Inference server and environment controller for inferring one or more commands for controlling an appliance taking into account room characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10895853-B2
Application number	US-201715839092-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2017
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

Inference server and environment controller for inferring via a neural network one or more commands for controlling an appliance. The environment controller determines at least one room characteristic. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value and at least one set point. The environment controller transmits the at least one environmental characteristic, set point and room characteristic to the inference server. The inference server executes a neural network inference engine using a predictive model (generated by a neural network training engine) for inferring the one or more commands for controlling the appliance. The inference is based on the received at least one environmental characteristic value, at least one set point and at least one room characteristic. The inference server transmits the one or more commands to the environment controller, which forwards the one or more commands to the controlled appliance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An environment control system, comprising:
an environment controller, comprising:
a communication interface; and
a processing unit comprising at least one processor for:
receiving at least one room characteristic via one of the communication interface of the environment controller and a user interface of the environment controller, and storing the at least one room characteristic in a memory of the environment controller;

receiving via the communication interface of the environment controller a current temperature and a current humidity level;
receiving via one of the communication interface of the environment controller and the user interface of the environment controller a target temperature;
transmitting the current temperature, the current humidity level, the target temperature and the at least one room characteristic to an inference server via the communication interface of the environment controller;
receiving one or more command for controlling an appliance from the inference server via the communication interface of the environment controller; and
transmitting the one or more command to the controlled appliance via the communication interface of the environment controller; and

the inference server, comprising:
a communication interface;
memory for storing a predictive model generated by a neural network training engine, the predictive model comprising weights of a neural network determined by the neural network training engine; and
a processing unit comprising at least one processor for:
receiving from the environment controller via the communication interface of the inference server the current temperature, the current humidity level, the target temperature and the at least one room characteristic;
executing a neural network inference engine, the neural network inference engine implementing a neural network using the predictive model for inferring an output based on inputs, the output comprising the one or more command for controlling the appliance, the inputs comprising the current temperature, the current humidity level, the target temperature, and the at least one room characteristic; and
transmitting to the environment controller via the communication interface of the inference server the one or more command inferred by the neural network inference engine;
wherein the at least one room characteristic used as input of the neural network comprises at least one of the following: a room type identifier selected among a plurality of room type identifiers, one or more geometric characteristics of the room, and a human activity in the room.

2. The environment control system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more command for controlling the appliance includes at least one of the following: a command for controlling a speed of a fan, a command for controlling a pressure generated by a compressor, and a command for controlling a rate of an airflow through a valve.

3. The environment control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one room characteristic comprises one or more geometric characteristics of the room, the one or more geometric characteristics of the room comprising at least one of the following: a volume of the room, a surface of the room, a height of the room, a length of the room, and a width of the room.

4. The environment control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one room characteristic comprises a human activity in the room, the human activity in the room comprising at least one of the following: periods of time when the room is occupied by humans, and a type of activity performed by humans occupying the room.

5. The environment control system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit of the environment controller further receives via the communication interface of the environment controller at least one additional environmental characteristic value; and wherein the inputs of the neural network inference engine further comprise the at least one additional environmental characteristic value.

6. The environment control system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one additional environmental characteristic value comprises at least one of the following: a current carbon dioxide (CO2) level and a current room occupancy.

7. The environment control system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one additional environmental characteristic value comprises a current room occupancy, the current room occupancy consisting of a determination whether the room is occupied or not, or consisting of a number of persons present in the room.

8. The environment control system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit of the environment controller further receives via the communication interface of the environment controller at least one additional set point; and wherein the inputs of the neural network inference engine further comprise the at least one additional set point.

9. The environment control system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one additional set point comprises at least one of the following: a target CO2 level and a target humidity level.

10. A method for inferring via a neural network one or more command for controlling an appliance, the method comprising:
storing in a memory of an inference server a predictive model generated by a neural network training engine, the predictive model comprising weights of a neural network determined by the neural network training engine;
determining by a processing unit of an environment controller at least one room characteristic;
receiving by the processing unit of the environment controller via a communication interface of the environment controller a current temperature and a current humidity level;
receiving by the processing unit of the environment controller via one of the communication interface of the environment controller and a user interface of the environment controller a target temperature;
transmitting by the processing unit the current temperature, the current humidity level, the target temperature and the at least one room characteristic to the inference server via the communication interface of the environment controller;
receiving by a processing unit of the inference server the current temperature, the current humidity level, the target temperature and the at least one room characteristic from the environment controller via a communication interface of the inference server;
executing by the processing unit of the inference server a neural network inference engine, the neural network inference engine implementing a neural network using the predictive model for inferring an output based on inputs, the output comprising the one or more command for controlling the appliance, the inputs comprising the current temperature, the current humidity level, the target temperature, and the at least one room characteristic;
transmitting by the processing unit of the inference server the one or more command for controlling the appliance inferred by the neural network inference engine to the environment controller via the communication interface of the inference engine;
receiving by the processing unit of the environment controller the one or more command for controlling the appliance from the inference server via the communication interface of the environment controller; and
transmitting by the processing unit of the environment controller the one or more command to the controlled appliance via the communication interface of the environment controller;
wherein the at least one room characteristic used as input of the neural network comprises at least one of the following: a room type identifier selected among a plurality of room type identifiers, one or more geometric characteristics of the room, and a human activity in the

Assignees

• Distech Controls Inc

Inventors

• Gervais Francois

Classifications

• H04L12/2816 Primary

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title

• G05D22/02

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• H04L12/2827

  Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality · CPC title

• F24F2120/10

  Occupancy · CPC title

• G05B17/02

  electric · CPC title