Abstract:
Method, computer storage device, and system that establish communication with at least first and second sensors, receive information from the sensors, and determine whether the information from the first sensor satisfies a first alert threshold. It is also determined whether the information from the second sensor satisfies a second alert threshold. Responsive to a determination that the information from the first sensor satisfies the first alert threshold and that the information from the second sensor does not satisfy the second alert threshold, an alert signal is not generated. On the other hand, responsive to a determination that the information from the first sensor satisfies the first alert threshold and that the information from the second sensor satisfies the second alert threshold, the alert signal is generated for output thereof to a display device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates generally to the use of home audio video display devices (AVDD) such as TVs as sensor monitors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current sensors, such as household environmental sensors, light sensors, and motion sensors, typically have individual displays associated with each sensor to display data from each sensor. Present principles recognize that the displays are often small and/or low-quality, making the displays difficult to read, understand, and ascertain useful information from, among other things. 
     Also understood herein, the displays are typically positioned in close proximity to its respective sensor such that multiple displays associated with different sensors are often not located in the same general location of e.g., a personal residence. Thus, a need has arisen to aggregate the information produced by one or more sensors in a single location for convenient viewing, rather than requiring multiple displays scattered in different locations to the display data and/or information and thereby making monitoring of the data and/or information from the sensors burdensome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An audio video display device (AVDD) system includes a display and a processor controlling the display. The AVDD also includes a computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor and programmed with instructions that cause the processor to establish communication with at least one sensor. The instructions also cause the processor to receive information from the sensor conforming to an application programming interface (API) provided by a manufacturer of the AVDD to an entity affiliated with the sensor, or sent from the AVDD to the sensor and then present the information from the sensor on the display in accordance with the API. 
     If desired, the API can define, relative to the information from the sensor, content in the information from the sensor to be presented on the display, where the content is to be presented on the display, and when the content is to be presented on the display. As indicated above, in some embodiments the API may be provided by a manufacturer of the AVDD to an entity affiliated with the sensor, while in other embodiments API may be sent from the AVDD to the sensor. Even further, in some embodiments the API is sent from the AVDD to the sensor only in response to a viewer-input command. 
     In accordance with present principles, the sensors may be selected, though not required to be exclusively selected, from a group of sensors consisting of environmental sensors, ambient light sensors, door position sensors, window covering position sensors, pool heater energization sensors, motion sensors, and valve position sensors. Though present principles are described in reference to a personal residential environment, it is to be understood that the same principles may be applied to sensors and monitoring equipment in. e.g., a hospital or a public security environment as well. 
     If desired, the content can include alpha-numeric information only, an icon only, or both an icon and alpha-numeric information. Moreover, in some embodiments the system also includes the sensor. The sensor includes a processor accessing the API and sending the information to the AVDD in accordance with the API. 
     In another aspect, a method includes establishing communication between an audio video display device (AVDD) including a display and at least one sensor. The method then includes receiving information from the sensor(s) conforming to an application programming interface (API) provided by a manufacturer of the AVDD to an entity affiliated with the sensor(s), or sent from the AVDD to the sensor(s). According to the method, the information from the sensor(s) is then presented on the display in accordance with the API. 
     In yet another aspect, an audio video display device includes a display and a processor controlling the display. The device also includes a computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor and programmed with instructions that cause the processor to establish communication with at least one sensor. The instructions then cause the processor to receive information from the sensor(s) conforming to a software interface understandable by the AVDD. Thereafter, the instructions cause the processor to present the information from the sensor(s) on the display in accordance with the interface. 
     In other aspects, multiple sensors are monitored simultaneously to determine if an event has occurred (e.g., a combination of medical sensors; or home automation sensors indicating sound, movement, etc., that suggests a break in). A system according to present principles may re-send the sensor information to the cloud, to either facilitate processing, or to be made available to a third party for monitoring the sensor data (parents concerned about a child&#39;s security, home security company, medical professionals, etc.). 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system, showing a home AVDD communicating with several example sensors for presenting information from the sensors on the AVDD; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of example logic the AVDD can execute; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of an example application programming interface (API) that may be pushed by the AVDD to the various sensors automatically when the viewer selects to connect to discovered sensors, or that may be published by a manufacturer of the AVDD to sensor manufacturers so that the sensor manufacturers may pre-program their sensors with the API; 
         FIGS. 4-10  illustrate example screen shots from the AVDD presenting example information from various sensors shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of another example system; and 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart of alternate sensor-driven discovery logic. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an example system including an audio video display device (AVDD) communicating with several example sensors for presenting information from the sensors on the AVDD is shown. It is to be understood that an AVDD in accordance with present principles may be a home AVDD such as, but not limited to, a TV. In some embodiments the TV may further be an Internet TV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is to be further understood that still other audio-video display devices may be used in accordance with present principles, such as smart phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, other types of computers, etc. 
