WO2020149817A1

WO2020149817A1 - Dynamic environment control through energy management systems (ems)

Info

Publication number: WO2020149817A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/013418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mordehai Margalit; Dani Zeevi; Noam Hadas; Vlad Grigore DABIJA
Original assignee: Xinova, LLC
Priority date: 2019-01-14
Filing date: 2019-01-14
Publication date: 2020-07-23

Abstract

Technologies are generally described for dynamic environment control through energy management systems. One or more environmental control parameters associated with a location such as a home, an office, a vehicle, or similar ones may be received or determined. The environmental control parameters may be associated with climate, lighting, sounds, shading, tinting, etc. within the location. Subsequently, at least two scenarios of environmental conditions may be determined for the location to enhance an alertness profile or a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters. One or more environmental control elements may be managed to execute different scenarios successively based on the environmental control parameters and the profile to be enhanced. The scenarios may be ordered or varied randomly, based on inhabitant selection, or feedback. The feedback may include inhabitant feedback or observation of conditions, inhabitant reaction, and similar ones.

Description

DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT CONTROL THROUGH ENERGY MANAGEMENT

SYSTEMS (EMS)

BACKGROUND

[0001] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0002] Humans (as well as animals and plants) react to their environment. Environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, lighting, sound levels, etc. affect a comfort or alertness levels of an inhabitant of a location. For example, certain temperature ranges are optimal for people to fall asleep or, conversely, to stay alert. Similarly, high lighting levels or sound levels may keep a person alert, whereas lower levels (not necessarily complete darkness or silence) may allow them to be comfortable. Conventional environmental control systems are typically static, that is, such systems are designed to keep a location at a predefined set of environmental parameters. Even if such systems can be pre-programmed, they only provide fixed conditions for selected periods of time.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present disclosure generally describes techniques for dynamic environment control through energy management systems (EMS).

[0004] According to some examples, a method for dynamic environment control through energy management systems (EMS) is described. An example method may include receiving, at a controller, one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location and determining, at the controller, two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters, The method may also include transmitting a first set of instructions from the controller to one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios and transmitting a second set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

[0005] According to other examples, a controller configured to dynamically control environmental conditions through energy management systems (EMS) is described. An example controller may include a communication device configured to communicate with one or more environmental control elements and environmental sensors; a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the communication device and the memory. The processor, in conjunction with the instructions stored on the memory, may be configured to receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location; determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters; transmit a first set of instructions through the communication device to the one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and transmit a second set of instructions through the communication device to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

[0006] According to further examples, an environmental control system is described. The system may include one or more environmental control elements associated with a location; one or more environmental sensors associated with the location; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more environmental control elements and environmental sensors. The controller may be configured to receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location from an input device; receive current environmental conditions for the location from the one or more environmental sensors; determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance an alertness profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters and the current environmental conditions; transmit a first set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and transmit a second set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios. [0007] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the

accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 includes an architectural illustration of a home with dynamic environment control through home energy management systems (HEMS);

FIG. 2 includes an illustration of an example room with various environmental control elements, sensors, and configurations;

FIG. 3 includes an illustration of an example car with various environmental control elements, sensors, and configurations;

FIG. 4A and 4B include example components and actions for dynamic environment control through EMS;

FIG. 5 illustrates major components of an example system for dynamic environment control through EMS;

FIG. 6 illustrates a computing device, which may be used to manage dynamic

environment control through EMS;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for dynamic environment control through EMS that may be performed by a computing device such as the computing device in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer program product,

all of which are arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0010] This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods, apparatus, systems, devices, and/or computer program products related to dynamic environment control through EMS.

[0011] Briefly stated, technologies are generally described for dynamic environment control through energy management systems. One or more environmental control parameters associated with a location such as a home, an office, a vehicle, or similar ones may be received or determined. The environmental control parameters may be associated with climate, lighting, sounds, shading, tinting, etc. within the location. Subsequently, at least two scenarios of environmental conditions may be determined for the location to enhance an alertness profile or a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters. One or more environmental control elements may be managed to execute different scenarios successively based on the environmental control parameters and the profile to be enhanced. The scenarios may be ordered or varied randomly, based on inhabitant selection, or feedback. The feedback may include inhabitant feedback or observation of conditions, inhabitant reaction, and similar ones.

[0012] FIG. 1 includes an architectural illustration of a home with dynamic environment control through home energy management systems (HEMS), arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0013] Diagram 100 shows a home, which may include a bedroom 102, a living room 104, a study 106 and a kitchen 108. Each room in the home has example furniture such as bed 112, chair 114, couch 116, table 118, piano 122, etc. Environmental control in the home may include management of temperature, humidity, lighting, sound levels, shading, and similar ones.

Environmental control may be centralized, where similar parameters are applied to all rooms, or individualized, where each room may be managed separately. In managing the environment aspects such as dimensions of each room, size and placement of furniture in each room, size and placement of windows and doors, number and placement of environmental control devices, current conditions in each of the rooms, outside conditions (e.g., lighting, shading, outside temperature / humidity, etc.) may be taken into consideration. Furthermore, desired

environmental conditions and how to reach the desired environmental conditions from the current conditions may be parameters in determining how to manage the environmental controls.

[0014] In some examples, a number of predefined scenarios may be generated for reaching the desired environmental conditions from the current conditions (and, optionally, how to maintain the desired environmental conditions). The scenarios may be determined by a local or a remote controller (e.g., a server or a specialized device) based on one or more of the above-listed factors. A local controller may detect current conditions (e.g., through environmental sensors 120) and execute a selected scenario or multiple scenarios. In other examples, a user (e.g., an inhabitant of the home or an external person) may select / customize the scenarios and instruct the controller to execute them according to a defined order or randomly. In yet other examples, feedback from the inhabitant in form of input or sensory readings (e.g., body parameters, behavior, etc.) may be used to determine the scenarios to be executed and/or an order of the scenarios to be executed. Two or more scenarios may be determined automatically from multiple predefined scenarios according to some examples. For example, five scenarios may be defined to enhance a comfort level of the inhabitant s). A system according to embodiments may select two (or more) scenarios to execute (in a predefined order, cyclical fashion, or random fashion) among the five predefined scenarios based on sensory readings of inhabitants’ body parameters, current environmental conditions, etc.

