How a Cloud Server Remotely Controls Smart Devices in Buildings and Cars

This patent describes how an internet-connected server can remotely manage smart devices like sensors and actuators in buildings or vehicles, using a continuous feedback system and built-in redundancy for reliable control.

What it covers

This system connects sensors and actuators in a building or vehicle to an external Internet-connected control server. A router or gateway inside the building or vehicle communicates with local devices over networks like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and then sends data to the remote server over the internet. The server runs a 'PID closed linear control loop' to process sensor data and decide how to operate actuators. For example, a camera sensor might detect too many people in a room, and the server's logic could then tell an air conditioning actuator to increase cooling. The patent also includes redundancy, meaning it uses multiple sensors, actuators, or communication paths to ensure the system keeps working even if one part fails.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover control systems where the primary control logic runs entirely within the building or vehicle without an external internet-connected server.
• —Does not cover control systems that use non-PID or non-linear control loops for managing sensor and actuator interactions.
• —Does not cover systems controlling devices outside of a defined building or vehicle environment.
• —Does not cover systems that lack both a sensor and an actuator, or where the actuator's operation is not a direct response to sensor input.
• —Does not cover systems without any form of redundancy in sensors, actuators, or data paths.

The clever bit

The clever bit is combining an external, internet-connected server with a precise 'PID closed linear control loop' for managing local devices in buildings or vehicles, while also building in redundancy for reliable operation. This allows for complex, centrally managed control that can adapt and recover from failures.

Why it matters

This technology is important for the growing fields of smart buildings and connected vehicles, allowing for more sophisticated and reliable remote management of environmental conditions and operational functions. By centralizing control logic on external servers, systems can be updated and managed more easily across many locations. The inclusion of redundancy helps ensure critical functions, like climate control or safety systems, remain operational even with component failures, enhancing reliability for users.

Real-world examples

• 1.Smart home climate control systems managed by a cloud service
• 2.Connected car remote diagnostics and software updates
• 3.Building management systems for lighting and HVAC
• 4.Voice-activated smart assistant controlling home devices
• 5.Security systems using camera input to trigger alarms