     Thus, a non-limiting system  10  includes an audio video display device (AVDD)  12 . The AVDD  12  includes a TV tuner  14  that receives TV programming and/or data and/or content for presentation on the AVDD  12 . Further, the TV tuner  14  communicates with a processor  16  accessing a tangible computer readable storage medium  18  such as, but not limited to, disk-based or solid state storage. It is to be understood that the processor  16  can execute logic in accordance with present principles. The AVDD  12  may also include a non-limiting TV signal input  20  allowing the AVDD  12  to connect to, e.g., a television head end, cable communication link, or satellite communication link for receiving TV programming and/or data or content for presentation on the AVDD  12 . Additionally, the AVDD  12  can output audio on one or more speakers  22 . 
     Continuing in reference to  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that the AVDD  12  can connect to the Internet using an internet interface  23  such as built-in wired or wireless modem that communicates with the processor  16  to, e.g., send and receive data over the internet “I” or receive streaming video. Without limitation, the Internet interface may be a Wi-Fi interface. Wireless telephony interfaces may also be used. The Internet “I” includes computers, typically servers, and data storage, along with communication switches. 
     Regardless of the source of the content, video is presented under control of the processor  16  on a display  24 , such as a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display. In some embodiments, the display  24  may be a touch screen display. Also, user commands to the processor  16  may be wirelessly received from a remote commander (RC)  26  using, e.g., RF or infrared. 
     The AVDD  12  shown in  FIG. 1  also has a sensor communication interface  30  that communicates with the processor  16  to execute the functions and logic in accordance with present principles, among other things. It is to be understood that the sensor communication interface  30  can also establish communication with one or more communication interfaces of respective sensors in accordance with present principles.  FIG. 1  therefore shows various exemplary sensors with respective communication interfaces for communicating with the sensor communication interface  30  of the AVDD  12 . 
     Thus, an irrigation valve position sensor assembly  32  includes a communication interface  34  that can communicate with the sensor communication interface  30  to send information sensed or gathered or the like by a valve position sensor  36 . Note that while the interfaces  30 ,  34  are shown as separate components in addition to the Internet interface  23 , it is to be understood that the communication interfaces between the AVDD  12  and the sensors may be via Internet interfaces such as Wi-Fi interfaces. Or, the interfaces may be short range interfaces such as sonic interfaces, IR interfaces, or Bluetooth interfaces. Thus, information from the sensors herein may be sent to the “cloud” (e.g., Internet “I”) to facilitate processing of the sensor data and then sent back to the AVDD, and/or to facilitate making the data available to a third party for monitoring of the data and providing output signals and alarms to, e.g., wireless computing devices of parents for home/child security, medical professionals, etc. 
     The information pertains to the operation and/or status of one or more irrigation valves  38 . The valve position sensor assembly  32  also includes a processor  40  communicating with the communication interface  34 . In non-limiting embodiments, the processor  40  may cause the valve position sensor  36  to sense and/or gather information regarding the operation of the irrigation valves  38 , and/or may receive information from the valve position sensor  36  regarding the operation of the irrigation valves  38 . If desired, the processor  40  may store the information from the valve position sensor  36  on a storage medium  42 . Regardless of whether the information is stored on the storage medium  42 , the processor  40 , being in communication with the communication interface  34 , can provide the information from the valve position sensor  36  to the communication interface  34  and cause the communication interface  34  to send the information to the sensor communication interface  30  of the AVDD  12  so that the AVDD  12  can present the information. 
