IP Library Granted Patent US 10,281,896
Granted Patent B1
US 10,281,896 · App. 15/478,345 · Granted May 7, 2019

Thermostat control based on activity within property

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,281,896
App. No.
15/478,345
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

Controller technology, in which data specifying a user preference relating to an environmental parameter for a property is received. Based on data collected by a monitoring system, a location of one or more users within the property is identified. Environmental condition data for the property is accessed, the environmental condition data including environmental condition data for the location of the users within the property and other unoccupied locations within the property. The environmental condition data for the property is analyzed with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property. Based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, a setting for at least one component of an HVAC system is determined. The at least one component of the HVAC system is controlled according to the determined setting.

Claims (69)

1. A controller configured to control at least one component of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system associated with a property and receive data collected by a monitoring system located at the property, the controller comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving data specifying a preference relating to an environmental parameter for the property, the environmental parameter being controllable by the at least one component of the HVAC system associated with the property;

accessing environmental condition data for a geographical location corresponding to the property, wherein the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property specifies at least a status of the environmental parameter for the geographical location corresponding to the property;

accessing environmental condition data for the property that indicates a condition of the environmental parameter within the property at different times, the environmental condition data having been collected by environmental sensors located within the property at the different times;

determining, based at least on the environmental condition data for the property that indicates the condition of the environmental parameter within the property at the different times, a model for the property that includes information relating to a change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time;

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property;

determining a setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the analysis of the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property; and

controlling the at least one component of the HVAC system according to the determined setting.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property comprises a forecast for the environmental parameter for the geographical location corresponding to the property.

3. The system of claim 1 , the operations comprising monitoring a location of a mobile device of a user.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein:

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the environmental condition data for the property, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property; and

determining the setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the analysis of the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises determining the setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the analysis of the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:

the data specifying the preference relating to an environmental parameter for the property specifies a first preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property and a second preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises:

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the first preference relating to the environmental condition for the property when the location of the mobile device of the user is determined to be within a threshold distance from the property; and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the second preference relating to the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the second preference relating to the environmental condition for the property when the location of the mobile device of the user is determined to be greater than the threshold distance from the property.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein:

monitoring the location of the mobile device of the user comprises determining that the mobile device is moving away from the property or that the mobile device is moving towards the property;

the data specifying the preference relating to an environmental parameter for the property specifies a first preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property and a second preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property; and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises:

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the first preference relating to the environmental condition for the property when the mobile device is determined to be moving toward the property; and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the second preference relating to the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the second preference relating to the environmental condition for the property when the mobile device is determined to be moving away from the property.

7. The system of claim 1 , the operations comprising identifying a location of one or more users within the property based on data collected by the monitoring system.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:

accessing the environmental condition data for the property that indicates the condition of the environmental parameter within the property at the different times comprises accessing environmental condition data for the location of the one or more users within the property that indicates a condition of the environmental parameter at the location of the one or more users within the property at the different times, the environmental condition data for the location of the one or more users within the property having been collected by environmental sensors corresponding to the location of the one or more users within the property at the different times, and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter for the location of the one or more users within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

identifying the location of one or more users within the property based on data collected by the monitoring system comprises identifying two or more locations of one or more users within the property based on data collected by the monitoring system;

accessing environmental condition data for the location of the one or more users within the property that indicates the condition of the environmental parameter at the location of the one or more users within the property at the different times comprises accessing, at the different times, environmental condition data for the two or more locations of one or more users within the property and for unoccupied locations within the property that indicates a condition of the environmental parameter at the two or more locations of one or more users within the property and for the unoccupied locations within the property;

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the environmental parameter for the location of the one or more users within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the environmental parameter for the two or more locations of one or more users within the property and for the unoccupied locations within the property over time; and

determining a setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises determining a setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameters at the two or more locations of one or more users within the property towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, the determined setting adjusting a condition of the environmental parameter at one or more of the unoccupied locations within the property away from the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property is one of a preference relating to a temperature within the property or a preference relating to a humidity within the property.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein accessing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property comprises accessing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property at a server that is separate from the monitoring system over one or more networks.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component of the HVAC system is at least one of an air conditioner, furnace, humidifier, dehumidifier, fan, or boiler.

13. The system of claim 1 , the operations comprising:

accessing location information based on data collected by the monitoring system, the location information identifying locations of one or more users within the property at different times;

determining an activity model for the property based at least on the location information identifying the locations of one or more users within the property at the different times;

identifying, based on determining the activity model for the property and determining a time at the property, a particular location within the property;

accessing environmental condition data for the particular location within the property, the environmental condition data for the particular location within the property having been collected by environmental sensors located within the property;

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the environmental condition data for the particular location within the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property;

determining a second setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling a condition of the environmental parameter at the particular location within the property towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the environmental condition data for the particular location within the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property; and

controlling the at least one component of the HVAC system according to the determined second setting.

14. The system of claim 1 , the operations comprising:

accessing environmental condition data for an outdoor location near the property, the environmental condition data for the outdoor location near the property having been collected by environmental sensors located outdoors near the property;

analyzing the environmental condition data for the outdoor location near the property and the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property;

determining a second setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the outdoor location near the property and the environmental condition data for the property; and

controlling the at least one component of the HVAC system according to the determined second setting.

15. A method comprising:

receiving data specifying a preference relating to an environmental parameter for a property, the environmental parameter being controllable by at least one component of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system associated with the property;

accessing environmental condition data for a geographical location corresponding to the property, wherein the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property specifies at least a status of the environmental parameter for the geographical location corresponding to the property;

accessing environmental condition data for the property that indicates a condition of the environmental parameter within the property at different times, the environmental condition data having been collected by environmental sensors located within the property at the different times;

determining, based at least on the environmental condition data for the property that indicates the condition of the environmental parameter within the property at the different times, a model for the property that includes information relating to a change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time;

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property;

determining a setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the analysis of the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property; and

controlling the at least one component of the HVAC system according to the determined setting.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property comprises a forecast for the environmental parameter for the geographical location corresponding to the property.

17. The method of claim 15 , the operations comprising monitoring a location of a mobile device of a user.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the environmental condition data for the property, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property; and

determining the setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the analysis of the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises determining the setting for the at least one component of the HVAC system directed to controlling the condition of the environmental parameter towards the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the analysis of the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the data specifying the preference relating to an environmental parameter for the property specifies a first preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property and a second preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property, the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time, and the location of the mobile device of the user with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property comprises:

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the first preference relating to the environmental condition for the property when the location of the mobile device of the user is determined to be within a threshold distance from the property; and

analyzing the environmental condition data for the geographical location corresponding to the property and the model for the property that includes the information relating to the change of the condition of the environmental parameter within the property over time with respect to the second preference relating to the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the second preference relating to the environmental condition for the property when the location of the mobile device of the user is determined to be greater than the threshold distance from the property.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2021
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: ENERGYHUB, INC.; ICN ACQUISITION, LLC; ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 055069/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: ALARM.COM, INCORPORATED; ENERGYHUB, INC.; ICN ACQUISITION, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 044167/0235 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2017
From: GOODMAN, DANIEL; HEFFERNAN, CRAIG CARL
To: ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 042221/0525 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,405,018 US 12,687,312