[0015] The environmental control devices 110 may control one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, or a sound composition for each of the rooms or the entire home. The scenarios may include specific values or ranges of values for these environmental characteristics. The environmental sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, or a user input device, for example. [0016] The home in diagram 100 is an illustrative example for a location, where embodiments may be implemented, but is not intended to limit embodiments. Other locations may include, but are not limited to, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, or comparable buildings, as well as, a vehicle such as an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, a ship, and similar ones. Home energy management systems (HEMS) are an example of energy management systems (EMS), which may be employed in a variety of locations such as those described above. Furthermore, embodiments may also be implemented in mobile locations such as cars, boats, busses, airplanes, etc. Inhabitants of the locations, where the environment may be controlled dynamically through EMS may include humans, animals, and plants. The environmental control devices 110 and the environmental sensors 120 listed above are also for illustration purposes and do not impose a limitation on embodiments. Other environmental aspects may also be controlled through various control devices and sensors using the principles described herein.

[0017] FIG. 2 includes an illustration of an example room with various environmental control elements, sensors, and configurations, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0018] Diagram 200 shows a room with door 236 and windows (e.g., window 234). The example room also includes furniture such as couch 204, library 208, chair 210, table 206, and indoor plant 212. To implement a system for dynamic control of the room environment through EMS, the room may be equipped with a variety of environmental control devices such as temperature/humidity controller (e.g., heat/cold exchanger) 214, lighting controller (e.g., LED light source) 218, and sound controller 216. Various environmental sensors such as thermometer 222, airflow sensor 220, light sensor 224, humidity sensor 220, and microphone 228 may be used to detect current conditions in the room and monitor changes in the environmental

characteristics.

[0019] In one example, a controller (not shown) may determine that one or more scenarios to awaken an inhabitant taking a nap on the couch 204 to be executed. The controller may instruct appropriate devices to provide suitable music or noise (e.g., pink noise) in a steadily increasing level into the room. The level of sound may be detected by the microphone and fed back to the controller, so that the controller can adjust levels. Furthermore, a camera or similar sensor may detect movement or lack thereof of the inhabitant indicating whether the inhabitant is awake or not and provide feedback to the controller for further adjustment of the sound levels.

Of course, multiple environmental characteristics such as lighting and temperature levels may also be adjusted in combination with the sound levels for a smooth awakening of the inhabitant.

[0020] In another example, the inhabitant may be working at the table 206. The controller may adjust one or more environmental characteristics using appropriate environmental control devices and receiving feedback from suitable sensors to keep the inhabitant alert. That is, the temperature, lighting, sounds level, etc. may not be allowed to reach levels, where the inhabitant may be too comfortable and fall asleep.

[0021] In a further example, the controller may determine that the inhabitant typically goes to sleep around 9.00 pm. To get the inhabitant into sleep mood, the controller may adjust the lighting, sound levels, and/or temperature/humidity starting at 8.30 pm for a smooth transition. The parameters for the desired conditions in each of the examples above may be based on predefined generic scenarios, customized scenarios for the location and/or inhabitant, adjusted or defined by the inhabitant (or another user), in some examples.

[0022] FIG. 3 includes an illustration of an example car with various environmental control elements, sensors, and configurations, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0023] Diagram 300 shows a vehicle 302 equipped with environmental control devices 304 and environmental sensors 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314. The environmental sensors may be placed in appropriate locations in the vehicle 302. For example, thermometer 308, microphone 310, airflow sensor 310, and light sensor 314 may be placed in the front around the front console of the vehicle 302. Humidity sensor 306, another thermometer 308, and another airflow sensor 310 may be placed in the back of the vehicle (e.g., for comfort of backseat passengers). Two sets of environmental control devices 304 may be placed in the front and in the back of the vehicle allowing management of different environmental zones.

[0024] In one example, the vehicle may have a driver in the front and one or more passengers in the back traveling long distance at night. To prevent the driver from falling asleep, the front-paced environmental control devices 304 may adjust temperature/humidity, lighting, and sound levels for the front of the car to keep the driver alert (e.g., colder temperature, more lights, higher sound levels, etc.). At the same time, to allow the passenger(s) in the back to sleep, the environmental control devices 304 in the back may adjust the environmental characteristics for enhanced comfort of the passenger(s). Feedback from the environmental sensors for each zone may be used to maintain or vary the conditions for enhanced alertness or comfort of the inhabitants of the vehicle 302.

[0025] On other examples, biometric sensors measuring blood pressure, heart beat, body temperature, body movements, eye movements, etc. may be used to determine an alertness level of the driver and/or a comfort level of the passenger(s). The readings from the biometric sensors may be used to further adjust the executed scenarios and/or an order of the scenarios. For example, the temperature level in the back of the vehicle may be increased slowly to an optimum temperature for sleep, whereas the temperature level in the front may be varied between hot and cold to keep the driver alert. The temperature adjustment may be complemented with humidity, lighting, and sound level adjustments to provide a complete environmental control for the alertness or comfort of the inhabitants.

[0026] Mobile location implementation of dynamic environment control through EMS is not limited to the binary configuration discussed in the example vehicle of diagram 300. Other examples, may include an airplane, where zones may be established for each row of seats, groups of rows, of even individual seats, along with the flight cabin, or a passenger bus, where similar multi-zone environmental control may be implemented. In further examples, dynamic environmental control may be implemented in animal transportation vehicles (or stationary animal storage buildings). Different species may respond differently to varying environmental conditions. Depending on which species (e.g., cattle, sheep, poultry animals) are being transported, the environmental controls may be managed as discussed herein.

