Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a system that indirectly controls the activity of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems. Such a system can be used on the Jewish Sabbath by observant Jews in a time of need.

Background of the Invention

Smart devices and systems are typically activated remotely and can be controlled via applications. Generally, applications of this type don't just enable real-time changes in activity and operation status, but can be used to preset or schedule a whole host of appliances and systems. For example, the temperature of an air conditioning system can be controlled and manipulated using a phone-based application. Such an application can be used to change the temperature immediately, or the temperature change can be delayed (e.g., turns on/off after a certain period of time), set remotely to come on when a person returns home, or scheduled to be active at certain times of the day.

Personal electronic devices and applications can also be synced with a whole host of systems. Such synced systems can include any electronic device and system, for example, personal electronic devices, home and office systems, heating/cooling and temperature regulation systems, water systems, and vehicle systems. A personal electronic device can include but is not limited to, smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, or other smart objects such as those in the category of the Internet of Things, i.e., connected via the Internet to a computing device embedded in any everyday object which enables it to send and receive data. Such devices can be synced to one another and/or to a pre-existing cloud-based network and account.

In the Jewish religion, the day of rest is called "Shabbat" (or "Sabbath"). Shabbat begins at nightfall on Friday night and ends at nightfall on Saturday night. On Shabbat, there are a number of categories of actions that are prohibited for observers of Jewish Law to perform. For example, Jewish Law (known in Hebrew as "halacha") does not permit Jews to use electricity on Shabbat. This means that electronic devices cannot be used on Shabbat by Jews who uphold these laws. However, the passive use of electricity on Shabbat is permitted (e.g., the lights in a house can be left on), but actively changing the lighting status from on to off, or vice versa, is not permitted.

Several convenient solutions have arisen in recent decades to enable more flexibility amongst the observers of Jewish Law. Using timers for electric devices enables a user to preset when that device will be on or off. Therefore, according to Jewish Law, if a device user schedules an electric device to turn on or off via a timer that he/she set before Shabbat commences, then he/she has not transgressed the prohibition of using electricity on Shabbat. This solution has enabled observers of the Jewish Shabbat to use less electricity and ensure that electricity is used conveniently but in a manner that is permitted, according to Jewish Law. This method enables the user to use less electricity which reduces the cost of energy bills and helps protect the environment.

Although the use of timers for Jews on Shabbat has enabled a more convenient and energy-effective lifestyle, a number of challenges remain yet to be addressed.

At times there may be a pressing need to further change the operation of electric devices on Shabbat itself. However, Shabbat-observant Jews aim to be careful not to violate Shabbat laws unless there is a pressing need, e.g., in a life-threatening situation, severe sickness, a person with a pacemaker, in need of adjustable oxygen supply, life-supporting machines, injury, a woman in active labor, home/synagogue/community security, needs for the care of the elderly, needs for the disabled or wheelchair bound person, etc.

There exists another mechanism in Jewish Law known as 'grama', which is defined as something that was indirectly caused by something else but which the outcome is not guaranteed. In Jewish law, an action that indirectly causes a Shabbat violation due to grama has a lower level of prohibition than an action that violates Shabbat directly. Therefore, in situations of great need, a Shabbat violation by means of an indirect act (i.e., 'grama') is preferable and even permitted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that utilizes an indirect action of a user to affect the state of an electric device, application, appliance and/or system.

It is another object of the present invention to use an indirect activation mechanism that utilizes multiple devices, such as a fully integrated smart home, in order to lower the level of prohibition of Shabbat violation in a time of need.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

An indirect control system comprising: at least one monitoring system adapted to monitor the state of one or more switches; and a computer-based application configured to control one or more devices, applications, appliances and/or systems; wherein said computer-based application is configured to control said one or more devices, applications, appliances and/or systems using a time delay in accordance with readings of said monitoring system.

In one aspect, the one or more switches comprise at least one master switch, which controls a group of switches.

In another aspect, the one or more switches comprise at least one timer switch configured to operate using a time delay.

