ABILITY TO CREATE USER PREFERENCES FOR BUILDING SYSTEMS FROM HISTORICAL USE PATTERNS

Abstract

A method of controlling a building system is provided. The method comprising: detecting a first current position of a user device; obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position; obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list; generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list; selecting a scene; and adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

Description

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the field of building systems, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for controlling building systems.

Existing building systems may allow for control of building systems but control provide little customization ability.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a method of controlling a building system is provided. The method comprising: detecting a first current position of a user device; obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position; obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list; generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list; selecting a scene; and adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the selecting further comprises: transmitting the one or more scenes to the user device; displaying the one or more scenes on the user device; and receiving a user input from the user device at the current first position, wherein the user input selects a scene.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the selecting further comprises: automatically selecting the scene in response to at least one of the first current position, the action request list, the building system list, and a current time.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: transmitting the scene selected to the user device; activating an alarm on the user device when the scene is received; and displaying the scene on the user device when the scene is received.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that prior to the detecting a first current position of a user device, the method further comprises: detecting one or more current positions of a user device; obtaining a building system list at each of the one or more current positions, the building system list including building systems adjustable at each of the one or more current positions; receiving a user input from the user device at each of the one or more current positions, wherein the user input selects an action request for a building system; and generating an action request list in response to the action request for each of the one or more current positions.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the first current position occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions.

According to another embodiment, a building control system is provided. The building control system comprising: a processor; and a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: detecting a first current position of a user device; obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position; obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list; generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list; selecting a scene; and adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the selecting further comprises: transmitting the one or more scenes to the user device; displaying the one or more scenes on the user device; and receiving a user input from the user device at the current first position, wherein the user input selects a scene.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the selecting further comprises: automatically selecting the scene in response to at least one of the first current position, the action request list, the building system list, and a current time.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further comprise: transmitting the scene selected to the user device; activating an alarm on the user device when the scene is received; and displaying the scene on the user device when the scene is received.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that prior to the detecting a first current position of a user device, the operations further comprises: detecting one or more current positions of a user device; obtaining a building system list at each of the one or more current positions, the building system list including building systems adjustable at each of the one or more current positions; receiving a user input from the user device at each of the one or more current positions, wherein the user input selects an action request for a building system; and generating an action request list in response to the action request for each of the one or more current positions.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the first current position occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium is provided. The computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: detecting a first current position of a user device; obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position; obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list; generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list; selecting a scene; and adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further comprises: transmitting the one or more scenes to the user device; displaying the one or more scenes on the user device; and receiving a user input from the user device at the current first position, wherein the user input selects a scene.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the selecting further comprises: automatically selecting the scene in response to at least one of the first current position, the action request list, the building system list, and a current time.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further comprise: transmitting the scene selected to the user device; activating an alarm on the user device when the scene is received; and displaying the scene on the user device when the scene is received.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that prior to the detecting a first current position of a user device, the operations further comprises: detecting one or more current positions of a user device; obtaining a building system list at each of the one or more current positions, the building system list including building systems adjustable at each of the one or more current positions; receiving a user input from the user device at each of the one or more current positions, wherein the user input selects an action request for a building system; and generating an action request list in response to the action request for each of the one or more current positions.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the first current position occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include monitoring a person's use of buildings systems, creating scenes in response to the person's use and adjusting building systems based upon scenes.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a building control system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling building systems, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

FIG. 1 depicts a building control system 200 in an example embodiment. The building control system 200 includes a user device 208. The user device 208 is capable of secure bi-directional communication with a control device 206, a positioning system 430, and a plurality of interconnected systems 400. The user device 208 may be a computing device such as a desktop computer. The user device 208 may also be a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a phone, PDA, smart watch, tablet, laptop, etc. The user device 208 may also be two separate devices that are synced together such as, for example, a cellular phone and a desktop computer synced over an internet connection. The user device 208 may include a processor 250, memory 252 and communication module 254 as shown in FIG. 1. The processor 250 can be any type or combination of computer processors, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, programmable logic device, and/or field programmable gate array. The memory 252 is an example of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodied in the user device 208 including executable instructions stored therein, for instance, as firmware. The communication module 254 may implement one or more communication protocols as described in further detail herein. The user device 208 is configured to store a unique credential 258 that may be shared with the control device 206 and a plurality of interconnected systems 400, discussed further below. In a non-limiting example, the user device 208 may belong to an employee and/or resident of the building 202. The user device 208 may include an alert device 257 configured to activate an alarm 259. In three non-limiting examples, the alert device 257 may be a vibration motor, audio speaker, and/or display screen. The alarm 259 may be audible, visual, haptic, and/or vibratory. The user device 208 may also include an application 255. Embodiments disclosed herein, may operate through the application 255 installed on the user device 208.

