Patent Application
20130231784
The present specification generally relates to systems, methods and vehicles for controlling home automation and, more specifically, to systems, methods and vehicles for controlling home automation over a communication network.
Home automation can be utilized to provide a centralized control system for various electrical components within a home. Additionally home automation can provide a remote interface to the electrical components such as, for example, appliances, lighting, entertainment systems, security systems, and garage doors. Such electrical components of the home automation system can be controlled and monitored through communication systems such as telephone lines and the internet. Accordingly home automation systems can provide convenience, comfort and energy savings. However, many users of home automation systems also spend time within a vehicle and have limited access ability to control the home automation system while in the vehicle.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative systems, methods and vehicles for controlling home automation systems over a communication network.
In one embodiment, a vehicle for controlling home automation may include network interface hardware, one or more processors, and input/output hardware. The one or more processors can be communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware. The input/output hardware can be communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more processors can execute logic to receive a location signal indicative of a location of a vehicle. An input portal can be presented automatically on the input/output hardware when the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined range. An actuation signal indicative of a mechanical input can be received. A control signal can be transmitted to a home automation computing device via the network interface hardware. The control signal can be operable to actuate a function of an electrical device communicatively coupled to the home automation computing device.
In another embodiment, a system for controlling home automation may include a network, a home automation computing device, and a vehicle. The home automation computing device can be communicatively coupled to the network. The home automation computing device may include one or more home processors and can be communicatively coupled to an electrical device. The vehicle can be communicatively coupled to the network. The vehicle may include one or more vehicle processors, and input/output hardware communicatively coupled to the one or more vehicle processors. The one or more home processors, the one or more vehicle processors, or both can execute logic to receive a location signal indicative of a location of a vehicle. An input portal can be presented automatically on the input/output hardware of the vehicle when the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined range. An actuation signal indicative of a mechanical input can be received. A function of the electrical device can be actuated.
In yet another embodiment, a method for controlling home automation may include receiving a location signal indicative of a location of a vehicle. A visual indication that the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined range can be presented automatically with a processor. An actuation signal indicative of a mechanical input with an input portal can be received. A control signal to a home automation computing device can be transmitted via network interface hardware of the vehicle. The control signal can be operable to actuate a function of an electrical device communicatively coupled to the home automation computing device.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Referring now to
The vehicle 102 generally comprises input/output hardware communicatively coupled with the communication path 104. The input/output hardware serves as an interconnection between a driver and the vehicle 102. The input/output hardware can be any device capable of transforming mechanical, optical, or electrical signals into a data signal capable of being transmitted with the communication path 104. Moreover, the input/output hardware can be any device capable of transforming a data signal into a mechanical, optical, or electrical output. Each individual component of the input/output hardware can optionally include one or more processors and one or more memories. Alternatively, each individual component of the input/output hardware can optionally omit a processor and/or a memory. Accordingly, it is noted that, while specific components are described herein as including a processor and/or a memory, the embodiments described herein should not be so limited.
In one embodiment, the input/output hardware can include a tactile input device 110 such as, for example, a button, a switch, a knob, or the like. The physical motion of the tactile input device 110 can be digitized into a data signal that can be transmitted to a vehicle component. The input/output hardware can further include a microphone 120 for receiving input from a user. The microphone 120 can be any sensor that transforms mechanical vibrations into a data signal. The term “sensor,” as used herein, means a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a data signal, which is correlated to the measured value of the physical quantity, such as, for example, an electrical signal, an electromagnetic signal, an optical signal, a mechanical signal, or the like.
The input/output hardware may also include a speaker 122 for transforming data signals into mechanical vibrations. Additionally, it is noted that the term “signal” means a waveform (e.g., electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical or electromagnetic), such as DC, AC, sinusoidal-wave, triangular-wave, square-wave, vibration, and the like, capable of traveling through a medium.
Still referring to
In one embodiment, the vehicle 102 may include an audio head unit display 130 communicatively coupled with the communication path 104. The audio head unit display can comprise an audio processor 132 communicatively coupled to an audio memory 134. The vehicle 102 may further include an instrument cluster display 140 communicatively coupled with the communication path 104. The instrument cluster display can comprise a cluster processor 142 communicatively coupled with a cluster memory 144. Additionally, it is noted that, while the each of the audio head unit display 130 and the instrument cluster display 140 are depicted in
According to the embodiments described herein, a processor means any device capable of executing machine readable instructions. Accordingly, each processor may be a controller, an integrated circuit, a microchip, a computer, or any other computing device. The memory described herein may be RAM, ROM, a flash memory, a hard drive, or any device capable of storing machine readable instructions.
Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise logic that includes machine readable instructions or an algorithm written in any programming language of any generation (e.g., 1GL, 2GL, 3GL, 4GL, or 5GL) such as, e.g., machine language that may be directly executed by the processor, or assembly language, object-oriented programming (OOP), scripting languages, microcode, etc., that may be compiled or assembled into machine readable instructions and stored on a machine readable medium. Alternatively, the logic or algorithm may be written in a hardware description language (HDL), such as logic implemented via either a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configuration or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and their equivalents. Accordingly, the logic may be implemented in any conventional computer programming language, as pre-programmed hardware elements, or as a combination of hardware and software components.
Moreover, the logic can be distributed over various components that are communicatively coupled over a network 200 that may include one or more cellular networks, satellite networks and/or computer networks such as, for example, a wide area network, a local area network, personal area network, a global positioning system and combinations thereof. Accordingly, the vehicle 102 can be communicatively coupled to the network 200 via wires, via a wide area network, via a local area network, via a personal area network, via a cellular network, via a satellite network and the like. Suitable local area networks may include wired ethernet and/or wireless technologies such as, for example, Wi-Fi. Suitable personal area networks may include wireless technologies such as, for example, IrDA, Bluetooth, Wireless USB, Z-Wave, ZigBee, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, suitable personal area networks may include wired computer buses such as, for example, USB and FireWire. Suitable cellular networks include, but are not limited to, technologies such as LTE, WiMAX, UMTS, CDMA, and GSM. Thus, any components of the vehicle 102 can utilize one or more network 200 components to transmit signals over the Internet or World Wide Web.
In one embodiment, the vehicle 102 comprises network interface hardware 150 for communicatively coupling the vehicle 102 with the network 200. The network interface hardware 150 can be communicatively coupled to the communication path 104 and can be any device capable of transmitting and/or receiving data via the network 200. Accordingly, the network interface hardware 150 can include an antenna and/or other communication transceiver for sending and/or receiving any wired or wireless communication. For example, the network interface hardware 150 may include an antenna, a modem, LAN port, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, WiMax card, mobile communications hardware, near-field communication hardware, satellite communication hardware and/or any wired or wireless hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices.
The network 200 can communicatively couple the vehicle 102 to other devices in a flexible client-server relationship, i.e., the vehicle 102 can be a server to and/or a client of any device communicatively coupled to the vehicle 102 via the network 200. Specifically, the network 200 can be configured to enable the delivery of cloud resources to and/or from the vehicle 102. Any device communicatively coupled to the vehicle 102 can deliver a cloud resource to the vehicle 102 via the network 200. Similarly, the vehicle 102 can deliver a cloud resource via the network 200 to any device communicatively coupled to the vehicle 102. Accordingly, cloud resources such as, for example, processing, storage, software, and information can be shared via the network 200.
Referring still to
As is noted above, the vehicle 102 can be communicatively coupled to the one or more remote computing devices 202 via the network 200. Each of the one or more remote computing devices 202 can comprise one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more processors can execute logic to provide cloud resources to the vehicle 102 and/or any other device communicatively coupled to the network 200. For example, the one or more remote computing devices 202 can provide supplementary processing power, via relatively high powered processors, to the vehicle 102. Additionally, the one or more remote computing devices 202 can provide supplementary data storage to the vehicle 102. Moreover, the one or more remote computing devices 202 can provide platforms such as, for example, a social networking service, news service, weather service, traffic service, map service (e.g., restaurant data, fuel station data, service station data), and any other service capable of being exchanged between a server and a client.
The networked system 100 may further comprise one or more mobile devices 204 communicatively coupled to the vehicle 102 via the network 200. Each of the one or more mobile devices 204 can comprise one or more processors and one or more memories. Accordingly, the one or more mobile devices 204 can operate as a client and/or a server with respect to the vehicle 102. The one or more mobile devices 204 may be configured as a cellular or mobile telephone, with functionality for wireless data communications. Thus, while the mobile device 204 is depicted herein as a mobile telephone, it should be understood that the mobile device 204 can be any mobile communications device that can exchange data via a mobile telecommunication service such as, for example, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, or a laptop computer with a wireless communication peripheral. Furthermore, it is noted that one or more mobile devices 204 may further be configured to communicate data via one or more cellular networks, satellite networks and/or computer networks. In one embodiment, the network interface hardware 150 of the vehicle 102 can be communicatively coupled to the one or more mobile devices 204 via a personal area network such that the one or more mobile devices 204 communicatively couples the network interface hardware 150 to the network 200.