[0027] FIG. 4A and 4B include example components and actions for dynamic environment control through EMS, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0028] Diagram 400 A of FIG. 4 A shows major actions by different components of a system according to embodiments. For example, users (or inhabitants) may be allowed to provide input (402) such as specific environmental parameters, specify scenarios, specify limits, or select among a set of predefined scenarios through an environmental control device user interface or a computing device. An application or a browser-based access to the system may allow a user to provide their input at the location that is controlled for its environment or from any location using any computing device. A server or controller (e.g., a special purpose device) may then set or adjust environmental control parameters, monitor the environment at the location, monitor biologic functions of the inhabitant, change the environmental control parameters, or carry over determined/selected scenarios between different locations (404). Thus, the server or controller may control operations of various environmental control devices 406 and receive input/feedback from a number of environmental sensors 408. The server may also provide feedback 410 to the user through the environmental control device or the user’s computing device.

[0029] In some examples, a user (inhabitant or an external user) may be allowed to specify predefined goals. For example, the user may set specific parameters (e.g., values or ranges for lighting, temperature, sound level, humidity, etc.) or select from named scenarios (e.g.,“Sleep Time”,“Work Time”,“Driver Alert”, etc.). The system may then try different scenarios to reach a desired goal (user defined or not). The system may also be designed to try scenarios beyond the specified limits. Based on observations (sensor feedback, inhabitant monitoring, user feedback, etc.), the system may then adjust the scenarios and/or specific parameters. For example, multiple scenarios may be presented through a visual output device or an audio output device, each scenario including a different range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, or a sound composition for the location. A selection of one or more scenarios to be executed among the presented scenarios may then be received through an input device.

[0030] The term“inhabitant” is used herein with reference to a person (or animal, plant) for whom the environment at the location is being dynamically controlled. The inhabitant may also be the“user” who provides input to the system according to embodiments or selects among presented scenarios. Alternatively, a user that is not an inhabitant of the location may provide the input or select among the presented scenarios. For example, in a hotel, each room may be controlled as a distinct location. While the hotel guests may be considered as the inhabitants, a hotel manager may provide input or select scenarios as a user too.

[0031] Scenarios may be executed a cyclical fashion or a random fashion. For example, a scenario for enhancing an alertness of an inhabitant may be followed by another scenario for enhancing a comfort level of the inhabitant, and the cycle of the two scenarios repeated for a predefined period of time or until the inhabitant changes the settings. Two or more scenarios may also be executed randomly. For example, multiple scenarios with different temperature levels, lighting levels, and sound levels to enhance an alertness of an inhabitant may be executed in random fashion allowing the variation in the environmental conditions to enhance the alertness of the inhabitant. Environmental control parameters associated with the location may be received from an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server. The environmental control parameters may specific values or range of values for a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, or a sound composition for the location. The environmental control devices (or elements) may include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, or a sound source. The environmental sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, or a user input device. The

environmental sensors may also include a microphone or a laser anemometer, which may be used to measure the distribution of air speed at the location. The environmental sensors may further include an ultrasound transducer and receiver to measure air speed through Doppler effect. In another example, the environmental sensors may include a camera, which may monitor air speed by detecting vibrations in the furniture, lamps, curtains, etc. The camera may also be a thermal camera to measure temperature by measuring the location’s diffusive heat pattern.

[0032] The system may receive current environmental conditions for the location from one or more environmental sensors and determine a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received environmental control parameters, the current environmental conditions, and other factors. If not selected by a user, the scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal may be determined to enhance the alertness or the comfort profile of the inhabitant of the location. The system may also receive one or more architectural parameters (other factors) for the location from a data store, the desktop computer, the handheld computer, the smartphone, the smartwatch, the vehicle-mount computer, or the remote server. The system may then determine the goal for the environmental conditions further based on the received architectural parameters. The architectural parameters may include, but are not limited to, dimensions of the location, wall/floor/ceiling composition, sizes and placement of furniture in the location, sizes and placement of doors and windows. External conditions such as outside temperature/humidity, outside lighting (composition and level), outside sound composition and level may also be factored into the determination of the scenarios and an order of the scenarios to be executed.

[0033] In other examples, environmental condition results from the execution of a first scenario may be gathered from the one or more environmental sensors and a machine learning algorithm may be applied to the environmental condition results to determine a second scenario. The scenarios and/or their order of execution may also be determined by receiving data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant. The data from the body sensor may include data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant.

[0034] In further examples, a movement of the inhabitant from one location to another location may be detected and one or more scenarios may be selected or adjusted for the other location. An operation of one or more environmental control elements in the other location may then be controlled based on the adjusted one or more scenarios such that environmental conditions are approximately optimized for the alertness or the comfort profile of the inhabitant in the other location.

[0035] Diagram 400B of FIG. 4B shows some example actions performed by a server of a system to dynamically control environmental conditions through EMS according to some embodiments. Server 420 may, for example, execute one or more scenarios (and associated environmental parameters) based on user input, user characteristics, location characteristics, current environment conditions, outside conditions, and comparable factors (422). The server 420 may also observe the user and the location (424) as the scenarios are executed and adjust the scenarios and/or their execution order. The server may observe the user and the location through environmental and biologic sensors.

