Selective electrical coupling based on environmental conditions

Abstract

An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled to the second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on the one or more measurements. Alternatively, an antenna and an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device may receive the sensor data from a third electronic device.

1 . An environmental monitoring device, comprising:
 a first electrical-connection node configured to electrically couple to an electronic device;   a second electrical-connection node configured to electrically couple to a second electronic device;   a switching mechanism, electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node, which during operation selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node;   an antenna;   an interface circuit, electrically coupled to the antenna, which during operation communicates with a third electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherein the communication includes location information of an individual when the individual is greater than a predetermined distance from a location of the environmental monitoring device; and   a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the switching mechanism and the interface circuit, which during operation calculates, based on the location information, a predicted location of the individual and a time when the individual is estimated to be within the predetermined distance from the location and to provide a control signal to the switching mechanism to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device, the predicted location and the time,   wherein the environmental condition includes sound associated with operation of a legacy electronic device and the control signal dynamically adapts a state of the switching mechanism based on changes in the environmental condition.   
     
     
         2 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the location information when the location information indicates that the individual is within the predetermined distance from the location. 
     
     
         3 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the control mechanism checks the individual into a hotel based on the predicted location and the time. 
     
     
         4 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the location information is based on one or more of: triangulation, and trilateration. 
     
     
         5 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the location information is based on one or more of: communication in a network, a local positioning system, and a Global Positioning System. 
     
     
         6 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the location information specifies a location of the individual in one of: two dimensions, and three dimensions. 
     
     
         7 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the location information includes one of: an absolute position of the individual; and a position of the individual relative to that of the environmental monitoring device. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication includes an identifier of the third electronic device; and
 wherein, during operation, the control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the identifier.   
     
     
         10 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 9 , wherein, during operation, the control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on a predefined preference of an individual associated with the identifier; and
 wherein the predefined preference evolves as a function of the environmental condition.   
     
     
         11 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication includes a preference of an individual; and
 wherein, during operation, the control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the preference.   
     
     
         12 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the environmental monitoring device further includes a sensor mechanism that provides sensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         13 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the interface circuit communicates with a fourth electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device; and
 wherein the communication includes sensor data based on one or more measurements, provided by the fourth electronic device, of the environmental condition; and   wherein the sensor data is associated with a sensor mechanism in the fourth electronic device.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an environmental monitoring device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to selectively electrically couple a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node, the computer-program mechanism including:
 instructions for receiving, from a second electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, location information of an individual when the individual is greater than a predetermined distance from a location of the environmental monitoring device;   instructions for calculating, based on the location information, a predicted location of the individual and a time when the individual is estimated to be within the predetermined distance from the location; and   instructions for providing a control signal to a switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device, the predicted location and the time,   wherein the environmental condition includes sound associated with operation of a legacy electronic device and the control signal dynamically adapts a state of the switching mechanism based on changes in the environmental condition.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-program product of  claim 14 , wherein the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node are selectively electrically coupled based on the location information when the location information indicates that the individual is within a the predetermined distance from the location. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-program product of  claim 14 , wherein the computer-program mechanism further includes instructions for receiving, from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, sensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-program product of  claim 14 , wherein the computer-program mechanism further includes instructions for receiving, from a third electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, sensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         18 . A control-mechanism-implemented method for selectively electrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node in an environmental monitoring device, wherein the method comprises:
 receiving, from a second electronic device that is separate from in an environmental monitoring device, location information of an individual when the individual is greater than a predetermined distance from a location of the environmental monitoring device;   using the control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, calculating, based on the location information, a predicted location of the individual and a time when the individual is estimated to be within the predetermined distance from the location; and   using the control mechanism, providing a control signal to a switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device, the predicted location and the time,   wherein the environmental condition includes sound associated with operation of a legacy electronic device and the control signal dynamically adapts a state of the switching mechanism based on changes in the environmental condition.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises receiving, from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, sensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises receiving, from a third electronic device, sensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         21 . The environmental monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted location and the time are further based on historical data of arrival times of the individual at different times of one of: a day, a week, a month and a year.