As shown in FIG. 1, the building control system 200 also includes a plurality of interconnected systems 400 including: a positioning system 430, an audit system 460, one or more building systems 470, a mapping system 440, and a scene system 410. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the interconnected systems 400 are illustrated as separate systems. In an embodiment, at least one of the positioning system 430, the audit system 460, the one or more building systems 470, the mapping system 440, and the scene system 410 may be combined into a single system. In another embodiment, at least one of the positioning system 430, the audit system 460, the one or more building systems 470, the mapping system 440, and the scene system 410 is within the user device 208.

The interconnected systems 400 may each include a processor, memory and communication module. For ease of illustration, the processor, memory, and communication module are not shown in FIG. 1. The processor can be any type or combination of computer processors, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, programmable logic device, and/or field programmable gate array. The memory is an example of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodied in or operably connected to the path determination system including executable instructions stored therein, for instance, as firmware. The communication module may implement one or more communication protocols as described in further detail herein.

The positioning system 430 is configured to determine a current position 530 of the user device 208. The current position 530 includes the (x, y, z) coordinates of the user device 208 on a map. The (x, y, z) coordinates may translate to a latitude, a longitude, and an elevation. The positioning system 430 may use various methods in order to determine the current position 530 of the user device 208 such as, for example, GPS, Bluetooth triangulation, Wi-Fi triangulation, cellular signal triangulation, or any other location determination method known to one of skill in the art. The positioning system 430 is configured to transmit the current position 530 to the user device 208 and at least one of the scene system 410 and the mapping system 440. The scene system 410 and the audit system 460 is configured to receive the current position 530 from the positioning system 430.

The mapping system 440 is configured to store the (x, y, z) coordinates of control devices 206. When the mapping system 440 is provided with the current position 530 of a user device, the mapping system 440 is configured determine a building system list 540 in response to the current position 540. The building systems list 540 includes what the building systems 470 a user may have access to depending upon the current position 530. For example, if a user enters conference room A, the current position 530 show that the user is in Conference Room A and the mapping system 440 will determine all the building systems 470 available to the user in conference room A in a building systems list 540. The building systems list 540 may then be displayed upon the user device 208 through an application 255 and the user may select a building system 470 to control on the building systems list 540 through the application 255.

The building system 470 may include one or more individual controlled building systems including but not limited to lights, thermostat, blinds, cabinet locks, computers . . . etc. The building system 470 is configured to receive an action request 510 from the user device 208 and then adjust the building system 470 in response to the action request 510. In one example, the action request 510 may be to dim the lights and thus the building system may dim the lights in response to the action requests 510. The building control system 200 includes at least one control device 206 to adjust the building systems 206. The adjustments may include but is not limited to turning lights on/off, adjusting the strength of lights, adjusting the color of lights, increasing/decreasing the temperatures, opening/closing the blinds, powering on/off a computer . . . etc. The building systems 470 may be installed at a building 202. In some embodiments, the building 202 may be a building or a collection of buildings that may or may not be physically located near each other. The building 202 may include any number of floors.

Each of the action requests 510 are transmitted from the building system 470 to the audit system 460. The audit system 460 is configured to receive and store the action requests 460. The audit system 460 is also configured to transmit a list of action requests 520 to the scene system 410 when requested. The scene system 410 is configured to generate a scene 550 in response to the actions request list 520, building systems list 540, and current positions 530. The scene 550 may include all the action requests 510 for a user of a user device 208. The scene 550 may different depending on a current time, a current position 530 and building systems available at that current position in the building systems list 540. For example, a scene 550 may include a brightness level of the lights, an opacity level of shades, a temperature for a thermostat, and a volume level for a stereo. Advantageously, a scene 550 may be adjusted based on a personal preference of a user learned over time.

The building systems 470 may be operably connected to one or more control devices 206 configured to control the building system 470. The control device 206 may include a processor 260, memory 262 and communication module 264 as shown in FIG. 1. The processor 260 can be any type or combination of computer processors, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, programmable logic device, and/or field programmable gate array. The memory 262 is an example of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodied in the control device 206 including executable instructions stored therein, for instance, as firmware. The memory 262 may store a unique device ID for each control device 206. The memory 262 may also store a set of geo-location information for each control device 206. The communication module 264 allows for secure bi-directional communication wirelessly with a user device 208. The communication module 264 may implement one or more communication protocols as described in further detail herein.