[0036] The server 420 may cycle the scenarios within user provided or predefined limits (426). For example, scenarios may be executed according to a predetermined order or in a random fashion. Optionally, the server 420 may try scenarios outside of the predefined limits and observe the effects on the inhabitant (428). Based on the observed effects, the scenarios and limits may be adjusted as the system learns. Moreover, the server 420 may also update a scenario database (430) based on the observations during executions of the various scenarios. The database may be used to train the system for different conditions such as adjusting or selecting scenarios for distinct inhabitants, locations, environmental conditions, etc. As each person’s preferences, location characteristics (architectural parameters, environmental control

configuration, etc.), and external factors (e.g., outside conditions) may vary, manually selecting or adjusting a scenario to enhance an alertness profile or a comfort profile for a combination of these factors may be difficult if not impossible. On the other hand, a system according to embodiments may learn from observations at many locations and use the knowledge to automatically select or adjust the scenarios for new combinations.

[0037] A system according to embodiments may not only vary environmental conditions in time, but also in space. That is, the system may determine which environmental control devices (or elements) may be needed to reach a determined goal or execute a selected scenario and activate those devices. For example, there may be multiple heating elements and/or air conditioning elements at a particular location. Based on a selected scenario and feedback from temperature sensors at the location, the system may determine that one or two heating elements may need to be activated instead of all heating elements of air conditioning elements at the location (e.g., due to where the inhabitant is within the location). The spatial (and temporal) variation of environmental conditions may also allow the system to select environmental control devices to be activated based on energy consumption concerns. Thus, the system may determine scenarios such that energy consumption is minimized for reaching a desired goal.

[0038] In one example, a user may provide operating parameters, for example, temperature and temperature swing and cycle (e.g., 23 +/- 3 deg, 10 min), temperature and air speed and their associated swing and cycle (e.g., 25 +/- 4 deg, 1 m/s +/1 ms, 15 min), or a preset named condition (e.g.,“Mount Fuji in Spring”). A system according to embodiments may monitor the room using temperature sensors and air speed sensors and adjust the action of the air conditioner, fans, heaters, etc. according to the user provided setting.

[0039] In another example, a user may provide operating parameters, for example, using a screen input or moving to various locations in the room and providing temperature and air movement setting at each location. The system may alert the user if one or more parameters are not attainable or are in contradiction. Alternatively, the user may download a suggested setting or edit a suggested setting. The system may monitor the room using temperature sensors and air speed sensors and adjust the action of the air conditioner, fans, heaters, etc. according to the user provided/adjusted setting. In the varying in space example, limitations in spatial distribution may be learnt by the system after installation through a self-calibration.

[0040] In a further example, the system may determine (e.g., based on user input, past behavior observation, etc.) that a particular user prefers to work between 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm, and then relax and go to sleep at 11.00 pm. The system may select several scenarios to enhance the user’s alertness level, for example, a first set of the scenarios may include variations of daylight in lighting composition, high-tempo music in sound composition, lower than normal room temperature, etc. A second set of the scenarios may include variations of smoother lighting composition and lower lighting levels, relaxing music at lower sound levels, and warmer room temperatures. The system may execute the first set of scenarios between 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm in a cyclical fashion to keep the user alert. Then, at 9.00 pm, the system may start executing the second set of scenarios with an increasingly lower level of lighting and sound levels to gradually relax the user and transition them into sleep.

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates major components of an example system for dynamic environment control through EMS, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0042] Some embodiments may include a system configured to provide dynamic environment control through EMS. An example system as shown in diagram 500 may include a remote controller 540 communicatively coupled to data stores 560 and to a system controller 520 over one or more networks 510. The system may also include a location environment management system 522. The location environment management system 522 may include a controller 524 coupled to an optional display 526 to provide information to an inhabitant of the location. The location may include a home, an office, an educational location, a health care location, or similar stationary locations. The location may also include a mobile location such as a car, a truck, a van, a bus, a boat, a plane, etc.

[0043] The location environment management system 522 may receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location such as a home, an office, a vehicle, or similar ones from sensors 534, user device(s) 538, or external sources 536. The environmental control parameters may be associated with climate, lighting, sounds, shading, tinting, etc. within the location. The system controller 520 may determine at least two scenarios of environmental conditions for the location to enhance an alertness profile or a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters. The system controller 520 may also receive predefined scenarios from the remote controller 540. One or more environmental control devices 532 may be managed to execute different scenarios successively based on the environmental control parameters and the profile to be enhanced. The scenarios may be ordered or varied randomly, based on inhabitant selection, or feedback. The feedback may include inhabitant feedback (e.g., from user device(s) 538) or observation of conditions (e.g., from sensors 534), inhabitant reaction, and similar ones. [0044] In some examples, dynamic environment control management operations may be performed by a controller and instructions for specific actions sent to EMS. In other examples, the dynamic environment control management operations may be performed at the EMS. In yet other examples, a central controller (or server) may transmit multiple scenarios to environmental controller on location and those controllers may execute the scenarios according to determined order or randomly.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a computing device, which may be used to manage dynamic environment control through EMS, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0046] In an example basic configuration 602, the computing device 600 may include one or more processors 604 and a system memory 606. A memory bus 608 may be used to communicate between the processor 604 and the system memory 606. The basic configuration 602 is illustrated in FIG. 6 by those components within the inner dashed line.

[0047] Depending on the desired configuration, the processor 604 may be of any type, including but not limited to a microprocessor (mR), a microcontroller (pC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof. The processor 604 may include one or more levels of caching, such as a cache memory 612, a processor core 614, and registers 616. The example processor core 614 may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processing core (DSP core), or any combination thereof. An example memory controller 618 may also be used with the processor 604, or in some implementations, the memory controller 618 may be an internal part of the processor 604.

[0048] Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 606 may be of any type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or any combination thereof. The system memory 606 may include an operating system 620, an EMS application 622, and program data 624. The EMS application 622 may include a sensor module 626 and individual control modules 627. The EMS application 622 may be configured to receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location as user input, transmitted data, or through one or more sensors managed by the sensor module 626. The EMS application 622 may also determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters. The individual control modules 627 may transmit a first set of instructions to one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios. Subsequently, the individual control modules 627 may transmit a second set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios. The program data 624 may include environmental data 628 such as climate, lighting, sound environment, and similar data for the location, among other data, as described herein.

