Patent Publication Number: US-2023144497-A1

Title: A system for monitoring a space by a portable sensor device and a method thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method for monitoring a space and a computer program product for executing the method. The invention further relates to a system for monitoring the space. 
     BACKGROUND 
     More and more sensor devices are being used as part of smart home systems, as they enable automatic control of devices, such as for example lighting devices, to a desired setting based on a detected sensor input. Sensor devices are getting more advanced, often combining multiple sensor modalities. For example, the Philips Hue Motion Sensor comprises an integrated light sensor, a temperature sensor and a PIR sensor. 
     A sensor device that combines multiple modalities is also disclosed in US 2016/0345406 A1. The path light control device disclosed in the patent application can include a processor, light source and any combination of ambient light sensors, passive infrared sensors, accelerometers and compass sensors. In one embodiment, the orientation of the sensor is determined, a degree of sensor function in such orientation is determined and sensor operation is disabled when the detected orientation indicates the data of the sensor is not applicable for proper device control. 
     WO1999056262A1 discloses an automatic control system for actuators and security devices in building automation. A wrist-held sensor and transmitter unit transmits repeatedly, in the form of short telegrams, messages indicating the physiological condition of user to a receiver and control apparatus. The receiver and control apparatus uses the physiological condition of a user as a basis to conduct control selections and to control automatically the actuators and security devices in accordance with the physiological condition of a person who carries the transmitter unit. The control selections can be influenced also by a piece of information indicating the location of a user 
     Sensor devices are not only used as part of lighting systems, but also for other applications, e.g. security. Each application typically uses its own sensor devices. This results in many sensor devices being installed in homes and offices, which increases power consumption and decreases the buildings&#39; aesthetics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a portable sensor device which can be used to reduce the number of portable sensor devices that is needed for a certain set of applications. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a method of monitoring a space by a portable sensor device, the portable sensor device comprising a first sensor of a first sensor type for providing first sensor data indicative of first environmental information in the space, and a second sensor of a second sensor type different from the first sensor type for providing second sensor data indicative of second environmental information in the space, the method comprising: 
     determining a location of the portable sensor device in the space, 
     transmitting, if the portable sensor device is located at a first location in the space, the first sensor data indicative of the first environmental information via the communication unit to a first device or application of a plurality of devices or applications, the plurality of devices or applications being external to the portable sensor device, and 
     transmitting, if the portable sensor device is located at a second location in the space different from the first location, the second sensor data indicative of the second environmental information via the communication unit to a second device or application of the plurality of devices or applications. 
     The inventors have recognized that it is beneficial to allow a single portable sensor device comprising multiple types of sensors to be used for multiple applications and that repositioning the portable sensor device is a very intuitive way of switching between applications. The different applications may run on a single device or on a plurality of devices external to the portable sensor device. The sensor data is transmitted to one of the plurality of devices or applications in dependence on the location of the portable sensor device. The location of the portable sensor device may be determined by an (indoor) positioning system, or the location may be predefined or defined by a user. 
     The method may comprise: if the first sensor data has been transmitted to the first device or application, controlling the first device or application based on the first sensor data, or if the second sensor data has been transmitted to the second device or application, rendering information indicative of the second sensor data on an information rendering device. In other words, if the portable sensor device is located at the first location, the first sensor data is transmitted to the first device or application, whereupon the first device or application is controlled based on the first sensor data. If the portable sensor device is located at the second location, the second sensor data is transmitted to the second device or application, whereupon the second device or application provides information about the second sensor data. This enables a user to place the portable sensor device at the first location whereupon the first device is controlled, or place the portable sensor device at the second location, whereupon information about the sensor data is provided (e.g. rendered on an electronic display). By repositioning the portable sensor device, the user can switch between different applications. 
     The first device or application is a lighting device or application and the second device or application may be a device or application different from a lighting device or application. This enables a user to place the portable sensor device at the first location whereupon a lighting device or application may be controlled, or place the portable sensor device at the second location, whereupon non-lighting device or non-lighting application may be controlled. For example, the first device or application may be configured to control a light, e.g. turn on and/or off the light, in dependence on the first sensor data. The second device or application may be configured to perform, for example, sleep monitoring, baby monitoring, security monitoring, people counting, pet monitoring and/or health monitoring. 