       FIG. 1  also shows a window covering position sensor assembly  44  that includes a window covering position sensor  46  for sensing the position and/or movement of a window covering, a pool heater sensor assembly  48  that includes a pool heater sensor  50  for sensing the status and/or operation of a pool heater and even the temperature of a pool, and a door position sensor assembly  52  that includes a door position sensor  54  for sensing information pertaining to the operation and/or status of a door  60  such as a residential garage door. Also shown in  FIG. 1  is an environment sensor assembly  62  that includes an environment sensor  64  for sensing, e.g., the household temperature and humidity of the residence in which the AVDD  12  is disposed.  FIG. 1  also includes a motion sensor assembly  66  that includes a motion sensor  68  for sensing motion and a light sensor assembly  70  that includes a light sensor  72  for sensing light. 
     It is to be understood that the assemblies  44 ,  48 ,  52 ,  62 ,  66 , and  70  include respective processors  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 , and  84  for causing each assembly&#39;s respective sensor to sense, gather, and/or receive information from the respective sensor in accordance with present principles. The respective processors  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 , and  84  also communicate with respective sensor communication interfaces  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  in accordance with present principles to send information sensed, gathered, and/or received or the like from each assembly&#39;s respective sensor to the sensor communication interface  30  of the AVDD  12  for presentation thereon. It is to be understood that the communication interfaces referenced herein, including the interfaces  30 ,  34 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  may support and/or include a universal serial bus (USB) connection, wired TCP/IP, WiFi TCP/IP, and/or built-in RF transceivers (such as ZWAVE, ZigBee, etc.) in non-limiting embodiments. Furthermore, if desired, the respective processors  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 , and  84  of the assemblies  44 ,  48 ,  52 ,  62 ,  66 , and  70  may store the information from the respective sensors on respective storage mediums  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  86 . 
     One or more biometric sensors  109  may also be provided and may send signals representing biometric parameters of a person to the AVDD. A biometric sensor typically may include a processor “P”, computer memory “M”, and communication interface “CI” according to principles above. Non-limiting examples of biometric sensors include heart rate sensors, temperature sensors, blood pressure sensors, blood sugar sensors, and the like. 
     Moving now to  FIG. 2 , a flow chart of example logic an AVDD, such as the AVDD  12 , executes in accordance with present principles is shown. Beginning with block  110 , in an example embodiment one or more sensors such as the irrigation valve sensor or the pool heater sensor referenced above can be discovered through device discovery principles known in the art, although in other embodiments a user can enter sensor communication information into the AVDD to establish communications manually. E.g., the sensors may be discovered based on wireless signals emitted by a sensor within a particular radius of a given location, such as a personal residence. Moving from block  110  to block  112 , the logic prompts a user of the AVDD to decide to connect to the one or more sensors that were discovered at block  110 . If the user provides input, e.g. via a remote commander such as the RC  26  described above, in response to the prompt commanding the AVDD to connect to the discovered sensors, the logic continues to block  114 . 
     At block  114 , the logic “pushes” and/or provides an application programming interface (API) from the AVDD to the sensor(s). However, it is to be understood that in some embodiments, the API may be provided by a manufacturer of the AVDD to an entity affiliated with the sensor(s) in accordance with present principles, rather than having the AVDD push the API to the sensors. In such an embodiment, the sensor(s) and/or their processors are already capable of providing information in the desired API when the sensor is discovered back at block  110 . Thus, in non-limiting embodiments an entity affiliated with the sensor(s) may be, e.g., a sensor manufacturer vending sensor(s) already being able to provide information in the appropriate API. In other instances, e.g., an entity affiliated with the sensor may be a third party such as a sensor technician that provides and/or pushes the API to the sensor when installing the sensor at a particular location (and thus prior to being discovered by the AVDD in accordance with present principles). 
     Continuing in reference to  FIG. 2 , at block  116  the logic receives information back from the sensor(s). Concluding  FIG. 2  at block  118 , the information from the sensor(s) is displayed on the AVDD in accordance with the API. 