[0049] The computing device 600 may have additional features or functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basic configuration 602 and any desired devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller 630 may be used to facilitate communications between the basic configuration 602 and one or more data storage devices 632 via a storage interface bus 634. The data storage devices 632 may be one or more removable storage devices 636, one or more non-removable storage devices 638, or a combination thereof. Examples of the removable storage and the non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDDs), optical disk drives such as compact disc (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSDs), and tape drives to name a few. Example computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.

[0050] The system memory 606, the removable storage devices 636 and the non-removable storage devices 638 are examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD- ROM, digital versatile disks (DVDs), solid state drives (SSDs), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to store the desired information and which may be accessed by the computing device 600. Any such computer storage media may be part of the computing device 600.

[0051] The computing device 600 may also include an interface bus 640 for facilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., one or more output devices 642, one or more peripheral interfaces 650, and one or more communication devices 660) to the basic configuration 602 via the bus/interface controller 630. Some of the example output devices 642 include a graphics processing unit 644 and an audio processing unit 646, which may be configured to communicate to various external devices such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports 648. One or more example peripheral interfaces 650 may include a serial interface controller 654 or a parallel interface controller 656, which may be configured to communicate with external devices such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer, scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 658. An example communication device 660 includes a network controller 662, which may be arranged to facilitate communications with one or more other computing devices 666 over a network communication link via one or more communication ports 664. The one or more other computing devices 666 may include servers at a datacenter, customer equipment, and comparable devices.

[0052] The network communication link may be one example of a communication media. Communication media may be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media. A“modulated data signal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR) and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include non- transitory storage media.

[0053] The computing device 600 may be implemented as a part of a specialized server, mainframe, or similar computer that includes any of the above functions. The computing device 600 may also be implemented as a personal computer including both laptop computer and non laptop computer configurations.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for dynamic environment control through EMS that may be performed by a computing device such as the computing device in FIG. 6, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. [0055] Example methods may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 722, 724, 726, and 728 may in some embodiments be performed by a computing device such as the computing device 600 in FIG. 6. Such operations, functions, or actions in FIG. 6 and in the other figures, in some embodiments, may be combined, eliminated, modified, and/or supplemented with other operations, functions or actions, and need not necessarily be performed in the exact sequence as shown. The operations described in the blocks 722-728 may be implemented through execution of computer-executable instructions stored in a computer-readable medium such as a computer-readable medium 720 of a computing device 710.

[0056] An example process to provide dynamic environment control through EMS may begin with block 722,“RECEIVE ONE OR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

PARAMETERS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOCATION”, where a controller or an EMS application 622 may receive or determine one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location such as a home, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, or comparable buildings, as well as, a vehicle such as an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, a ship, or similar ones may be received or determined. The environmental control parameters may be associated with climate, lighting, sounds, shading, tinting, etc. within the location. The environmental control parameters may be received as user input, transmitted data from a remote server, or through one or more sensors managed by the sensor module 626.

[0057] Block 722 may be followed by block 724,“DETERMINE TWO SCENARIOS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AT THE LOCATION TO ENHANCE ONE OF AN ALERTNESS PROFILE AND A COMFORT PROFILE FOR AN INHABITANT OF THE LOCATION BASED ON THE ONE OR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL PARAMETERS”, where the EMS application 622 may determine two (or more) scenarios of environmental conditions for the location to enhance an alertness profile or a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters. The scenarios may be a predefined set of default scenarios, user defined, or system computed based on location and inhabitant characteristics.

[0058] Block 724 may be followed by block 726,“TRANSMIT A FIRST SET OF

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE CONTROLLER TO ONE OR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ELEMENTS TO CONTROL AN OPERATION OF THE ONE OR MORE

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ELEMENTS IN ORDER TO EXECUTE A FIRST ONE OF THE TWO SCENARIOS”, where the individual control modules 627 or the EMS application 622 may control or transmit instructions to control one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the scenarios.

[0059] Block 726 may be followed by block 728,“TRANSMIT A SECOND SET OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE CONTROLLER TO THE ONE OR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ELEMENTS TO CONTROL THE OPERATION OF THE ONE OR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ELEMENTS IN ORDER TO EXECUTE A SECOND ONE OF THE TWO SCENARIOS”, where the individual control modules 627 or the EMS application 622 may control or transmit instructions to control one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the scenarios. The scenarios may be ordered or varied randomly, based on inhabitant selection, or feedback. The feedback may include inhabitant feedback or observation of conditions, inhabitant reaction, and similar ones.

[0060] The operations included in process 700 are for illustration purposes. Dynamic environment control through EMS may be implemented by similar processes with fewer or additional operations, as well as in different order of operations using the principles described herein. The operations described herein may be executed by one or more processors operated on one or more computing devices, one or more processor cores, and/or specialized processing devices, among other examples.

[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer program product, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0062] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 8, a computer program product 800 may include a signal bearing medium 802 that may also include one or more machine readable instructions 804 that, in response to execution by, for example, a processor may provide the functionality described herein. Thus, for example, referring to the processor 604 in FIG. 6, the EMS application 622 may perform or control performance of one or more of the tasks shown in FIG. 8 in response to the instructions 804 conveyed to the processor 604 by the signal bearing medium 802 to perform actions associated with the dynamic environment control through EMS as described herein. Some of those instructions may include, for example, receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location; determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters; transmit a first set of instructions from the controller to one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; transmit a second set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios, according to some embodiments described herein.