     If the portable sensor device is located at the first location, the first sensor may be activated and the second sensor may be deactivated. Additionally or alternatively, if the portable sensor device is located at the second location, the second sensor is activated and the first sensor is deactivated. The activation/deactivation of a respective sensor may be executed when it has been determined that the portable sensor device is located at a certain location. The sensors may be deactivated by default and a certain sensor may only be activated when the portable sensor device is located at a respective location. Alternatively, the sensors may be activated by default and a certain sensor may only be deactivated when the portable sensor device is located at a respective location. In the context of the present invention, deactivation of a sensor may, for example, mean to switch the sensor off (e.g. to power it off), to not use, store, process, analyze or communicate sensor data of the respective sensor, etc. In the context of the present invention, activation of a sensor may, for example, mean to switch the sensor on (e.g. to power it on), to use, store, process, analyze or communicate sensor data of the respective sensor, etc. Deactivation of a sensor is beneficial because it may reduce battery/power usage, the network resources and/or processing resources. 
     The portable sensor device may comprise a battery. The method may further comprise: determining a charge level of the battery, and, if the portable sensor device is located at the first location, deactivating the second sensor if the charge level exceeds a first threshold, and if the portable sensor device is located at the second location, deactivating the first sensor if the charge level exceeds a second threshold. The thresholds may be the same, or different. The thresholds may be determined or predefined based on the respective types of the respective sensors. 
     The method may further comprise: determining a sampling rate and/or granularity of the sensor data based on the location of the portable sensor device. If, for example, the portable sensor device is located at the first location, a first sampling rate and/or granularity for the first sensor data may be used, and if the the portable sensor device is located at the second location, a second sampling rate and/or granularity for the second sensor data may be used. If a sensor has been associated with multiple locations, the sampling rate and/or the granularity may be different for different locations. If, for example, the second sensor has been associated with the second location and a third location, a third sampling rate and/or granularity for the second sensor data may be used when the portable sensor device is located at the third location. 
     The first device or application may be a central control device or application configured to control the second device or application, and the second device or application may be configured to receive control signals from the central control device or application. The first device or application may, for example, be a central (home) control device such as a bridge, and the second device or application may be a (smart) (home) device or application such as a lighting device or application configured to receive control signals from the central (home) control device. This enables the user to position the portable sensor device at a location at which the central control device or application receives the first sensor data. The central control device or application may be configured to control the second device or application based on the first sensor data. Alternatively, the user may position the portable sensor device at a location at which the second device or application receives the second sensor data (directly) from the portable sensor device. 
     The method may further comprise determining if the portable sensor device has been located at a (first or second) location for a predetermined period of time. The first or second sensor data may be transmitted and/or the first or second sensor may be activated only if the portable sensor device has been located at the location for a predetermined period of time. The determination whether the portable sensor device has been located at a (first or second) location for a predetermined period of time may be performed by monitoring the location of the portable sensor device. Additionally or alternatively, determining whether the portable sensor device has been located at a (first or second) location for a predetermined period of time may be based on sensor data of a motion sensor comprised in the portable sensor device. It may be beneficial to (first) determine that the portable sensor device has been at the same location/has not moved for a predetermined period of time (e.g. 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) and only transmit sensor data or activate a sensor if it has been at the same location, because environmental data may be irrelevant when the sensor device is being moved from a first location to a second location. Additionally or alternatively, the first or second sensor may be activated for a predetermined period of time after the portable sensor device has been positioned at a (first or second) location. 
     The method may further comprise determining an orientation of the portable sensor device. The first sensor data may be transmitted to the first device or application if the portable sensor device is located at the first location and if the portable sensor device is oriented in a first predefined orientation. The second sensor data may be transmitted to the second device or application if the portable sensor device is located at the second location and if the portable sensor device is oriented in a second predefined orientation. 
     The location of the portable sensor device may be determined based on a detection of a beacon by a detector comprised in the portable sensor device. This may enable the portable sensor device to determine its location without being dependent on an external positioning system. Alternatively, the position of the portable sensor device may be determined by an external positioning system. 
     The location of the portable sensor device may be determined based on signal characteristics of radio frequency signals transmitted or received by the portable sensor device. The location of the portable sensor device may be determined by the portable sensor device based on received signals. Alternatively, an external positioning system may determine the location of the portable sensor device based on the transmitted or received signals. 
