Automated presence detection and presence-related control within an intelligent controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690369-B2
Application number	US-201816016312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Sep 30, 2012
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A method includes operating a controller according to a control schedule; detecting events that indicate occupancy; storing a record of the events that indicate occupancy in one or more memory devices; and causing the controller to enter an auto-away state. A determination that the controller should enter the auto-away state may be based at least in part on a length of a time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected; and the stored record of the events that indicate occupancy. The method also includes detecting a pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A controller comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices comprising instruction that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
operating according to a control schedule;
detecting events that indicate occupancy;
storing a record of the events that indicate occupancy in the one or more memory devices;
causing the controller to enter an auto-away state where the controller temporarily enters a more energy-efficient mode, wherein a determination that the controller should enter the auto-away state is based at least in part on:
a length of a current time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected; and
the stored record of the events that indicated occupancy during previous time intervals;

detecting a pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and
adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the record of the events that indicate occupancy are stored in a plurality of memory buckets, wherein each of the plurality of memory buckets represents a predefined time interval on a day of the week.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of memory buckets represents a histogram of the events that indicate occupancy.

4. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days comprises at least two repeated instances of entering the auto-away state at approximately a same time of day on a same day of the week.

5. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
detecting a pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and
adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state.

6. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control schedule comprises a plurality of setpoints, wherein each of the plurality of setpoints comprises a time and a control setting.

7. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the events that indicate occupancy are received from the one or more occupancy sensors.

8. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the auto-away state causes an external system to use less energy than would otherwise be used without entering the auto-away state.

9. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
providing an indication of adjusting the control schedule to a user prior to adjusting the control schedule; and
receiving an acceptance from the user prior to adjusting the control schedule.

10. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

11. A method comprising:
operating a controller according to a control schedule;
detecting events that indicate occupancy;
storing a record of the events that indicate occupancy in one or more memory devices;
causing the controller to enter an auto-away state where the controller temporarily enters a more energy-efficient mode, wherein a determination that the controller should enter the auto-away state is based at least in part on:
a length of a current time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected; and
the stored record of the events that indicated occupancy during previous time intervals;

detecting a pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and
adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the record of the events that indicate occupancy are stored in a plurality of memory buckets, wherein each of the plurality of memory buckets represents a predefined time interval on a day of the week.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of memory buckets represents a histogram of the events that indicate occupancy.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pattern of instances where the controller enters the auto-away state over a plurality of days comprises at least two repeated instances of entering the auto-away state at approximately a same time of day on a same day of the week.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting a pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state over a plurality of days; and
adjusting the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the controller exits the auto-away state.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control schedule comprises a plurality of setpoints, wherein each of the plurality of setpoints comprises a time and a control setting.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the events that indicate occupancy are received from the one or more occupancy sensors.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the auto-away state causes an external system to use less energy than would otherwise be used without entering the auto-away state.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing an indication of adjusting the control schedule to a user prior to adjusting the control schedule; and
receiving an acceptance from the user prior to adjusting the control schedule.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the control schedule comprises adding setpoints corresponding to a beginning and an end of an auto-away state interval.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Matsuoka Yoky
• Fisher Evan J
• Malhotra Mark
• Stefanski Mark D
• Sharan Rangoli
• Astier Frank E

Classifications

• F24F2120/00

  Control inputs relating to users or occupants · CPC title

• F24F11/88

  Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits · CPC title

• F24F11/66

  Sleep mode · CPC title

• F24F11/64

  using pre-stored data · CPC title

• F24F11/61

  using timers · CPC title