Patent Publication Number: US-2015084750-A1

Title: Appliance Control Using Destination Information

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to control of appliances, and more particularly to control of appliances, in part, by location determination devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Location determination devices, such as Global Position Satellite (GPS) receivers as may be found in typical vehicular navigation systems, mobile phones, or other devices can provide a bevy of useful information, including the current location of the device. Presently, such devices can be used, at least in part, to trigger changes in various appliances as may be used in and around a residential, commercial, or industrial property. In one such application, a location determining device may determine that it is near a known programmed location (e.g., “home”), and in response, may effect commands to operate or change various appliances at the location (e.g., adjust lighting, adjust temperature, operate a movable barrier, etc.). 
     For example, a location determination device may be a navigation system of a vehicle. The navigation system is preprogrammed with the home address of the owner of the vehicle. When the navigation system senses it is close to the home address, it may effect transmission of commands that, for example, open the garage door. In such an approach, the driver of the vehicle can park the vehicle in the garage without additional action to open the garage door. Other examples may include turning lights on or off and unlocking one or more doors when the vehicle is near home. 
     Such an approach, however, may result in unnecessary or unwanted actions or changes. For example, if the driver of the vehicle was merely passing by the home on the way to a different location, the garage door may be automatically opened (or lights activated or doors unlocked) without any regard for whether the vehicle and its user actually are destined for the home. In such situations, other undesired operations may be realized (e.g., lights are turned on when no one is home). 
     Further, the usefulness of systems that utilize these approaches is truly limited in that these automatic changes can be effected only when the vehicle is within a certain short distance to the preprogrammed location (e.g., home). Otherwise, when a larger distance is used, the system will generate a vastly higher amount of “false positives” that will result in many more undesired operations. For example, a command to turn the lights on when the location determination device is 20 miles from home will result in the lights being turned on whenever the vehicle is within 20 miles, even if the vehicle is simply passing through the large area on the way to a different destination. This will result in far more frequent undesired operations and is more likely to occur when the area is larger. Accordingly, operations that require longer time to be fully realized (i.e., pre-heat the oven or adjust the home&#39;s temperature) are more difficult to implement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the appliance control using destination information described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example location determination device in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example contextual setting that may utilize the location determination device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  comprises a flow diagram of an example method to be implemented by the location determination device of  FIG. 1 , or another device, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example set of data as may be used by the location determination device of  FIG. 1 , or another device, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example display output as may be output by the location determination device of  FIG. 1 , or another device, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  comprises a flow diagram of an alternative method to be implemented by the location determination device of  FIG. 1 , or another device, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  comprises an example schedule of changes to be implemented by the location determination device of  FIG. 1 , or another device, in accordance with various embodiments 
         FIG. 8  shows an example communication network in which the location determination device of  FIG. 1  operates in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  shows another example communication network in which the location determination device of  FIG. 1  operates in accordance with various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 10  comprises a flow diagram of an example method to be implemented by other devices in communication with the location determination device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, an improved location determination device and method using the same are provided. By one example approach, the location determination device (e.g., GPS receiver, navigation system, mobile device, etc.) receives destination information that is different than its current location and determines whether the received destination information corresponds to a preprogrammed location (for example, “home”). If so, the device transmits a message to an appliance located at or near the preprogrammed destination to effect a change in the appliance&#39;s configuration. By other approaches, the device determines whether it is within a threshold distance or threshold travel time to the preprogrammed destination prior to transmission of the message. In such an instance, the message may be a command to instruct the appliance to change or do something. 
     By still other approaches, the device may determine a schedule of changes to effect in one or more appliances based at least in part on a determined travel time. The device may then transmit the messages according to the determined schedule. Otherwise, the device may transmit the schedule to the appliance or an appliance control server to effect the scheduled changes. 
     So configured, the device is capable of deciding to initiate a change in the configuration of the appliance (e.g., open the garage door or turn on the lights) only when the device is aware that the user actually is headed to the location (e.g., their “home”). This avoids the situation that may occur in the prior art of inadvertently altering the appliance (e.g., opening the garage door) when a user passes by that location while on the way to a different destination. Whereas previous solutions were based solely on the physical location of the device, the teachings herein also utilize knowledge of a user&#39;s intention (through selecting a destination) to determine whether an appliance should be altered. 