     The method may further comprise: 
     associating the first sensor or the first sensor data with the first location and the first device or application, 
     associating the second sensor or the second sensor data with the second location and the second device or application, and 
     store the associations in a memory. The associations comprise a first association between the first sensor or the first sensor data and the first location and the first device or application, and a second association between the second sensor or the second sensor data with the second location and the second device or application. 
     The (first and second) associations may be based on user input received via a user interface. The user input is indicative of associating the respective sensor or sensor data with the respective location and device or application. The user input may, for example, be received via a touch screen, a voice interface, etc. This is beneficial, because it enables users to define which sensors are activated at which location. 
     The first sensor data may be transmitted to the first device and the second sensor data may be transmitted to the second device, The method may further comprise: obtaining information indicative of a first location of the first device and a second location of the second device, determining the associations based on the first location of the first device and the second location of the second device. Associations between the sensors, the sensors&#39; locations and the respective devices or applications may be determined based on the locations of the respective devices. If, for example, a first device is in proximity or closest to the first location, the first location may be associated with that first device, and a second device in proximity or closest to the second location may be associated with that second location, such that when the sensor device is located at the first location, the first sensor data is transmitted to the first device, and such that when the sensor device is located at the second location, the second sensor data is transmitted to the second device. 
     The method may further comprise: identifying a user present in the space, and determining the associations based on an identity of the identified user. Advantageously, the correct devices or applications are associated with the correct locations for an identified user. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a computer program product for a computing device, the computer program product comprising computer program code to perform any of the above-mentioned methods when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of the computing device. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a system for monitoring a space, the system comprising: 
     a portable sensor device for monitoring the space, comprising 
     a first sensor of a first sensor type for providing first sensor data indicative of first environmental information in the space, 
     a second sensor of a second sensor type for providing second sensor data indicative of second environmental information in the space different from the first sensor type, 
     a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of devices or applications, the plurality of devices or applications being external to the portable sensor device, 
     a processor configured to: 
     obtain information indicative of a location of the portable sensor device in the space, and 
     transmit, if the portable sensor device is located at a first location in the space, the first sensor data indicative of the first environmental information via the communication unit to a first device or application of the plurality of devices or applications, and 
     transmit, if the portable sensor device is located at a second location in the space different from the first location, the second sensor data indicative of the second environmental information via the communication unit to a second device. It should be understood that the computer program product and the system may have similar and/or identical embodiments and advantages as the above-mentioned methods. 
     In the context of the present invention the wording “environmental information in the space” may relate to any type of environmental parameter that can be detected by a respective sensor of a respective type. Examples of environmental information may, for example, be temperature information, environmental illumination information, humidity information, presence/occupancy information, information related to a property or physiological state of a person, animal or plant, information related to a motion or activity of a person or animal, etc. A processor may analyze sensor data to determine the environmental information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the disclosed systems, devices and methods will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of devices and methods, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIGS.  1   a  and  1   b    show schematically different configurations of a system for monitoring a space and for communicating sensor data to devices and/or applications; 
         FIGS.  2   a  and  2   b    show schematically embodiments of spaces comprising devices and a portable sensor device; and 
         FIG.  3    shows schematically a user interface for associating locations with sensors and devices or applications. 
     
    
    
     All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS.  1   a  and  1   b    each show a system for monitoring a space  100 . The system comprises a portable sensor device  102  for monitoring the space  100 . The portable sensor device  102  comprises a first sensor  120  of a first sensor type for providing first sensor data indicative of first environmental information in the space  100 . The portable sensor device  102  further comprises a second sensor  122  of a second sensor type for providing second sensor data indicative of second environmental information in the space  100 . 
     The system further comprises a communication unit  108  configured to communicate with a plurality of devices or applications  110 ,  112  external to the portable sensor device  102  and a processor  106 . In the example of  FIG.  1   a   , the first sensor  120 , the second sensor  122 , the processor  106  and the communication unit  108  are comprised in the portable sensor device  102 . In the example of  FIG.  1   b   , the first sensor  120  and the second sensor  122  are comprised in the portable sensor device  102 , and the processor  106  and the communication unit  108  are comprised in another device  130  (e.g. in an intermediary device such as a bridge, a smartphone, a central (home) control system, etc.). In this example, the sensor device  102  may comprise a further communication unit (not shown) configured to communicate sensor data from the sensor device  102  to the other device  130  comprising the processor  106  and the communication unit  108 . 
