Occupancy pattern detection, estimation and prediction

摘要

Systems and methods are described for predicting and/or detecting occupancy of an enclosure, such as a dwelling or other building, which can be used for a number of applications. An a priori stochastic model of occupancy patterns based on information of the enclosure and/or the expected occupants of the enclosure is used to pre-seed an occupancy prediction engine. Along with data from an occupancy sensor, the occupancy prediction engine predicts future occupancy of the enclosure. Various systems and methods for detecting occupancy of an enclosure, such as a dwelling, are also described.

主权项

1. An environmental control system for predicting occupancy of an enclosure comprising:
a memory storing a model of occupancy patterns comprising a plurality of coefficients; an occupancy sensor configured to detect occupancy within the enclosure; a wireless communication port that receives a location of a cellular phone associated with one of more of the occupants of the enclosure; one or more processors programmed to:
pre-seed the plurality of coefficients for the model of occupancy patterns with values that are selected based on a geographic location of the enclosure and information describing an initial occupant schedule received through a user interface;initiate a learning phase for the model of occupancy patterns after installation of the control system in the enclosure;combine information from the occupancy sensor with the location of the cellular phone to generate an occupancy status for the enclosure;generate a future occupancy pattern of the enclosure, the future occupancy pattern being based at least in part on the model of occupancy patterns and the occupancy status for the enclosure;refine the values for the plurality of coefficients using the occupancy status for the enclosure during the learning phase; andcontrol an environmental condition of the enclosure based on the future occupancy pattern after an end of the learning phase.