     Additionally, with the knowledge of the user&#39;s intent to travel to the destination, the device is not limited solely to close proximity-based decision making as with the prior art. The device may be configured to initiate changes in various appliances from a much further distance or travel time than was previously allowed. For example, the device can initiate a procedure to bring the temperature of a home up five degrees (a process that can often take over an hour) when the device knows that it is about one hour away and that the home is the destination. Previous solutions were not able to make such changes this far in advance with a high degree of confidence as, at these further distances, the user may be headed to an entirely different location and the likelihood that the user is headed home reduces drastically. Thus, additional smart-home and smart-building features can be initiated well in advance of the user&#39;s arrival, thus improving the convenience and overall quality of life for the user. All of this can be achieved with little additional effort on part of the user, who simply inputs or selects a destination in the device (e.g., the navigation system for the vehicle or a smartphone). 
     These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative apparatus  100  that is compatible with many of these teachings will now be presented. By some embodiments, the apparatus  100  includes, at least in part, a location determination device (“LDD”)  102  such as a GPS enabled device, an automotive navigation unit, a stand-alone navigation unit, a smart phone, a tablet, a mobile communication device or other mobile device, a radar enabled device, a mobile tower triangulation enabled device, an inertial guidance enabled device, or other device capable of determining a location using presently known or unknown technology. Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand that such an LDD  102  may be comprised of a plurality of physically distinct elements as is suggested by the illustration shown in  FIG. 1 . It is also possible, however, to view this illustration as comprising a logical view, in which case one or more of these elements can be enabled and realized via a shared platform. It will also be understood that such a shared platform may comprise a wholly or at least partially programmable platform as are known in the art. 
     The LDD  102  may include one or more processing devices  104 , one or more electronic storage devices  106 , one or more interfaces  108 , and, by some approaches, one or more transmitters  110  or other output  112  (which may, for example, communicate with an external transmitter  114 ). The processing device  104  is communicatively coupled to the interface, the memory, and the optional transmitter and/or other output. 
     The processing device  104  may comprise a processor, microprocessor, PIC processor, ARM processor, programmable logic device (PLD), logic array, digital signal processor (DSP), multi/single-core processor, or other known processing devices. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that such processing devices  104  can comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform. All of these architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here. 
     The processing device  104  is coupled to one or more electronic storage devices  106  such as a memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory flash memory, RAM, ROM, DRAM, SRAM, Z-RAM, TTRM, A-RAM, ETA RAM, FeRAM, CBRAM, PRAM, SONOS, RRAM, Racetrack Memory, NRAM, Millipede Ram, a hard drive, a floppy disk, a CDR, a DVD, a Blu Ray, or any other electronic device capable of digitally storing data. By some approaches, the electronic storage device  106  may be part of the processing device  106  such as the case with on-chip memory, which may or may not be implemented with additional memory  106  external to the processing device  104 . 
     The interface  108  is configured to receive inputs  116  used to control or otherwise utilize the LDD  102 . The interface  108  may be a human interface device (HID) such as one or more keypads, buttons, knobs, levers, trackballs, mice, touch screen, voice recognition module, visual input receiver (such as a camera configured to recognize physical movements or other physical aspects), or other known input HIDs. By another approach, the interface  108  is a communication input (wired or wireless) that is configured to receive communications from other devices or modules (remote or local) that are configured to control or interact with the LDD  102 . For example, the LDD  102  may be a vehicular navigation unit that is configured to receive an indication or selection of a destination from a separate mobile device (such as a smartphone or tablet). This may be useful in an instance that the user wishes to program the navigation system of their vehicle prior to entering the vehicle. 
     By one approach, the inputs  116  received by the interface  108  include destination information for the LDD  102  (see  FIG. 4 ). This may include the interface&#39;s  108  receiving one or more addresses, sets of coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitudinal coordinates), graphical selections of destinations on a map, or a selection of one or more preprogrammed or suggested locations (e.g., “home,” “grocery store,” etc.). For example, a user may manipulate an HID to enter the address on a keypad or touch screen into a vehicular navigation unit or smart phone or by choosing a preprogrammed or suggested location to select as the destination, though other methods of entering or selecting a destination are contemplated by this disclosure. 