     The processor  106  (e.g. circuitry, a microchip, a microcontroller) is configured to obtain information indicative of a location of the portable sensor device  102  in the space  100 , and transmit, if the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location, the first sensor data indicative of the first environmental information via the communication unit  108  to a first device or application  110  of the plurality of devices or applications  110 ,  112 , and transmit, if the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location, the second sensor data indicative of the second environmental information via the communication unit  108  to a second device or application  112  of the plurality of devices or applications  110 ,  112 . 
     The portable sensor device  102  is repositionable by a user. Since the functionality of the portable sensor device  102  (i.e. to which device or application  110  or  112  the sensor data is communicated) is dependent on the sensor device&#39;s location, the user may determine the functionality of the portable sensor device  102  by repositioning the portable sensor device  102 . The portable sensor device  102  may be attachable to the device  110 ,  112  (e.g. via a connector such as a plug/socket), and the device  110 ,  112  may be a lighting device. The location of the portable sensor device  102  may be received from the device  110 ,  112  to which it has been attached. This enables ‘upgrading’ a lighting device by attaching the portable sensor device to the lighting device. The portable sensor device  102  may be connected to a central (home/office) control system and communicate sensor data to the central (home/office) control system, or directly to controllable devices or applications. 
     The portable sensor device  102  is configured to monitor environmental conditions of the space  100 . The portable sensor device  102  comprises the first sensor  120  of the first sensor type for providing first sensor data indicative of first environmental information in the space  100  and the second sensor  122  of a second sensor type (different from the first sensor type) for providing second sensor data indicative of second environmental information in the space. The first sensor  120  may comprise a single sensor (e.g. a single microphone, or a single thermopile sensor) or a plurality of (the same type of) sensors (e.g. an array of microphones, an array of thermopile sensors). Such environmental information/conditions may relate to any type of environmental parameter that can be detected by a respective sensor, which sensor provides sensor data indicative of environmental information. Examples of types of such sensors are temperature sensors (for providing sensor data indicative of temperature information), light sensors (for providing sensor data indicative of environmental illumination information), vision sensors (for providing sensor data indicative of environmental objects and/or events), humidity sensors (for providing sensor data indicative of humidity information), motion/presence sensors such as PIR sensors, RF sensors, thermopile sensors, cameras, etc. (for providing sensor data indicative of presence/occupancy information), etc. 
     The communication unit  108  is configured to communicate with the plurality of devices or applications  110 ,  112 . The communication unit  108  may be configured to communicate with the devices  110 ,  112  (which may be running the applications), either directly or indirectly. The communication unit  108  may be configured to communicate via any wired or wireless communication protocol (e.g. Ethernet, DALI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Thread, ZigBee, etc.). The communication unit  108  may be configured to communicate via multiple communication protocols, for example via a mesh network protocol such as Zigbee with the first device  110 , and via a point-to-point network protocol such as Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth with the second device  112 . 
     The processor  106  is configured to determine the location of the portable sensor device  102  in the space  100 . The location may for example be defined as a set of coordinates in the space  102  or as an area defined by multiple sets or coordinates. Alternatively, the location may be defined by an area in the space  100  which may have been defined by a user (e.g. “kitchen”, “office”, “corridor”, “garden”, etc.). The space  100  may be a room, a building, an outdoor area, etc. The processor  106  may be configured to obtain location information indicative of the location of the portable sensor device  102  in the space  100 . The location information may, for example, be obtained from a (local or external) memory configured to store a current location of the portable sensor device. The location information may be obtained from an (indoor) positioning system (e.g. an RF-based positioning system that uses triangulation or trilateration, a VLC based positioning system, a VSLAM positioning system, etc.) configured to detect the location of the portable sensor device  102  in the space  100 . Such (indoor) positioning systems are known in the art and will therefore not be discussed in detail. Alternatively, the processor  106  may be configured to obtain the location of the portable sensor device  102  by determining the location based on signals received from (networked) devices such as the first device  110  and the second device  112 . The processor  106  may determine the location based on one or more characteristics (e.g. based on the time of flight or the signal strength) of received RF (radio frequency) signals communicated between the portable sensor device  102  and other devices (such as the first and second device  110 ,  122 ). Determining the position of a device based on one or more characteristics of received RF signals is known in the art and will therefore not be discussed in detail. Alternatively, the location of the portable sensor device  102  may be determined based on a detection of a beacon by a detector comprised in the portable sensor device  102 . The detector may be configured to detect the presence (and optionally the distance to) the beacon. The beacon may, for example, be a VLC beacon, a passive RF beacon such as a passive NFC tag, an active RF beacon which emits an RF signal, a QR code, etc. 
