EA039883B1 - Device and method for controlling electronically controllable devices and systems in public and private buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for controlling electronically controllable devices (33, 35, 37) and systems in public and private buildings (31) and to a method for controlling electronically controllable devices (33, 35, 37) and systems in public and private buildings (31). Such devices (1) and methods for home automation are therefore improved such that a user (45) can generate combined control routines which correspond to the user's wishes without previous knowledge of the effect of the individual control instructions. The control routines are also proposed to the user on request.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling electronically controlled devices and systems in public buildings according to the restrictive part of claim 1 of the claims, as well as to a method for controlling electronically controlled devices and systems in public and private buildings according to the restrictive part of claim 10 of the claims.

Background of the invention

Device and methods of this basic type for building automation are known in the art. Therefore, the known systems facilitate the control of personal devices by appropriate control commands.

In addition, there is also the option of configuring joint operations, which can be controlled simultaneously by control procedures, as is known from the example of the Thoma system created by Somfy. Thus, decentralized servers serving the building with their associated computer equipment are required in the respective building. The user then predefines the desired control commands for the system and combines the control commands with the help of the called control procedure. Therefore, the user must nevertheless take into account in advance which control commands in the intended joint control procedure he actually wishes to execute. However, for most users, this is fraught with great difficulties and inconvenience.

Brief description of the invention

Thus, the purpose of the present invention is to improve devices and methods for building automation so that the user can create combined control procedures to suit his needs without knowing in advance the results of the execution of individual control procedures. In particular, building automation should be provided, which provides for control procedures at the request of the user.

This goal is achieved by a device for controlling devices and systems with electronic control in public and private buildings according to claim 1 of the claims and a method for controlling controlled devices and systems in public and private buildings according to claim 10 of the claims. The independent claims provide preferred embodiments of the invention.

Surprisingly, the inventors have found that this goal can be achieved by having the executed control commands of the user recorded, and the user can associate these recorded control commands with the control procedure.

Since we are talking about recorded control commands, and therefore control commands that are actually used for control, the user can directly determine the success of the execution of the control command and assess whether this command is suitable for the control procedure.

The device according to the present invention for controlling electronically controlled devices and systems in public and private buildings (building automation device) comprises at least one device associated with a building and/or system; and control devices for issuing commands to control the operation of the device and/or system;

wherein the device or system is configured to selectively change state depending on the control commands of the control devices.

The device or system is characterized in that devices are provided for recording control commands of control devices, and linking devices are provided that allow the user to associate one or a plurality of recorded control commands with a selectable control procedure.

A part of public or private buildings is the immovable property associated with them.

The display devices are preferably provided for displaying control commands for a selected period of time, in particular for a period of elapsed time. Therefore, the user can combine control commands from the selected time period to form a control procedure, since only the control commands pertaining to that time period are displayed to the user.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is proposed that devices configured to record control commands record only control commands called by the user. This makes it easier for the user to select suitable control commands, since directives automatically executed by the building automation system, such as those dependent on weather conditions, are almost never suitable for a repetitive procedure. However, writing such commands may be used when the user wishes to further refine such automatic directives. For example, the limitation control of the temperature dependence of the heating system can be controllably combined with the activation of the air conditioning system and/or the tension of the awnings.

- 1 039883

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, devices are provided for recognizing related control commands that prompt the user to associate related control commands with a control procedure. Thus, the user no longer needs to remember the result of the execution of control commands, but only those control commands that are interconnected are offered for the procedure.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, recognition devices can be provided for recognizing interconnected control commands that are given within a predetermined period of time, preferably no more than 15 minutes, preferably no more than 10 minutes, in particular no more than 5 minutes. . Thus, there is an assumption that the control commands that are given within a narrow period of time are interconnected and, therefore, are also called repeatedly.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be proposed that the recognizers are configured to recognize the control commands as interconnected commands, with the control commands given to the systems or devices of a particular room. Thus, a room is not only a room or the like, but also an open area such as a garden or the like.

The control commands can also be control commands that are given by the user himself, or also control commands that are executed automatically by the building automation system, since they have either already been preprogrammed by the user or have been called by the system itself.

It is particularly preferred that the recording devices be configured such that the start and/or end location of the recording can be specified by the user, it being preferred that the linking devices are configured to link all recorded control commands to the control procedure. Thus, the user can record the control commands he gives to devices and systems in order to verify the results and to subsequently associate the associated control commands with the control procedure.

