Home automation system and method

A home automation system for a home having a plurality of rooms separated by doorways, wherein each doorway is associated with rooms adjoining thereto, the system comprising:

• a plurality of controlled objects for placement in rooms;
• a plurality of room motion sensors for placement in the rooms to detect occupancy by a person therein;
• a plurality of entry/exit sensors for placement at doorways to detect movement of a person therethrough;
• and
• a controller for assigning each of the rooms to one of a plurality of room states, wherein for each of the rooms the controller:
• assigns the room to a first room state in response to any detected occupancy in the room by any of the room motion sensors,
• changes the assignment from the first room state to a second room state in response to detected movement by any entry/exit sensor associated with the room, and
• changes the assignment from the first room state to a third room state in response to an expiration of the first room state, wherein the first room state expires when no occupancy is detected in the room by any room motion sensor for a time period exceeding a predetermined time;
• wherein any of the controlled objects in each of the rooms are activated by the controller while the room is assigned to one of the first and second room states, and are deactivated by the controller while the room is assigned to the third room state.

A home automation system for a home having a plurality of rooms separated by doorways, wherein each doorway is associated with any rooms adjoining thereto, the system comprising:

• a plurality of controlled objects for placement in rooms;
• a plurality of room motion sensors for placement in the rooms to detect occupancy by a person therein;
• a plurality of entry/exit sensors for placement at doorways to detect movement of a person therethrough;
• a controller for assigning each of the rooms to one of a plurality of room states in response to movement detected by an associated entry/exit sensor and occupancy detected in the room by one of the room motion sensors, and for assigning the home to one of a plurality of home modes;
• a plurality of input devices for placement in the rooms and connection to the controller, and for entering one of a plurality of room modes selected by a first occupant in one of the rooms using one of the input devices, wherein the room modes define room atmospheres created by the controlled objects and the controller assigns the one room to the selected room mode;
• and
• the controller controls the controlled objects in each of the rooms in response to which of the plurality of room states and plurality of room modes are assigned to the room and in response to which of the plurality of home modes is assigned to the home.

A method of home automation for a home having a plurality of rooms and a plurality of controlled objects for placement in rooms, the method comprising:

• detecting occupancy of the rooms by a person using room motion sensors;
• assigning each of the rooms to a first room state in response to detected occupancy in the room by one of the room motion sensors and to a second room state when occupancy in the room is not detected by the room motion sensors;
• selecting one of a plurality of room modes in response to an input by a first occupant occupying one of the rooms, the room modes define room atmospheres created by the controlled objects;
• assigning the one room to the selected room mode;
• assigning other rooms to the selected room mode as the first occupant travels into and triggers room motion sensors in these other rooms;
• controlling the controlled objects in each of the rooms in response to which of the first and second room states is assigned to the room, and in response to which of the plurality of room modes is assigned to the room;
• selecting one of the plurality of room modes in response to an input by a second occupant occupying another one of the rooms;
• assigning another one room to the room mode selected in response to the input by the second occupant;
• and
• assigning other rooms to the room mode selected in response to the input by the second occupant as the second occupant travels into and triggers room motion sensors in these other rooms;
• establishing a priority hierarchy for the plurality of room modes;
• and
• assigning any room in which the second occupant enters while already occupied by the first occupant to one of the plurality of room modes based upon the priority hierarchy.

A method of home automation for a home having a plurality of rooms separated by doorways, a plurality of controlled objects placed in the rooms, a plurality of room motion sensors placed in the rooms to detect occupancy by a person therein, and a plurality of entry/exit sensors placed at doorways to detect movement of a person therethrough, each doorway is associated with rooms adjoining thereto, wherein for each of the plurality of rooms the method comprising:

• assigning the room to a first room state in response to any detected occupancy in the room by any of the room motion sensors;
• changing the assignment from the first room state to a second room state in response to detected movement by any entry/exit sensor associated with the room;
• changing the assignment from the first room state to a third room state in response to an expiration of the first room state, wherein the first room state expires when no occupancy is detected in the room by any room motion sensor for a time period exceeding a predetermined time;
• activating any of the controlled objects in any of the rooms assigned to one of the first and second room states;
• and
• deactivating any of the controlled objects in any of the rooms assigned to the third room state.

A method of home automation for a home having a plurality of rooms separated by doorways, a plurality of controlled objects placed in the rooms, a plurality of room motion sensors placed in the rooms to detect occupancy by a person therein, a plurality of entry/exit sensors placed at doorways to detect movement of a person therethrough wherein each doorway is associated with any rooms adjoining thereto, and a plurality of input devices placed in the rooms, the method comprising:

• selecting one of a plurality of room modes in response to an input from one of the input devices by a first occupant occupying one of the rooms, the room modes define room atmospheres created by the controlled objects;
• assigning the one room occupied by the first occupant to the selected room mode;
• assigning each of the rooms to one of a plurality of room states in response to movement detected by an entry/exit sensor associated with the room and occupancy detected in the room by one of the room motion sensors;
• assigning the home to one of a plurality of home modes;
• and
• controlling the controlled objects in each of the rooms in response to which of the plurality of room states, the plurality of room modes and the plurality of home modes are assigned to the room.