     The processor  106  is further configured to transmit sensor data to a device or application based on the location of the portable sensor device  102 . The space  100  may, for example, be divided in areas and certain areas may be associated with certain sensors of the portable sensor device  102 . If the portable sensor device  102  is located at a first location (e.g. in a first area) in the space  100 , the first sensor data indicative of the first environmental information from the first sensor  120  may be transmitted to the first device or application  110  via the communication unit  108 . If the portable sensor device  102  is located at a second location (e.g. in a second area) in the space  100 , the second sensor data indicative of the second environmental information from the second sensor  122  may be transmitted to the second device or application  112  via the communication unit  108 . 
     The plurality of devices or applications comprise the first device or application  110  and the second device or application  112 . In the examples of  FIGS.  1 ,  2     a  and  2   b  the devices or applications  110 ,  112  are depicted as devices located at different locations in the space  100 . It should be understood that this is an example of a plurality of devices or applications. In another example, a plurality of applications (comprising the first and second application) may be running on one or more devices located in the space  100 , or be located remotely and be accessible via a network/the internet. The different applications may run on a single device or on a plurality of devices. The plurality of applications may for example be running on a remote server. Examples of applications include but are not limited to security/people monitoring, people counting, temperature monitoring, health monitoring, etc. In dependence on the location of the portable sensor device  102 , the sensor data is may be transmitted to a respective application. 
     The processor  106  is configured to transmit the first or second sensor data to the first or second device, respectively, based on the location of the portable sensor device  102 . The sensor data is indicative of respective environmental information. The sensor data that is transmitted to a respective device may be raw sensor data. Alternatively, the sensor data may have already been analyzed by the processor  106  and the environmental information may have been extracted (e.g. a temperature value, an occupation/presence value, a number of people present, a light level, etc.), and the analyzed sensor data may be transmitted to a respective device. 
       FIGS.  2   a  and  2   b    illustrate examples of spaces  200   a,    200   b  comprising devices  110 ,  112  and a portable sensor device  102 . In the example of  FIG.  2   a   , the portable sensor device  102  is located at first location/area  202   a.  The processor  106  (not shown) may transmit the first sensor data of the first sensor to the first device  110  when the portable sensor device  102  is located at first location/area  202   a.  A user may move  250   a  the portable sensor device  102 , whereupon the processor  106  may determine that the portable device  102  is located at second location  204   a.  The processor  106  may transmit the second sensor data of the second sensor to the second device  112  when the portable sensor device  102  is located at second location/area  204   a.  In this example, the locations/areas  202   a,    204   a  may be areas/locations defined by coordinates in the space  200   a.  In the example of  FIG.  2   b   , the locations/areas  202   b ,  204   b  in the space  200   b  are defined as rooms. A memory may store information indicative of the locations and the names of the rooms. First room  202   b  may, for example, be defined as “kitchen” and second room  204   b  may, for example, be defined as “living room”. In the example of  FIG.  2   b   , the portable sensor device  102  is located in the first room  202   b.  The processor  106  (not shown) may transmit the first sensor data of the first sensor to the first device  110  when the portable sensor device  102  is located in the first room  202   b.  A user may move  250   b  the portable sensor device  102 , whereupon the processor  106  may determine that the portable device  102  is located in the second room  204   b.  The processor  106  may transmit the second sensor data of the second sensor to the second device  112  when the portable sensor device  102  is located in the second room  204   b.    
     In a first example, the portable sensor device  102  may comprise a (first) motion sensor and a (second) light sensor. The first device  110  may be a camera, for instance a security camera, and the second device  110  may be a lighting device which comprises one or more light sources. If the user places the portable sensor device  102  at the first location (e.g.  202   a,    202   b ), the processor  106  may determine that the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location  202   a,  and transmit the sensor data of the motion sensor (e.g. data indicating that motion has been detected) to the camera (e.g. to switch the camera on). If the user places the portable sensor device  102  at the second location (e.g.  204   a,    204   b ), the processor  106  may determine that the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location, and transmit the sensor data of the light sensor (e.g. data indicating a current light level) to the lighting device (e.g. to control the light output of the light sources based on the current light level). 
