Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND MONITORING
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This
application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No.
14/250,540, filed April 11, 2014, the disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The
present disclosure is generally directed to device management,
and more specifically to managing networked environmental control devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003]
Environmental control is useful for creating comfortable indoor
environments.
Environmental control may be employed in a home, or in a
commercial setting such as a hotel room, office cubicle or cruise ship
stateroom. A
variety of devices such as air purifiers, humidifiers, and fragrance diffusers
may be
employed in an environmental control system, and data related to the usage of
these
devices may be useful for optimizing environmental control.
[0004]
Environmental control may also include monitoring user actions to
determine what types of relevant user actions are taken within a monitored
environment, and when such actions are performed. Data related to user
actions, in
combination with data related to the usage of various devices, may be employed
to
further optimize environmental control. Therefore, it would be advantageous to
manage data obtained from various sources to implement more effective
environmental control and monitoring systems.
SUMMARY
[0005] Methods,
apparatuses, and computer readable media for
environmental control and monitoring are provided. In
accordance with an
embodiment, an electronic communication including a selection of a climate
control
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operational mode to modify an environment within a particular designated area
is
received from one of a plurality of environmental control and monitoring
devices via a
network, wherein each of the plurality of environmental control and monitoring
devices include one or more climate control subsystems for modifying an
environment within a designated area. The
selection of the climate control
operational mode is associated with a climate control parameter and the one of
the
plurality of environmental control and monitoring devices. An operation of a
particular climate control subsystem of the one of the plurality of
environmental
control and monitoring devices is initiated to modify the environment within
the
particular designated area based on the climate control parameter. A usage
parameter based on the operation of the particular climate control subsystem
is
received via the network. The usage parameter may indicate one of a consumable
resource level or a filter status. A billing message associated with a user is
generated based on the usage parameter, and the billing message is transmitted
to
a billing system, wherein the billing message results in a charge to an
account of the
user. The selection of the climate control operational mode may be received
from
one of a user device or a remote device controller via the network.
[0006] In
accordance with an embodiment, the selection of the climate control
operational mode may be received from a networked appliance. The networked
appliance may include one of a clothes washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator,
HVAC
unit, air purifier, humidifier or fragrance diffuser, and may be located in
one of a hotel
room, cruise ship stateroom or office.
[0007] In
accordance with an embodiment, access may be provided to stored
user profiles. The selection of the climate control operational mode may be
associated with a stored user profile, and the climate control subsystem may
be
selected for activation based on the stored user profile.
[0008] In
accordance with an embodiment, access may be provided to one or
more records of previously selected climate control operational modes, and the
climate control subsystem may be selected for activation based on one of the
previously selected climate control operational modes.
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[0009] In
accordance with an embodiment, one or more of the climate control
subsystems may modify the environment within the designated area within a
designated range based the climate control parameter.
[0010] In
accordance with an embodiment, an interface may be initiated
between the climate control subsystem and an external device, the external
device
operable to be activated based on the climate control parameter to modify the
environment within the designated area.
[0011] These
and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those
of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed
description and the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Fig. 1
is a diagram showing a networked environment for
environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an embodiment;
[0013] Fig. 2
is a diagram showing a table of diagnostic codes that may be
used for environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an
embodiment;
[0014] Fig. 3
is a diagram showing a web portal interface display for
environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an embodiment;
[0015] Fig. 4
is another diagram showing a web portal interface display for
environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an embodiment;
[0016] Fig. 5
is another diagram showing a web portal interface display for
environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an embodiment;
[0017] Fig. 6
is another diagram showing a web portal interface display for
environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an embodiment;
[0018] Fig. 7 is a
flow diagram for environmental control and monitoring in
accordance with an embodiment; and
[0019] Fig. 8
is a high-level block diagram of an exemplary computer that
may be used for remotely managing an environmental control and monitoring
device.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Fig. 1
is a diagram showing a networked environment for
environmental control and monitoring in accordance with an embodiment. For
example, network 100 may be accessible via an interface of environmental
control
and monitoring device manager 102 for communication with one or more remote
locations, such as remote locations 104, 106 and 108. It should be noted that
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may communicate with
more or fewer remote locations, and that a remote location as referred to
herein may
be referring to either a physical location or a network location. Moreover, a
remote
location as referred to herein may be referring to any one of remote locations
104,
106 and 108.
