Portable wireless sensor for building control

Abstract

A network of wireless radios automatically conserves energy, directs the operation of equipment, and locates assets and personnel. The network may identify changes in the occupancy of a building area and automatically alter the building environment according to predetermined settings, personal preferences, or unexpected conditions. The wireless radios also may include sensors that monitor specific parameters, the parameters may relate to building environment conditions or operating equipment. The network may automatically alter the operating building equipment in response to the parameters received. The wireless radios also may be portable and mounted upon movable items, such as personal identification devices, office furniture, equipment, containers, or other assets. The network may locate the movable items within a building based upon signals received from the wireless radios. The network also may track the movement of the movable items within a building. The wireless radios may operable as a mesh network.

1 . A building automation system of radios forming a network, the system comprising: 
 a network of radios, each radio having a receiver and a transmitter; and    a portable radio wirelessly interconnected with the network, the portable radio having a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the network or the portable radio is operable to determine an area within a building in which the portable radio is located and control a building environment to a controlled condition, based upon determining the area of the building in which the portable radio is located.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network or the portable radio is operable to determine that the portable radio exits the area and automatically return the building environment of the area to an initial condition.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network or portable radio is operable to direct heating and cooling equipment to alter the building environment of the area.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network or portable radio is operable to direct lighting equipment to alter the building environment of the area.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network or portable radio is operable to identify an individual associated with the portable radio and automatically alter the building environment of the area based upon personal preferences for the individual, the personal preferences being stored on the network.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network or portable radio is operable to detect unexpected building conditions and direct building environmental equipment in controlled response based upon the unexpected building conditions.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the network or portable radio is operable to control alarms, fans, and dampers in response to the unexpected building conditions.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the network or portable radio is operable to control pumps and valves in response to the unexpected building conditions.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable radio comprises a processor and a global positioning system (GPS) unit.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network is a mesh network.  
   
   
       11 . A building automation system of radios forming a network, the system comprising: 
 a mesh network of radios, each radio having a receiver and a transmitter; and    a portable radio wirelessly interconnected with the mesh network, the portable radio having a receiver and a transmitter, the portable radio being affixed on a movable item, wherein the mesh network is operable to automatically determine the location of the movable item within a building.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mesh network is a wireless network and the portable radio has a power supply and a motion detector, the motion detector being operable to turn the portable radio on after detecting movement of the movable item.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mesh network is operable to automatically track the movement of the movable item throughout a building.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the mesh network is operable to alter the building environment of an area of the building after the mesh network determines that the movable item has entered or exited the area.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mesh network is operable to direct heating, cooling, and lighting equipment to alter the building environment of the area.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the mesh network is operable to identify the movable item.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the portable radio comprises a processor and a global positioning system (GPS) unit.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the movable item is an item of office furniture, equipment, or a container.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the movable item is a personal identification device.  
   
   
       20 . A method of using data received from a network of radios, the method comprising: 
 automatically identifying a change in occupancy for an area of a building based upon data received within or by a wireless network of radios; and    transmitting data within the wireless network of radios, wherein the data transmitted includes instructions that automatically alter the building environment associated with the area of a building having the change in occupancy.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising directing building control equipment to automatically alter the building environment of the area of a building having a change in occupancy.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the radios is a portable wireless radio.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising tracking the location of the portable wireless radio within the building.  
   
   
       24 . A computer-readable medium having instructions executable on a computer stored thereon, the instructions comprising: 
 receiving data within or by a network of wireless radios, each wireless radio comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and a sensor, each sensor operable to sense a value of a parameter;    automatically altering the operation of equipment in response to the data received; and    transmitting data to or within the network, the data containing instructions that direct the equipment to change the environmental conditions of a building.    
   
   
       25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the equipment includes heating, cooling, and lighting equipment.  
   
   
       26 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the equipment includes pumps, fans, valves, and dampers.  
   
   
       27 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the parameters include temperature readings.  
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the parameters include tank levels, fluid levels, or atmospheric readings.