WO2014005868A1

WO2014005868A1 - Alarm clock based applications

Info

Publication number: WO2014005868A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/063108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krishnamurthy Ramachandran
Original assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
Current assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
Priority date: 2012-07-02
Filing date: 2013-06-24
Publication date: 2014-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-02

Description

Alarm clock based applications

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The embodiments herein relate to mobile devices and, more particularly, to mobile applications linked to an alarm clock in a mobile device.

BACKGROUND

[002] Currently, mobile devices have ubiquitous in daily life, with most users using the mobile device for a variety of applications such as accessing mails, taking notes, playing games, alarm clocks and so on, in addition to their normal functionalities. Hence, the user is becoming more reliant on his mobile device for his personal requirements, in an ideal world, the user should be able to interact and control all devices and systems which are a normal part of the life of the user.

[003] However, household appliances such as lights, fans, air conditioners, heaters, music systems and so on are unable to be controlled by the user using a mobile device. This is due to a lack of a suitable connectivity means between the mobile device and the household device/system. This results in the user having to track and monitor multiple devices/systems within his house and enable/disable their operation in a manual manner.

SUMMARY

[004] In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a method for controlling at least one remote device from a mobile device, the method comprising of sending a trigger for at least one user defined action by the mobile device to at least one remote device, on the mobile device generating a corresponding user defined alarm. The mobile device is connected to at least one remote device using a wireless connection means. The method further comprises of the mobile device checking if at least one user defined action is associated with the alarm, on the alarm being generated.

[005] Also, disclosed herein is a mobile device capable of controlling at least one remote device, the mobile device configured for sending a trigger for at least one user defined action to at least one remote device, on the mobile device generating a corresponding user defined alarm. The mobile device is configured for connecting to the at least one remote device using a wireless connection means. The mobile device is configured for checking if at least one user defined action is associated with the alarm, on the alarm being generated.

[006] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[007] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[008] FIG. 1 depicts a network of devices and systems, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[009] FIG. 2 depicts a mobile device, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart for setting up alarms and corresponding actions, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0011 ] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart for a mobile device performing corresponding actions on an alarm being triggered, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and

[0012] FIGs. 5a and 5b depict exemplary implementations, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0014] The embodiments herein disclose a method and system for a mobile device to control one or more devices/sy stems based on an alarm triggered on the mobile device. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a network of devices and systems, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The network, as depicted comprises of a mobile device 101 connected to a user 102 and a plurality of devices 103a, 103b and 103c The mobile device 101 has been used for illustrative purposes and may not be restricted to a mobile device, but may be any device such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a Persona] Digital Assistant (PDA), a computer, a laptop and so on. The mobile device 101 is connected to the user 102 using a suitable interface provided on the mobile device 101. The mobile device 101 is further connected to the plurality of devices 103 using a suitable wireless connection means such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, Near Field Communication (NFC) or any other suitable means. The device 103 may be a light (such as a lamp, bulb or any other device capable of providing illumination), a refrigerator, a fan, an air conditioner, a heater/cooler, a television, a music system, the water heater and so on.

[0016] The mobile device 101 enables the user 102 to set alarms and a set of corresponding actions to be triggered on the alarm being triggered. The alarms may be a daily alarm, a onetime alarm and so on. The user may set at least one action to be performed for a specific device, based on the specific alarm. The actions may be such as switching on the water heater, when a morning wake up alarm is triggered. Other examples comprises of switching off the lights and the air conditioners in a commercial complex, on a specific alarm being triggered, which may have been set by a manager of the complex.

[0017] The mobile device 101 , on the application being triggered, performs the corresponding actions as set by the user. The mobile device 101 may communicate with the device 103 using the suitable wireless means and instruct the device 103 to perform the corresponding action. Examples of such action comprises of instructing the water heater to switch on, when a morning wake up alarm is triggered. Other examples comprises of instructing the lights and the air conditioners to be switched off in a commercial complex, on a specific alarm being triggered.

[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a mobile device, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The mobile device 101 , as depicted, comprises of a controller 201 , a communication interface 202, a database 203, a timing mechanism 204 and a user interface 205.

[0019] The controller 201 enables the user 102 to configure the alarms and corresponding actions, if any, for each alarm. The user 102 may perform these actions using the user interface 205. The controller 201 stores the alarm and the corresponding actions in the database 203. The user 102 need not set the alarm and the corresponding actions at the same time and may be configured or re-configured at any point in time before the alarm time.