In one aspect, the monitoring system comprises at least one optical means adapted to capture the state of at least one of the one or more switches. For example, the optical means is at least one camera or other image capturing unit. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an indirect control system, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an example of an indirect control system that is configured for controlling a smart light bulb, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Through this description, the term "switch" refers to an object that is used to visually indicate a specific state among at least two possible different states (e.g., "on" state or "off" state). The switch can be a mechanical object with no electrical connection (i.e., a "dummy" device) that only visually mimics the functionality of a "real" device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit. This term does not imply any particular shape, construction material, geometry, or functionality, and the invention is applicable to all suitable objects or mechanical objects that enable to distinguish between two or more states visually. For example, the switch may have the appearance of a common electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, either as a mechanical object or as a printed image (e.g., an image of a switch printed on a card).

One goal of the present invention is to provide an indirect mechanism of action to cause changes in the operation of a plurality of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110, as shown in Fig. 1. Herein, the terms 'devices, applications, appliances and/or systems do not refer strictly to these items and/or units alone; an expert in the art will know many ways of integrating, syncing and connecting any number of such devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 in a nonlimiting manner. As such, the basic principle of the invention involves a user manipulating a plurality of switches which are monitored by a monitoring system. The monitoring system records the state of the switches regardless of their state, continuously relaying this information to a computer-based application 102, which is synced to a plurality of electronic devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110. The computer-based application 102 carries out operations on a plurality of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 as detected by the monitoring system. Such systems can include, but is not limited to: heating, cooling, water, watering, gas, and lighting systems. Appliances can include any home or work appliance. Applications can include, but is not limited to, any application that controls a device, appliance or system, typically controlled via a personalized electronic device. This is to be distinguished from the computer-based application 102, which controls the implementation of the indirect control system 100 generally.

In principle, the act of a user manipulating the switches is detached from the operation of the plurality of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 in two main ways: 1) a user operating a switch doesn't directly cause the device, application, appliance and/or system 110 to turn on or off, 2) there is an inherent delay in the time of the activation of the said devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110, which can be preset, which is subsequently implemented by the computer-based application 102.

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Wherever practicable, similar or identical reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or identical functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

While various embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It should be further understood that the individual features described herein can be combined in all possible combinations and sub-combinations to produce additional embodiments of the invention. The examples given herein are exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the following claims.

As used herein, the terms "comprising" and "including" or grammatical variants thereof are to be taken as specifying the inclusion of the stated features, integers, actions or components without precluding the addition of one or more additional features, integers, actions, components or groups thereof. This term is broader than, and includes the terms "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" as defined by the Manual of Patent Examination Procedure of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Thus, any recitation that an embodiment "includes" or "comprises" a feature is a specific statement that sub-embodiments "consist essentially of" and/or "consist of" the recited feature.

In one embodiment of the invention, figure 1 shows the indirect control system 110 of the present invention. In Fig. 1, the indirect control system 110 is comprised primarily of a plurality of mechanical switches 103, a monitoring system 101, and a computer-based application 102.

The scope, design and configuration of the plurality of mechanical switches 103 is in no way limited to the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1. For the purposes of example alone, the plurality of mechanical switches 103 shown in Fig. 1 shows a series of individual switches 104 that are separated into a plurality of groups: group "A" 105, group "B" 106 and any further additional groups "n..." 107.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a timer 109 is incorporated to control when each switch 104, or group of switches (e.g., group "A" 105) are in the 'on' or 'off' state. Furthermore, any number of timers can be used to control any number of groups of switches.

In order to manage the system of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems the switches can all be preset, before Shabbat, to run on their own without the user's further interference, for the user's convenience. The example shown in Fig. 1 does not limit the arrangement or configuration of the switches. An expert will realize that there are many different configurations that can be designed, set and implemented. For example, in one embodiment, each individual switch 104 has its own timer, whereas in another embodiment, each master switch 108 has its own timer, all in accordance with the needs and requirements of the user. As used herein, a "master switch" refers to one switch that controls at least one other switch, normally a plurality of switches, or those in a group of switches that have a related function, e.g., a set of lights in one room.