[0063] In some implementations, the signal bearing medium 802 depicted in FIG. 8 may encompass computer-readable medium 806, such as, but not limited to, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a digital tape, memory, and comparable non-transitory computer-readable storage media. In some

implementations, the signal bearing medium 802 may encompass recordable medium 808, such as, but not limited to, memory, read/write (R/W) CDs, R/W DVDs, etc. In some

implementations, the signal bearing medium 802 may encompass communications medium 810, such as, but not limited to, a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, etc.). Thus, for example, the computer program product 800 may be conveyed to one or more modules of the processor 604 by an RF signal bearing medium, where the signal bearing medium 802 is conveyed by the communications medium 810 (e.g., a wireless communications medium conforming with the IEEE 802.11 standard).

[0064] According to some examples, a method for dynamic environment control through energy management systems (EMS) is described. The method may include receiving, at a controller, one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location;

determining, at the controller, two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters; transmitting a first set of instructions from the controller to one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and transmitting a second set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

[0065] According to other examples, the method may further include transmitting the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions in one of a cyclical fashion and a random fashion. Receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location may include receiving the one or more environmental control parameters from one or more of an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server. Receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location may also include receiving a specific value for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location. Receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location may further include receiving a range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location. Receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location may further include receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with a room, a house, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, or a ship.

[0066] According to further examples, determining the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions may include presenting a plurality of scenarios through a visual output device or an audio output device, each scenario comprising a different range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location; and receiving a selection of the two or more scenarios among the presented plurality of scenarios through an input device.

Determining the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions may also include receiving current environmental conditions for the location from one or more environmental sensors; determining a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determining the two or more scenarios of the

environmental conditions to reach the goal to enhance the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant of the location. The one or more environmental sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, a smell sensor, or a user input device.

[0067] According to yet other examples, the method may also include receiving one or more architectural parameters for the location from a data store, the desktop computer, the handheld computer, the smartphone, the smartwatch, the vehicle-mount computer, or the remote server; and determining the goal for the environmental conditions further based on the received one or more architectural parameters. Determining the two or more scenarios of the

environmental conditions to reach the goal may include selecting a first scenario to be executed; transmitting a set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute the first scenario; gathering environmental condition results from the execution of the first scenario from the one or more environmental sensors; and applying a machine learning algorithm to the environmental condition results to determine a second scenario.

[0068] According to some examples, the method may further include adjusting one or more of the two scenarios by: receiving data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant; and adjusting one or more of an environmental control parameter, a number of the two or more scenarios, or an order of the two or more scenarios based on the data received from the body sensor. Receiving the data from the body sensor may include receiving data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant. Adjusting the one or more of the two scenarios may include detecting a change in one of an external environmental condition and an internal configuration of the location; and adjusting the one or more scenarios based on the detected change. The method may also include detecting a movement of the inhabitant from the location to another location; adjusting the two or more scenarios for the other location; and controlling an operation of one or more environmental control elements in the other location based on the adjusted two or more scenarios such that environmental conditions are approximately optimized for the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant in the other location. The method may further include determining one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determining the two or more scenarios such that the environmental conditions are maintained within the determined one or more limits. The method may also include determining one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determining the two or more scenarios such that at least one scenario causes the environmental conditions to exceed the determined one or more limits. The one or more environmental control elements may include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, a smell source, or a sound source.

[0069] According to other examples, a controller configured to dynamically control environmental conditions through energy management systems (EMS) is described. The controller may include a communication device configured to communicate with one or more environmental control elements and environmental sensors; a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the communication device and the memory. The processor in conjunction with the instructions stored on the memory may be configured to receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location; determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters; transmit a first set of instructions through the communication device to the one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and transmit a second set of instructions through the communication device to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

[0070] According to further examples, the processor may be further configured to transmit the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions in one of a cyclical fashion and a random fashion. The processor may be configured to receive the one or more environmental control parameters from one or more of an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server. The processor may also be configured to receive a specific value for one or more of a

temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location. The processor may further be configured to receive a range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location. The processor may be configured to receive the one or more environmental control parameters associated with a room, a house, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, or a ship.

[0071] According to some examples, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the processor may be configured to present a plurality of scenarios through a visual output device or an audio output device, each scenario comprising a different range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location; and receive a selection of the two or more scenarios among the presented plurality of scenarios through an input device. The processor may also be configured to receive current environmental conditions for the location from one or more environmental sensors; determine a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal to enhance the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant of the location. The one or more environmental sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, a smell sensor, or a user input device. The processor may be further configured to receive one or more architectural parameters for the location from a data store, the desktop computer, the handheld computer, the smartphone, the smartwatch, the vehicle-mount computer, or the remote server; and determine the goal for the environmental conditions further based on the received one or more architectural parameters.

[0072] According to other examples, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal, the processor may be configured to select a first scenario to be executed; transmit a set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute the first scenario; gather environmental condition results from the execution of the first scenario from the one or more environmental sensors; and apply a machine learning algorithm to the environmental condition results to determine a second scenario. The processor may be further configured to adjust one or more of the two scenarios through receipt of data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant; and adjustment of one or more of an environmental control parameter, a number of the two or more scenarios, or an order of the two or more scenarios based on the data received from the body sensor. The processor may be configured to receive from the body sensor data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant.

[0073] According to yet other examples, the processor may be configured to adjust the one or more of the two scenarios through detection of a change in one of an external environmental condition and an internal configuration of the location; and adjustment of the one or more scenarios based on the detected change. The processor may be further configured to detect a movement of the inhabitant from the location to another location; adjust the two or more scenarios for the other location; and control an operation of one or more environmental control elements in the other location based on the adjusted two or more scenarios such that

environmental conditions are approximately optimized for the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant in the other location. The processor may be further configured to determine one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determine the two or more scenarios such that the environmental conditions are maintained within the determined one or more limits. The processor may also be configured to determine one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determine the two or more scenarios such that at least one scenario causes the environmental conditions to exceed the determined one or more limits. The one or more environmental control elements may include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, a smell source, or a sound source.