     Thus, it is to be understood that one or more sensors such as but not limited to the sensors described herein include respective processors accessing the API and sending the information to an AVDD such as the AVDD  12  in accordance with the API. To reiterate, sensors in accordance with present principles may include, but are not limited to, environmental sensors, ambient light sensors (such as photodiodes in monitored rooms or areas), door position sensors, window covering position sensors, pool heater energization sensors, motion sensors (such as the motion sensor(s) described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,755,052, incorporated herein by reference), valve position sensors, biometric sensors, and/or other sensors including simple switch sensors. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram showing a data structure of an exemplary API that may be pushed and/or provided by the AVDD to various sensors automatically when the viewer selects to connect to discovered sensors, or that may be published by a manufacturer of the AVDD to sensor manufacturers so that the sensor manufacturers may pre-program their sensors with the API, is shown. It is to be understood that the API defines, relative to the information from the sensor, content in the information from the sensor to be presented on a display of an AVDD, such as the display  24  referenced above. In some embodiments the API also defines when and where the content is to be presented on the display. 
     Thus, as may be appreciated from  FIG. 3 , a data structure  120  includes various parameters, such as whether an icon from a sensor should be presented, whether an icon from an AVDD such as the AVDD  12  should be presented, and/or whether alpha-numeric information from the sensor should be presented. Accordingly, content parameters  122  can include types of content to be presented, such as one or more icons and/or alpha-numeric information. Furthermore, in some embodiments the content may include, e.g., only one icon or only alpha-numeric information. As may also be appreciated from  FIG. 3 , the data structure  120  may also include parameters  124  regarding where and/or how content should be presented. For example, content may be presented in a full-screen mode such that only the content is displayed, or in, e.g., a bottom portion of the display or a top portion of the display such that the content may be simultaneously displayed with unrelated content such as a television program or motion picture. 
     In addition to the above, the data structure  120  may also include parameters  126  regarding when the content from the sensors should be presented. For example, content may be presented only upon receipt of the content or information, and/or receipt of a message containing the content and/or information. Accordingly, in non-limiting embodiments extensible markup language (XML) messaging may be used such that, e.g., the XML is used to encapsulate the content, information, and/or message. Alternatively or in addition to the above, content may be presented at predetermined intervals, such as, e.g., every 5 minutes or every hour. Thus,  FIG. 3  shows that the data structure  120  includes a parameter for both presenting content upon receipt and at least one reminder, such as five minutes after the content is received. If desired, reminders can also be repeatedly presented at predetermined intervals. Furthermore, in some embodiments audio alerts and/or audible content pertaining to information and/or content received from the sensor(s) may be presented on the AVDD through, e.g., the speakers  20 , in lieu of or in addition to presentation of visual content. 
     Now in reference to  FIGS. 4-10 , illustrative exemplary screen shots from an AVDD presenting information and/or content from various sensors such as those referenced above are shown. Thus,  FIG. 4  shows that live video may be displayed along with a visual indication on the bottom portion of a display, such as the display  24  referenced above, that an irrigation system such as lawn sprinklers is on, being based on information received from a valve position sensor.  FIG. 5  shows that live video may be displayed along with a visual indication on the bottom portion of the display that window blinds are opening, being based on information received from a window coverings position sensor.  FIG. 6  shows that live video may be displayed along with a visual indication on the bottom portion of the display that a pool heater is on, being based on information received from a pool heater sensor.  FIG. 7  shows that live video may be displayed along with a visual indication on the bottom portion of the display of non-limiting environmental statistics such as temperature and humidity levels, being based on information received from an environment sensor.  FIG. 8  shows that a visual indication may be presented on the display indicating, e.g., an “intruder alert” based on the motion of a person sensed by a motion sensor. 
     Continuing in reference to the exemplary screen shots disclosed herein.  FIG. 9  shows that live video may be displayed along with a visual indication on the bottom portion of the display that the garage door of the residence where the AVDD is disposed is opening, being based on information received from a door position sensor. Concluding with  FIG. 10 , live video may be displayed along with a visual indication including an icon on the bottom portion of the display that a light has been turned on in another room of a personal residence in which the AVDD is disposed, being based on information received from a light sensor. 
