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US 12,638,207 B2Granted
Occupancy tracking using user device detection
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorsSunil Bondalapati, Prasad Mecheri Chandravihar, Bhavana Chadive, Fnu Kriti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An occupancy tracking device configured to identify devices connected to an access point over a predetermined time period. The device is further configured to populate entries in a device log for the identified devices. The device is further configured to determine a predicted occupancy level and to control a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system based on the predicted occupancy level.
Claims17
An occupancy tracking device, comprising:
- a network interface operably coupled to a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein the HVAC system is configured to control a temperature of a space;
- a memory operable to store a device log that comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry of the device log corresponds to a device;
- and
- a processor operably coupled to the network interface and the memory, configured to:
- establish a network connection with an access point;
- identify a plurality of devices that are connected to the access point over a predetermined time period;
- populate entries in the device log for the plurality of devices;
- associate a user device classification for a subset of the plurality of devices based at least in part upon an amount of time that the subset of the plurality of devices are present in the space during the predetermined time period;
- identify one or more clusters for the subset of the plurality of devices that are associated with a user device classification, wherein a cluster identifies one or more devices that are present within the space at the same time;
- determine a number of clusters that are identified;
- determine a predicted occupancy level based on the number of clusters that are identified;
- and
- control the HVAC system based on the predicted occupancy level,
- wherein identifying a cluster comprises:
- selecting a device from an entry in the device log;
- determining confidence levels between the selected device and other devices in the device log, wherein each confidence level indicates a probability that another device is present within the space when the selected device is present within the space;
- identifying one or more devices that are associated with a confidence level that is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
- and
- defining the cluster that comprises the selected device and the one or more devices that are associated with a confidence level that is greater than the predetermined threshold value.
16 more elements
An occupancy tracking method, comprising:
- establishing a network connection with an access point;
- identifying a plurality of devices that are connected to the access point over a predetermined time period;
- populating entries in a device log for the plurality of devices, wherein each entry of the device log corresponds to a device;
- associating a user device classification for a subset of the plurality of devices based at least in part upon an amount of time that the subset of the plurality of devices are present in the space during the predetermined time period;
- identifying one or more clusters for the subset of the plurality of devices that are associated with a user device classification, wherein a cluster identifies one or more devices that are present within a space at the same time;
- determining a number of clusters that are identified;
- determining a predicted occupancy level based on the number of clusters that are identified;
- and
- controlling a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system based on the predicted occupancy level, wherein the HVAC system is configured to control a temperature of the space,
- wherein identifying a cluster comprises:
- selecting a device from an entry in the device log;
- determining confidence levels between the selected device and other devices in the device log, wherein each confidence level indicates a probability that another device is present within the space when the selected device is present within the space;
- identifying one or more devices that are associated with a confidence level that is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
- and
- defining the cluster that comprises the selected device and the one or more devices that are associated with a confidence level that is greater than the predetermined threshold value.
12 more elements
An occupancy tracking system, comprising:
- a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein the HVAC system is configured to control a temperature of a space;
- an access point configured to transmit data to a thermostat;
- and
- the thermostat in signal communication with the HVAC system and the access point, configured to:
- establish a network connection with the access point;
- identify a plurality of devices that are connected to the access point over a predetermined time period;
- populate entries in a device log for the plurality of devices, wherein each entry of the device log corresponds to a device;
- associate a user device classification for a subset of the plurality of devices based at least in part upon an amount of time that the subset of the plurality of devices are present in the space during the predetermined time period;
- identify one or more clusters for the subset of the plurality of devices that are associated with a user device classification, wherein a cluster identifies one or more devices that are present within the space at the same time;
- determine a number of clusters that are identified;
- determine a predicted occupancy level based on the number of clusters that are identified;
- and
- control the HVAC system based on the predicted occupancy level,
- wherein identifying a cluster comprises:
- selecting a device from an entry in the device log;
- determining confidence levels between the selected device and other devices in the device log, wherein each confidence level indicates a probability that another device is present within the space when the selected device is present within the space;
- identifying one or more devices that are associated with a confidence level that is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
- and
- defining the cluster that comprises the selected device and the one or more devices that are associated with a confidence level that is greater than the predetermined threshold value.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.