[0021] Remote
locations 104, 106 and 108 include one or more environmental
control and monitoring devices (also referred to herein as "devices", or
singularly, as
a "device" or "ECM device"). For
example, remote location 104 includes
environmental control and monitoring devices 110-A, 110-B and 110-C; remote
location 106 includes environmental control and monitoring devices 110-D, 110-
E
and 110-F; and remote location 108 includes environmental control and
monitoring
devices 110-G, 110-H and 110-1. It should be noted that an environmental
control
and monitoring device 110 as referred to herein may be referring to any one of
environmental control and monitoring devices 110-A - 110-1.
[0022]
Environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 can be
utilized for managing one or more environmental control and monitoring devices
110.
In one embodiment, environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may
track usage, monitor maintenance status, receive data and remotely control
environmental control and monitoring devices 110. For example, environmental
control and monitoring device manager 102 may receive notifications regarding
usage or an operating status of one or more environmental control and
monitoring
devices 110 via network 100. In one embodiment, the one or more environmental
control and monitoring devices 110 are network-capable devices used for
environmental control and monitoring of indoor areas, such as room heaters and
coolers (i.e., HVAC units), air purifiers, humidifiers or fragrance devices.
Additional
examples of environmental control and monitoring devices 110 may include
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furnaces, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. In other embodiments,
the environmental control and monitoring devices 110 can include clothes
washers,
clothes dryers, refrigerators and other appliances that may be used in a home
or
commercial setting.
[0023] An
exemplary environmental control and monitoring device 110
includes a networking module 112. For
example, environmental control and
monitoring device 110-A includes networking module 112-A, environmental
control
and monitoring device 110-B includes networking module 112-B, environmental
control and monitoring device 110-C includes networking module 112-C, etc. It
should be noted that networking modules 112 as referred to herein may be
referring
to any one of networking modules 112-A - 112-1.
[0024]
Networking modules 112 may be cellular data modules that are
capable of data communication with environmental control and monitoring device
manager 102, such as via network 100. Each networking module 112 may include a
printed circuit board (PCB) having a unique identifier that may be associated
with a
corresponding environmental control and monitoring device 110. For example,
the
unique identifier may be a network serial number such as a CDMA Mobile
Equipment Identifier (MEID). One skilled in the art will note that networking
modules
112 and environmental control and monitoring devices 110 may communicate with
network 100 using any of a variety of wired (e.g., USB, Firewire, LAN, etc.)
or
wireless (e.g., CDMA, GSM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) formats. Moreover,
networking
modules 112 may be external to environmental control and monitoring devices
110,
such as within a remote device controller having a wired or wireless
connection to
network 100 and a short-range protocol connection (e.g., wired, Bluetooth
infrared,
ear-field communication, infrared, etc.) to communicate with and control
environmental control and monitoring device 110.
[0025] In one
embodiment, a unique identifier may be used for remotely
managing an associated environmental control and monitoring device 110. For
example, prior to deploying an environmental control and monitoring device 110
in a
commercial environment (e.g., in a hotel room), a unique identifier associated
with
the environmental control and monitoring device 110 may be recorded along with
other data, such as the country, city, hotel and room number where the
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environmental control and monitoring device 110 is located. The unique
identifier
and other data relating to the environmental control and monitoring device 110
then
may be received by environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 and
communicated to environmental control and monitoring device manager database
114 (also referred to herein as database 114) for storage either via a direct
connection or via network 100. In one embodiment, information may be received
and cross-referenced to a unique identifier associated with a particular
environmental control and monitoring device 110 by the environmental control
and
monitoring device manager 102. The environmental control and monitoring device
manager 102 may then store the information at database 114 in relation to the
particular environmental control and monitoring device 110. Alternatively,
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may receive and cross-
reference information (e.g., associated with a unique identifier) from a third-
party
manager 116, such as by transmitting a command as part of a check routine to
third-
party manager 116 either via network 100 or a direct connection.
