IP Library Granted Patent US 10,197,979
Granted Patent B2
US 10,197,979 · App. 14/291,789 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Determining occupancy with user provided information

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,197,979
App. No.
14/291,789
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are described for determining occupancy with user provided information. According to at least one embodiment, a method for determining occupancy with user provided information includes using at least one sensor to detect occupancy in a building over time, determining a predictive schedule based on the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor, and requesting information relevant to the predictive schedule from a user.

Claims (54)

1. A computer implemented method for determining occupancy with user provided information, comprising:

using at least one sensor to detect occupancy in a building over time;

determining, by a processor, a predictive schedule based on the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

determining, by the processor, that information relevant to the predictive schedule is missing from the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

determining, by the processor, whether a confidence score associated with the predictive schedule satisfies a threshold, wherein the confidence score associated with the predictive schedule is based at least in part on the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule;

transmitting, by the processor, a request for the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule to a user to determine whether the at least one sensor has a blind spot, wherein requesting the information is based at least in part on determining that the confidence score associated with the predictive schedule satisfies the threshold;

receiving, by the processor, information from the user;

verifying, by the processor, that the information received from the user is associated with the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule;

identifying, by the processor, a location in the building where the at least one sensor has the blind spot based at least in part on the information received from the user and the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

changing, by the processor, the confidence score about ascertained data relevant to the predictive schedule based at least in part on the identified location;

updating, by the processor, the predictive schedule based at least in part on changing the confidence score; and

automatically performing a task associated with the building, by the processor, based at least in part on updating the predictive schedule, wherein performing the task may be at least one of activating an alarm at the building, adjusting a climate control setting, opening a door, closing a door, locking a door, unlocking a door, controlling a security parameters, managing settings associated with energy consumption; control lighting associated with the building, control cameras associated with the building, send a notification regarding an event associated with the building, or a combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the request for the information relevant to the predictive schedule to the user comprises sending a question to a device associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the request for the information relevant to the predictive schedule to the user comprises asking a question of the user about missing data relevant to the predictive schedule.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the request for the information relevant to the predictive schedule to the user comprises asking a question of the user about ascertained data relevant to the predictive schedule associated with an unreliable confidence score.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing the predictive schedule based on the information from the user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the request for the information relevant to the predictive schedule to the user comprises requesting data about a period of time where no occupancy is detected.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the request for the information relevant to the predictive schedule to the user comprises requesting the information about a number of occupants with location tracking mobile devices.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising suggesting to install another sensor at the location in response to identifying the blind spot.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising making a hypothesis about a detail relevant to the predictive schedule.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein transmitting the request for the information relevant to the predictive schedule to the user comprises requesting the user to confirm an accuracy of the hypothesis.

11. A computing device configured for determining occupancy with user provided information, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

use at least one sensor to detect occupancy in a building over time;

determine a predictive schedule based on the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

determine that information relevant to the predictive schedule is missing from the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

determine whether a confidence score associated with the predictive schedule satisfies a threshold, wherein the confidence score associated with the predictive schedule is based at least in part on the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule;

transmit a request for the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule to a user to determine whether the at least one sensor has a blind spot, wherein requesting the information is based at least in part on determining that the confidence score associated with the predictive schedule satisfies the threshold;

receive information from the user;

verify that the information received from the user is associated with the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule;

identify a location in the building where the at least one sensor has the blind spot based at least in part on the information received from the user and the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor; and

change the confidence score about ascertained data relevant to the predictive schedule based at least in part on the identified location;

update the predictive schedule based at least in part on changing the confidence score; and

automatically perform a task associated with the building based at least in part on updating the predictive schedule, wherein performing the task may be at least one of activating an alarm at the building, adjusting a climate control setting, opening a door, closing a door, locking a door, unlocking a door, controlling a security parameters, managing settings associated with energy consumption; control lighting associated with the building, control cameras associated with the building, send a notification regarding an event associated with the building, or a combination thereof.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to ask a question of the user about missing data relevant to the predictive schedule.

13. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to request data about a period of time where no occupancy is detected.

14. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to ask a question of the user about ascertained data relevant to the predictive schedule associated with an unreliable confidence score.

15. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to request the information about a number of occupants with location tracking mobile devices.

16. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to request data relevant to the predictive schedule from the user to confirm an accuracy of a hypothesis about a detail affecting the predictive schedule.

17. A computer-program product for determining occupancy with user provided information, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by a processor to:

use at least one sensor to detect occupancy in a building over time;

determine a predictive schedule based on the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

determine that information relevant to the predictive schedule is missing from the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor;

make a hypothesis about a detail affecting the predictive schedule;

determine whether a confidence score associated with the hypothesis satisfies a threshold, wherein the confidence score associated with the predictive schedule is based at least in part on the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule;

transmit a request for the missing information to a user to confirm the hypothesis to determine whether the at least one sensor has a blind spot, wherein requesting the information is based at least in part on determining that the confidence score associated with the hypothesis satisfies the threshold;

receive information from the user;

verify that the information received from the user is associated with the missing information relevant to the predictive schedule;

identify a location in the building where the at least one sensor has the blind spot based at least in part on the information received from the user and the occupancy detected with the at least one sensor; and

change the confidence score about ascertained data relevant to the predictive schedule based at least in part on the identified location;

update the predictive schedule based at least in part on changing the confidence score; and

automatically perform a task associated with the building based at least in part on updating the predictive schedule, wherein performing the task may be at least one of activating an alarm at the building, adjusting a climate control setting, opening a door, closing a door, locking a door, unlocking a door, controlling a security parameters, managing settings associated with energy consumption; control lighting associated with the building, control cameras associated with the building, send a notification regarding an event associated with the building, or a combination thereof.

Assignments (10)
AFTER-ACQUIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: VIVINT LLC; SMART HOME PROS, INC.; VIVINT AMIGO, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS PRIORITY COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 070349/0816 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038275, FRAME 0377 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0010 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 049283, FRAME 0566 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0137 →
RELEASE (REEL 047029/ FRAME 0304) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056832/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038402/0356 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 038275/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2014
From: WARREN, JEREMY B.; LYMAN, JEFFERSON; BUNKER, BRANDON; HWANG, JUNGTAIK
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 032998/0180 →