The networked system 100 further comprises a home automation computing device 206 that can be communicatively coupled to the vehicle 102 via the network 200. The home automation computing device 206 can comprise one or more processors and one or more memories. The home automation computing device 206 executes logic to automatically cause home or household functions to be performed. For example, the home automation computing device can be communicatively coupled to any electrical device within a home such as, for example, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), appliances, entertainment systems, security systems, and garage door openers.
The home automation computing device 206 may further comprise home network interface hardware similar to the network interface hardware 150 of the vehicle 102. Accordingly, the home automation computing device 206 can communicate with the network 200 in any manner that the vehicle 102 communicates with the network 200. However, it is noted that the vehicle 102 and the home automation computing device 206 need not communicate with the network in the same manner.
Referring collectively to
The method 220 may further comprise a process 224 that presents an input portal on the input/output hardware of the vehicle 102 when the vehicle 102 is within a predetermined range such as, for example, when the vehicle 102 is less than a predetermined distance from a home controlled by the home automation computing device 206. In one embodiment, the audio processor 132 can execute logic to compare the location of the vehicle 102 to the location of the home controlled by the home automation computing device 206. For example, the location of the home can be stored on a memory within the vehicle 102 such as the audio memory 134. Alternatively or additionally, the location of the home can be stored in a memory provided as a cloud resource by the network 200. In another embodiment, the audio processor 132 can execute logic to determine if the vehicle 102 is within the predetermined range when the ping signal is received. Specifically, when the ping signal is transmitted via Wi-Fi, the vehicle can be determined to be within the predetermined range upon receiving the ping signal.
Referring now to
In another embodiment, the input portal can be presented on a configurable tactile input 232. The configurable tactile input 232 can be any tactile input that includes selectively activated components and functions. Specifically, the configurable tactile input 232 can be transitioned between an activated state, where the configurable tactile input 232 provides a signal when actuated, and a deactivated state, where the configurable tactile input 232 provides no signal when actuated. Moreover, the configurable tactile input 232 may be selectively set to control different functions, i.e., the button can alternate between providing data signals to any device or component described herein. For example, the configurable tactile input 232 can be configured to control a vehicle function such as radio volume when the vehicle 102 is outside of the predetermined range, and configured to control the exterior lighting of a home when the vehicle 102 is within the predetermined range.
The configurable tactile input 232 can include an optical output device 234 that is disposed on the configurable tactile input 232 or adjacent to the configurable tactile input 232. Accordingly, when the vehicle 102 is within the predetermined range, the configurable tactile input 232 can be set to provide any desired component or function. For example, in one embodiment, when the vehicle 102 is within the predetermined range, the optical output device 234 can provide a visual indication (e.g., color coded light or text) that the configurable tactile input 232 is available to control the home automation computing device 206.
In a further embodiment, input portal can be presented on a touchscreen region 236 of the audio head unit display 130. Specifically when the vehicle 102 is within the predetermined range, a visual indication that the touchscreen region 236 is available to control the home automation computing device 206 can be provided. Contemporaneously, the touchscreen region 236 of the audio head unit display 130 can be operable to detect the presence and/or location of a tactile input upon a surface of or adjacent to the touchscreen region 236 of the audio head unit display 130.
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For example, the control signal can cause lights within the home and/or exterior lights to turn on and/or off. The control signal can be utilized to set the temperature of the HVAC system of the home. In some embodiments, the control signal can be utilized to activate and/or deactivate the home security system. In further embodiments, the control signal can be operable to cause the garage door opener to actuate.
It should be now be understood that the embodiments described herein can be utilized to provide a vehicle centric cloud resource network. The cloud resource network can be utilized to coordinate vehicle components and a home automation computing device. For example, an input portal can be provided automatically within the vehicle when the vehicle is near (e.g., within one mile, a few blocks, within the range of a Wi-Fi network, or within any predetermined range) the home controlled by the home automation computing device. The input portal can be actuated to generate a control signal from the vehicle that operates any electrical device within the home that is communicatively coupled to the home automation computing device.
It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.
