Patent Application
20120063518
The present disclosure relates to devices, methods, and systems for building monitoring.
Monitoring equipment, such as, for example, sensors and/or detectors, located in a building can be used to monitor the conditions of the building, e.g., one or more rooms in the building. For example, a temperature sensor located in a building can sense the temperature of the building, and a smoke detector located in a building can detect the presence of smoke in the building.
Further, control equipment, e.g., control devices, can be used to adjust the conditions of the building based on the data sensed and/or detected by the monitoring equipment. For example, if a temperature sensor located in a building senses a temperature in the building that is higher than a desired temperature for the building, a control device can activate a cooling system of the building to lower the temperature of the building to the desired temperature. Additionally, if a smoke detector located in a building detects smoke in the building, a control device can activate a sprinkler system of the building.
Such monitoring and/or control equipment, however, may not be supportable by and/or compatible with the original and/or existing infrastructure of a building. That is, such monitoring and/or control equipment may not be able to be a part of and/or may not be able to use the original and/or existing infrastructure of a building. Accordingly, in order to install and/or use such monitoring and/or control equipment in a building, additional and/or new infrastructure that can support the monitoring and/or control equipment may need to be added to the building.
The addition of such additional and/or new infrastructure to a building, however, may be expensive and/or difficult. Areas in which this may be expensive or difficult can be cost of equipment and/or building redesign, time in hours for workers, down time for portions of the building or systems, design of the building, and/or accessibility of building areas, among other areas.
Devices, methods, and systems for building monitoring are described herein. One or more embodiments include a first transceiver coupled to a first phase of a power system of a building and configured to receive and send data over the first phase of the power system, a second transceiver coupled to a second phase of the power system and configured to receive and send data over the second phase of the power system, and a switch coupled to the first and second transceivers of the power system and configured to route data between the first and second transceivers of the power system.
Building monitoring devices, methods, and systems in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize minimal or no additional and/or new infrastructure to be added to the building being monitored in order to support the building monitoring devices, methods, and systems. Rather, building monitoring devices, methods, and systems in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be supportable by and/or compatible with the original and/or existing infrastructure of the building being monitored. Accordingly, the installation and/or use of building monitoring devices, methods, and systems in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be less expensive and/or less difficult than previous techniques.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. The drawings show by way of illustration how one or more embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice one or more embodiments of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example, 114 may reference element “14” in
As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments herein can be added, exchanged, combined, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. The proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, and should not be taken in a limiting sense.
As used herein, “a” or “a number of” something can refer to one or more such things. For example, “a number of sensors” can refer to one or more sensors.
As shown in
Sensors 116, 118, and 120 can be any type of sensor and/or detector device that can be used to monitor, e.g., sense and/or detect, one or more conditions of building 110. For example, sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 can be temperature sensors that sense the temperature of building 110, power sensors that sense the amount of power used in building 110, smoke detectors that detect the presence of smoke in building 110, and/or motion detectors that detect the presence of motion in building 110, among other types of sensors and/or detectors. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a particular type(s) of sensor or detector or to a particular type(s) of sensed or detected data. Sensors 116, 118, and 120 will be further described herein, e.g., with respect to
As shown in
Each phase 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system of building 110 can be a circuit conductor carrying an alternating current (AC), with each AC reaching its peak value at different times. For example, first phase 125-1 of the power system can be a first circuit conductor carrying a first AC, second phase 125-2 of the power system can be a second circuit conductor carrying a second AC that is delayed by one third of one cycle of the first AC, and third phase 125-3 of the power system can be a third circuit conductor carrying a third AC that is delayed by one third of one cycle of the second AC, e.g., by two thirds of one cycle of the first AC.
The power system of building 110 can be a power line communication (PLC) network. That is, the circuit conductors of each phase 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system can carry data, such as, for example, data from sensors 116, 118, and 120, as will be further described herein. The data can be carried by the circuit conductors by, for example, impressing a modulated carrier signal containing the data on the circuit conductors.
