Occupancy-based Service Delivery Systems and Methods

Abstract

An occupancy detector provides for an automated means of detecting the location of an occupant. Methods to determine with a high degree of certainty if a user is at (or occupying) a specific physical location or region are provided, using a wide variety of radio signaling technologies readily available on a wide scale due to the prevalence of wireless radio communications systems. The occupancy detector may be used to deliver a variety of services from targeted advertising in a supermarket to home automation systems.As an example, a system for controlling the climate in a dwelling comprising multiple zones representing small areas such as for example rooms is described using the occupancy detection algorithms. A climate control system provides for a means to establish a desired comfort level in the environment occupied by an occupant. The control system follows an occupant or occupants of a dwelling as they move from one room or zone to another and maintains the occupied zone environment to the desired comfort level, which may include a desired temperature, humidity level and lighting condition. The control mechanisms described provide an optimal means of climate control and achieve a desired level of comfort with efficient use of energy by conserving energy when a room or zone is unoccupied or when the climate conditions are at a desired level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for controlling air quality in a building comprising a plurality of zones wherein:
 an air conditioning system receives air through a first duct pipe network connected to a plurality of return vents located in the building, and air from outside the building;   the air conditioning system conditions the temperature of the incoming air;   the air conditioning system circulates the conditioned air to the plurality of zones through a second duct pipe network connected to an at least one register vent located in each of the plurality of zones;   the desired air quality in a zone may be configured with an occupied, standby, unoccupied, or maintenance setting; and   the flow of conditioned air to a zone may be turned on or off based on the current air quality in the zone and the configured air quality for the zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a zone may comprise an enclosed area such as an individual room or a collection of rooms or hallway or a portion of a large open area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a zone may be configured with an occupied setting when it is occupied by at least one occupant;   a zone may be configured with a standby, unoccupied, or maintenance setting when there are no occupants in the zone.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air conditioning system is configured to heat at least one of the plurality of zones in the building;   the current air quality in the zone is the current air temperature in the zone and the configured air quality for the zone is a configured air temperature for the zone;   the flow of air into the zone is turned on when the air temperature in the zone is less than the configured air temperature for the zone; and   the flow of air into the zone is turned off when the air temperature in the zone is greater than the configured air temperature for the zone.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air conditioning system is configured to cool at least one of the plurality of zones in the building;   the current air quality in the zone is the current air temperature in the zone and the configured air quality for the zone is a configured air temperature for the zone;   the flow of air into the zone is turned on when the temperature in the zone is greater than the configured air temperature for the zone; and   the flow of air into the zone is turned off when the temperature in the zone is less than the configured air temperature for the zone.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired air quality in a zone includes a desired temperature and humidity level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature sensor is located in each of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flow of conditioned air to a zone may be turned on or off by opening or closing the at least one register vent in the zone. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the return vents have an integrated fan which may be turned on to assist with the re-circulation of air. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein air outside of the building may obtained by opening a window in a zone or through a damper connected to a duct pipe between the air conditioning system and a vent outside the building. 
     
     
         11 . A computing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing data and computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to condition and control the air quality in a building comprising a plurality of zones, wherein the computing system is configured to:
 condition the temperature of the air received through a first duct pipe network connected to a plurality of return vents in the building, and air from outside the building;   circulate the conditioned air to the plurality of zones through a second duct pipe network connected to an at least one register vent in each of the plurality of zones;   configure the desired air quality in a zone as an occupied, standby, unoccupied, or maintenance setting;   turn on or off the flow of conditioned air to a zone based on the current air quality in the zone and the configured air quality for the zone.   
     
     
         12 . The computing system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 heat at least one of the plurality of zones in the building;   determine that the current air quality in the zone is the current air temperature in the zone;   determine that the configured air quality in the zone is the configured air temperature in the zone;   turn on the flow of air into the zone when the air temperature in the zone is less than the configured air temperature for the zone; and   turn off the flow of air into the zone when the air temperature in the zone is greater than the configured air temperature for the zone.   
     
     
         13 . The computing system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 Cool at least one of the plurality of zones in the building;   determine that the current air quality in the zone is the current air temperature in the zone;   determine that the configured air quality in the zone is the configured air temperature in the zone;   turn on the flow of air into the zone when the air temperature in the zone is greater than the configured air temperature for the zone; and   turn off the flow of air into the zone when the air temperature in the zone is less than the configured air temperature for the zone.   
     
     
         14 . The computing system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 determine the temperature in the zone based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor located in the zone.   
     
     
         15 . The computing system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 turn on the flow of conditioned air into a zone by opening the at least one register vent in the zone or to turn off the flow of conditioned air into a zone by closing the at least one register vent in the zone.   
     
     
         16 . The computing system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 obtain air from outside of the building by opening a window in a zone or opening a damper connected to a duct pipe between the air conditioning system and a vent outside the building.   
     
     
         17 . A computing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing data and computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to condition and control the air quality in a building comprising a plurality of zones, wherein the computing system is configured to:
 determine an occupancy for each of the plurality of zones;   establish a desired air temperature in each of the plurality of zones by supplying conditioned air to the plurality of zones through a first duct pipe network connected to an at least one register vent in each of the plurality of zones;   determine that a first zone of the plurality of zones has become unoccupied and a second zone of the plurality of zones has become occupied;   turn off the flow of conditioned air to the first zone and turn on the flow of conditioned air to the second zone;   receive re-circulated air through a second duct pipe network connected to an at least one return vent associated with the first zone; and   condition the received re-circulated air and establish the desired air temperature in the second zone by supplying the conditioned air through the first duct pipe network connected to the at least one register vent in the first zone.   
     
     
         18 . The computing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 heat the at least one of the plurality of zones in the building.   
     
     
         19 . The computing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 cool the at least one of the plurality of zones in the building.   
     
     
         20 . The computing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing system to:
 determine the temperature in each of the plurality of zones based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor located in each of the plurality of zones.