     By another approach, an LDD  102  may have received destination information at one time (e.g., from a user entering in an address), but later that destination may be scheduled to be selected or activated, possibly automatically, at a certain point later in time. For example, a navigation unit for a vehicle may be configured to automatically select a preprogrammed destination “home” when the vehicle is located at a known address (such as “work”) and/or it is after a certain time (such as after 3:00 pm). Along this same line, a user may preprogram a certain destination to become a current destination for a vehicle at a certain point in time, being a single point in time or a repeated point in time. For example, if a user knows they will be taking a trip on an upcoming weekend to a vacation location, they would be able to preprogram the LDD  102  on, for example, Tuesday, to automatically select the preprogrammed location at, before, or around an anticipated departure date/time of, for example, Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Although these alternate approaches involve the LDD  102  receiving the destination information at a time that is removed from the actual activation of the destination to be the current destination for the LDD  102 , these alternate approaches are within the scope of the disclosure. 
     In at least one approach, the LDD  102  includes a transmitter  110 , which may be coupled to an antenna  118 . For example, if the LDD  102  is a smartphone, it will most likely include a transmitter  110  and antenna  118  by which to communicate with cellular towers or other local area networks (LAN) such as a WiFi network. By another approach, the LDD  102  may include one or more outputs  112  configured to communicate with an external transmitter  114 , which may include an antenna  120  as well. Such a system may include, for example, a vehicular navigation unit that communicates with an external garage door opener remote (such as a HomeLink®) that may be included in the vehicle but not specifically as part of the LDD  102 . Another example may be a smartphone that is connected via a bluetooth interface to a vehicle to allow the smartphone to interface with the garage door opener remote. In this example, although the smartphone may include its own transmitter  110 , it may also utilize an external transmitter  114  (the garage door opener remote of the vehicle) to transmit signals in a native signal format for an appliance when appropriate (e.g., to send commands directly to a movable barrier operator, such as a garage door operator or gate operator). 
     Although not explicitly described here, the LDD  102  may include other common structures, configurations, and functions that are known in the art, all of which are fully contemplated by this disclosure. The current teachings are compatible with all LDDs that do not prevent or inherently disallow having destination information entered or selected and effecting transmission of messages. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an example premises  200  of the preprogrammed location “home” is illustrated. In this contextual example, the premises  200  includes a dwelling  202  such as a house and a garage  204 . The premises  200  may include one or more appliances  206  therein or proximate thereto. For example, the garage  204  may include a movable barrier operator (MBO) such as a garage door opener  208  configured to open the garage door  210 . The premises  200  of the preprogrammed location may include other movable barriers and MBOs such as, for example, a front gate  212  and one or more gate operators  214 . As shown, the premises  200  may include other appliances  206  including lights  216  or door locks  218 , which may be controllable. Other examples of appliances  206  may include, though are no way limited to, a smart home controller, a climate system, a thermostat, a heating system, a cooling system, a security system, a telephone system, a television, a music device, an entertainment device, a media device, a lighting device, a microwave, a stove, a beverage center, a kitchen appliance, a hot tub controller, a sauna controller, a steam room controller, a pool controller, a window covering, a door lock, a proximity announcement device, an irrigation system, a mobile device, a beverage dispenser, and a pet management system. The list of appliances  206  that can be at or proximate to the preprogrammed location  200  is almost limitless as essentially, any appliance  206  that can communicate can be configured to be controlled, at least in part, by the LDD  102 . 
     An appliance  206  can be considered to be proximate to the premises  200  of the preprogrammed location if, for example, it is within or near the physical real estate boundary of the premises  200  of the preprogrammed location, for example, within 100; 1,000; or 10,000 feet thereof. Alternatively, it may be further from the premises  200 , but can still be considered proximate if it impacts operations occurring at the premises  200  of the preprogrammed location. For example, in a sprawling agricultural or commercial setting, a power switch that controls the incoming power for a premises  200  of the preprogrammed location may be miles away, but can still be considered proximate as its actions directly affect the operations at the premises  200 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an example method  300  of operation of the LDD  102  is illustrated in accordance with various approaches. As described above, the LDD  102  receives  302  destination information via the interface  108 . The receipt  302  of the destination information may include setting or activating the current destination for the LDD  102  to be the location corresponding to the received destination information. Alternatively, the setting or activation of the current destination may be performed during a different step, possibly at a different time. By one approach, the received destination information corresponds to a location that is different from the present physical location of the LDD  102 . For example, the LDD  102  may receive an address or selection of a location corresponding to “home” while the user and the LDD  102  are presently located at “work.” 