For example, group "A" 105 consists of five switches and group "B" 106 consists of three switches. Fig. 1 also shows that any number of additional sets of switches, "n..." 107, can also be included in the indirect control system 100.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each switch 104 can be mechanically turned on or off. Each switch represents a switch for a separate component of a device, application, appliance and/or system that can be switched on or off. For example, group "A" 105 can represent different lighting zones in a house, wherein each switch controls the lights in that zone, e.g., living room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedroom, upstairs lighting, downstairs lighting, etc. A user can select whether to turn each light, or light zone, on or off by the switches 104 in group "A" 105. Fig. 1 also shows a 'master switch' 108, which controls the collective state of all of the switches in group "A" 105. For example, if the master switch 108 is in the 'off' state, then regardless of the individual state of the switches in group "A" 105, all of the lights will turn off. Conversely, if the master switch 108 is turned on, then all of the switches in group "A" 105, which are also turned on, will be turned on. As an example, this arrangement of switches can be used when a person would like to go to sleep and forgot to turn off the lights, or preset the lights to turn off during the user's sleeping hours. The user can therefore use the master switch 108 to turn off all of the lights when he/she wants to go to sleep, or otherwise, the user can simply turn off individual light switches 104 in group "A" according to his/her convenience. The examples described herein all employ the use of the delayed action mechanism wherein there is a temporal delay between when the switches are manipulated, to when the devices, applications, appliances and/or systems are activated. This enables a Jewish-law-observant Jew to perform a lesser prohibition on the Jewish Shabbat, in a time of need.

In a further embodiment, each group of switches represents a different device, application, appliance and/or system which can be utilized together as part of the integrated control system 100. Switches 104 and master switches 108 can be installed for the operation of a plurality of any of the following, but not limited to: lighting systems, heating and/or cooling systems, fans, air conditioning units, electronic devices, televisions, safety system (e.g., alarm or alarm system, CCTV or CCTV system), radios, irrigation systems, dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, kitchen appliances, hotplates and cooking devices.

In another embodiment of this invention, and in order to protect the safety of people in a home, all of the switches 104 could be adapted to operate separate kitchen appliances. For example, if a person is concerned that a kitchen appliance has been left on, e.g., a hotplate or urn, which could present as a danger and/or hazard, the individual switches 104 can be turned off for those individual appliances, or the group of appliances can be switched off via a master switch 108 collectively. The master switch 108 provides a convenient way of managing the operation of groups of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 via a single switch.

In another embodiment of the invention, the user can use the indirect control system 100 to turn the water heater in a boiler on or off.

It will be obvious to an expert in the art that a switch is merely a mechanism by which the state and/or status of a device, application, appliance and/or system can be manipulated. As such, the switch itself can take on any form available. For example, and without limiting the scope of the embodiments of such a switch and/or manipulation device and/or mechanism, the invention can utilize any plurality of 'on/off' switches, sliding switches or dials. Such manipulation mechanisms can either be used in a binary mode to turn items, units, devices, applications , appliances and systems 'on' or 'off' but can also be used as a way of increasing or decreasing a certain attribute, e.g., temperature, brightness. In one embodiment, the switch is a dimmer light switch that utilizes a potentiometer to change the lighting over a range of brightness. In another embodiment, a heater switch increases and/or decreases the temperature over a range of temperatures, for example, in a water heater for a boiler or to set the temperature in a house. In another embodiment, a manipulation mechanism and/or switch is used to set the speed of rotation of a fan. In another embodiment, the switches used in the invention can be adapted to any device, application or appliance that uses a potentiometer, or other electrical component, to set a range of values suited for a particular purpose.

In a further embodiment of the present application, the switching mechanism can be implemented via voice activation. Furthermore, such an application of the indirect control system 100 can be integrated with virtual assistants and other smart home devices such as Alexa and Siri, as will become clear. For example, a user can use verbal prompts such as "it is too hot" wherein the monitoring system 101 uses this as a cue to lower the temperature in the room, albeit indirectly, via a delayed implementation of the command.

In a further embodiment, and as an extension of the idea of switching mechanisms, any visual and/or audio command and/or prompt can be used analogously to the same effect as a mechanical switch. Namely, a visual and/or audio prompt can be used by the system to indirectly effect a delayed implementation of a certain command. As a further example, in another embodiment, a monitoring system 101 that utilizes an image capturing unit or optical means, such as a camera 110 (as illustrated in Fig. 2) can recognize that a hand-wave by the user corresponds to shutting the blinds, albeit via a delayed action. Furthermore, camera 110, or a plurality of cameras, can visually detect when switches (e.g., switch 113 in Fig. 2) have been manipulated and subsequently implement the changes needed, all via a time delay. For example, turning a smart light bulb 111 "On" (or "Off"), in a time delay, after changing the state of switch 113, as schematically demonstrated in Fig. 2. According to an embodiment of the invention, an image capturing unit includes an optical module configured to capture an image, at least one sensor module configured to generate image signals for the captured image, and a data processing module configured to generate image data for the captured image on the basis of the generated image signals. The image capturing unit can be a digital camera, a smart scanning device, a smart sensing unit, or any other device that is adapted to recognize or detect the state of each switch visually.