Preferably, the control devices are configured to automatically execute the control procedure at a predetermined time and/or immediately after being invoked by the user.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the device be adapted for the user to remove control commands from an existing control procedure or to associate control commands with an existing control procedure. Thus, control procedures can be initially tested and, if necessary, subsequently modified.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the programs, data and/or procedures that are used to control the device are stored centrally, therefore, for example, not on a decentralized server serving the building, but in the cloud. Thus, on the one hand, a trained technician can perform remote configuration and remote technical support, and on the other hand, the device can be offered to the user with a much better cost-effective and space-saving configuration, since decentralized storage of program, data and procedures, as well as unnecessary the provision of storage and management technology leads to additional unnecessary cost.

Preferably, this is a centralized storage that is used to manage two or more building automation systems and/or two or more user accesses to a personal building automation system, for example via a distributed cloud solution.

Legal protection is requested for a method for controlling electronically controlled devices and systems in public and private buildings (building automation method) according to the invention, wherein at least one device and / or system and control device associated with the building is provided for issuing commands for control operation of the device and/or system, wherein the device or system is configured to selectively change its state depending on the control commands of the control devices, wherein the method is characterized in that the control commands of the control device are recorded, and the user can associate one or more of the recorded control commands with selected control procedure.

The described features can be easily combined with each other, unless otherwise indicated. In particular, device features can be used as method features, and method features can be used as device features.

Brief description of graphic materials

The features, characteristics and other advantages of the present invention are described in more detail below based on the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the database structure of a device in accordance with the invention;

- 2 039883 fig. 2 is a block diagram of the elements of the apparatus according to the invention of FIG. one;

fig. 3a, 3b - display of recorded control commands for a certain period of time with recognition of associated control commands;

fig. 4 is a diagram of editing control procedures that can be created;

fig. 5 - user interface for recording the given control commands manually; and fig. 6 is a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a database and, accordingly, a configuration of a cloud data structure of a device 1 according to the present invention for managing electronically controlled devices and systems in public and private buildings (building automation device).

The following relationships can be traced in this figure. Each building 3 can have one or many users 5. Each building 3 can have one or many rooms 7. In addition, there are many devices 9 in room 7. Each device 9 has only one type 11. Each device 9 has a list completed states 13. Each control procedure (i-house-operations) 15 may have one or more control commands (operation) 17 of one or more devices 9. Thus, each building 3 may be controlled by a control procedure 15 of this type. Thus, the respective personal identification numbers are associated with building 3, user 5, room 7, device 9, type 11, control procedure 15, control command 17 and data 19 (identifier) for a given registered trade name (name) and associated data (data ). In addition, each user 5 may have its own password (password). Each building 3 may have its own address (address). Each room can be associated with its own image (image), each device can be associated with its own location (location), own state (state) and address of the control technique (address), and each type (device type) (type) can be associated with its own graphic symbol (pictogram), which is used for control and operation. Each device type (type) has only one native data type (data) as its basis. The data type can be, for example, only on/off or the range of values [0; 1] like the one used for dimmed lights and curtains, among others, since intermediate steps are possible here. There may be additional data types, hence the TV may have the number of programs as a data type, hence the stored sensors.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of the elements of the apparatus 1 according to the present invention of FIG. 1. It goes without saying that a client software 21 is provided, which is downloaded over the Internet to a tablet 25 or to another client device by a web server 23. This client device 25 communicates with a socket server 27, such as a node server, which can establish a permanent TCP connection 29 or other suitable type of cable or wireless connection to devices, such as a home server 33 with connected consumer electronic devices configured as a television 35 and a stereo system 37, located in a building 31. This socket server 27 listens for messages, such as status reports devices 33, 35, 37 of the respective building 31 and reports them to the client device 25.

When sequentially executing the report, the client device 25 causes a change in the record in the database 39 of the cloud 41 database.

A trained technician 43 installs the software and configures the software. User configuration 45 is not desirable. A special administrator interface 47 is provided for the technician 43 . In addition, the technician 43 configures the devices 33, 35, 37 located in the building using the home server 33 and the database 39 using the web server 23.

All user actions and related control commands are centrally stored in the database 39 of the cloud 41, so that decentralized storage in the building 31 is not required.