     After receipt  302  of the destination information (and/or activation of that destination as the current destination for the LDD  102 ), the LDD  102  can determine  304  whether the received destination information corresponds to a preprogrammed location stored in the memory  106  at an earlier time (e.g., “home”). It should be noted that in some instances the selection of a preprogrammed location as the current destination (e.g., by selecting “home”) may serve as both the function of the LDD receiving  302  the destination information as well as the LDD  102  making the determination  304  that the received destination information corresponds to a preprogrammed location (for example, if the destination was selected from a list of preprogrammed locations). The preprogrammed location may have been entered or selected at any time prior via any method by which a user can enter destination information into the LDD  102 . The LDD  102  can then store the previously entered destination information as a preprogrammed location, which storage and indication as such can occur automatically by simply entering it (e.g., as a “previous destination”), or it can be actively selected or designated as a preprogrammed location by a user (e.g., selected as a favorite or common destination, possibly including a naming designator such as “home” or “work”) or by the LDD  102  itself. For example, the LDD  102  may determine that a received destination is a location which is visited often or regularly, in which case the LDD  102  may designate it as a preprogrammed location. 
     In response to determining  304  that the received destination information does correspond to a preprogrammed location, the LDD  102  can determine  308  a message to transmit, which message is configured to effect a change in the configuration of one or more appliances  206  at or proximate to the preprogrammed location. The LDD  102  will then (e.g., immediately or at a later time) effect transmission  314  of the message. By one approach, the LDD  102  will wait until it determines  312  that its present location is within a threshold distance or travel time from the preprogrammed location prior to having the message transmitted  314 ; while by another approach the LDD  102  may have the message transmitted  314  when the message is ready and/or is capable of being transmitted. By another approach, the LDD  102  can calculate  306  an estimated travel time or travel distance until arrival at the preprogrammed location. Using this information, the LDD  102  can determine  310  a schedule of changes to effect based on threshold distances and/or travel time from the destination, or based on an actual time elapsed or distance travelled. 
     In one example, the message may include a command to begin effecting the change in the configuration of the appliance  206  in response to receiving the command. With such an approach, the LDD  102  can transmit  318  the message with the command at the time the configuration change should begin (e.g., at the time a garage door is to be opened or a thermostat temperature setting is to be changed). In another example, the message to begin effecting the change is transmitted according to a schedule. In another example, the message may include a schedule of changes, and the LDD  102  can effect transmission  316  of the schedule as the message. In yet another example, the message is an indication that the current destination corresponds to the preprogrammed location and/or an indication of a determined distance and/or estimated travel time to the destination and/or a current location of the LDD  102 . 
     Various contextual examples are now described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Assume the LDD  102  is a vehicular navigation unit and is presently located at a user&#39;s work. At the end of the day, the user enters and starts the vehicle and subsequently selects the preprogrammed location “home” as the current destination. This is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , which shows the example data  400  used by the LDD  102 , some or all of which may also be output via a display in a format similar to (or different than) the illustrated example. The LDD  102  knows its current location  402  (shown here as an address, though any suitable location data may be utilized, such as coordinates, etc.). The LDD  102  also allows destination information  404  to be entered and/or selected as the current destination. For example, a user can enter the destination information  404  (e.g., the address or coordinates), or the user can select the destination from a list  406  of one or more preprogrammed locations. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example display output by an LDD  102  by one approach. Many different display types and styles may be utilized by an LDD  102 , if at all, and the description provided with respect to  FIG. 5  is in no way meant to be limiting. As is understood in the art, the LDD  102  can provide the user with a map  502  with an indication of a current location  504 . A route  506  to a destination  508  may also be provided. The LDD  102  may also provide a distance remaining  510  until arrival at the destination and/or a remaining travel time  512  until arrival at the destination. 