[0026]
Information may be stored at database 114 in any of a variety of ways.
For example, the information communicated via a stock keeping unit (SKU)
scanner
or similar handheld device. One skilled in the art will also note that
standard
technologies can be utilized for entering data into database 114 such as bar
code,
RFID and 3D video scanning. Alternatively, database 114 may receive unique
identifiers and other data relating to the environmental control and
monitoring
devices 110 directly from network 100, such as by an operation of a web-
enabled
application operating within network 100.
[0027] In
certain embodiments, the environmental control and monitoring
device manager database 114 will not just store information incoming from each
environmental control and monitoring device, but also interact with the
environmental
control and monitoring devices and be capable of running functions that can
purge
superfluous data. Such purges can be scheduled so that the database 114 may
purge data after a predetermined number of megabytes or at a predetermined
time.
[0028] One
exemplary type of environmental control and monitoring device
110 that can be remotely managed may combine one or more of an air purifier,
humidifier or fragrance device. Such a combined function environmental control
and
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monitoring device 110 may include a variety of consumables that must be
replaced
as a consequence of typical usage. Examples of consumables used by a combined
function environmental control and monitoring device 110 may include water,
filters,
fragrances, de-mineralization tablets, charcoal filters or other filter types
that may be
used in water/humidification, or any other consumables that typically may be
used in
environmental control devices. For example, a combined function environmental
control and monitoring device 110 may include a humidifier having a water tank
rated
for an approximate runtime (e.g., 8-10 hours) without a refill. A combined
function
environmental control and monitoring device 110 also may include a HEPA-type
air
purifier, which removes airborne particles and contaminants from the room via
a filter
(e.g., an odor-absorbing carbon media).
[0029] In one
embodiment, an environmental control and monitoring device
110 may include an interface (e.g., a sensor or a display) for input/output
(I/O)
interaction with a user and one or more sensors to monitor a user's habits.
For
example, the environmental control and monitoring device 110 may collect
monitoring data based on a user's habits or when a user performs certain tasks
(e.g.,
laundry or cooking). The monitoring data then may be used by the environmental
control and monitoring device 110 to generate a behavioral record. The
environmental control and monitoring device 110 may then generate a device
action
(i.e., an electronic notification) for transmission to environmental control
and
monitoring device manager 102. For example, the environmental control and
monitoring device 110 may generate a device action that is based on a
behavioral
record.
[0030] In one
embodiment, a device action may include status information
regarding an environmental control and monitoring device 110 that is
malfunctioning, not responding or reporting an error condition. For example,
an
environmental control and monitoring device 110 may transmit a device action
including a notification that a furnace pilot light is out. A device action
also may
include a notification that an environmental control and monitoring device 110
is
functioning normally or particularly well. Examples of occurrences that may
trigger
device actions from a device include customer service occurrences, maintenance
occurrences, billing procedure occurrences and occurrences relating to
marketing
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information. In one embodiment, occurrences that will trigger device actions
may be
defined by an organization that is hosting environmental control and
monitoring
device manager 102.
[0031] A device
action also may be generated by an environmental control
and monitoring device 110 in response to a user input (e.g., for activating a
function
of the device) or any other user interaction. One example of a user
interaction could
be opening a lid of a device, such as for monitoring or replenishing a
consumable.