     In a second example, the portable sensor device  102  may comprise a (first) vision sensor (e.g. a camera) and a (second) presence sensor (e.g. a PIR sensor). The first application  110  may be a people monitoring application running on a local or remote server, and the second device  110  may be a lighting device which comprises one or more light sources. If the user places the portable sensor device  102  at the first location (e.g.  202   a ,  202   b ), the processor  106  may determine that the portable sensor device  102  is located at that location, and transmit the sensor data of the camera (e.g. video captured by the camera) to the first application  110  (e.g. to enable people monitoring). If the user places the portable sensor device  102  at the second location (e.g.  204   a,    204   b ), the processor  106  may determine that the portable sensor device  102  is located at that location, and transmit the sensor data of the PIR sensor (e.g. indicating presence of a user) to the lighting device (e.g. to control the light output of the light sources when presence has been detected). 
     In another example, the portable sensor device  102  may comprise a (first) audio sensor (e.g. a microphone) and a (second) presence sensor (e.g. a single-pixel thermopile sensor). The first device  110  may be a voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant, and the second device  110  may be a connected doorbell system. If the user places the portable sensor device  102  at the first location (e.g.  202   a,    202   b ), the processor  106  may determine that the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location, and transmit/stream the sensor data of the audio sensor (e.g. audio/voice data captured by the microphone) to the voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant (e.g. to provide voice input to the voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant). If the user places the portable sensor device  102  at the second location (e.g.  204   a,    204   b ) (e.g. at the user&#39;s front door), the processor  106  may determine that the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location, and transmit the sensor data of the presence sensor (e.g. indicating presence of a person) to the connected doorbell system (e.g. to control the doorbell to inform a user that a person is present). 
     The processor  106  may be configured to transmit the sensor data of a respective sensor to control the respective device or application  110 . Alternatively, the processor  106  may be configured to transmit sensor data of a respective sensor to render information indicative of the respective sensor data on an information rendering device (e.g. a personal mobile device such as a smartphone, on a monitoring device, on the respective device or application, etc.). The processor  106  may, for example, transmit the first sensor data (e.g. a current ambient light level) of the first sensor  120  (e.g. a light sensor) to control the first device  110  (e.g. a lighting device) based on the first sensor data (e.g. by increasing or decreasing the light output of the lighting device based on the current ambient light level). The processor  106  may, for example, transmit the second sensor data (e.g. video data) of the second sensor  122  (e.g. a camera) to the second device  112  (e.g. a smartphone) to render the second sensor data on the second device (e.g. rendering the video data on the smartphone of the user). 
     The processor  106  may be configured to activate and/or deactivate the sensors  120 ,  122  based on the location of the portable sensor device  102 . If, for example, the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location, the processor  106  may activate the first sensor  120  and deactivate the second sensor, and vice versa. The sensors  120 ,  122  may be deactivated by default and a certain sensor may only be activated when the portable sensor device  102  is located at a respective location. Alternatively, the sensors  120 ,  122  may be activated by default and a certain sensor may only be deactivated when the portable sensor device  102  is located at a respective location. The processor  106  may, for example, deactivate a sensor by switching the sensor off (e.g. by powering it off), or by refraining from using, storing or communicating sensor data of the respective sensor, etc. The processor  106  may, for example, activate a sensor by switching the sensor on (e.g. by powering it on), or by using, storing or communicating sensor data of the respective sensor, etc. 
     The portable sensor device  102  may comprise a battery. The processor  106  may be configured to activate and/or deactivate sensors based on a charge level of the battery. The processor  106  may be configured to determine the charge level of the battery, and, if the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location, deactivate the second sensor  122  if the charge level exceeds a first threshold, and if the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location, deactivate the first sensor  120  if the charge level exceeds a second threshold. The thresholds may be the same, or different. The thresholds may be determined or predefined based on the respective types of the respective sensors. 