     With the knowledge that the user intends the preprogrammed location as her actual destination, the LDD  102  will determine that it needs to initiate a change in one or more appliances  206  at some point during the travel to the destination. Returning to the example setting of  FIG. 2 , the LDD  102 , for example, determines that it needs to have the gate  212  to begin to be opened by the gate operators  214  when the vehicle is within a threshold of 300 yards or 90 seconds from the destination  200  and needs to have the garage door  210  to begin to be opened by the garage door opener  208  when the vehicle is within a threshold of 100 yards or 45 seconds from the destination. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the LDD  102  can display its current location  504  optionally in the center of the display and optionally as an arrow (conveying both location and heading) traveling along a route  506  to the destination  508 . A remaining travel distance  510  is shown in this example as 200 yards and an estimated remaining travel time  512  is shown as 1 minute. The remaining distance  510  is within the threshold of 300 yards (and the remaining travel time  512  is within the threshold of 90 seconds), and thus the LDD  102  will (or already has) caused the command to begin opening the gate  212  to be transmitted. However, because the LDD  102  has not traveled to within 100 yards or 45 seconds from the destination, it has not yet caused the command to begin opening the garage door  210  to be transmitted. In one approach, the LDD  102  can make these determinations as to when to send the messages by virtue of creating a schedule based on this criterion, or, alternatively, waiting until the LDD  102  is within the preset thresholds to transmit the messages. Accordingly, as the driver approaches the destination, the gate  212  and garage door  210  will open just prior to arrival so as to provide the convenience and luxury of these actions being performed automatically, while retaining as much security as possible by only opening then with the knowledge that the premises  200  is the actual destination. 
     Further, by only sending the messages when the LDD  102  knows the user intends to actually proceed to that specific destination (by virtue of the destination information corresponding to the preprogrammed location), the LDD  102  avoids enacting the changes unnecessarily, which can result in unwanted actions (for example, in the instance of opened barriers, unlocked doors, or disabled alarm systems) or wasted activity or energy (for example, in the instance of changed thermostat temperatures or activation of lights). Thus, rather than relying exclusively on the fact that the LDD  102  is within a threshold distance or travel time to determine whether to transmit a message, the LDD  102  can determine whether to transmit the command also based on if the user intends to actually proceed to that destination. This is useful in situations where a user may be traveling past the location or within a set threshold distance of the location, but not actually proceeding to the location (e.g., simply driving by their home on the way to the grocery store). In such an instance, it would be beneficial to withhold sending the message to open the gate or garage door when the defined destination is either null or defined as a different location. 
     In an alternate approach, the LDD  102  may make current distance and distance threshold determinations based on a radius distance from the destination, as is shown by the radius  514  (which may or may not appear on a graphical map). Here, the radius  514  may pertain to the example 300 yard threshold corresponding to opening the gate. Instead of a remaining travel distance, the LDD  102  may use a radius-based current distance calculation to determine that it is within the radial threshold  514  to initiate transmission of the command. This approach may not necessarily be as useful in instances where a route may take the user inside and then outside of the radial threshold (for example, with on winding streets or while going around an obstacle such as a body of water or a park) and could still result in prematurely performing an action (such as opening the garage door when the vehicle is within 300 yards, but still may have a mile or more to travel to go around a lake). Such an approach, however, is useful in that it may require less calculation to determine the distance (i.e., a straight vector calculation of a distance rather than accounting for the actual travel distance on streets). Further, such an approach relies less on a suggested route of travel created by the LDD  102  or another device, which are not always adhered to by a user. Further still, the differences between a radial distance  514  and a remaining travel distance  510  often become comparatively miniscule as the values increase as the user of the LDD  102  will typically travel in a direction generally towards the destination. Thus, in instances where the threshold is, for example, 100 miles, and the operation is, for example, to begin increasing the temperature of the house by 5 degrees, whether such a determination is based on remaining travel distance  510  or radial distance  514  becomes less important as the difference may be small and the precision of the operation is less crucial or controllable (e.g., it may take anywhere between 30 and 120 minutes to change the temperature of the house, and the exact temperature presents relatively no security risk). 
     Referring next to  FIG. 6 , an alternate method  600  used in conjunction with the LDD  102  (or another device) is provided. In a similar fashion as discussed above, an LDD  102  determines  602  that the LDD  102  is within a threshold distance or travel time from a preprogrammed location (for example, the threshold distance  510  or travel time  512  to “home” as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). The LDD  102  can determine  604  if a defined destination for the LDD (i.e., the currently set destination) is set to the preprogrammed location (e.g., “home”). If the defined destination is currently set to the preprogrammed location, then the LDD  102  can then effect transmission  606  of a message, which message can effect a change in the configuration of at least one appliance  206  at or proximate to the preprogrammed location (e.g., open the garage door at “home”). However, if the LDD  102  determines that the defined destination is set to null (e.g., not set at all) or set to a location other than the preprogrammed location (e.g., “work”), then the LDD  102  will withhold  608  transmission of the message in response to making such a determination. 
