# US 2019/0173685 A1 · Home automation system including shareable capacity determining hub devices and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173685 A1 - Document ID: US20190173685A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,893 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: K4Connect Inc. - Applicants: K4Connect Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Gould; Mark Robert Adams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173685A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)} - H04L 12/283: {Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network} - G05B 15/02: electric - H04L 12/281: {indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network (for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025)} - H04L 12/2827: {Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality} - H04L 12/2832: {Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks (single bridge functionality H04L12/4625)} - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - H04L 2012/2841: {Wireless} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure may include a communications network extending within the structure and HA operation devices within the structure. The HA system may also include HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure and HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications via the communications network for the HA user interface devices and the HA operation devices. Each HA hub device may have a processing capacity associated therewith and determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other HA hub device based upon a current processing capacity and at least one of the HA operation devices. Each HA hub device may also communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another HA hub device and perform processing operations for the other HA hub device based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure, the HA system comprising: a communications network extending within the structure; a plurality of HA operation devices within the structure; a plurality of HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure; and a plurality of HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications via the communications network for the plurality of HA user interface devices and the plurality of HA operation devices, each HA hub device having a processing capacity associated therewith and configured to determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon a current processing capacity and at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices, communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another one of the plurality of HA hub devices, and perform processing operations for the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA hub device is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to determine an occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the occupancy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA hub device is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to predict scheduled occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the predicted scheduled occupancy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA user interface device is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to perform at least one HA operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The HA system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of HA user interface device comprises a plurality of HA user interface tablet computers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA hub device is configured to wirelessly communicate the shareable processing capacity to the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a senior living center. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The HA system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises at least one of a motion detector, a thermostat, a light switch, an audio controller, a door lock, and a camera. ### Claim 10 A hub device from among a plurality thereof for a home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure, the HA system comprising a communications network extending within the structure, a plurality of HA operation devices within the structure, and a plurality of HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure, the hub device having a processing capacity associated therewith and comprising: a processor and a memory coupled thereto, the processor configured to provide communications via the communications network for a respective one of the plurality of HA user interface devices and at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices, determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon a current processing capacity and the at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices, communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another one of the plurality of HA hub devices, and perform processing operations for the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hub device of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to determine an occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the occupancy. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The hub device of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to predict scheduled occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the predicted scheduled occupancy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The hub device of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly communicate the shareable processing capacity to the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The hub device of claim 10 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ### Claim 15 A method of performing processing operations in a home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure and comprising a communications network extending within the structure, a plurality of HA operation devices within the structure, a plurality of HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure, and a plurality of HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications via the communications network for the plurality of HA user interface devices and the plurality of HA operation devices, the method comprising: using a given one of the plurality of HA hub devices having a processing capacity associated therewith to determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon a current processing capacity and at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices, communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another one of the plurality of HA hub devices, and perform processing operations for the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the given HA hub device is used to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to determine an occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the occupancy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the given HA hub device is used to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to predict scheduled occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the predicted scheduled occupancy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein each HA user interface device is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to perform at least one HA operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of HA user interface device comprises a plurality of HA user interface tablet computers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the given HA hub device is used to wirelessly communicate the shareable processing capacity to the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.