Alternatively, a user input may be communicated to an environmental control
and
monitoring device 110 via a remote controller 118, which may be either co-
located
(e.g., within the environment being managed by the environmental control and
monitoring device 110) or at a location remote from the environmental control
and
monitoring device 110.
[0032] In one
embodiment, a device action may be associated with one or
more user actions monitored by an environmental control and monitoring device
110.
For example, user actions including an observed usage pattern of an
environmental
control and monitoring device 110, an observed wake-up time of a user or times
when a user leaves or returns to the location of an environmental control and
monitoring device 110 may be monitored, and such information may be included
in a
device action. Further, a device action may include a record of one or more
previous
devices actions. As such, a correlation can be made based on the record of
previous device actions to determine a management action, as described in
detail
below.
[0033] In
another embodiment, a device action may comprise a device code
(e.g., identifying a particular device or type of device), and a management
action
may be based, at least in part, on the device code. For example, one or more
device
actions may be received from a plurality of environmental control and
monitoring
devices 110. In such case, a device action may be determined to be associated
with
a particular environmental control and monitoring device 110 based on a unique
identifier (e.g., a serial number or device ID) of the particular
environmental control
and monitoring device 110. A transmitted management action may then include
the
unique identifier of the particular environmental control and monitoring
device 110.
For example, the management action may include a unique identifier to convey a
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command which causes the particular environmental control and monitoring
device
110 to execute an operation.
[0034] One or
more device actions associated with a particular environmental
control and monitoring device 110 also may be stored based on a unique
identifier,
such as in database 114. Currently received or previously stored device
actions
then may be displayed in relation to a particular environmental control and
monitoring device 110, such as at a user interface of environmental control
and
monitoring device manager 102. In certain embodiments, the environmental
control
and monitoring device manager database 114 may store device codes for
environmental control and monitoring devices 110 including network location
information (e.g., information regarding remote locations 104, 106 or 108).
Further,
monitoring device manager database 114 may store additional information
regarding
environmental control and monitoring devices 110, including user
identification
information related to particular environmental control and monitoring devices
110.
As such, environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may employ
the
device codes for environmental control and monitoring devices 110 to generate
a
billing message associated with a user. The billing message, for example, may
be
based on a usage parameter received from a particular environmental control
and
monitoring device 110. The environmental control and monitoring device manager
102 may then transmit the billing message to billing system 120, where the
billing
message can result in a charge to an account of the user.
[0035] Messages
associated with device actions also may be coded to report
particular device errors or alerts. For example, device actions may include a
diagnostic code associated with a need to replace a consumable (e.g., water or
a
non-functioning bulb) in an environmental control and monitoring device 110.
Fig. 2
is a diagram showing a table of diagnostic codes that may be used for remotely
managing an environmental control and monitoring device in accordance with an
embodiment. For
example, diagnostic (action) codes 200 may be two-digit
numerical codes (e.g., 00, 01, 40, etc.) or alpha-numeric strings that can be
translated to correspond to a description 202 of a specific error, maintenance
or
repair request, or other detected event associated with an environmental
control and
monitoring device 110. In one embodiment, one or more diagnostic codes 200 may
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be associated with a priority level 204 or an estimated or actual timing
period for
attention 206. Certain diagnostic codes 200 also may be associated with
display
requests 208 (e.g., at a web portal interface) or other actions 210 (e.g.,
email
messages, etc.). It should be noted that in certain embodiments, environmental
control and monitoring devices 110 may use other schemes for encoding
diagnostic
codes. For example, four-digit numerical strings may be used for diagnostic
codes.
[0036] In one
embodiment, each occurrence of an event can be associated
with an action code. As such, when a device action including an action code is
received by environmental control and monitoring device manager 102, the
information associated with that action code can be collected, sorted, and
analyzed
by the environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 to determine a
management action.
[0037] In
certain embodiments, a web portal interface may be provided for
administrators to access environmental control and monitoring device manager
102.