[0074] According to further examples, an environmental control system is described. The environmental control system may include one or more environmental control elements associated with a location; one or more environmental sensors associated with the location; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more environmental control elements and environmental sensors. The controller may be configured to receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location from an input device; receive current

environmental conditions for the location from the one or more environmental sensors;

determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance an alertness profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters and the current environmental conditions; transmit a first set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and transmit a second set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

[0075] According to some examples, the controller may be configured to further determine the two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance a comfort profile for the inhabitant of the location. The controller may be further configured to transmit the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions in one of a cyclical fashion and a random fashion. The input device may include one or more of an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server. The controller may be configured to receive a specific value for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location. The controller may also be configured to receive a range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location. The location may include a room, a house, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, or a ship.

[0076] According to other examples, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the controller may be configured to present a plurality of scenarios through a visual output device or an audio output device, each scenario comprising a different range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location; and receive a selection of the two or more scenarios among the presented plurality of scenarios through an input device. To determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the controller may also be configured to determine a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal to enhance the alertness profile of the inhabitant of the location. The controller may be further configured to receive one or more architectural parameters for the location from a data store, the desktop computer, the handheld computer, the smartphone, the smartwatch, the vehicle-mount computer, or the remote server; and determine the goal for the environmental conditions further based on the received one or more architectural parameters.

[0077] According to further examples, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal, the controller may be configured to select a first scenario to be executed; transmit a set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute the first scenario; gather environmental condition results from the execution of the first scenario from the one or more environmental sensors; and apply a machine learning algorithm to the environmental condition results to determine a second scenario. The one or more environmental sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, a smell source, or a user input device. The controller may be further configured to adjust one or more of the two scenarios through: receipt of data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant; and adjustment of one or more of an environmental control parameter, a number of the two or more scenarios, or an order of the two or more scenarios based on the data received from the body sensor.

[0078] According to yet other examples, the controller may be configured to receive from the body sensor data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant. The controller may be configured to adjust the one or more of the two scenarios through detection of a change in one of an external environmental condition and an internal configuration of the location; and adjustment of the one or more scenarios based on the detected change. The controller may be further configured to detect a movement of the inhabitant from the location to another location; adjust the two or more scenarios for the other location; and control an operation of one or more environmental control elements in the other location based on the adjusted two or more scenarios such that environmental conditions are approximately optimized for the alertness profile of the inhabitant in the other location. The controller may also be configured to determine one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determine the two or more scenarios such that the environmental conditions are maintained within the determined one or more limits. The controller may be further configured to determine one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determine the two or more scenarios such that at least one scenario causes the environmental conditions to exceed the determined one or more limits. The one or more environmental control elements may include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, a smell source, or a sound source.

[0079] There are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein may be affected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.

[0080] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, t some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, may be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs executing on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs executing on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs executing on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs executing on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmware are possible in light of this disclosure.

[0081] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0082] In addition, the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, a solid state drive (SSD), etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

[0083] It is common within the art to describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such described devices and/or processes into data processing systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein may be integrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. A data processing system may include one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatile and non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or control systems including feedback loops and control motors.

[0084] A data processing system may be implemented utilizing any suitable commercially available components, such as those found in data computing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems. The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. Such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and in fact, many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality may be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two components so associated may also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically connectable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically

interactable components.

[0085] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0086] In general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as“open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as“including but not limited to,” the term“having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as“includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to

understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g.,“a” and/or“an” should be interpreted to mean“at least one” or“one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).

[0087] Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to“at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g.,“a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase“A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or“B” or“A and B.”

[0088] For any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as“up to,”“at least,”“greater than,”“less than,” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

[0089] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are possible. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for dynamic environment control through energy management systems (EMS), the method comprising:

receiving, at a controller, one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location;

determining, at the controller, two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters;

transmitting a first set of instructions from the controller to one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and

transmitting a second set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions in one of a cyclical fashion and a random fashion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location comprises:

receiving the one or more environmental control parameters from one or more of an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location comprises: receiving a specific value for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location comprises:

receiving a range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location comprises:

receiving the one or more environmental control parameters associated with a room, a house, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, or a ship.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the two or more scenarios of the

environmental conditions comprises:

presenting a plurality of scenarios through a visual output device or an audio output device, each scenario comprising a different range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location; and

receiving a selection of the two or more scenarios among the presented plurality of scenarios through an input device.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the two or more scenarios of the

environmental conditions comprises:

receiving current environmental conditions for the location from one or more

environmental sensors;

determining a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and determining the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal to enhance the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant of the location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more environmental sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, a smell sensor, or a user input device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving one or more architectural parameters for the location from a data store, the desktop computer, the handheld computer, the smartphone, the smartwatch, the vehicle-mount computer, or the remote server; and

determining the goal for the environmental conditions further based on the received one or more architectural parameters.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the two or more scenarios of the

environmental conditions to reach the goal comprises:

selecting a first scenario to be executed;

transmitting a set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute the first scenario;

gathering environmental condition results from the execution of the first scenario from the one or more environmental sensors; and

applying a machine learning algorithm to the environmental condition results to determine a second scenario.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting one or more of the two scenarios by:

receiving data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant; and adjusting one or more of an environmental control parameter, a number of the two or more scenarios, or an order of the two or more scenarios based on the data received from the body sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the data from the body sensor comprises: receiving data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the one or more of the two scenarios comprises:

detecting a change in one of an external environmental condition and an internal configuration of the location; and

adjusting the one or more scenarios based on the detected change.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a movement of the inhabitant from the location to another location;

adjusting the two or more scenarios for the other location; and

controlling an operation of one or more environmental control elements in the other location based on the adjusted two or more scenarios such that environmental conditions are approximately optimized for the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant in the other location.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and

determining the two or more scenarios such that the environmental conditions are maintained within the determined one or more limits.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the two or more scenarios such that at least one scenario causes the environmental conditions to exceed the determined one or more limits.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more environmental control elements include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, a smell source, or a sound source.

