Selecting a level of autonomy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12353178-B2
Application number	US-202016742494-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2020
Priority date	Jun 13, 2014
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for selecting a level of autonomy. According to at least one embodiment, a method for selecting a level of autonomy includes determining a first likely condition of a first user of a task and/or building system, selecting a first autonomy level from multiple levels based at least in part on the first likely condition, and making a first decision in the task and/or the building system based on the first autonomy level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for selecting a level of autonomy for a building system, comprising:
determining, by a control unit of the building system, a first user condition associated with a first user of the building system, based at least in part on observations of behavior of the first user by one or more sensors of the building system;
selecting, by the control unit, a first autonomy level from a plurality of autonomy levels based at least in part on the first user condition and a user preference indicated in user input received from the first user prior to determining the first user condition and selecting the first autonomy level, wherein the first autonomy level comprises a level of interaction between the first user and the building system and a first decision;
determining, by the control unit, that an alarm status of one or more devices of the building system is triggered in response to an emergency event;
updating, in response to determining the alarm status of the one or more devices of the building system is triggered, the first user condition to an updated first user condition, the update to the updated first user condition causing the control unit to select an updated first autonomy level without receiving additional input from the first user, wherein the updated first autonomy level comprises an updated level of interaction between the first user and the building system and updated first decision that are different from at least one of the level of interaction between the first user and the building system and/or the first decision;
making, by the control unit and in response to the updated first autonomy level, the updated first decision in the building system based at least in part on the updated first autonomy level;
determining, by the control unit, a second user condition associated with a second user of the building system based at least in part on observations of behavior of the second user by at least one sensor of the one or more sensors of the building system;
selecting, by the control unit, a second autonomy level from the plurality of autonomy levels based at least in part on the second user condition, wherein the second autonomy level comprises a level of interaction between the second user and the building system;
making, by the control unit, a second decision in the building system based at least in part on the second autonomy level, the second decision being different from the first decision; and causing, by the control unit, a task associated with the second decision to be performed by the building system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first user condition comprises:
analyzing one or more satisfaction ratings from the first user about one or more autonomous actions taken by the building system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first user condition comprises:
analyzing a failure of the first user to respond to a recommendation made by the building system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first decision, the updated first decision, or the second decision comprises activating an alarm, adjusting a climate control setting, opening or closing a window, locking or unlocking a door, adjusting a security parameter, adjusting an energy consumption parameter, checking a status of a door, locating a person or an item, adjusting one or more lighting parameters, adjusting one or more cameras, receiving one or more notifications regarding a current status or anomaly associated with the building system, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a notification of the second decision to the first user by transmitting the notification to a mobile device of the first user, announcing the notification audibly over a speaker in a vicinity of the first user, presenting the notification on a display of the building system, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the first user condition based at least in part on an input from the first user, a change in a location of the first user, a detected visitor, one or more recorded observations, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the building system comprises a climate control system, a lighting system, a security system, a watering system, a door system, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user condition, the updated first user condition, or the second user condition comprises at least one of a user age, a user health, a user medical condition, a user in a detected alarm condition, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first user condition comprises analyzing historical behavior of the first user to determine a predictive schedule describing occupancy of the building system, the historical behavior comprising a history of user-initiated actions.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first user condition, the updated first user condition, or the second user condition is based on an observation about a security preference of one or more other users having at least one similar characteristic with the first or second users.

11. An apparatus for selecting a level of autonomy for a building system, comprising:
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
determine, by a control unit of the building system, a first user condition associated with a first user of the building system, based at least in part on observations of behavior of the first user by one or more sensors of the building system;
select, by the control unit, a first autonomy level from a plurality of autonomy levels based at least in part on the first user condition and a user preference indicated in user input received from the first user prior to determining the first user condition and selecting the first autonomy level, wherein the first autonomy level comprises a level of interaction between the first user and the system and a first decision;
determine, by the control unit, that an alarm status of one or more devices of the building system is triggered in response to an emergency event;
update, in response to determining the alarm status of the one or more devices of the building system is triggered, the first user condition to an updated first user condition, the updating to the updated first user condition causing the control unit to select an updated first autonomy level without receiving additional input from the user, wherein the updated first autonomy level comprises an updated level of interaction between the first user and the building system and updated first decision that are different from at least one of the level of interaction between the first user and the building system and/or the first decision;
make, by the control unit and in response to the updated first autonomy level, the updated first decision in the building system based at least in part on the updated first autonomy level;
determine, by the control unit, a second user condition associated with a second user of the building system based at least in part on observations of behavior of the second user by at least one sensor of the one or more sensors of the building system;
select, by the control unit, a second autonomy level from the plurality of autonomy levels based at least in part on the second user condition, wherein the second user autonomy level comprises a level of interaction between the second user and the building system;
make, by the control unit, a second decision in the building system based at least in part on the second

Assignees

• Vivint Inc
• Vivint Llc

Inventors

• Lin Rongbin Lanny
• Bunker Brandon

Classifications

• G06N5/04

  Inference or reasoning models · CPC title

• G05B2219/2642

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

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title