Ubiquitous connectivity and control system for remote locations

Abstract

A thermostat control system for monitoring and controlling environmental characteristics of a building includes a base station unit and a remote access unit continuously interfacing through instant wireless private direct connectivity. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that measure the environmental characteristics and provide the thermostat unit with the measurements.

1 . A base unit configured to communicate with an environmental device and to communicate with a cellular remote the base unit comprising:
 a first communication interface configured to receive environmental information from the environmental device and to send a control instruction to the environmental device;   a wireless communication interface configured to send a first message to the cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network and to receive a second message from the cellular remote unit via the cellular communications network,   wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a representation of the environmental information, and   wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including a command regarding the environmental device; and   a microcontroller configured to process the second message, to provide the control instruction based on the command, and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the first communication interface, and   wherein the command is initiated by a user via the cellular remote unit to change an environmental characteristic controlled by the environmental device, and   wherein the base unit is configured to operate without a personal computer.   
     
     
         2 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the command regards entering an energy conservation mode, and wherein the energy conservation mode is associated with multiple environmental devices. 
     
     
         3 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the command is associated with an icon on the remote unit. 
     
     
         4 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the environmental characteristic associated with the environmental device is to turn the environmental device on or off. 
     
     
         5 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the environmental characteristic associated with the environmental device is to raise or lower a setting associated with the environmental device. 
     
     
         6 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cellular communications network includes a data bearer service. 
     
     
         7 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the remote unit is a mobile remote unit. 
     
     
         8 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the control instruction includes an environmental control instruction; and wherein the command includes an environmental command. 
     
     
         9 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the command is an energy conservation command associated with multiple environmental devices. 
     
     
         10 . The base unit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cellular communications network includes a data bearer service; wherein the remote unit is a mobile remote unit;   wherein the control instruction includes an environmental control instruction; and   wherein the command includes an environmental command.   
     
     
         11 . The base unit of  claim 10 , wherein the second message includes an energy conservation command associated with multiple environmental devices. 
     
     
         12 . The base unit of  claim 10 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to process the environmental information into the representation and to process the command into the control instruction. 
     
     
         13 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the remote unit is a cellular telephone, and wherein the environmental device comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         14 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the environmental device comprises at least one of a light, thermostat, or an alarm system. 
     
     
         15 . The base unit of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit and the environmental device are contained in the same enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . A base unit configured to communicate with an environmental device and to communicate with a cellular remote the base unit comprising:
 a wireless communication interface configured to receive a first message from the cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network;   a second communication interface configured to send a control instruction from the base unit to the environmental device;   wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a command;   a microcontroller, at the base unit, configured to process the first message, to provide a control instruction based on the command, and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the second communication interface, wherein the first message is received before sending the control instruction; and   wherein the command is for the base unit, and wherein the command is initiated by a user via the cellular remote unit; and   wherein the control instruction to the environmental device is based on the command for the base unit.   
     
     
         17 . The base unit of  claim 16 , wherein the first message is received from the cellular remote unit using a data bearer service. 
     
     
         18 . The base unit of  claim 16 , wherein cellular remote unit is a mobile remote unit. 
     
     
         19 . The base unit of  claim 16 , wherein the base unit and the environmental device are contained in the same enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . A base unit configured to communicate with an environmental device and to communicate with a cellular remote the base unit comprising:
 a wireless communication interface configured to receive a first message from the cellular remote unit via a cellular communications network and to send a second message to the cellular remote unit, wherein the first message is received before sending the second message;   a second communication interface configured to send a control instruction from the base unit to the environmental device; and to receive an environmental status from the environmental device   wherein the first message is a first digital communications message including a command;   wherein the second message is a second digital communications message including the environmental status;   a microcontroller, at the base unit, configured to process the first message, to provide a control instruction based on the command, and to send the control instruction to the environmental device via the second communication interface; and   wherein the command is for the base unit, and wherein the command is initiated by a user via the cellular remote unit; and   wherein the control instruction to the environmental device is based on the command for the base unit.