Control procedures (iHouse-operations), which are used according to the present invention, are combined control commands (operations) of one or more devices 33, 35, 37, which are served within a predetermined period of time. Thus, only the control commands given by the user 45 are advantageously taken into account, since they relate to the assessment of the user's habits.

In FIG. 3a, 3b schematically show control commands within a certain time interval with recognition of related control commands, such user habits are displayed in combination with a TV news control procedure.

It goes without saying that when watching the news on TV, several very likely related actions must be performed within a short period of time. The curtain of the room in which TV is being watched is closed, the radio in this room is turned off, the TV is turned on, the lamp in the room is turned off, another lamp in this room is turned on in

- 3 039883 dim mode (cf. Fig. 3a). After the breaking news transmission is complete, some, but not all, of these control commands are executed in reverse order. The curtain, for example, remains closed (cf. Fig. 3b).

The device 1 according to the present invention records all control commands called by the user interface in the tablet 25, and preferably only these control commands. When calling the timeline view (FIG. 6), all control commands executed after the current time are displayed (cf. FIGS. 3a, 3b). The last control commands 53a, 53b, 53c that have been executed within a certain period of time, for example, a tolerance value of 5 minutes corresponds to the width of the mark 51 of the first control procedure 51, are predetermined for combining the first control procedure 51.

The user 45 is now able to save the control commands 53a, 53b, 53c as the first control procedure 51 under his own name.

Using the controls (forward and backward), the user 45 can obtain additional suggestions for the respective control procedures 55, in which, in turn, the following further control commands 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e, executed in sequence with the tolerance value, are indicated by 55 (cf. Fig. 3b). Also, these control procedures 55 can be saved by the user 45 if necessary.

Thus, with regard to FIG. 3a and 3b, for example, the respective control procedures end of TV messages 51 and start of TV messages 55 can be determined and stored.

In addition, there is an option to increase or decrease the tolerances, hence the marks 51, 57, by finger touch, so that more or less control commands 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e are associated with the proposal for the control procedure 51 , 55. In addition, there is the option of deleting devices 33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c from the selected or adapting the associated control parameters to the input.

In the event that the user, by selection immediately or later, sets the control procedure 51, 55 so that the predetermined control command 57 cannot reasonably be used in the control procedure 51, 55, the user 45 can delete the control command 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e from the control procedure 51, 55 immediately or later, or adapt it appropriately, for example by dimming the light of another lamp 59b more strongly.

For such removal or adaptation of the corresponding control commands in the control procedure 51, 55, 61, 63, 65 according to FIG. 4 according to the present invention, it is proposed that the entire control procedure 51, 55, 61, 63, 65 is carried out in such a way that deletions and/or additions of individual control commands can be followed directly from their results.

In addition, there is an option to execute the control procedure 51, 55, 59, 61, 63 at a certain point in time. Thus, you can enter the start and end time of the control procedure 51, 55, 59, 61, 63, and you can also set how often the control procedure 51, 55, 59, 61, 63 should be performed, for example, once, daily, weekly or monthly.

An alternative or additional option for creating control procedures is shown schematically in FIG. 5; to put it another way, FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface 71 for manually recording control commands given. It goes without saying that the user 45 can record 73 all control commands given by him to the devices 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c located in the building during execution for a particular room (cf. Fig. 6, room). The control commands executed in this way (recorded operations) can then be saved as a new control procedure (save), which, in turn, is also edited (cf. Fig. 4).

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic representation of the implementation of the method 81 according to the present invention. It goes without saying that the user 45 logs in through the device 1 (login()) and sees the main screen on his tablet 23. Through this main screen, the user can, by pressing the buttons (tab()), enter the status query menu (status query) without making a change to the status of an individual device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c ), individual room 3, offered control procedures 51, 55 (iHouse-operations) and continuous recording of control commands (timeline).

In this building level 3, the device states (device state) of the devices 33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c are changed 83, read 84 and transmitted 85 to a cloud-hosted database 41 (database) and, if necessary, simultaneously displayed 87 on device 33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c. By means of the room menu (rooms) and control procedures (iHouse-operations), the states of the devices 33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c can be influenced 89, 91 and the current states can be displayed 89, 91.

From the database 39 hosted in the cloud 41, information is provided during a status request (status request), during continuous recording of control commands (timeline), and for checking the password of each user 45.

The previous illustration shows many advantages of the present invention.