For example, the web portal interface may display device actions (and
associated
action codes). The web portal interface also may be capable of organizing and
displaying information regarding device actions in various formats. In one
embodiment, the web portal interface may be restricted based on an
administration
status of a user. For example, a user possessing administrator status (e.g., a
hotel
manager) may be able to view current or previous device actions received from
any
particular environmental control and monitoring device. However, a user with a
more
limited administrator status (e.g., a hotel concierge) may only be able to
view device
actions received from selected environmental control and monitoring device. As
such, where the web portal interface may be accessible to different types of
users,
each type of user may have different levels of access to information as well
as ability
to view, change, and run functions and view reports online.
[0038] In one
embodiment, various user roles may include Master
Administrators, Billing Administrators, Service Administrators, Hotel
Administrators,
and Regional Administrators. For example, the web portal interface associated
with
Master Administrator accounts (e.g., senior management of an entity providing
the
environmental control and monitoring device manager) may allow users to see
all
incoming device actions, modify rights and access, run master level reports,
and
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manipulate information as needed for bookkeeping and other functions. Billing
Administrators may have access to individual accounts and usable information.
Service Administrators may have access to tools to service and update devices
as
well as to check a status of an error report, and Hotel Administrators may
have
access to view and run basic reports.
[0039] Fig. 3
is a diagram showing a web portal interface display for remotely
managing an environmental control and monitoring device in accordance with an
embodiment. For example, web portal interface 300 may display a graph 302
showing plots representing one or more usage parameters (e.g., usage of a
humidifier, purifier and various diffuser scents) and of one or more
environmental
control and monitoring devices 110. Web portal interface 300 also includes
selector
buttons for various alternative arrangements of information, including
activity by
(hotel) chain 304, activity by location 306 and device errors 308. Additional
selector
buttons include buttons for obtaining device reports 310, user data 312 and
help &
support 314.
[0040] Fig. 4
is another diagram showing a web portal interface display for
remotely managing an environmental control and monitoring device in accordance
with an embodiment. For example, web portal interface 400 may display a device
status report 402 that lists device status descriptions 404 for a particular
environmental control and monitoring device 110 by serial number 406, specific
location 408, room number 410, days in service 412 and usage time 414. In one
embodiment, an alert badge 416 may be displayed to call attention to a
particular
device action regarding a device.
[0041] Fig. 5
is another diagram showing a web portal interface display for
remotely managing an environmental control and monitoring device in accordance
with an embodiment. For example, web portal interface 500 may display one or
more pie charts 502 showing device performance and one or more associated
usage
overviews 504, such as an overview of usage over a selected period of time.
[0042] Fig. 6
is another diagram showing a web portal interface display for
remotely managing an environmental control and monitoring device in accordance
with an embodiment. For example, web portal interface 600 may display a map
602
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that indicates the current location of a device, or devices reporting a
selected status
within a selected region. As such, map 602 may be displayed as a regional map
including information such as which devices have the highest and lowest usage
(e.g., for marketing purposes). For example, an administrator at web portal
interface
600 may select an area of map 602 to update device firmware or settings within
the
selected area.
[0043] In some
embodiments, the data stored at database 114 may be
collected and sold to parties interested in purchasing it, such as marketing
companies or organizations interested in usage data related to the
environmental
control and monitoring devices. For example, the data collected regarding the
use
and performance of environmental control and monitoring devices may be
analyzed
in order to generate information that may be useful to improve future
generations or
versions of environmental control and monitoring devices. Raw or analyzed data
also may be shared with the manufacturers of environmental control and
monitoring
devices. For example, the data received from devices may be utilized for
improving
the devices through production cost reduction, reduced time to market and
increased
profitability. In addition, the data collected from devices may be shared with
a third-
party (e.g., a hotel) for the third-party's internal use or for use in
marketing to their
customers.
