Search

US-20260126771-A1 - Smart Fixture Method and System for Persistent Occupant Tracking and Real-Time Control of Building Subsystems

US20260126771A1US 20260126771 A1US20260126771 A1US 20260126771A1US-20260126771-A1

Abstract

A method for operating a plurality of smart fixtures to enable AI-based monitoring, communication, and response within a building is disclosed. Each smart fixture, integrated into a component such as a power receptacle, light switch, or vent, includes a sensor that captures environmental data indicative of presence, motion, or range. The data is transmitted to a processor that performs spatial and temporal data fusion to generate and update a persistent tracked identity for a subject. A data record comprising estimated position, velocity, confidence, and activity state is maintained for each tracked identity. Based on this information, building subsystems, such as lighting, HVAC, power, or emergency signaling, are dynamically controlled. Communication among smart fixtures and processors occurs over wireless, powerline, or standards-compliant protocols, enabling coordinated, adaptive, and continuous system response across the building.

Inventors

  • Bruce Eliot Ross, Jr.

Assignees

  • ARQAIOS INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251024

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A method for operating a plurality of smart fixtures for providing artificial intelligence-enabled monitoring, communication, and response within a building, the method comprising: monitoring a space of the building using a sensor disposed in a smart fixture, wherein the smart fixture is defined by at least one of a power receptacle, a light switch, and a vent; capturing, with the sensor, environmental data comprising a detection indicative of at least one of a range, a motion, and a presence of a subject; transmitting the environmental data from the smart fixture to a processor in operative communication with the smart fixture; performing data fusion on a plurality of environmental data to combine temporally and spatially related information into a unified representation of the subject; generating a tracked identity corresponding to the subject, wherein the tracked identity is instantiated when environmental data not associated with any existing track are first detected by the smart fixture; updating the tracked identity with environmental data received from the smart fixtures to maintain a persistent representation of the subject over time; determining, for the tracked identity, a data record comprising at least one of an estimated position, a velocity, a confidence, and an activity state of the subject derived from temporally and spatially fused environmental data; and controlling a building subsystem comprising at least one of lighting, HVAC, power, and emergency signaling as a function of the tracked identity.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the building subsystem as a function of the tracked identity comprises adjusting the subsystem in response to at least one of (i) a change in the estimated position, (ii) the velocity meeting a threshold condition, and (iii) a determined activity state of the subject.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the smart fixture comprises a sensor configured to capture the environmental data; a local processor configured to pre-process the environmental data prior to transmission; and a communication interface configured to transmit the environmental data to a distributed processor.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the distributed processor is part of a control hub.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 3 wherein the smart fixture comprises an actuator configured to implement a control response associated with the building subsystem.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 3 wherein the communication interface comprises at least one of a wireless transceiver, a powerline communication module, and a communications network interface.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of environmental data is received from a plurality of smart fixtures, and the processor performs multi-fixture data fusion to combine temporally and spatially related information from the plurality of smart fixtures into the unified representation of the subject.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the multi-fixture data fusion comprises associating environmental data from different smart fixtures using a data-association algorithm.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the data-association algorithm is at least one of a Hungarian assignment, a joint probabilistic data association, and a probability-matrix matching technique.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a predictive motion estimate for the tracked identity based on at least one of a prior position, a prior velocity, and a prior acceleration data, and using the predictive motion estimate to at least one of update and maintain the tracked identity until new environmental data is received from the smart fixture.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein if the new environmental data is received from a different smart fixture, then performing the data fusion that is multi-fixture data fusion to combine the new environmental data with previously maintained data associated with the tracked identity to refine the estimated position, velocity, and confidence of the subject.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of smart fixtures communicates the plurality of environmental data using at least one of a MATTER™-compliant protocol, a Thread® network, a wireless channel, and a powerline communication channel.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the activity state of the subject comprises at least one of standing, walking, sitting, falling, and remaining motionless.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising maintaining, for the tracked identity, the data record comprising the determined position, velocity, confidence, activity state, and predictive motion estimate of the subject, and updating the data record over time as new environmental data are received from the plurality of smart fixtures.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the building subsystem as a function of the tracked identity comprises dynamically modifying a control parameter of the subsystem over time based on changes in at least one of the tracked identity's estimated position, velocity, confidence, and activity state, such that the control response adapts continuously as the tracked identity evolves.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part patent application that claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 19/336,127, titled “SMART FIXTURE SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS FOR CONTEXTUAL MONITORING, INTERACTIVE RESPONSE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, AND METHODS FOR OPERATION”, and filed on 22 Sep. 2025, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 19/336,127 is a continuation-in-part patent application that claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 19/087,146, titled “SMART FIXTURE SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS FOR EMERGENCY DETECTION AND RESPONSE, AND METHODS FOR OPERATION”, and filed on 21 Mar. 2025, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 19/087,146 is a continuation-in-part patent application that claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 18/935,187, titled “Communication-Enabled Power Management Apparatus, Systems, and Methods”, and filed on 1 Nov. 2024, now patented as U.S. Pat. No. 12,282,307 issued on 22 Apr. 2025, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. CROSS-REFERENCES Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK Not applicable. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of intelligent building systems, and more specifically to the field of artificial intelligence-enabled environmental monitoring, occupant interaction, and communication management for integrated smart fixtures. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In modern residential and commercial environments, managing energy consumption is increasingly important due to the rising costs of electricity and the need for energy efficiency. As more electrical devices are integrated into homes and businesses, there is a growing demand for systems that can intelligently manage power distribution and consumption. Traditional power outlets and switches lack the intelligence needed to monitor, analyze, and control energy usage effectively. They typically provide only basic functionality, such as switching devices on or off, without any insight into the power being consumed or the ability to react to environmental changes. In particular, conventional outlets and switches are passive components. They do not offer the capability to monitor power parameters such as voltage, current, or energy consumption. Users are left without real-time information on their energy use or the ability to control power remotely. This lack of control and insight often leads to inefficient power usage, with devices remaining on even when not in use or when there is no occupancy in the area. Another significant limitation in the existing systems is the absence of integrated safety and security features. Current outlets and switches do not have the ability to detect motion, respond to emergency events such as fires or break-ins, or track the real-time location of individuals within a space. As a result, in the event of an emergency, there is no automated system to alert users, adjust connected devices, or take preventative actions such as cutting power or activating safety mechanisms. Moreover, power failures or fluctuations in electrical supply often leave users without any backup power solution at the outlet level. Traditional systems rely on central backup power systems, which may not be practical or cost-effective for smaller-scale applications. This creates challenges in maintaining the continuity of power supply to critical devices during outages. Recent advancements in smart home technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) have introduced some solutions to these issues, but they are often fragmented, requiring multiple devices and platforms that are not well-integrated. There remains a need for a comprehensive, communication-enabled system that can integrate power management, environmental monitoring, and security functions within a single, self-contained device. Such a system would offer users greater control over their energy usage, improve safety, and increase the overall efficiency of electrical systems in residential and commercial settings. Modern building infrastructure increasingly incorporates automation and intelligent control systems aimed at enhancing occupant comfort, energy efficiency, security, and convenience. Conventional building automation systems typically rely on centralized controllers and dedicated sensor networks that are often expensive to install, maintain, and scale. These systems may require extensive retrofitting, specialized wiring, and centralized integration platforms to enable environmental monitoring, occupant tracking, and system coordination. Existing smart home and smart building devices, such as thermostats, cameras, and speakers, tend to operate as isolated