IP Library Granted Patent US 11,677,578
Granted Patent B2
US 11,677,578 · App. 17/070,164 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Automatic transitions in automation settings

Inventors: Michael Andrew Rovito (San Francisco, CA); Greg William Reinbach (Fryeburg, ME); Isaac Gregory Martin (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Level Home, Inc.
H04L12/2807G05B15/02H04L12/2825H04L12/2829H04L41/0816H04L67/104H04L67/125G05B2219/2642G07C9/00817G07C2209/02G07C2209/08H04W84/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,677,578
App. No.
17/070,164
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various aspects and embodiments of automation in tenancy transitions are described. Among other aspects or features of the embodiments, a computing device in an automation or gateway hub receives and stores automation settings from an automation management service environment over time. The automation settings can include different settings for various states of occupancy of a rental unit or dwelling. For example, the automation settings can include a first set of automation settings, which can be used while the dwelling is occupied, and a second set automation settings for use after the dwelling is no longer occupied. The automation or gateway hub can determine whether a transition has occurred for the dwelling and, in response to the transition, load the different automation settings into one or more home automation devices of the dwelling.

Claims (45)

1. A method for automating transitions for home automation, comprising:

receiving, by an automation hub at a dwelling, first automation settings from an automation computing environment over a network during a first time period and storing the first automation settings in the automation hub at the dwelling;

loading, by the automation hub, at least one automation setting among the first automation settings into a home automation device at the dwelling;

receiving, by the automation hub, second automation settings from the automation computing environment over the network during a second time period and storing the second automation settings in the automation hub, the second automation settings comprising a schedule;

determining, by the automation hub, that a transition has occurred for the dwelling based on the schedule;

in response to determining the transition, loading, by the automation hub, at least one other automation setting among the second automation settings into the home automation device at the dwelling; and

in response to determining the transition, broadcasting, by the automation hub, an ad-hoc network access identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second automation settings comprise settings for a period of vacancy for the dwelling.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the schedule identifies the period of vacancy for the dwelling.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second automation settings comprise at least one of a start date for a vacancy of the dwelling, an end date for the vacancy, an access credential for maintenance or service personnel during the vacancy, and an access credential for a resident of the dwelling after the vacancy.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein loading the at least one other automation setting into the home automation device comprises:

removing, by the automation hub, a first access credential from an automated door lock device using a communications channel at the dwelling; and

loading, by the automation hub, a second access credential into the automated door lock device using the communications channel at the dwelling.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein loading the at least one other automation setting into the home automation device comprises loading a thermostat setting into an automated thermostat device using a communications channel at the dwelling.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the transition has occurred comprises identifying an interruption in network communications over the network by the automation hub.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the ad-hoc network access identifier comprises broadcasting a service set identifier (SSID) by the automation hub.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

authenticating a peer device on the ad-hoc network using the SSID; and

receiving third automation settings from the peer device.

10. A home automation hub, comprising:

a memory device to store computer readable instructions thereon; and

an automation hub computing device at a dwelling configured, through execution of the computer readable instructions, to:

receive first automation settings from an automation computing environment over a network during a first time period and store the first automation settings in the memory device;

load at least one automation setting among the first automation settings into a home automation device at the dwelling;

receive second automation settings from the automation computing environment over the network during a second time period and store the first automation settings in the memory device, the second automation settings comprising a schedule;

determine that a transition has occurred for the dwelling based on the schedule;

in response to the transition, load at least one other automation setting among the second automation settings into the home automation device at the dwelling; and

in response to the transition, broadcast an ad-hoc network access identifier.

11. The home automation hub of claim 10 , wherein the second automation settings comprise settings for a period of vacancy for the dwelling.

12. The home automation hub of claim 10 , wherein the schedule identifies a period of vacancy for the dwelling.

13. The home automation hub of claim 10 , wherein the second automation settings comprise at least one of a start date for a vacancy of the dwelling, an end date for the vacancy, an access credential for maintenance or service personnel during the vacancy, and an access credential for a resident of the dwelling after the vacancy.

14. The home automation hub of claim 10 , wherein, to load the at least one other automation setting into the home automation device, the automation hub computing device is configured to load an access credential into an automated door lock device using a communications channel at the dwelling.

15. The home automation hub of claim 10 , wherein, to load the at least one other automation setting into the home automation device, the automation hub computing device is configured to load a thermostat setting into an automated thermostat using a communications channel device at the dwelling.

16. The home automation hub of claim 10 , wherein the automation hub computing device is further configured, in response to the transition, to broadcast a service set identifier (SSID) as the ad-hoc network access identifier.

17. The home automation hub of claim 16 , wherein the automation hub computing device is further configured to:

authenticate a peer device on the ad-hoc network using the SSID; and

receive automation settings from the peer device.

18. A method for automation, comprising:

receiving, by an automation hub, first automation settings from an automation computing environment over a network during a first time period and storing the first automation settings in the automation hub;

loading, by the automation hub, at least one automation setting among the first automation settings into a home automation device at a dwelling;

receiving, by the automation hub, second automation settings from the automation computing environment over the network during a second time period and storing the second automation settings in the automation hub, the second automation settings comprising a schedule;

determining, by the automation hub, that a transition has occurred for the dwelling based on the schedule; and

in response to the transition, loading, by the automation hub, at least one other automation setting among the second automation settings into the home automation device at the dwelling and broadcasting an ad-hoc network access identifier.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the schedule identifies a period of vacancy for the dwelling.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the second automation settings comprise at least one of a start date for a vacancy of the dwelling, an end date for the vacancy, an access credential for maintenance or service personnel during the vacancy, and an access credential for a resident of the dwelling after the vacancy.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2025
From: COX COMMUNICATIONS EBD HOLDINGS, INC.
To: LEVEL HOME, INC.
Reel/Frame 071982/0692 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2025
From: COX COMMUNICATIONS EBD HOLDINGS, INC.
To: LEVEL HOME, INC.
Reel/Frame 071966/0983 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: AMBIENT PROPERTY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST OT LEVEL HOME, INC.
To: COX COMMUNICATIONS EBD HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069820/0080 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: LEVEL HOME, INC.
To: COX COMMUNICATIONS EBD HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067682/0457 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2022
From: DWELO, INC.
To: LEVEL HOME, INC.
Reel/Frame 060036/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2021
From: ROVITO, MICHAEL ANDREW; REINBACH, GREG WILLIAM; MARTIN, ISAAC GREGORY
To: DWELO INC.
Reel/Frame 054962/0069 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15690975 · Aug 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62381151 · Aug 30, 2016
Related Publication 20210051040A1 · Feb 18, 2021