[0020] The timing mechanism 204 tracks the alarm and triggering the alarm in an appropriate manner. On detecting that the alarm has been triggered, the controller 201 checks if any actions have been stored corresponding to the alarm by checking the database 203. If there are any actions to be performed, the controller 201 fetches the actions and depending on the device on which the action is to be performed, the controller 201 via the suitable communication interface 202 passes instructions on to the respective device 103. The controller 201 may select a suitable communication interface 202 based on preferences set by the user 102 and the communication capabilities of the device 103.

[0021] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart for setting up alarms and corresponding actions, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The user 102 configures (301) the alarms using the user interface of the mobile device 101. If the user 102 wants (302) to perform actions corresponding to the alarm, the user 102 configures (303) the actions. The mobile device 101 further stores (304) the configuration in a suitable location. The various actions in method 300 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 3 may be omitted. [0022] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart for a mobile device performing corresponding actions on an alarm being triggered, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. On detecting (401) that the alarm has been triggered, the mobile device 101 checks (402) if any actions have been stored corresponding to the alarm. If there are any actions to be performed (403), the mobile device 101 fetches the actions and depending on the device on which the action is to be performed, the mobile device 101 passes (404) instructions on to the respective device 103. The mobile device 101 may select a suitable communication interface based on preferences set by the user 102 and the communication capabilities of the device 103. The various actions in method 400 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 4 may be omitted.

[0023] FlGs. 5a and 5b depict exemplary implementations, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

[0024] Consider Fig. 5a, the user 102 configures a wake up alarm for the morning. Further, as he has to have a bath in the morning, he configures the mobile device 101 to turn on the water heater 103a. He also wants the lights 103b to be on and so he configures the same on the mobile device 101 . He may configure the number and locations of the lights 103b to be turned on. He may want only the lights in his bedroom to be turned on. He may also be able to adjust the brightness/dimness of the lights. Further, he may want to turn on the music system 103c, as he is habituated to listening to music. The user 102 sets the type of music he wants to listen (such as a CD, a specific radio station and so on), the volume of the music and so on. The mobile device 101 stores the respective settings. On the alarm being triggered, the mobile device 101 sends instructions to the water heater 103a to turn on, the selected lights 103b to turn on at the preferred brightness levels and the music system 103c to turn on and play the preferred music at the preferred volume level.

[0025] Consider Fig. 5b, the manager of an office 102 configures an alarm for a factory (which may be the closing time for the factory). The manager 102 configures the lights 103a and the Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) system 103b in the factory to turn off and the security system 103c to be turned on using the mobile device 101. The manger 102 may also set some lights 103 a be turned on or remain on. The mobile device 101 stores the respective settings. On the alarm being triggered, the mobile device 101 sends instructions to the respective lights to perform the required action (which may be to turn on/off), the HVAC 103b to turn off and the security system 103c to turn on.

[0026] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The network elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.

[0027] The embodiment disclosed herein discloses a mobile device configured for controlling devices remotely based on an alarm triggered on the mobile device. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The method is implemented in a preferred embodiment through or together with a software program written in e.g. Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) another programming language, or implemented by one or more VHDL or several software modules being executed on at least one hardware device. The hardware device can be any kind of device which can be programmed including e.g. any kind of computer like a server or a personal computer, or the like, or any combination thereof, e.g. one processor and two FPGAs. The device may also include means which could be e.g. hardware means like e.g. an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g. an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. Thus, the means are at least one hardware means and/or at least one software means. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented in pure hardware or partly in hardware and partly in software. The device may also include only software means. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g. using a plurality of CPUs.

[0028] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims as described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling at least one remote device from a mobile device, said method comprising of sending a trigger for at least one user defined action by said mobile device to said at least one remote device, on said mobile device generating a corresponding user defined alarm.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said mobile device is connected to said at least one remote device using a wireless connection means.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises of said mobile device checking if at least one user defined action is associated with said alarm, on said alarm being generated.

4. A mobile device capable of controlling at least one remote device, said mobile device configured for sending a trigger for at least one user defined action to said at least one remote device, on said mobile device generating a corresponding user defined alarm.

5. The mobile device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mobile device is configured for connecting to said at least one remote device using a wireless connection means.

6. The mobile device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mobile device is configured for checking if at least one user defined action is associated with said alarm, on said alarm being generated.