     The processor  106  may be further configured to determine/set a sampling rate and/or granularity of the sensor data based on the location of the portable sensor device  102 . If, for example, the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location, a first sampling rate and/or granularity for the first sensor data may be used, and if the the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location, a second sampling rate and/or granularity for the second sensor data may be used. If a sensor has been associated with multiple locations, the sampling rate and/or the granularity may be different for different locations. If, for example, the second sensor has been associated with the second location and a third location, a third sampling rate and/or granularity for the second sensor data may be used when the portable sensor device  102  is located at the third location. The sampling rate may be indicative of a number of sensor readings per time period (e.g. images per second of a camera, temperature measurements of a temperature sensor, etc.), and the granularity may be indicative of the size of the sensor data (e.g. image resolution of images captured by a camera). 
     The first device or application  110  may be a central control device or application configured to control the second device or application  112 , and the second device or application  112  may be configured to receive control signals from the central control device or application. The first device or application  110  may, for example, be a central (home) control device such as a bridge, and the second device or application  112  may be a (smart) (home) device or application such as a lighting device or lighting application configured to receive control signals from the central (home) control device. A user may for example position the portable sensor device  102  at a location at which the central control device or application receives the first sensor data from the portable sensor device  102 . The central control device or application may be configured to control the second device or application based on the first sensor data. The user may then position the portable sensor device  102  at a location at which the second device or application receives the second sensor data (directly) from the portable sensor device  102 , and the second device may be controlled by the processor  106  based on the second sensor data. 
     The processor  106  may be further configured to determine if the portable sensor device  102  has been located at a (first or second) location for a predetermined period of time. The processor  106  may start a timer when the location of the portable sensor device  102  does not change. The processor  106  may transmit the first or second sensor data and/or activate the first or second sensor only if the portable sensor device  102  has been located at the location for the predetermined period of time. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the processor  102  may be configured to activate the first or second sensor for a predetermined period of time after the portable sensor device  102  has been positioned at a (first or second) location. The processor  106  may, for example, activate a sensor for a number of minutes, hours or days. If, for example, the first sensor  120  (or the second sensor  122 ) is a camera, the camera may be activated for the predetermined period of time to enable monitoring of the space for that period of time. 
     The processor  106  may be further configured to associate the sensors (or their respective sensor data) with locations in the space  100  and with the devices or applications. 
     The processor  106  may, for example, be configured to associate the first sensor  120  or the first sensor data with the first location and the first device or application  110 . The processor may be further configured to associate the second sensor  122  or the second sensor data with the second location and the second device or application  120 . The processor  106  may be further configured to store the associations in a memory. The memory may be located in the portable sensor device  102 , or in an external device. The associations comprise a first association between the first sensor  120  or the first sensor data and the first location and the first device or application  110 , and a second association between the second sensor  122  or the second sensor data with the second location and the second device or application  112 . 
     The associations may be based on various inputs. The associations may, for example, be defined by a user via a user interface, based on the locations of the first and second devices  110 ,  112 , based on the types of the first and second devices  110 ,  112  and/or based on an identity of a user. 
     The associations may be learned over time based on (historical) sensor data of the first and second sensors  120 ,  122 . The processor  102  may for example determine based on historical sensor data of the first sensor that the first sensor  120  (e.g. a motion sensor) senses more motion at a first location compared to another (second) location, an association between that location and the first sensor  120  may be created. The processor  102  may for example determine that a first sensor  120  (e.g. a motion sensor) of the portable sensor device  102  detects more sensor data or more variations in sensor data (e.g. motion data) at a first location compared to another (second) location, and the processor  102  may therefore associate the first location with the first sensor  120 . The processor  102  may for example determine that a second sensor  122  (e.g. a light sensor) of the portable sensor device  102  detects more sensor data or more variations in sensor data (e.g. a higher variation in light intensity) at a second location compared to another (first) location, and the processor  102  may therefore associate the second location with the second sensor  122 . This enables the processor  102  to learn the associations based on historical sensor data. 