The user device 208 communicates with the control device 206 and the interconnected systems 400. The communication may occur over a wireless network, such as 802.11x (Wi-Fi), short-range radio (Bluetooth), cellular, satellite, etc. In some embodiments, an interconnected system 400 and the control device 206 may include, or be associated with (e.g., communicatively coupled to) a networked system, such as kiosk, beacon, lantern, bridge, router, network node, building intercom system, etc. The networked system may communicate with the user device 208 using one or more communication protocols or standards. For example, the networked system may communicate with the user device 208 using near field communications (NFC). In an embodiment, the user device 208 may communicated with a control device 206 through a networked system. In other embodiments, the user device 208 may establish communication with an interconnected system 400 or a control device 206 that is not associated with a networked system in the building 202. This connection may be established with various technologies including GPS, 802.11x (Wi-Fi), cellular, or satellite, by way of non-limiting example. In example embodiments, the user device 208 communicates over multiple independent wired and/or wireless networks. Embodiments are intended to cover a wide variety of types of communication between the user device 208, the control device 206 and interconnected system 400, thus embodiments are not limited to the examples provided in this disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 2, while referencing components of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of method 600 of controlling building systems, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The method 600 is composed of two segments include a data collection segment 610 and a data application segment 630.

The data collection segment 610 collects data so that the data application segment 630 may be conducted with increased accuracy. The data collection segment 610 may be repeated multiple times and thus the terms “one or more” may be used when discussing the current position 530 during the data collection segment. Moreover, the data collection segment 610 and the data application segment 630 may occur simultaneously and may overlap.

The data collection segment 610 comprises blocks 612-626. At block 612, one or more current positions 530 of a user device 208 are detected. As mentioned above, the “one or more” term is meant to illustrate the repetitive nature of the blocks 612-626, thus each of the one or more current positions 530 are detected at a different time. The one or more current positions 530 of the user device 208 may be detected by the positioning system 430 and transmitted to the scene system 410 and/or the mapping system 420. If each of the one or more current positions 530 are transmitted to the scene system 410 then the scene system 410 will transmit each of the one or more current positions 530 to the mapping system 420 at block 614 in order to obtain a building system list 540 at each of the one or more current positions 530a at block 616. The building system list 540 includes building systems 470 adjustable at each of the one or more current positions 530. At block 618, the building system list 540 is transmitted to the user device 208 to be displayed on a display screen of the user device 208. At block 620, a user input from the user device 208 is received at each of the one or more current positions 530. The user input selects an action request 510 for a building system 470. The user input may be a touch to a touch screen of the user device 208, a click of a button of the user device 208, a voice command on the user device 208, or any other method of signaling intent to a computing device known to one of skill in the art.

At block 622, the action request 510 is transmitted to the building system 470 selected by the user input. At block 624, the building system 470 is adjusted in response to the action request 510. In a few examples example, the action request 510 may dim the lights to a selected level, close the shades a selected amount, and adjust the thermostat to a selected temperature. At block 626, the action request is logged in the audit system 460. The audit system 460 is configured to generate an action request list 520 in response to the action requests 510 for each of the one or more current positions. The action request list 520 will continue to grow, the more the data collection segment 610 is repeated.

The data application segment 630 comprises blocks 631-648. The data application segment 630 utilizes the data collected for the one or more current positions 530 and then applies that data to a single first current position 530 of the user device 208. Is important to understand the single first current position 530 may also be used for the purposes of the data collection segment 610 to first refine ranking in response to the action request list 520 described further below. The first current position 530 occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions 530.

At block 631, a first current position 530 of a user device 208 is detected. The first current position 530 of the user device 208 may be detected by the positioning system 430 and transmitted to the scene system 410 and/or the mapping system 420. If the first current position 530 is transmitted to the scene system 410 then the scene system 410 will transmit the first current position 530 to the mapping system 420 at block 632 in order to obtain a building system list 540 at the first current position 530 at block 634. The building system list 540 includes building systems 470 adjustable at the first current position 530.

At block 636, the action request list 520 is obtained from the audit system 460. The action request list includes action requests 510 transmitted from the user device 208 to the building system 770 at the first current position 530. The action request list 520 was composed during the data collection segment 610. At block 640, the scene system 410 generates one or more scenes 550 in response to the action request list and the building system list.