Thus, frequently repeated control commands can be defined using

- 4 039883 visualization and can then be combined into control procedures.

Since the control commands are always executed prior to submission to the control procedure, the user 45 does not need any deep understanding of the results of execution or the interaction of the various control commands. This also applies to editing already existing control commands.

By combining control commands into a more difficult to understand control procedure, procedures in the building can be simplified as they can be invoked by a single command. This method is more convenient and saves time better than when executing control commands separately.

In addition, the user gets a better overview of the control commands carried out in the building 3. This leads to a more efficient use of building automation and therefore also to energy savings.

Because the control commands are explicitly invoked by the user 45 and are not automatically invoked in advance by the building automation system, the user 45 feels in complete control.

Reference positions and designations.

- Control device according to the present invention;

- building;

- user;

- premises;

- device;

- device type;

- list of past states;

- control procedure;

- management team;

- data;

- client software;

- web server;

- the tablet;

- socket server;

- TCP connection;

- building;

- home server;

- TV set;

- stereo system;

- database;

- cloud;

- Technical Specialist;

- user;

- administrator interface;

- first control procedure, label;

53a, 53b, 53c - control commands;

- control procedure;

57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e - control commands;

59a, 59b, 59c - devices;

, 63, 65 - control procedures;

- user interface;

- record;

- a control method according to the present invention;

- changing device states;

- reading device states;

- transfer of device states to the database;

- display of device states;

, 91 - impact and display of device states.

CLAIM

Claims (8)

CLAIM 1. Building automation system (1) for controlling devices (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) and electronically controlled systems in public and private buildings (3, 31), containing at least one controllable device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) and/or a controlled system and a control device (23, 25, 27, 41) of the user associated with the building (3, 31) and configured to generate control commands (17, 53a, 53b , 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) to transmit them to a managed device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) and/or a managed system to control the functioning - 5 039883 control device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) or a controlled system, characterized in that the control device (23, 25, 39) of the user is configured to record the executed control commands (17, 53a, 53b , 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) of the control device (23, 25, 27, 41) of the user and contains an interface that allows the user (45) of the building automation system (1) to assign one or a plurality of recorded control commands (17 , 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) for a selectable control procedure (15, 51, 55); wherein the user control device is configured to recognize the recorded control commands (53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) of the user control device (23, 25, 27, 41) given to the controlled devices (35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) for a predetermined period of time, as interconnected commands and to prompt the user (45) to assign said interconnected control commands (53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) to the selected control procedure (51 , 55); while the specified time interval is no more than 15 minutes. 2. The building automation system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that for displaying control commands (17, 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) for a selected period of time, in particular for a period of spent time, display devices (25) are provided. 3. The building automation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined period of time is not more than 10 minutes, in particular not more than 5 minutes. 4. The building automation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user's control device (23, 25) is configured in such a way that the user (45) sets the start and/or end location of the recording, preferably providing for configuration means (23, 25) for attaching, designed to assign all control commands recorded in this way to the control procedure. 5. The building automation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user control device (23, 25, 27, 41) is configured to automatically execute the control procedure (15, 51, 55) at a predetermined time and/ or immediately after being called by the user (45). 6. The building automation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the building automation system (1) is configured to provide the user (45) with the ability to delete control commands (17, 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) from an existing control procedure (15, 51, 55) or assign control commands to a control procedure. 7. Method for controlling devices (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) and electronically controlled systems in public and private buildings (3, 31), while providing at least one controllable device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) and/or a controlled system, and a user control device (23, 25, 27, 41) associated with the building (3, 31) and configured to generate control commands (17, 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) to transmit them to the managed device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) and/or the managed system to control the functioning of the managed device (33, 35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) or a controlled system, characterized in that the executed control commands (17, 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) of the control device (23, 25, 27, 41) of the user are recorded, and the user (45 ) method can assign one or more recorded control commands (17, 53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) to a selectable control procedure swarm (15, 51, 55); while the recorded control commands (53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) of the control device (23, 25, 27, 41) of the user, filed for the controlled devices (35, 37, 59a, 59b, 59c) within a predetermined period of time are recognized as interrelated commands and the user (45) is prompted to assign said interrelated control commands (53a, 53b, 53c, 57a, 57b, 57c, 57d, 57e) to the selected control procedure (51, 55); and the specified time interval is not more than 15 minutes. 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the building automation system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 is used.