WALL-MOUNTED INTERACTIVE SENSING AND AUDIO-VISUAL NODE DEVICES FOR NETWORKED LIVING AND WORK SPACES
Described herein are networked (smart) living and work spaces, including a variety of different wireless nodes that may be distributed, including wall-mounted and/or retrofitted over existing electrical outlets and light switches, for providing data streams to a digital hub or master controller. For example, described herein are wall-mounted, interactive sensing and audio-visual node device for a networked living/working space.
1 . A wall-mounted, interactive sensing and audio-visual node device for a networked living/working space, the node device comprising:
a faceplate having an outer surface;
a camera module comprising a lens mounted in the faceplate;
a microphone module mounted to faceplate;
at least one sensor module mounted on the faceplate, the sensor module comprising one or more sensors selected from: a smoke detector, a CO detector, a combustible gas sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO 2 detector, dust sensor; a NO 2 sensor, a formaldehyde sensor, and a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor;
a wireless circuit configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data;
a local controller configured to process information to and from the camera module, microphone module, and sensor module, wherein the local controller encodes and prioritizes information from each of the camera module, microphone module, and sensor module for transmission on the wireless circuit, and controls each of camera module, microphone module, and sensor module based on information received by the wireless circuit;
a wall power input configured to connect to a wall power line;
wherein the faceplate is configured to be mounted to a wall so that the outer surface of the faceplate faces away from the wall.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an opening through the faceplate for a light switch.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the local controller is configured to receive control information from a remote hub and to modify the operation of a one or more of the camera module, microphone module and sensor module based on information received from the remote hub.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the local controller is configured to communicate with one or more other interactive sensing and audio-visual node devices in a distributed computing network, and to negotiate with the one or more other interactive sensing and audio-visual node devices to modify the operation of one or more of the camera module, microphone module and sensor module.
5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power line communication (PLC) circuit coupled to the faceplate, the PLC circuit configured to receive data from and transmit data on the power line connected to the wall power input, the PLC circuit connected to the local controller.
6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a USB port on the faceplate.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power over Ethernet (PoE) output plug on the faceplate.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lens of the camera module is a very wide-angle lens.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect motion using the camera module.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module comprises a motion sensor.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate is configured to be mounted to an electrical box in a wall so that the faceplate covers the opening into the electrical box.
12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a switch configured to connect and disconnect power from the power line to a power output.
13 . A wall-mounted, interactive sensing and audio-visual node device for a networked living/working space, the node device comprising:
a faceplate having an outer surface;
a camera module comprising a lens mounted in the faceplate;
a display module, comprising a touch screen, mounted on the faceplate;
a microphone module mounted to faceplate;
a speaker module having an output mounted on the faceplate;
at least one sensor module mounted on the faceplate, the sensor module comprising one or more sensors selected from: a smoke detector, a CO detector, a combustible gas sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO 2 detector, dust sensor; a NO2 sensor, a formaldehyde sensor, and a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor;
a wireless circuit configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data;
a local controller configured to process information to and from the camera module, display module, speaker module, microphone module and sensor module, wherein the local controller encodes and prioritizes information from each of the camera module, display module, speaker module, microphone module and sensor module for transmission on the wireless transmitter and receiver, and controls each of camera module, display module, speaker module, microphone module and sensor module based on information received by the wireless transmitter and receiver;
a wall power input configured to connect to a power line and to distribute power from the power line to each of the camera module, display module, speaker module, microphone module and sensor module, wireless circuit and local controller;
wherein the faceplate is configured to be mounted to a wall so that the outer surface of the faceplate faces away from the wall.
14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising an opening through the faceplate for a light switch.
15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the local controller is configured to receive control information from a remote hub and to modify the operation of a one or more of the camera module, microphone module and sensor module based on information received from the remote hub.
16 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the local controller is configured to communicate with one or more other interactive sensing and audio-visual node devices in a distributed computing network, and to negotiate with the one or more other interactive sensing and audio-visual node devices to modify the operation of one or more of the camera module, microphone module and sensor module.
17 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a power line communication (PLC) circuit coupled to the faceplate, the PLC circuit configured to receive data from and transmit data on the power line connected to the wall power input, the PLC circuit connected to the local controller.
18 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a USB port on the faceplate.
19 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a power over Ethernet (PoE) output plug on the faceplate.
20 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the lens of the camera module is a very wide-angle lens.
21 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to detect motion using the camera module.
22 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the sensor module comprises a motion sensor.
23 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the faceplate is configured to be mounted to an electrical box in a wall so that the faceplate covers the opening into the electrical box.
24 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a switch configured to connect and disconnect power from the power line to a power output.