Intelligent configuration of a smart environment based on arrival time

Abstract

A method includes receiving an estimated time of arrival (ETA) relating to an arrival to an environment, an arrival of an event, arrival of an activity, or a combination thereof; and controlling, configuring, or controlling and configuring a smart device based upon the ETA.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at an electronic device, an estimated time of arrival (ETA) relating to an arrival to an environment, an arrival of an event, arrival of an activity, or a combination thereof; and   controlling, configuring, or controlling and configuring, via the electronic device, a smart device based upon the ETA;   wherein the ETA is calculated by a third-party separate from the electronic device and the smart device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the smart device comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising:
 validating the ETA based at least upon validation criteria of the electronic device, the smart device, or both; and   controlling, configuring, or controlling and configuring the smart device based upon the ETA only when the ETA is validated.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein validating the ETA comprises:
 validating the ETA by associating the ETA with a particular trip, event, or activity; and   analyzing a set of ETAs associated with the particular trip, event, or activity, to determine if the validation criteria is met.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein validating the ETA comprises:
 validating the ETA by determining if the set of ETAs including the ETA is greater than or equal to a minimum number of consistent ETA samples provided in the validation criteria.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein validating the ETA comprises:
 validating the ETA by determining if the ETA was received at an interval of at least a minimum time interval between ETA samples from a previously-received ETA, as provided by the validation criteria.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 if the ETA is time-based: determining a pre-conditioning window extending in time from the ETA to a time prior to the ETA; or   if the ETA is duration-based: determining a pre-conditioning window that is a duration less than or equal to the ETA; and   controlling, configuring, or controlling and configuring the smart device during the pre-conditioning window.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the pre-conditioning window comprises defining the time prior to the ETA by a static early arrival window, wherein the static early arrival window comprises a static amount of time to begin pre-conditioning prior to the ETA. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the pre-conditioning window comprises defining the time prior to the ETA based upon a dynamic pre-conditioning estimate for the environment, wherein the dynamic pre-conditioning window comprises a dynamic amount of time to begin pre-conditioning prior to the ETA, based upon a pre-conditioning estimate specific to the environment. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive an estimated time of arrival (ETA) relating to an arrival to a conditioned environment, an arrival of an event, arrival of an activity, or a combination thereof; and 
 provide data to a smart device based upon the ETA, the data triggering control, configuration changes, or control and configuration changes of the smart device; 
   wherein the ETA is calculated by a third-party separate from the electronic device and the smart device.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic device and the smart device are the same device. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the smart device comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the data is configured to change, add, or change and add a set point of the thermostat. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the data is configured to change a mode of the thermostat from an away mode to a home mode. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the data is configured to trigger pre-conditioning of an environment, such that the environment is conditioned to a programmed temperature at or near the ETA. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a pre-conditioning window based upon a static early arrival window, wherein the static early arrival window comprises a static amount of time to begin pre-conditioning prior to the ETA. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a pre-conditioning window based upon a custom pre-conditioning estimate for the environment, wherein the dynamic pre-conditioning window comprises a dynamic amount of time to begin pre-conditioning prior to the ETA, based upon a pre-conditioning estimate specific to the environment. 
     
     
         18 . A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions to:
 receive an estimated time of arrival (ETA) relating to an arrival to a conditioned environment, an arrival of an event, arrival of an activity, or a combination thereof; and   provide data to a smart device based upon the ETA, the data triggering control, configuration changes, or control and configuration changes of the smart device;   wherein the ETA is calculated by a third-party separate from the smart device and a machine implementing the machine-readable instructions.   
     
     
         19 . The tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , comprising machine-readable instructions to:
 receive a plurality of ETAs;   observe a pattern of inaccuracies between the provided plurality of ETAs and corresponding actual time of arrivals;   derive a modified ETA for a subsequently received ETA based upon the pattern of inaccuracies; and   trigger control, configuration changes, or control and configuration changes based upon the modified ETA for the subsequently received ETA.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , comprising machine-readable instructions to:
 receive a plurality of ETAs relating to different arrival to the condition environment, arrivals of an activity, or both;   determine whether the plurality of ETAs result in mutually exclusive ETA-based control events, configuration change events, or both;   prioritizing one of the plurality of ETAs when the plurality of ETAs result in mutually exclusive ETA-based control events, configuration change events, or both; and   optionally dynamically modify prioritization of the one of the plurality of ETAs when one or more of the plurality of ETAs changes.