As shown in
Aggregation unit 114 can receive data, e.g., temperature data, power use data, and/or data indicating the presence of smoke and/or motion, among other building condition data, sensed by sensor 116 from sensor 116 over first phase 125-1 of the power system of building 110. Similarly, aggregation unit 114 can also receive data sensed by sensors 118 and 120 from sensors 118 and 120 over second phase 125-2 and third phase 125-3, respectively, of the power system. That is, sensor 116 can send sensed data to aggregation unit 114 over first phase 125-1 of the power system, sensor 118 can send sensed data to aggregation unit 114 over second phase 125-2 of the power system, and sensor 120 can send sensed data to aggregation unit 114 over third phase 125-3 of the power system.
Aggregation unit 114 can route the data received from sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 between phases 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system. For instance, aggregation unit 114 can route the data received from sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 to a single phase of the power system. For example, aggregation unit 114 can route the data received from sensor 116 from first phase 125-1 to second phase 125-2, and aggregation unit 114 can also route the data received from sensor 120 from third phase 125-3 to second phase 125-2. As an additional example, aggregation unit 114 can route the data received from sensors 116 and 118 from first phase 125-1 and second phase 125-2, respectively, to third phase 125-3.
After routing the data received from sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 between phases 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system, aggregation unit 114 can send the data to one or more control devices coupled to phases 125-1, 125-2, and/or 125-3 over phases 125-1, 125-2, and/or 125-3. For example, as shown in
Control devices 121, 122, and/or 123 can adjust the conditions of building 110 based on the data received from aggregation unit 114, e.g., from sensors 116, 118, and/or 120. For example, if the data indicates that the temperature of building 110 is higher than a desired temperature, control devices 121, 122, and/or 123 can activate a cooling system of building 110 to lower the temperature of building 110 to the desired temperature. Further, if the data indicates that smoke is present in the building, control devices 121, 122, and/or 123 can, for example, activate a sprinkler and/or alarm system of the building. Additionally and/or alternatively, control devices 121, 122, and 123 can present the data to a user of the respective control device (not shown in
Control devices 121, 122, and 123 can be computing devices, such as, for example, desktop or laptop computing devices. Additionally, control devices 121, 122, and 123 can be coupled to any outlet of the power system in building 110. For example, control device 122 can be coupled to second phase 125-2 of the power system through any outlet of second phase 125-2.
Further, control devices 121, 122, and 123 can be in communication with a wired device located outside building 110 via a wired network. For example, control device 121 can be in communication with wired device 126 via wired local area network (LAN) 113 and a LAN cable adapter 111 coupled to first phase 125-1 of the power system, as shown in
After routing the data received from sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 between phases 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system, aggregation unit 114 can also send the data to a wireless access point coupled to a phase of the power system over the phase. For example, as shown in
After receiving the data from aggregation unit 114, wireless access point 124 can send the data to a wireless device within range of wireless access point 124 (not shown in
Aggregation unit 114 can also send the data to a wired device, e.g., wired device 126, via a wired network, e.g., wired LAN 115 shown in
As shown in
Although
Because system 100, e.g., the elements of system 100, uses the power system of building 110, system 100 can be supportable and/or compatible with the original and/or existing infrastructure of building 110. That is, minimal or no additional and/or new infrastructure may need to be added to building 110 in order to support system 100. Accordingly, the installation and/or use of system 100 may be less expensive and/or less difficult than previous techniques.
Additionally, system 100, e.g., aggregation unit 114, can route the data received from sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 between phases 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system of building 110, as previously described above. Accordingly, system 100 can use all phases 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3 of the power system, and a user can access system 100, e.g., the data sensed and/or detected by sensors 116, 118, and 120, via any of phases 125-1, 125-2, and 125-3. That is, a user can access the data sensed and/or detected by sensors 116, 118, and 120 from any point in building 110.
As shown in
Transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and 235-3 can receive and send data over first phase 225-1, second phase 225-2, and third phase 225-3, respectively, of the power system. For example, transceiver 235-1 can receive data sensed by sensor 116 (previously described in connection with
As shown in
For example, switch 240 can route the data received by transceiver 235-1 from transceiver 235-1 to transceiver 235-2, and switch 240 can also route the data received by transceiver 235-3 from transceiver 235-3 to transceiver 235-2. That is, switch 240 can route the data received by transceivers 2351 and 235-3 from first phase 225-1 and third phase 225-3, respectively, to second phase 225-2. As an additional example, switch 240 can route the data received by transceivers 235-1 and 235-2 from transceivers 235-1 and 235-2, respectively, to transceiver 235-3. That is, switch 240 can route the data received by transceivers 235-1 and 235-2 from first phase 225-1 and third phase 225-3, respectively, to second phase 225-2.