     By other approaches, the LDD  102  may prompt or query a user if they wish to effect transmission of the message independent of or despite the defined destination not being set to the preprogrammed location. For example, the LDD  102  may cause to be displayed or announced “You are close to preprogrammed location “home”—would you like to open the garage door?” By other approaches, the LDD  102  may prompt the user even if the defined destination is set to the preprogrammed location to simply ensure the user indeed wishes for the certain task to be performed. The LDD  102  may then receive feedback from the prompt in the form of a response (e.g., yes/no) or a lack of a response (e.g., letting a response timer expire without a response to the prompt). The prompt may be in the positive (e.g., “would you like to open the garage door?”), which would require a response for the task to be performed. Alternatively, the prompt may be in the negative (e.g., “would you like to withhold or postpone opening the garage door?”), in which case a response will prevent performance of the task, but a lack or response (for example, within a time limit of 10, 20, or 30 seconds or other appropriate times) may still result in the task being performed. If the LDD  102  receives feedback (e.g., an actual response, or lack thereof) from the prompt indicative of a selection to effect the at least one change in the configuration of the appliance, then the LDD  102  may effect transmission of a message to effect the change in the configuration of the appliance. 
     It should be noted that by yet another approach, all the actions and determinations described above with reference to  FIG. 6  (as well as  FIG. 3 ) as being performed by the LDD  102  may be performed by another device such as a server  914  or controller  812 , which are discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 7 , an example schedule  700  of changes to effect in at least one appliance  206  at or proximate to the premises of the preprogrammed location is illustrated. This schedule  700  may exist internal to the LDD  102  (e.g., in the memory  106 ) or in some other device, or alternatively, may be displayed as shown (or in a different format) by the LDD  102  or by another device (such as another computing device that can communicate with and/or control the LDD  102 ). By one approach, a schedule  700  is created by first calculating or estimating a remaining distance  510  or a remaining travel time  512  until arrival at the destination. The schedule  700  may then be created based on a list of events  702  that should be performed according to various aspects of the travel progression. For example, and as is shown here, a schedule  700  is created that links certain actions to specific amounts of remaining travel time, such as may be determined using available traffic condition data, road construction data, weather data, and the like. Here, the schedule indicates that when there is one hour remaining in travel time, an action should be initiated such that the temperature of a building or dwelling at the destination premises begins to increase the temperature by 5 degrees. At 30 minutes remaining, an action should be initiated to turn various lights on at the destination location. At 15 minutes remaining, an action should be initiated to turn on a hot tub at the destination location. At 5 minutes remaining, an action should be initiated to disarm a security alarm at the destination location. At 2 minutes remaining, an action should be initiated to open a front gate at the destination location. At 1 minute remaining, an action should be initiated to open a garage door at the destination location. As mentioned above, the schedule  700  could be based on a remaining distance  510  to travel instead. 
     Further, by other approaches, the schedule  700  may be created based on time that has elapsed since its creation, from the beginning of the trip, or from some other point in time. So, in the example schedule  700  of  FIG. 7 , which provides an example current remaining time  512  of 1 hour and 30 minutes, the list of events  702  might read as follows: at 30 minutes into the trip, initiate an action to increase the temperature of the building; at 1 hour into the trip, initiate an action to turn the lights on; and so forth. Alternatively still, in a similar manner, the schedule  700  could be based on distance traveled. Further, the schedule  700  is not necessarily limited to being created, managed, or implemented by the LDD  102 . As is discussed below, other devices can create, manage, or implement the schedule  700  based on information that is received from the LDD  102  (e.g., that a current destination corresponds to a preprogrammed location, current location information, target destination information, calculated travel time or distance, etc.). These other devices may include a central server  914  or a local or remote controller  812  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     This schedule  700  can be created well in advance by a user or by a program configured to suggest or create schedules so that these actions are implemented simply by a user indicating to the LDD  102  that the current destination is the applicable location. As noted above, this indication can be expressly indicated (for example, by actively entering or selecting the preprogrammed location) or can be passively indicated (for example, if the LDD  102  suggests and/or automatically implements a route based on current date/time and/or current location, which the user can possibly accept or override). Thus, the convenient and luxurious feature of having these actions automatically and timely performed is initiated simply by having the destination set to the preprogrammed location (i.e., “home”). 
