Environmental condition control and monitoring systems and methods

Abstract

Environmental condition control and monitoring systems and methods are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method includes determining a condition profile of an object. Further, the method includes identifying the object within an environment. The method also includes determining whether the environment meets a requirement defined by the condition profile of the object. The method also includes controlling environment conditioning equipment based on whether the environment meets the requirement.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining a condition profile of an object;   identifying the object within an environment;   determining whether the environment meets a requirement defined by the condition profile of the object; and   controlling environment conditioning equipment based on whether the environment meets the requirement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a condition profile comprises determining a temperature requirement of the object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the object comprises identifying the object as being one of a food product and a person, and
 wherein the method further comprises associating the object with the condition profile.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the environment meets the condition profile of the object comprises detecting a condition of the object,
 wherein the method further comprises determining a control input for the environment conditioning equipment based on the detected condition for meeting a requirement defined by the condition profile of the object, and   wherein controlling environmental conditioning equipment comprises inputting the control input to the environment conditioning equipment.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein inputting the control input comprises inputting the control input as a command to one of increase and decrease a temperature about a location of the object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition profile defines a condition schedule of the object that defines different condition requirements of the object over a period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling environment conditioning equipment comprises one of controlling an air conditioner, controller a heater, controlling a fan, and positioning a window. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an activity of the object, and
 wherein controlling environment conditioning equipment comprises controlling the environment conditioning equipment based on the activity of the object.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a first object,
 wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a condition profile of a second object located within the environment; and 
 determining a hierarchy of the first and second objects with respect to each other, and 
   wherein controlling environment conditioning equipment comprises controlling the environment conditioning equipment based on the determined hierarchy.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the object is a first object,
 wherein the method further comprises identifying a second object located within the environment, and   wherein controlling the environment conditioning equipment comprises controlling the environment conditioning equipment to meet a requirement of the first object based on a preference of the first object over the second object.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a first object,
 wherein the method further comprises determining a condition profile of a second object located within the environment, and   wherein controlling environment conditioning equipment comprises controlling the environment conditioning equipment based on the condition profiles of the first and second objects.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition profile defines a requirement of the object,
 wherein the method further comprises:   determining whether the requirement of the object is met; and   in response to determining that the requirement is not being met, communicating a notification to a computing device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a location of the object, and
 wherein controlling environment conditioning equipment comprises controlling environment conditioning equipment based on the location of the object.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a product, and the environment is a retail environment, and
 wherein the method further comprises:
 storing identification of the product; and 
 associating the identification with a condition profile of the object. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a condition record of the environment over a time period while the object is within the environment; and   associating the condition record with an identifier of the object.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the environment comprises different locations along a transportation route. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 at least a processor and memory configured to:   determine a condition profile of an object;   identify the object within an environment;   determine whether the environment meets a requirement defined by the condition profile of the object; and   control environment conditioning equipment based on whether the environment meets the requirement.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to determine a temperature requirement of the object. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 identify the object as being one of a food product and a person; and   associate the object with the condition profile.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 detect a condition of the object;   determine a control input for the environment conditioning equipment based on the detected condition for meeting a requirement defined by the condition profile of the object; and   input the control input to the environment conditioning equipment.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to input the control input as a command to one of increase and decrease a temperature about a location of the object. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the condition profile defines a condition schedule of the object that defines different condition requirements of the object over a period of time. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to one of controlling an air conditioner, controller a heater, controlling a fan, and positioning a window. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 determine an activity of the object; and   control the environment conditioning equipment based on the activity of the object.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the object is a first object,
 wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 determine a condition profile of a second object located within the environment; 
 determine a hierarchy of the first and second objects with respect to each other; and 
 control the environment conditioning equipment based on the determined hierarchy. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the object is a first object, and
 wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 identify a second object located within the environment, and 
 control the environment conditioning equipment to meet a requirement of the first object based on a preference of the first object over the second object. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the object is a first object, and
 wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 determine a condition profile of a second object located within the environment; and 
 control the environment conditioning equipment based on the condition profiles of the first and second objects. 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the condition profile defines a requirement of the object,
 wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 determine whether the requirement of the object is met; and 
 communicate a notification to a computing device in response to determining that the requirement is not being met. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 determine a location of the object; and   control environment condition equipment based on the location of the object.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the object is a product, and the environment is a retail environment, and
 wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 store identification of the product; and 
 associate the identification with a condition profile of the object. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a processor and memory are configured to:
 store a condition record of the environment over a time period while the object is within the environment; and   associate the condition record with an identifier of the object.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the environment comprises different locations along a transportation route.