19. A controller configured to dynamically control environmental conditions through energy management systems (EMS), the controller comprising:

a communication device configured to communicate with one or more environmental control elements and environmental sensors;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the communication device and the memory, wherein the processor in conjunction with the instructions stored on the memory is configured to:

receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with a location; determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance one of an alertness profile and a comfort profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more environmental control parameters;

transmit a first set of instructions through the communication device to the one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and transmit a second set of instructions through the communication device to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

20. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions in one of a cyclical fashion and a random fashion.

21. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to receive the one or more environmental control parameters from one or more of an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server.

22. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to receive a specific value for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location.

23. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to receive a range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location.

24. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to receive the one or more environmental control parameters associated with a room, a house, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, or a ship.

25. The controller of claim 19, wherein, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the processor is configured to:

present a plurality of scenarios through a visual output device or an audio output device, each scenario comprising a different range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location; and

receive a selection of the two or more scenarios among the presented plurality of scenarios through an input device.

26. The controller of claim 19, wherein, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the processor is configured to:

receive current environmental conditions for the location from one or more

environmental sensors;

determine a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and

determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal to enhance the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant of the location.

27. The controller of claim 26, wherein the one or more environmental sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, a smell sensor, or a user input device.

28. The controller of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive one or more architectural parameters for the location from a data store, the desktop computer, the handheld computer, the smartphone, the smartwatch, the vehicle-mount computer, or the remote server; and

determine the goal for the environmental conditions further based on the received one or more architectural parameters.

29. The controller of claim 26, wherein, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal, the processor is configured to:

select a first scenario to be executed;

transmit a set of instructions from the controller to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute the first scenario;

gather environmental condition results from the execution of the first scenario from the one or more environmental sensors; and

apply a machine learning algorithm to the environmental condition results to determine a second scenario.

30. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:

adjust one or more of the two scenarios through:

receipt of data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant; and adjustment of one or more of an environmental control parameter, a number of the two or more scenarios, or an order of the two or more scenarios based on the data received from the body sensor.

31. The controller of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to receive from the body sensor data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant.

32. The controller of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the one or more of the two scenarios through:

detection of a change in one of an external environmental condition and an internal configuration of the location; and

adjustment of the one or more scenarios based on the detected change.

33. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a movement of the inhabitant from the location to another location;

adjust the two or more scenarios for the other location; and

control an operation of one or more environmental control elements in the other location based on the adjusted two or more scenarios such that environmental conditions are

approximately optimized for the alertness profile or the comfort profile of the inhabitant in the other location.

34. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine one or more limits for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and

determine the two or more scenarios such that the environmental conditions are maintained within the determined one or more limits.

35. The controller of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine the two or more scenarios such that at least one scenario causes the environmental conditions to exceed the determined one or more limits.

36. The controller of claim 19, wherein the one or more environmental control elements include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, a smell source, or a sound source.

37. An environmental control system comprising:

one or more environmental control elements associated with a location;

one or more environmental sensors associated with the location; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more environmental control elements and environmental sensors, the controller configured to:

receive one or more environmental control parameters associated with the location from an input device;

receive current environmental conditions for the location from the one or more environmental sensors;

determine two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance an alertness profile for an inhabitant of the location based on the one or more

environmental control parameters and the current environmental conditions;

transmit a first set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control an operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a first one of the two scenarios; and

transmit a second set of instructions to the one or more environmental control elements to control the operation of the one or more environmental control elements in order to execute a second one of the two scenarios.

38. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is configured to further determine the two scenarios of environmental conditions at the location to enhance a comfort profile for the inhabitant of the location.

39. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured to:

40. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the input device includes one or more of an environmental control device, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a vehicle-mount computer, or a remote server.

41. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is configured to receive a specific value for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location.

42. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is configured to receive a range of values for one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an air flow speed, a lighting level, a lighting composition, a sound level, a smell, or a sound composition for the location.

43. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the location includes a room, a house, an office, a school, a health care facility, a hotel, a factory, an automobile, a bus, a recreational vehicle, an airplane, or a ship.

44. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the controller is configured to:

45. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions, the controller is configured to: determine a goal for the environmental conditions based on the received one or more environmental control parameters; and

determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal to enhance the alertness profile of the inhabitant of the location.

46. The environmental control system of claim 45, wherein the controller is further configured to:

47. The environmental control system of claim 45, wherein, to determine the two or more scenarios of the environmental conditions to reach the goal, the controller is configured to:

select a first scenario to be executed;

48. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the one or more environmental sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, a light detection sensor, an air flow sensor, a smell source, or a user input device.

49. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured to:

adjust one or more of the two scenarios through: receipt of data from a body sensor that monitors the inhabitant; and adjustment of one or more of an environmental control parameter, a number of the two or more scenarios, or an order of the two or more scenarios based on the data received from the body sensor.

50. The environmental control system of claim 49, wherein the controller is configured to receive from the body sensor data associated with one or more of a heart rate, a body

temperature, a blood pressure, body movement, or a cognitive function associated with the inhabitant.

51. The environmental control system of claim 49, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the one or more of the two scenarios through:

adjustment of the one or more scenarios based on the detected change.

52. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a movement of the inhabitant from the location to another location;

adjust the two or more scenarios for the other location; and

approximately optimized for the alertness profile of the inhabitant in the other location.

53. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured to:

54. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured to:

55. The environmental control system of claim 37, wherein the one or more environmental control elements include a heating element, a cooling element, an air flow element, a light source, a shading controller, a tinting controller, a smell source, or a sound source.