     Referring next to  FIG. 8 , an example communication network  800  in which the LDD  102  operates is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The LDD  102  (shown here as either a smart phone  802  or a vehicular navigation system  804 ) receives signals from one or more GPS satellites  806  to make a determination of its current location. Alternatively, the LDD  102  may receive signals from local cellular towers  808  and use cellular triangulation to make a determination of current location. Other methods of position determination are possible, including radar, inertial position detection, dead reckoning, or other known methods, though GPS is preferred for its accuracy and widespread implementation. In a basic situation, the LDD  102  will effect transmitting messages and/or commands to the appliance  206  at or proximate to the premises of the preprogrammed location through a wireless connection  810  directly to the appliance  206 , preferably in the appliance&#39;s native wireless protocol. For example, if the LDD  102  is a vehicular navigation unit, the LDD  102  can send a command directly to a garage door opener through a HomeLink® module in the vehicle using the garage door opener&#39;s native radio frequency (RF) protocol. 
     By another approach, the premises of the preprogrammed location (or a location proximate thereto) may include a controller  812  or processing device configured to control various automated aspects as discussed herein. The controller  812  may be a stand alone dedicated controller or may be incorporated into a different module such as a home or business automation unit, a security unit, and the like. The LDD  102  may effect transmitting the messages to the controller  812  instead of directly to the appliance  206  using wireless communications  814 . By this alternate approach, an LDD  102  need only be programmed to communicate with the controller  812 , which reduces the knowledge required by the LDD  102  of various communication protocols and native communication schemes required to communicate with a plurality of different appliances  206 . Instead, the LDD  102  simply communicates with the controller  812 , which controller  812  in turn handles the communications with the appliances  206 . This may provide ease of implementation as, like the controller  812 , many of the appliances  206  are at or proximate to the premises of the preprogrammed location. 
     Continuing with  FIG. 8 , the controller  812  can communicate with the appliance  206  through a direct connection  816  or through a local area network (LAN)  818  (which connections can be wired or wireless) to effect the changes in the appliance  206 . In an alternate approach, the LDD  102  may effect transmitting messages to the appliance  206  or to the controller  812  through a LAN  818 . For example, the LDD  102  may include or be connected  820  to a WiFi transceiver that can then transmit commands via WiFi through the LAN  818  to the controller  812  and/or the appliance  206 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , a more advanced communication scheme  900  is illustrated in accordance with various approaches. Whereas the scheme of  FIG. 8  may be limited to a relatively close proximity to the premises to effect transmissions  810 ,  814  from the LDD  102  to the appliance  206  or controller, the scheme of  FIG. 9  provides a solution that is capable of accommodating communications over much further distances. Like  FIG. 8 , the LDD  102  is again depicted as a smartphone  802  or a vehicular navigation unit  804  (though other devices are possible) and may receive signals from one or more GPS satellites  806  and/or cellular towers  808  (when using cellular tower triangulation) to determine current location. However, instead of communicating locally to the appliance  206  (or controller), the LDD  102  communicates through a wide area network (WAN) and/or the Internet (NET)  902  to send messages. For example, the LDD  102  can effectuate commands to be transmitted to cellular towers  808  (or via other wireless WAN data providers) through the Internet  902  directly to the appliance  206  (in an instance where the appliance  206  is Internet capable), as is shown by route  904 . By another approach, the command can be sent via the Internet  902  to the local controller  812  located at the premises of the preprogrammed location (as is shown by route  906 ), which controller  812  is remote from the LDD  102 . As with  FIG. 8 , the controller  812  can then send messages to the appliance  206  directly (via  908 ) or through a LAN  818  (via  910  and  912 ). 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 9 , in yet another approach, the commands can be sent via the Internet  902  to a central server  914  that is remote from the LDD  102  and remote from the premises of the preprogrammed location. Such a server  914  may be used to provide a service that can effect the changes in the appliances  206 . The server  914  can then communicate the messages to the appliance  206  through the Internet  902  (through routes  916  and  918 ). As above, the LAN  818  may also be included in the communication path from the Internet  902  to the appliance  206  (via routes  919  and  912 ). Alternatively, the server  914  can communicate the messages through the Internet  902  to the controller  812  at the premises (through routes  916  and  920 ), which controller  812  can in turn communicate the messages to the appliances  206  as discussed above. 
