IP Library Granted Patent US 9,164,524
Granted Patent B2
US 9,164,524 · App. 14/066,232 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Method of managing a site using a proximity detection module

Inventors: Kevin R. Imes (Austin, TX); James Hollister (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
G05F1/66F24F11/006F24F11/0086G05D23/00G05D23/1904G05D23/1917G06F1/26G06Q50/06H04L12/2803H04L12/2818H04L12/2825H04L43/08H04L67/10H04W4/008H04W84/10F24F11/0012F24F2011/0058F24F2011/0071F24F2011/0073F24F2011/0075H04L2012/285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,164,524
App. No.
14/066,232
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of managing a site in a mobile environment, which includes detecting an availability of a thermostat wherein the thermostat has an operating condition; detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site; providing a proximity control selector within a user interface of the mobile device to manage a proximity detection module disposed on the thermostat, wherein the proximity control selector has an enabled setting of the proximity detection module and a disabled setting of the proximity detection module; enabling the proximity detection module in response to the enabled setting of the proximity control selector to allow for the modification of the operating condition of the thermostat based on the detected location of the mobile device relative to the site; and disabling the proximity detection module in response to the disabled setting of the proximity control selector.

Claims (43)

1. A method of managing a site in a mobile environment, comprising:

detecting an availability of a thermostat wherein the thermostat has an operating condition;

detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site;

providing a proximity control selector within a user interface of the mobile device to manage a proximity detection module disposed on the thermostat, wherein the proximity control selector has an enabled setting of the proximity detection module and a disabled setting of the proximity detection module;

enabling the proximity detection module in response to the enabled setting of the proximity control selector to allow for the modification of the operating condition of the thermostat based on the detected location of the mobile device relative to the site; and

disabling the proximity detection module in response to the disabled setting of the proximity control selector.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

altering an operating condition of the thermostat in response to the enabled proximity detection module and the detected location.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting an availability of a second thermostat; and

altering an operating condition of the second thermostat in response to the detected location and the enabled proximity detection module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabled proximity control selector is an away setting and the enabled proximity detection module is an away mode and the disabled proximity control selector is a home setting and the disabled proximity detection module is a home mode.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

detecting a setting change of the proximity control selector of the first mobile device; and

communicating the setting change to the network location.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a network location configured to store location information of a plurality of mobile devices including a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

detecting a first location information of the first mobile device relative to the site;

detecting a second location information of the second mobile device relative to the site;

communicating the first location information of the first mobile device and the second distance information of the second mobile device to the network location to be compared; and

initiating a change to the operating condition of the thermostat if a change in the first location of the first mobile device is different than a change in the second location of the second mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating a reporting interval from the mobile device to a network location in response to the distance; and

initiating communication of a control of the operating mode using the reporting interval and the distance.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving site information of the site at the mobile device;

presenting the site information within the user interface of the mobile device; and

presenting a current settings section within the user interface; and

enabling selection of the current settings section to control the operating condition of the thermostat.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising;

detecting the availability of a first network location and a second network location, wherein the second network location is different than the first network location;

initiating access of the first network location to detect the operating condition of the thermostat;

initiating access to a second network location to store the distance of the mobile device relative to the site; and

initiating a communication of a control action to the first network location to alter the operating condition of the thermostat.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

initiating access to the second network location to detect a distance of the first mobile device relative to a distance of a second mobile device associated with the site;

initiating access to the first network location to alter the operating condition of the thermostat if the first mobile device is closer to the site than the second mobile device;

storing an updated operating condition within the first mobile device; and

initiating an update of the operating condition at the first network location.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an availability of a WIFI network including a device connected to the WIFI network;

accessing the device using the WIFI network to detect an operating condition of the device; and

initiating an altering of the operating condition of the network device using the WIFI network.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT REEL/FRAME NO. IN BRIEF PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041500 FRAME: 0204. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 9, 2017
From: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041926/0029 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT NUMBERS 15/142,470, 14/323,029 AND 13/956,636 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040574 FRAME: 0924. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 26, 2017
From: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041500/0204 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 040574/0924 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2014
From: IMES, KEVIN R.; HOLLISTER, JAMES
To: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 033461/0864 →
Continuity (16)
Continuation 13662663 · Oct 29, 2012
Continuation 13302071 · Nov 22, 2011
Continuation 12948806 · Nov 18, 2010
Continuation 12948208 · Nov 17, 2010
Continuation 12948889 · Nov 18, 2010
Continuation 13075221 · Mar 3, 2011
Continuation 13089817 · Apr 19, 2011
Continuation 13217632 · Aug 25, 2011
Continuation 12840142 · Jul 20, 2010
Continuation 12840169 · Jul 20, 2010
Continuation 12840059 · Jul 20, 2010
Continuation 12893230 · Sep 29, 2010
Continuation 12893327 · Sep 29, 2010
Provisional Application 61255678 · Oct 28, 2009
Provisional Application 61235798 · Aug 21, 2009
Related Publication 20140058568A1 · Feb 27, 2014