[0044] Fig. 7
is a flow diagram for environmental control and monitoring in
accordance with an embodiment. Referring back to Fig. 1, an environmental
control
and monitoring device 110 (e.g., a networked appliance such as a clothes
washer,
clothes dryer, refrigerator, HVAC unit, air purifier, humidifier or fragrance
diffuser)
may be in communication with an environmental control and monitoring device
manager 102 via network 100. The environmental control and monitoring device
110
may be located at a remote location, such as a hotel room, cruise ship
stateroom or
office, and may include a networking module 112 or combinations of networking
modules (e.g., Wi-Fi, GPS or other similar modules) for communicating device
actions via network 100.
[0045] The
environmental control and monitoring device 110 may transmit
data such as status information to environmental control and monitoring device
manager 102 periodically. For example, the environmental control and
monitoring
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device 110 may transmit device actions at regular intervals (e.g., 1-24 times
per day
or more). In addition, the environmental control and monitoring device 110 may
transmit one or more device actions associated with a particular occurrence,
such as
a guest request to use the device (e.g., a selection of a climate control
operational
mode) or an alert condition of the device, or instantaneously (e.g., without
any
triggering preconditions).
[0046] As such,
at 700, environmental control and monitoring device manager
102 receives an electronic communication (e.g., a device action) including a
selection of a climate control operational mode to modify an environment
within a
particular designated area from one of a plurality of environmental control
and
monitoring devices 110 via network 100. As discussed in regard to Fig. 1
above,
each of the plurality of environmental control and monitoring devices 110 may
include one or more climate control subsystems for modifying an environment
within
a designated area, such as at a remote location 104, 106 or 108. The selection
of
the climate control operational mode also may be received by environmental
control
and monitoring device manager 102 from a user device or a remote device
controller, such as remote controller 118, via network 100. Further,
environmental
control and monitoring device manager 102 may receive the selection of the
climate
control operational mode by interfacing with an environmental control and
monitoring
device 110, such as via a networking module 112.
[0047] At 702,
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102
associates the selection of the climate control operational mode with a
climate
control parameter and the one of the plurality of environmental control and
monitoring devices 110. For example, environmental control and monitoring
device
manager 102 may associate the selection of the climate control operational
mode
with an environmental control and monitoring device 110 by accessing a memory,
such as database 114, that provides stored user profiles. Environmental
control and
monitoring device manager 102 may then associate the selection of the climate
control operational mode with a stored user profile from memory, and select a
climate control subsystem for activation based on the stored user profile.
[0048] In
another example, environmental control and monitoring device
manager 102 may access a memory, such as database 114, that provides stored
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records of previously selected climate control operational modes, and select a
climate control subsystem for activation based on the previously selected
climate
control operational modes.
[0049] At 704,
a management action is determined by the environmental
control and monitoring device manager 102 based at least on the received
selection
of the climate control operational mode. Determining the management action may
include determining a command to execute an operation of the environmental
control
and monitoring device that transmitted the selected climate control
operational
mode. The management action may include a command to record status
information, usage information or other information useful to maintain the
proper
operation of the environmental control and monitoring device that transmitted
the
received device action. The management action also may include a command to
transmit authorization information, software updates, or other messages to the
environmental control and monitoring device. For example, a first management
action may activate a charge room code and transmit a command to the hotel's
billing system, e.g., billing system 120. Once the billing system 120 has
received the
charge room code and authorized the charge, the environmental control and
monitoring device manager 102 may determine a second management action to
unlock the device for use by the guest.
[0050] At 706,
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102
initiates (e.g., via a transmitted electronic command) an operation of a
particular
climate control subsystem of the one of the plurality of environmental control
and
monitoring devices 110 to modify the environment within the particular
designated
area based on the climate control parameter. The climate control subsystem may
modify the environment within a designated area within a designated range
based
the climate control parameter. For example, the climate control parameter may
be a
preferred temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the climate control
subsystem
may modify the environment within a designated area (e.g., a hotel room)
within plus
or minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit (i.e., a determined tolerance) based on the 75
degree
Fahrenheit climate control parameter.