     The server  914  may have a database of various protocols and communication schemes required to communicate with a plethora of different appliances  206 . Maintenance of such a database can then be centralized by the service provider such that any updates required can be easily implemented rater than requiring updates for multiple controllers. For example, the release of various new or updated appliances  206  that are configured to communicate with external devices (such as a server  914 , a controller  812 , or even a smartphone  802 ) can prompt the need to update the database, which can then easily be updated due to its centralized nature. Further, a central server  914  implementation may provide an option for users to log on to web pages from personal computers or smartphones  802  to program or alter various aspects of the schedule, preprogrammed locations, and other factors that impact the automatic nature of the various changes in the appliances  206 . 
     Because the LDD  102  is capable of operating in these various communication schemes  800 ,  900  as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the system as a whole is capable of allowing the LDD  102  to effect changes in appliances  206  not only from a relatively proximate location, but also from relatively limitless distances. So configured, appliances  206  can begin to change configurations or operations much earlier during the travel time so that their effects may be fully implemented by time of arrival or carefully executed in a proper order. For example, unlike a movable barrier operator (like a garage door opener  208  or gate operator  214 ), which can be operated immediately prior to arrival, a temperature change within a dwelling or building may require additional time to be fully realized. As such, it is beneficial to initiate that change earlier with the knowledge that the user actually intends to proceed to the preprogrammed location so that by time of arrival, the change has been fully effected (or at least substantially underway). The disclosed long-distance communication schemes  900  of  FIG. 9  allow for these types of operation and their corresponding benefits. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 10 , a flow chart for a method  1000  illustrating one example of this alternate approach is provided. The server  914  or controller  812 , which is remote from the LDD  102 , can receive  1002  from the LDD  102  an indication that the current destination set for the LDD corresponds to a preprogrammed destination. This may comprise the server  914  or controller  812  receiving, for example, a message that indicates that the user has set the current destination to a preprogrammed location, or may further comprise information corresponding to the destination (such as the address or the coordinates of the currently set destination), which the server  914  or controller  812  can then compare to a list of preprogrammed locations to determine that the received destination does correspond to a preprogrammed location. The server  914  or controller  812  may then receive  1004  from the LDD  102  an estimated time until arrival, travel distance until arrival, and/or a present location of the LDD  102 . If the server  914  or controller  812  does not receive an estimated time until arrival or an estimated remaining travel distance, or if it is programmed to dually calculate these metrics, it can calculate  1006  a travel time or travel distance, respectively, based at least in part on a present location of the LDD  102 . With the knowledge of either the received estimated time until arrival or the calculated travel time, the server  914  or controller  812  can determine  1008  the schedule  700  of changes based on one of these metrics. Once the schedule  700  is created, the server  914  or controller  812  can output  1010  one or more commands to change the configuration of the various appliances  206  according to the schedule  700  of changes. Thus, by this alternate approach, the LDD  102  simply communicates to the server  914  or controller  812  at the onset of the trip (or at some point during the trip) and the server  914  or controller  812  (or both) will take care of the determinations and control of the appliances  206 . 
     In some instances, the LDD  102  can provide status updates during travel with updated current location information or time until arrival or remaining travel distance until arrival to the server  914  or controller  812  such as in the case of changing traffic conditions. Thus, the schedule  700  can be continuously adjusted according to changing parameters. Further, by another approach, the LDD  102  can provide a continuous or semi-regular update of current location of the LDD  102 , and with this real-time update information, the server  914  or controller  812  can perform all of the processes described earlier with respect to the LDD  102  (i.e., in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 6 ). 
     So configured, an LDD  102 , or another device such as the server  914  or controller  812 , can initiate changes in configurations of appliances  206  at a specific location only when it has the knowledge that the user intends to travel to that specific location through their setting of that location as the current destination for the LDD  102 . Thus, with this extra knowledge of the user&#39;s intention, the change is effected only when it is proper to do so. Thus, the convenience and luxury of automation based on proximity is further refined to reduce or eliminate occurrences of inadvertent triggering when the location is not the actual intended destination. Further, by taking in account the user&#39;s intentions, changes can be initiated from a much further distance than previously allowed and according to schedules, which provide for added flexibility in implementation resulting in enhanced luxury and convenience. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-described processes are readily enabled using any of a wide variety of available and/or readily configured platforms, including partially or wholly programmable platforms as are known in the art or dedicated purpose platforms as may be desired for some applications. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.