     Additionally, note that a user of an AVDD such as the AVDD  12  may choose whether or not to display information and/or content from the sensors in accordance with present principles. Thus, for example, a user interface may be presented on the AVDD allowing a user to enable presentation of the information and/or content from one or more sensors, or to disable presentation of the information and/or content. Furthermore, it is to be understood that one AVDD presenting information and/or content may, e.g. using Internet capabilities, forward the information and/or content to other AVDDs for presentation thereon. Thus, for example, an AVDD such as a TV may present a user interface to a user allowing the user to forward information and/or content from one or more sensors from the TV to the user&#39;s laptop computer or smart phone so that the information and/or content may still be monitored by a user when not viewing the TV. 
       FIG. 11  shows an alternate system in which an AVDD  12   a  may communicate with one or more sensors  32   a  along a direct communication path, which portion of the system can be identical in operation and configuration to the system shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, a home automation platform (HAP)  150  such as, for example, a computer with processor, computer readable medium, display, input device, etc. may receive information from the sensor  32   a  along an aggregate path and provide aggregated sensor information to the AVDD  12   a  as shown. Thus, when the sensor  32   a  is a power sensor such as a current sensor, information from it can be aggregated over a period of time, e.g., 24 hours, by the HAP  150  and then the aggregated sensor information, in this example, total power usage for the past 24 hours, can be presented on the AVDD  12   a  along with current power use provided from the sensor  32  along the direct path as shown. 
     Furthermore, the HAP  150  (or a sensor or the AVDD or a cloud server) can aggregate data from multiple sensors and provide that aggregated data to the AVDD  12   a . For example, the HAP  150  may provide to the AVDD  12   a  for display data indicating that a thermostat has reached a threshold and is activating a climate control unit such as a heater or air conditioner in response, as indicated by a climate control sensor, that the fan associated with the unit is at a particular speed as indicated by a fan speed sensor, and that the current room temperature as sensed by a temperature sensor is at a particular value. In essence, the HAP  150  correlates input from different but related sensors and provides that input to the AVDD for convenient simultaneous presentation of the various inputs from the different but related sensors. Furthermore, the provision of the HAP  150  facilitates the AVDD working with legacy sensors that may not have the capability to execute the API discussed above but that can communicate with the HAP  150  using legacy protocols different from the above-discussed API, with the HAP  150  then communicating with the AVDD using the above-discussed API. 
     In some examples, one or more of the devices above (e.g., the HAP or AVDD) monitor plural sensors as described and output an event only if two or more sensor outputs meet “event” criteria. For example, a sound sensor and a motion sensor may both output signals representing the presence of moving humans and animals, and an event “intruder alert” may be generated only responsive to both sensor signals indicating an intruder, i.e., only in response to the sound sensor outputting a signal indicating noise or human speech above (or below) a threshold and the motion sensor indicating a moving object. Responsive to only one sensor outputting a signal indicating an intruder, the “intruder alert” may not be presented, e.g., on the AVDD, in audible and/or visible form. The intruder alert may be sent to the cloud (Internet) for provisioning of the alert to, e.g., a wireless device registered in the cloud to the owner of the premises in which the sensors are disposed, and/or to law enforcement agencies. 
     As a further example, a “medical alert” may be generated by, e.g., the HAP or AVDD responsive to two or more biometric sensors outputting signals satisfying a medical alert threshold, but not responsive to only a single biometric sensor outputting such a signal. For example, a “medical alert” may be output (locally and/or to the cloud) responsive to two or more biometric sensors outputting signals satisfying “alert” thresholds. Thus, a medical alert may be generated only responsive to both a heart rate sensor indicating a pulse in excess of a threshold and a temperature in excess of a threshold, but not responsive to only a single biometric sensor outputting a signal indicating a medical emergency. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates that device discovery may be initiated on the sensor side, commencing at block  152 . When a sensor discovers the AVDD it may request to be added to the AVDD&#39;s sensor group at block  154 , and if the AVDD accepts the sensor at decision diamond  156 , the AVDD assumes control of communication with the sensor at block  158 . This may include presenting an onscreen instruction to the user to take particular action with respect to the sensor, e.g., operating a button or key on the sensor in a particular fashion to authenticate the sensor to the AVDD. The AVDD can then accept further communication from the sensor. 
     On the other hand, if the AVDD does not accept sensor communication at decision diamond  156  the logic flows to block  160  in which the sensor waits in standby for future instructions, if any, from the AVDD. 
     While the particular HOME AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE (AVDD) AS SENSOR MONITOR is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.