[0051] The
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 also
may initiate an interface between the climate control subsystem and an
external
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device to modify the environment within a designated area within a designated
range
based the climate control parameter. For example, an external device, such as
an in-
room thermostat, may be responsive to be activated (e.g., wirelessly) by the
climate
control subsystem of the environmental control and monitoring device 110 based
on
the climate control parameter to modify the environment within the designated
area.
[0052] For
example, in a hotel environment, environmental control and
monitoring device manager 102 may receive a climate control parameter that
indicates that a guest wishes to use an environmental control and monitoring
device
110. In such case, environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may
initiate an operation of a particular climate control subsystem of the
particular
environmental control and monitoring device 110 by one or more management
actions. In one embodiment, a third-party manager 126 (e.g., a hotel guest
management system) may store guest access information to allow, change, or
limit a
guest's ability to activate an environmental control and monitoring device
110. For
example, environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may receive
guest access information from a hotel guest management system (e.g., by
transmitting a command as part of a check routine). Environmental control and
monitoring device manager 102 may then transmit the guest access information
for
display at an environmental control and monitoring device 110 (e.g., within a
room
associated with the guest access information). The environmental control and
monitoring device 110 also may be permitted to access, via environmental
control
and monitoring device manager 102 and network 100, the hotel guest management
system for selected guest access information.
[0053] At 708,
a usage parameter based on the operation of the particular
climate control subsystem is received by environmental control and monitoring
device manager 102 via the network. The usage parameter may indicate one of a
consumable resource level, a filter status or other usage-type information.
For
example, if the environmental control and monitoring device 110 is a networked
appliance such as a humidifier or fragrance diffuser, the usage parameter may
indicate the amount of water or fragrance (e.g., perfume) consumed by the
networked appliance in operation as a result of its activation by the climate
control
subsystem for a particular instance.
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[0054] At 710,
a billing message associated with a user is generated by
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 based on the usage
parameter. The billing message is transmitted to billing system 120, wherein
the
billing message results in a charge to an account of the user at 712. For
example,
the billing message may result in a charge to an account associated with a
user
profile.
[0055] As such,
an environmental control and monitoring system is disclosed.
The environmental control and monitoring system allows for receiving an
electronic
communication including a selection of a climate control operational mode to
modify
an environment within a particular designated area from one of a plurality of
environmental control and monitoring devices via a network. The selection of
the
climate control operational mode can be associated with a climate control
parameter
and the particular environmental control and monitoring device. An operation
of a
particular climate control subsystem of the particular environmental control
and
monitoring device can be initiated to modify the environment within the
particular
designated area based on the climate control parameter.
[0056] Further,
environmental control and monitoring system allows for
receiving, via the network, a usage parameter based on the operation of the
particular climate control subsystem. A billing message associated with a user
can
be generated based on the usage parameter, and the billing message can be
transmitted to a billing system, wherein the billing message results in a
charge to an
account of the user.
[0057] Systems,
apparatus, and methods described herein may be
implemented using digital circuitry, or using one or more computers using well-
known computer processors, memory units, storage devices, computer software,
and other components. Typically, a computer includes a processor for executing
instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. A
computer
may also include, or be coupled to, one or more mass storage devices, such as
one
or more magnetic disks, internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-
optical
disks, optical disks, etc.
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[0058] Systems,
apparatus, and methods described herein may be used
within a network-based cloud computing system. In such a network-based cloud
computing system, a server or another processor that is connected to a network
communicates with one or more client computers via a network. A client
computer
may communicate with the server via a network browser application residing and
operating on the client computer, for example. A client computer may store
data on
the server and access the data via the network. A client computer may transmit
requests for data, or requests for online services, to the server via the
network. The
server may perform requested services and provide data to the client
computer(s).
