Real-time temperature management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016116178-A1
Application number	US-201414522458-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2014
Priority date	Oct 23, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for real-time temperature management is described. In one embodiment, the method includes configuring a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises and capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area of the premises. In some embodiments, upon detecting the trigger, the method includes capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area of the premises and identifying a thermal exchange in the area of the premises by comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for real-time temperature management, comprising:
configuring a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises; capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area inside the premises; upon detecting the trigger, capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area inside the premises; and comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image to identify a thermal exchange in the area inside the premises.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring one or more comfort variables in relation to the premises, the one or more comfort variables comprising a humidity ratio, relative humidity, absolute humidity, specific humidity, wet-bulb temperature, dry-bulb temperature, dew point temperature, operative temperature, mean radiant temperature, vapor pressure, specific enthalpy, specific volume, and air movement.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
analyzing a result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart, the comfort chart comprising a graphical chart of at least one comfort variable in relation to at least one other comfort variable.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
calculating a comfort zone based on the thermal exchange and the analysis of the result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
generating a suggested temperature setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone; receiving a user input; and adjusting at least one of a temperature, humidity, and airflow setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone and the user input.

6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
adjusting at least one of a temperature, humidity, and airflow setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
capturing a plurality of thermal images of a bedroom of the premises in which an occupant retires to bed; and correlating, at the time each thermal image is captured, the plurality of captured thermal images with one or more monitored environmental conditions relative to the premises.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
upon detecting the occupant retiring to bed, capturing a thermal image of the bedroom; and detecting one or more current environmental conditions relative to the premises.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying a closest match between the one or more current environmental conditions and one or more monitored environmental conditions correlated with the plurality of captured thermal images; and identifying a captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images correlated with the one or more monitored environmental conditions that matches closest to the one or more current environmental conditions.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining a thermal exchange of the bedroom by comparing the captured thermal image of the bedroom with the identified captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images; and calculating a suggested target temperature based on an analysis of the determined thermal exchange in light of any detected adjustment to a target indoor temperature relative to the identified captured thermal image.

11 . A computing device configured for real-time temperature management, comprising:
a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
configuring a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises;
capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area inside the premises;
upon detecting the trigger, capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area inside the premises; and
comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image to identify a thermal exchange in the area inside the premises.

12 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
monitoring one or more comfort variables in relation to the premises, the one or more comfort variables comprising a humidity ratio, relative humidity, absolute humidity, specific humidity, wet-bulb temperature, dry-bulb temperature, dew point temperature, operative temperature, mean radiant temperature, vapor pressure, specific enthalpy, specific volume, and air movement.

13 . The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
analyzing a result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart, the comfort chart comprising a graphical chart of at least one comfort variable in relation to at least one other comfort variable.

14 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
calculating a comfort zone based on the thermal exchange and the analysis of the result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart.

15 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
generating a suggested temperature setting of the premises based on a calculated comfort zone; receiving a user input; and adjusting at least one of a temperature, humidity, and airflow setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone and the user input.

16 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
capturing a plurality of thermal images of a bedroom of the premises in which an occupant retires to bed; and correlating, at the time each thermal image is captured, the plurality of captured thermal images with one or more monitored environmental conditions relative to the premises.

17 . The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
upon detecting the occupant retiring to bed, capturing a thermal image of the bedroom; and detecting one or more current environmental conditions relative to the premises.

18 . The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
identifying a closest match between the one or more current environmental conditions and one or more monitored environmental conditions correlated with the plurality of captured thermal images; and identifying a captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images correlated with the one or more monitored environmental conditions that matches closest to the one or more current environmental conditions.

19 . The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
determining a thermal exchange of the bedroom by comparing the captured thermal image of the bedroom with the identified captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images; and calculating a suggested target temperature based on an analysis of the determined thermal exchange in li

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Vega Jonpaul

Classifications

• F24F11/57

  using telephone networks · CPC title

• F24F11/64 Primary

  using pre-stored data · CPC title

• F24F11/58

  using Internet communication · CPC title

• F24F11/52 Primary

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title