In one embodiment, the monitoring system 101 monitors and analyzes the state of switches 104 at regular intervals and can subsequently register changes in the state of any of the switches. The monitoring system 101 can monitor any of the embodiment of switches, and combination of switches, including changes in the timer 109 switches, as adjusted by the user. In a further embodiment, these changes can all be monitored by a camera configured with an image processing tool or connected to a computer-based application that can carry out data analysis.

A primary reason that the monitoring system 101 registers the state of the switches at regular intervals is so that the eventual operative changes in the devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 are not as a direct and immediate result of changing the state of a switch. In one embodiment, there is an inherent time delay from when a user changes the state of a switch until when the device, application, appliance and/or system 110 is activated and to implement a change in state accordingly. In Jewish law, when there is a distinct delay and/or separation between an act (e.g., turning on a switch) and its eventual outcome (e.g., the lights turning on) this can be considered as 'indirect' and, therefore, a lesser prohibition in an otherwise prohibited act. Therefore, in a time of need (e.g., safety, security, health, danger of life, injury, etc.), it is preferable to rely on this form of 'indirect' activation, as implemented by the various embodiments of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the monitoring system 101 of the present invention can comprise any system which can monitor the state of any of the embodiments of switches and timers detailed hereinabove, as well as changes in their state thereof. In one embodiment, the monitoring system measures and detects changes in the state of the switches at regular intervals. In order that the switches do not directly activate a device, application, appliance and/or system 110 (i.e., immediately, or in very quick succession), there needs to be a substantial delay between the act of changing the state of a switch and the eventual outcome that results. In Jewish law, this time period is not specified. However, for the purpose of example alone, this delay can be a few seconds and/or minutes. Furthermore, a user can set the time delay. Generally, in Jewish law, the more pressing the need, the more lenient one can be regarding the time delay. Therefore, for example, for an extremely sick person, the interval time-delay that is set could be relatively short, e.g., a few seconds. However, for someone of a lesser illness, with a less pressing need, the interval can be set to be longer, e.g., several minutes, all in accordance with the needs and requirements of the user.

In one embodiment, the indirect action detailed hereinabove, can incorporate any additional step and/or process to further ensure that the act of manipulating the switches is even more separated, and hence indirect, from the eventual activation and operation of the devices, applications, appliances and/or system.

In another embodiment, the monitoring system 101 can be an in-built or external electronic system that registers and analyzes the state of the switches at regular intervals.

In another embodiment, the monitoring system 101 can be any type of camera and/or scanner, configured with an image analysis tool that can detect the physical state of the switches, at regular intervals. As such, the monitoring system can determine whether the switches have been changed or not and can subsequently relay this information to the computer-based application 102, which, in turn, activates whichever devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 accordingly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-based application 102 is configured to interact with the monitoring system 101 to carry out certain functions. The computer-based application 102 can be carried out on any personal electronic device, examples of which are detailed earlier.

In one embodiment, the computer-based application 102 is cloud-based. Such a computer-based application 102 can be synced and integrated with any device, application, appliance and/or system 110, typically within a home environment, as will be understood by an expert in the art. In another embodiment, the present invention can be integrated into a smart home system. Such a system utilizes synced, cloud-based networks to perform tasks for the need of a particular user.

In a further embodiment, the indirect control system 100 of the present invention can be integrated and synced with, but is not limited to, the following smart home technologies: smart speakers/displays, virtual assistants, cameras, doorbells, door locks, security systems, lighting, plugs and outlets, sensors, thermostats, television and media devices, wearable electronics, electronics, window blinds, air conditioning and heating systems, fans, kitchen appliances, pacemakers, life-saving equipment, oxygen regulation systems, electronic filters, and water heaters.

In a further embodiment, the computer-based application 102 can be used to remotely preset the conditions of the plurality of devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 in the home, typically before Shabbat begins, i.e., before the prohibition of using electricity begins for a Shabbat-observant Jew. This provides a convenient centralized platform wherein all of the relevant appliances are set before Shabbat (i.e., to be active at the desired time), to ensure that the user does not need to change any of the settings on Shabbat, which would otherwise be considered a prohibition.