The server may also transmit data adapted to cause a client computer to
perform a
specified function, e.g., to perform a calculation, to display specified data
on a
screen, etc. Certain steps of the methods described herein, including one or
more of
the steps of Fig. 7, may be performed by a server or by another processor in a
network-based cloud-computing system. Certain steps of the methods described
herein, including one or more of the steps of Fig. 7, may be performed by a
client
computer in a network-based cloud computing system. The steps of the methods
described herein, including one or more of the steps of Fig. 7, may be
performed by
a server and/or by a client computer in a network-based cloud computing
system, in
any combination.
[0059] Systems,
apparatus, and methods described herein may be
implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in an
information
carrier, e.g., in a non-transitory machine-readable storage device, for
execution by a
programmable processor; and the method steps described herein, including one
or
more of the steps of Fig. 7, may be implemented using one or more computer
programs that are executable by such a processor. A computer program is a set
of
computer program instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a
computer
to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result. A computer
program can
be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or
interpreted
languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone
program
or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a
computing
environment.
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[0060] A high-
level block diagram of an exemplary computer that may be used
to implement systems, apparatus and methods described herein is illustrated in
Fig.
8. Computer 800 comprises a processor 810 operatively coupled to a data
storage
device 820 and a memory 830. Processor 810 controls the overall operation of
computer 800 by executing computer program instructions that define such
operations. The computer program instructions may be stored in data storage
device 820, or other computer readable medium, and loaded into memory 830 when
execution of the computer program instructions is desired. Thus, the method
steps
of Fig. 7 can be defined by the computer program instructions stored in memory
830
and/or data storage device 820 and controlled by processor 810 executing the
computer program instructions. For example, the computer program instructions
can
be implemented as computer executable code programmed by one skilled in the
art
to perform an algorithm defined by the method steps of Fig. 7. Accordingly, by
executing the computer program instructions, the processor 810 executes an
algorithm defined by the method steps of Fig. 7. Computer 800 also includes
one or
more network interfaces 840 for communicating with other devices via a
network.
Computer 800 also includes one or more input/output devices 850 that enable
user
interaction with computer 800 (e.g., display, keyboard, mouse, speakers,
buttons,
etc.).
[0061]
Processor 810 may include both general and special purpose
microprocessors, and may be the sole processor or one of multiple processors
of
computer 800. Processor 810 may comprise one or more central processing units
(CPUs), for example. Processor 810, data storage device 820, and/or memory 830
may include, be supplemented by, or incorporated in, one or more application-
specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or one or more field programmable
gate
arrays (FPGAs).
[0062] Data
storage device 820 and memory 830 each comprise a tangible
non-transitory computer readable storage medium. Data storage device 820, and
memory 830, may each include high-speed random access memory, such as
dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM),
double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR RAM), or
other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile
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memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices such as internal
hard
disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disk storage devices, optical disk
storage devices, flash memory devices, semiconductor memory devices, such as
erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable
programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-
ROM), digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) disks, or other non-
volatile solid state storage devices.
[0063]
Input/output devices 850 may include peripherals, such as a printer,
scanner, display screen, etc. For example, input/output devices 850 may
include a
display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma or liquid crystal
display
(LCD) monitor for displaying information to the user, a keyboard, and a
pointing
device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to
computer 800.
[0064] Any or
all of the systems and apparatus discussed herein, including
environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 and database 114 may
be implemented using a computer such as computer 800. One skilled in the art
will
note that environmental control and monitoring device manager 102 may be
implemented using standard technologies, including software, hardware,
firmware or
any combination thereof.
[0065] One
skilled in the art also will recognize that an implementation of an
actual computer or computer system may have other structures and may contain
other components as well, and that Fig. 8 is a high level representation of
some of
the components of such a computer for illustrative purposes.
[0066] The
foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in
every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope
of the
invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed
Description, but
rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted
by the
patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described
herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and
that various
modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing
from
the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could
implement
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various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit
of the
invention.
