or more portions of a household with particular household occupants of a plurality of household occupants. A request may be received to activate the device restriction policy on a household occupant. The device restriction policy may be activated against the household occupant based on the received request. One or more electronic devices may be disabled that are located in a portion of the household linked with the household occupant based on the received request and the device restriction policy.