After switch 240 routes the data received by transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and/or 235-3 between transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and 235-3, transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and/or 235-3 can send the data, over phases 225-1, 225-2, and/or 225-3 of the power system, to one or more control devices coupled to phases 225-1, 225-2, and/or 225-3 of the power system. For example, after switch 240 routes the data received by transceivers 235-1 and 235-3 to transceiver 235-2, transceiver 235-2 can send the data to control device 122 (previously described in connection with
After switch 240 routes the data received by transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and/or 235-3 between transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and 235-3, transceivers 235-1, 235-2 and/or 235-3 can also send the data, over phases 225-1, 225-2, and/or 225-3 of the power system, to a wireless access point coupled to the phases 225-1, 225-2, and/or 225-3 of the power system. For example, after switch 240 routes the data received by transceivers 235-1 and 235-2 to transceiver 235-3, transceiver 235-3 can send the data to wireless access point 124 (previously described in connection with
As shown in
As shown in
Memory 244 can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. Memory 244 can also be removable, e.g., portable, memory, or non-removable, e.g., internal, memory. For example, memory 244 can be random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, phase change random access memory (PCRAM), compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a laser disk, a digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of memory.
Further, although memory 244 is illustrated as being located in aggregation unit 214, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, memory 244 can also be located internal to another computing resource, e.g., enabling the computer readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another wired or wireless connection.
Memory 244 can store the data received by transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and/or 235-3. Subsequent to the data being stored in memory 244, the data can be sent to wireless interface 242 and then a wireless or wired device, as previously described herein. Subsequent to the data being stored in memory 244, the data can also be routed between transceivers 235-1, 235-2, and 235-3 and sent to a control device and/or a wireless access point, as previously described herein.
For example, subsequent to the data being stored in memory 244, the data can be routed to transceiver 235-2, and transceiver 235-2 can send the data to control device 122 (previously described in connection with
As shown in
For example, security module 248 can require a user to provide security information, such as, for example a user name and/or password, among other security information, in order for the user to access aggregation unit 214. If the user is attempting to access aggregation unit 214 via control devices 121, 122, or 123, or via wireless device 126, (previously described in connection with
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For example, as shown in
Transceiver 360 can automatically send the sensed data to aggregation units 114 and/or 214. Additionally and/or alternatively, sensor 316, e.g., transceiver 360, can receive a request from aggregation units 114 and/or 214 for data sensed by sensor 316, and transceiver 360 can send the sensed data to aggregation units 114 and/or 214 in response to the request.
As shown in
Memory 362 can store data sensed by sensor interface 368. Subsequent to the data being stored in memory 362, the data can be sent to aggregation units 114 and/or 214 by transceiver 360, as previously described herein. For example, the data stored in memory 362 can be sent to aggregation units 114 and/or 214 in response to a request from aggregation units 114 and/or 214, as previously described herein.
As shown in
As shown in
Sensors 118 and/or 120 previously described in connection with
As shown in
Transceiver 470 can receive and send data over second phase 425-2 of the power system. For example, transceiver 470 can receive data sensed by sensors 116, 118, and/or 120 (previously described in connection with
Control device 422 can adjust the conditions of a building (e.g., building 110 previously described in connection with
As shown in
Memory 472 can store the data received by transceiver 470. Subsequent to the data being stored in memory 472, control device 422 can adjust the conditions of a building based on the stored data, as previously described herein. Additionally, subsequent to the data being stored in memory 472, a user of control device 422 can access the stored data and adjust the conditions of the building based on the stored data, as previously described herein.
As shown in
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Control devices 121 and/or 123 previously described in connection with
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the disclosure.
It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure includes any other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in example embodiments illustrated in the figures for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the disclosure require more features than are expressly recited in each claim.
Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
