Multiple adaptive geo-fences for a building

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10605472-B2
Application number	US-201615048902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A building automation system may include a memory for storing a first geofence for a first building component and a second geofence for a second building component. A controller may be operably coupled to the memory and may be configured to cause an adjustment to operation of the first building component in response to a user's mobile device crossing the first geofence and may cause an adjustment to operation of the second building component in response to the user's mobile device crossing the second geofence. The controller may be configured to receive one or more current conditions and to adapt a size of the first geofence and/or a size of the second geofence based on the received one or more current conditions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A building automation system for servicing a building and controlling two or more building components within the building, the building automation system comprising:
a memory for storing a first geofence for a first building component of the two or more building components, the first building component comprising an HVAC component for conditioning air in the building;
the memory storing a second geofence for a second building component of the two or more building components, wherein the first geofence comprises a first size different from a second size of the second geofence and/or a first shape different from a second shape of the second geofence, and wherein the second building component is a non-HVAC component that is not for conditioning air in the building;
a controller operably coupled to the memory, the controller configured to determine the first size of the first geofence based on one or more previous conditions, determine the second size of the second geofence based on the one or more previous conditions, and cause an adjustment to operation of the first building component in response to a user's mobile device crossing the first geofence;
the controller further configured to cause an adjustment to operation of the second building component in response to the user's mobile device crossing the second geofence;
the controller further configured to receive one or more current conditions, wherein the one or more current conditions comprise one or more of a current traffic condition along a route between the user's mobile device and the building, a current speed of the user's mobile device, a current location of the user's mobile device, or an estimated time of arrival of the user's mobile device at the building; and
the controller further configured to, in response to determining at least one current condition of the one or more current conditions changes from the one or more previous conditions by at least a threshold amount:
adapt the first size of the first geofence based on the one or more current conditions and based on a recovery time of the HVAC component; and
adapt the second size of the second geofence based on the one or more current conditions and based on a recovery time of the non-HVAC component, wherein the recovery time of the non-HVAC component is different than the recovery time of the HVAC component, wherein the first size of the first geofence is adapted more than the second size of the second geofence in response to at least one of the one or more current conditions.

2. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to accept user input that assigns each of two or more building components to either the first geofence or the second geofence.

3. The building automation system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to accept user input that assigns the one or more current conditions to each of the first geofence and the second geofence, wherein the first size of the first geofence and the second size the second geofence are adapted by the controller based on the assigned one or more current conditions.

4. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more current conditions further comprise one or more of a current indoor temperature in the building, a current outdoor temperature, a current indoor humidity in the building, a current outdoor humidity, a current solar load on the building, or a current utility rate.

5. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to reduce the first size of the first geofence and/or the second size of the second geofence when traffic is slower than what was expected when the first size of the first geofence and/or the second size of the second geofence was previously adapted; and
the controller is configured to increase the first size of the first geofence and/or the second size of the second geofence when traffic is faster than what was expected when the first size of the first geofence and/or the second size of the second geofence was previously adapted.

6. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more current conditions further comprise historical data regarding past behavior of the user of the user's mobile device.

7. The building automation system of claim 1 ,
wherein the recovery time of the HVAC component comprises information indicating how quickly the HVAC component can produce a first desired condition in the building; and
wherein the recovery time of the non-HVAC component comprises information indicating how quickly the non-HVAC component can produced a second desired condition in the building.

8. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more current conditions comprises a current Adaptive Intelligent Recovery (AIR) ramp rate for the HVAC component.

9. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the second building component that is a non-HVAC component that is not for conditioning air in the building comprises one or more of a security system, a lighting system, a cooking appliance, a washing machine, a dryer, a garage door, a pool heater, a motorized window blind, a water heater, a television, and a personal computer.

10. The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to send a message to the user's mobile device soliciting approval before adapting the first size of the first geofence and/or the second size of the second geofence.

11. The building automation system of claim 10 , wherein the message includes information on estimated energy savings that are expected to result if the first adapted size of the first geofence and/or the second adapted size of the second geofence is approved.

12. A building automation server operably coupled with an HVAC system within a building and a second building component within the building, the building automation server comprising:
a memory for storing a first geofence for the HVAC system, the memory also storing a second geofence for the second building component, wherein the second building component comprises a non-HVAC component and wherein a first size of the first geofence is different from a second size of the second geofence;
a controller operably coupled to the memory, the controller configured to determine the first size of the first geofence based on one or more previous conditions, determine the second size of the second geofence based on the one or more previous conditions, and cause an adjustment to operation of the HVAC system in response to a user's mobile device crossing the first geofence;
the controller further configured to cause an adjustment to operation of the second building component in response to the user's mobile device crossing the second geofence;
the controller further configured to receive one or more current conditions, wherein the one or more current conditions comprise one or more of a current traffic condition along a route between the user's mobile device and the building, a current speed of the user's mobile device, a current location of the user's mobile device, or an estimated time of arrival of the user's mobile device at the building; and
the controller further configured to, in response to determining at least one current condition of the one or more current conditions changes from the one or more previous conditions by at least a threshold amount:
adapt the first size of the first geofence based on the one or more current conditions and based on a recovery time of the HVAC component to generate a first adapted size of the first geofence; and
adapt the second size of the second geofence based on the one or more current co

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Sekar Parthibarajan Perumal
• Paphanasum Nellaivadivu
• Periyanadar Kalaivani
• Balakrishnan Sivakumar

Classifications

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• G05B2219/2614

  HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control · CPC title

• G05B2219/2642

  Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house · CPC title

• H04W4/33

  for indoor environments, e.g. buildings · CPC title