Automated presence detection and presence-related control within an intelligent controller

US8630741B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Nest Labs, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Yoky Matsuoka · Palo Alto, US
• Evan J. Fisher · San Francisco, US
• Mark Rajan Malhotra · San Mateo, US
• Mark D. Stefanski · Palo Alto, US
• Rangoli Sharan · Sunnyvale, US
• Frank E. Astier · Mountain View, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2012
• Grant date: Jan 14, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04Q2209/10
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that use sensor output and electronically stored information, including one or more of electronically stored rules, parameters, and instructions, to determine whether or not one or more types of entities are present within an area, volume, or environment monitored by the intelligent controllers. The intelligent controllers select operational modes and modify control schedules with respect to the presence and absence of the one or more entities. The intelligent controllers employ feedback information to continuously adjust the electronically stored parameters and rules in order to minimize the number of incorrect inferences with respect to the presence or absence of the one or more entities and in order to maximize the efficiency by which various types of systems controlled by the intelligent controllers carry out selected operational modes.