In one embodiment, the computer-based application 102 can interact, operate and/or control the levels, operation and functions of the devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 using any of the common methods of implementation.

In a further embodiment, the user can set certain parameters on the computer- based application 102 before Shabbat. This can include, but is not limited to, which devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110 are on and at what time. In a further embodiment, the user can also set any device, application, appliance and/or system 110 with a specific measure that is related to that device, application, appliance and/or system 110, e.g., the temperature of a water boiler, the speed of a fan, the brightness of a light, the volume of an audio device. The user can also preset the time interval by which the monitoring system 101 detects changes in the switches. At each time interval, the monitoring system 101 registers the state of all of the switches and is configured to relay any changes, to the computer-based application 102. The computer-based application 102 then carries out a simple analysis task where it determines whether any changes need to occur in the devices, appliances, applications and/or systems 110 that are integrated into the indirect control system 100. If the computer-based application 102 registers a change in any of the switches 104, in any of their embodiments, that then requires a change to be implemented in one of the devices, applications, appliances and/or systems 110, then that task is carried out.

In a further embodiment, the computer-based application 102 can carry out the task of changing the state of a device, appliance, application and/or system 110 directly through the electric wiring, or via a cloud-based network, the Internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a telecommunication device, or any other analogous method known to an expert in the art.

Furthermore, the computer-based application 102 can either store images on a cloud-based system in order to compare whether a change has occurred, or it can merely compare the state of each individual switch from frame to frame and implement the changes required.

In a further embodiment, the indirect control system 100 can be configured for use in a personal-care vehicle such as a mobility scooter or electronic wheelchair. In such a case, the monitoring system 101, wherein a camera is used, can detect whether changes have been made to any of the relevant switches, steering wheel or joystick.

The disadvantage of scheduling in existing computer-based applications for smart homes is that it cannot be changed on Saturdays. Therefore, an additional advantage provided by the invention is the ability to make changes on Saturday. According to an embodiment of the invention, a possible configuration may comprise an indication switch that serves as an indicator of whether the indirect control system of the present invention is in use (i.e., active) or not. For example, before Shabbat, the system may not be active, and the indicator will show that the system is non- active (e.g., the indication switch is in an "off" state) and therefore, the computer- based application controls the smart home as pre-scheduled before Shabbat. Whenever the indication switch is set to the "On" state during the Shabbat, then the system of the present invention "takes over" and from now on, any changes to the switches should be addressed and override the setting scheduled before the Shabbat. For example, in this case, the reference is only to devices that are affected by the system of the present invention and everything else goes according to the computer-based application.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the system can be used to operate as a motion sensor, motion detector, or any other form of an electronic device that uses a sensor to detect nearby people or objects (e.g., motion sensors lighting unit). In such cases, the system may operate as follows:

Every period (e.g., 1 second), the computer in charge will provide a trigger to change the lighting mode (if the current state is "on" then the trigger will be a trigger to turn "off" the light and vice versa), when the change itself does not take place immediately, but after a given time since the trigger is set (e.g., 1 second).

The computer analyzes the image received from the camera. If the image does not require a change of status, i.e., the current state is "on", and a person is in the area and the trigger for change is "on", or the current state is "off" and no one is in the area, and the trigger for change is "on", then turn "off" the trigger. If it requires a change of status, i.e., the current state is "off" and the captured image shows that there is a person in the area, and the trigger for change is "on", or the current state is "on" and the captured image shows that there is no person in the area and the trigger for change is "on", then let the trigger remain "on".

As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the arrangement described hereinabove results in a system that utilizes an indirect action of a user to affect the state of an electronic device, application, appliance and/or system. Moreover, the arrangement described hereinabove can be adapted to the switch monitoring system to generate another level of "INDIRECT" on top of the already described "INDIRECT". For example, a monitoring system that contains only one "dummy" which indirectly (using a camera, etc.) sets "on" or "off" a single light bulb. By adopting the above idea, i.e., the operating computer sets a change trigger on that bulb, if its state is "on", then the trigger is "change to off" and vice versa. For example, the trigger is supposed to cause change activation in one minute. Meanwhile, the camera checks the switch; if it is changed, the computer will leave the trigger as is, and the change will be activated. Thus, in such case, we get double "INDIRECT".

All the above description and examples have been given for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Many different mechanisms, methods of analysis of the state of a switch, and mechanical elements can be employed, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.