     The (first and second) associations may be based on user input received via a user interface. The user input is indicative of associating the respective sensor or sensor data with the respective location and device or application. The user input may, for example, be received via a touch screen, a voice interface (a user may provide voice commands to create the associations), etc.  FIG.  3    illustrates an example of a user interface on a touch screen. The user interface shows (top) a space  302  comprising three areas (e.g. room) A, B and C. Three devices are installed in the space: a first lighting device  310 , a second lighting device  312  and electric curtains  314 . The portable sensor device  102  (not shown in  FIG.  3   ) comprises a presence sensor  320  (e.g. a PIR sensor or a camera) and a light sensor  322  (e.g. a photodiode). A user may provide user input on the touch screen to associate the sensors  320 ,  322  with locations A, B, C in the space  302  and with the devices  310 ,  312 ,  314  (for example by selecting devices, areas and sensors from different drop-down menus (not shown), or by dragging different on-screen icons  320 ,  322  of sensors onto the areas A, B, C). In the example of  FIG.  3   , the user has associated sensor  320  with area A such that sensor data of sensor  320  controls lighting device  310  when the portable sensor device  102  is located in area A. The user has also associated sensor  320  also with area B such that sensor data of sensor  320  controls lighting device  312  when the portable sensor device  102  is located in area B. The user has further associated sensor  322  with area C such that sensor data of sensor  322  controls the electric curtains  314  when the portable sensor device  102  is located in area C. 
     The user interface may be further configured to receive user inputs indicative of activating/deactivating respective sensors at respective locations. The user may, for example, indicate via the user interface that a first sensor (e.g. a camera) is to be deactivated when the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location (e.g. in the bedroom). Additionally, the user interface may be further configured to receive user inputs indicative of activating/deactivating respective sensors at respective locations based on contextual information at a respective location. The user may, for example, indicate via the user interface that a first sensor (e.g. a light sensor) is to be deactivated when the portable sensor device  102  is located at the second location based on contextual information at the second location (e.g. when the ambient light level is below a certain value, when an occupancy value is below a certain value, etc.). 
     The (first and second) associations may be based on the locations of the first and second devices  110 ,  122 . The processor  106 , may obtain information indicative of a first location of the first device  110  and a second location of the second device  122 , and determine the associations based on the first location of the first device  110  and the second location of the second device  112 . If, for example, a first device  110  is in proximity of the first location or closer to the first location compared to the second device  112 , the first location may be associated with that first device  110 , and a second device  112  in proximity of the second location or closer to the second location compared to the first device  110  may be associated with that second location, such that when the portable sensor device  102  is located at the first location, the first sensor data is transmitted to the first device  110 , and such that when the sensor device  112  is located at the second location, the second sensor data is transmitted to the second device  112 . 
     The (first and second) associations may be based on the identity of a user who is present in the space  100 . The user may de detected by a presence sensor (which may be located in the portable sensor device  102 ). The user may be identified based on face recognition of the user, based on voice recognition of the user, based on the presence of a portable device carried by the user, etc. User presence detection and identification techniques are known in the art and will therefore not be discussed in detail. The user identity may be compared to a plurality of user identities that are stored in a (local or remote) memory. The user identities may be associated with user preferences, indicative of associations between sensors (or their respective sensor data), locations and devices or applications. If an identity matches one of the user identities in the memory, the respective user preference matching that identity may be selected and the respective associations may be used. 
     The associations may be determined based on/derived from a location type, for example a room type or an area type. In an example, the first location may be a hallway, the second location may be a front door entrance, the first sensor may be a presence sensor and the second sensor may be a camera. Based on the location type, the processor  106  may associate a respective sensor with a respective location. The processor  106  may, for example, associate the camera with the front door entrance and with a home monitoring system, such that when the portable sensor device  102  is located at the front door entrance a video feed from the camera is transmitted to the home monitoring system. Additionally, the processor may, for example, associate the presence sensor with the hallway and with a lighting control system, such that when the portable sensor device  102  is located in the hallway, sensor data from the presence sensor is transmitted to the lighting control system to control the lights based on the presence. 
     It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
     In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer or processing unit. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. 
     Aspects of the invention may be implemented in a computer program product, which may be a collection of computer program instructions stored on a computer readable storage device which may be executed by a computer. The instructions of the present invention may be in any interpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs) or Java classes. The instructions can be provided as complete executable programs, partial executable programs, as modifications to existing programs (e.g. updates) or extensions for existing programs (e.g. plugins). Moreover, parts of the processing of the present invention may be distributed over multiple computers or processors or even the ‘cloud’. 
     Storage media suitable for storing computer program instructions include all forms of nonvolatile memory, including but not limited to EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as the internal and external hard disk drives, removable disks and CD-ROM disks. The computer program product may be distributed on such a storage medium, or may be offered for download through HTTP, FTP, email or through a server connected to a network such as the Internet.