At block 642, the one or more building scenes 550 are transmitted to the user device 208 to be displayed on a display screen of the user device 208. An alarm 259 may be activate on the user device 208 when the one or more building scenes 550 are received. At block 644, a user input through an application 255 on the user device 208 is received at the first current position 530 and transmitted to the scene system 410. The user input selects a scene 550 for a building systems 470. The user input may be a touch to a touch screen of the user device 208, a click of a button of the user device 208, a voice command on the user device 208, or any other method of signaling intent to a computing device known to one of skill in the art. At block 646, action requests 510 are transmitted to the building system 470 in order to set the scene selected by the user input. At block 648, the building system 470 is adjusted in response to the action requests 510. The data application segment 630 may also include a block where the action request 510 is logged, similar to block 626. In an alternate embodiment at block 650, the scene 550 may be selected automatically by the scene system 410 instead of what is shown in block 642 and 644. The scene 550 may be automatically selected in response to at least one of the first current position 530, the action request list 520, the building system list 540, and a current time. In an example, a user of the user device 208 may walk into their office in the afternoon and the blinds may automatically close to block the setting sun, the thermostat may lower the temperature to account for the extra sunlight hitting the window and the lights may increase in brightness to offset the blinds closing, thus all action requests may have been taken as a result of previous action requests 510 at the same location and time. In another example, a user of the user device 208 may be visiting a guest office and the scene selection system may assign a scene to the guest office that the user typically uses at their home office. If the scene 550 is automatically selected then the scene select may be transmitted back to the user device 208 and an alarm 259 may be activated and the scene 550 displayed on the user device 208 when the scene 550 is received.

While the above description has described the flow process of FIG. 2 in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied.

As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as a processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a building system, the method comprising:

detecting a first current position of a user device;

obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position;

obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list;

generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list;

selecting a scene; and

adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting further comprises:

transmitting the one or more scenes to the user device;

displaying the one or more scenes on the user device; and

receiving a user input from the user device at the current first position, wherein the user input selects a scene.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting further comprises:

automatically selecting the scene in response to at least one of the first current position, the action request list, the building system list, and a current time.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting the scene selected to the user device;

activating an alarm on the user device when the scene is received; and

displaying the scene on the user device when the scene is received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the detecting a first current position of a user device, the method further comprises:

detecting one or more current positions of a user device;

obtaining a building system list at each of the one or more current positions, the building system list including building systems adjustable at each of the one or more current positions;

receiving a user input from the user device at each of the one or more current positions, wherein the user input selects an action request for a building system; and

generating an action request list in response to the action request for each of the one or more current positions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the first current position occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions.

7. A building control system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

detecting a first current position of a user device;

obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position;

obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list;

generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list;

selecting a scene; and

adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

8. The building control system of claim 7, wherein the selecting further comprises:

transmitting the one or more scenes to the user device;

displaying the one or more scenes on the user device; and

receiving a user input from the user device at the current first position, wherein the user input selects a scene.

9. The building control system of claim 7, wherein the selecting further comprises:

automatically selecting the scene in response to at least one of the first current position, the action request list, the building system list, and a current time.

10. The building control system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the scene selected to the user device;

activating an alarm on the user device when the scene is received; and

displaying the scene on the user device when the scene is received.

11. The building control system of claim 7, wherein prior to the detecting a first current position of a user device, the operations further comprises:

detecting one or more current positions of a user device;

obtaining a building system list at each of the one or more current positions, the building system list including building systems adjustable at each of the one or more current positions;

receiving a user input from the user device at each of the one or more current positions, wherein the user input selects an action request for a building system; and

generating an action request list in response to the action request for each of the one or more current positions.

12. The building control system of claim 11, wherein:

the first current position occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions.

13. A computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting a first current position of a user device;

obtaining a building system list including building systems adjustable at the first current position;

obtaining an action request list including action requests transmitted from the user device to the building system on the building system list;

generating one or more scenes in response to the action request list and the building system list;

selecting a scene; and

adjusting one or more of the building systems on the building list in response to the scene.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprises:

transmitting the one or more scenes to the user device;

displaying the one or more scenes on the user device; and

receiving a user input from the user device at the current first position, wherein the user input selects a scene.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the selecting further comprises:

automatically selecting the scene in response to at least one of the first current position, the action request list, the building system list, and a current time.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the scene selected to the user device;

activating an alarm on the user device when the scene is received; and

displaying the scene on the user device when the scene is received.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein prior to the detecting a first current position of a user device, the operations further comprises:

detecting one or more current positions of a user device;

obtaining a building system list at each of the one or more current positions, the building system list including building systems adjustable at each of the one or more current positions;

receiving a user input from the user device at each of the one or more current positions, wherein the user input selects an action request for a building system; and

generating an action request list in response to the action request for each of the one or more current positions.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein:

the first current position occurs at a time after each of the one or more current positions.