Radio frequency sensing system and method for performing a radio frequency sensing task

Abstract

The present invention relates to a RF sensing system and to a method for performing a RF sensing task. Smart plug or smart receptacle having a wireless radio and a relay are wirelessly controlled to perform the RF sensing task using a plug load controller. In particular, by switching the relays, an activation status of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle can be controlled. With the plug load controller, a sensing sensitivity and / or a sensing mode of the smart plug or smart receptacle can be adjusted based on a determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle and based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

Description

[0001] 2023PF80516

[0002] 1

[0003] Radio frequency sensing system and method for performing a radio frequency sensing task

[0004] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a radio frequency sensing system as well as to a method for performing a radio frequency sensing task. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program for performing a radio frequency sensing task and to a non-transitory computer readable data medium storing the computer program. The present invention may particularly be employed in the context of smart home applications involving a smart plug and / or smart receptacle.

[0006] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A smart plug or a smart receptacle can be used in a radio frequency (RF) sensing system to integrate electrical equipment into home automation or building automation. A RF sensing system is disclosed in WO 2023 / 057317 Al and comprises one or more nodes configured for performing RF-based sensing. The RF sensing system is affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by one or more external devices. The RF sensing system is configured for monitoring an operation status of the one or more external devices and for predicting an expected EMI affecting the RF sensing system based on the operation status of the one or more external devices.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It can be seen as an object of the present invention to provide an RF sensing system, a method, a computer program, and a non-transitory computer readable data medium which allow performing a RF sensing task in an improved manner.

[0010] According to the present invention, a RF sensing system is proposed that is configured for performing a RF sensing task. The RF sensing system comprises at least one plug load controller and a smart plug or smart receptacle. The at least one plug load controller is configured for wirelessly controlling a smart plug or smart receptacle via a control communication between the plug load controller and the smart plug or smart receptacle. The smart plug or smart receptacle comprises a wireless radio that is configured 2023PF80516

[0011] 2 for performing a RF sensing task and a relay that is configured for switching an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle. Furthermore, the least one plug load controller comprises a status determination unit, a RF sensing property determination and a sensing adjustment unit. The status determination unit is configured for determining a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle. The RF sensing property determination unit is configured for inferring a RF sensing property associated with the switching the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined current internal status or forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle. The sensing adjustment unit is configured for adjusting via the control communication a sensing sensitivity of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle and based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

[0012] The present invention includes the recognition that although RF sensing generally is a technology with great potential, there still remain some technical challenges. That is, typically, for any sensor system there is a trade-off between being able to sense the signal of interest, e.g. detection of motion, presence or vital-signs, and getting false positives, i.e., false triggers. This trade-off generally also plays a crucial role in RF sensing, especially as the radio performing the RF sensing is typically not be purpose- placed at the optimal location for sensing but rather integrated in other smart home devices.

[0013] For example, RF sensing can be realized using smart plugs that can be easily retrofitted by the end-user in their home without requiring an electrician. In addition, unlike lights on legacy wall switches, smart plugs have access to uninterrupted power, making them prime candidates for RF sensing. Besides plug-in smart plugs, flush-mounted in wall receptacles may also be used for implementing RF sensing.

[0014] However, the inventors have observed that during the switching events of the relay, the wireless radio integrated within the smart plug or smart receptacle may get disturbed, resulting in a jump in the time-series received signal strength indication (RSSI) / channel state information (CSI) values recorded by the radio, which may generate a false positive by the RF sensing system. Similarly, when significant amount of power is drawn by the plug load connected to the smart plug, the smart plug may heat up, leading to a temperature change of the wireless radio which may induce a drift in the signal quality 2023PF80516

[0015] 3 metrics such as RSSI and CSI, and as such may have influence on the baseline of the RF sensing algorithm. Hence, even gradual changes in power drawn by the electrical load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle may also lead to false triggers as the smart plug or smart receptacle heats up. Moreover, if an external load with low power factor, e.g. a device below 25 W which is not requiring any power factor correction circuitry, is connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle, this low power factor load may introduce EMI and / or harmonics in the electrical branch circuit which may disturb the operation of the radio. The low power factor load may for instance result in a changed receivingsensitivity of the wireless radio and / or may result in a changed transmission power of the messages sent by the radio to another RF sensing node in the sensing environment and hence may cause false trigger and / or false negatives.

[0016] With the RF sensing system according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve RF sensing in an improved manner since the RF sensing arrangement comprises at least one plug load controller which comprises a sensing area including at least one wireless smart plug or smart receptacle, and whereas the smart plug’s or smart receptacle’s RF sensing sensitivity and / or sensing mode can be reactively and / or proactively adjusted based on the current internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle and / or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle. Thereby, a radio frequency sensing property associated with the switching the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle is considered. Since the radio frequency sensing property associated with the switching the relay is taken into account, it is possible to reduce the number of false triggers. Consequently, with the RF sensing system, a sensing task can be performed in a more reliable and accurate manner.

[0017] The sensing mode may refer to a type of RF sensing and, in particular, to a sensing target given to the system performing the RF sensing. For example, the detection of a breathing motion may require a different type of RF sensing and thus a different sensing mode than the task of detecting a fall of a person. In particular, the processing performed on the RF signals may be different for different sensing modes. However, different sensing modes can also require different sensing signals, for instance, signals with different amplitudes or frequencies and / or different RF sensing strategies like providing more or less RF sensing signals to one or more network devices. 2023PF80516

[0018] 4

[0019] In particular, the smart receptacle may be a wireless in-wall, flush-mounted receptacle. The wireless radio can be a WiFi radio or a cellular radio or an ultra-wide-band (UWB) radio or a ZigBee radio or a Bluetooth radio. Examples of protocols used for control communication with the smart plug or smart receptacle include WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee and Z-Wave etc.

[0020] A RF sensing property can be a RF sensing noise, in particular, RF sensing noise introduced by switching the relay. Furthermore, a RF sensing property can be a signal distortion or a signal change such as an increased or decreased RSSI or CSI.

[0021] In particular, the internal status may be influenced by the temperature of the smart plug or smart receptacle and / or the characteristics of the external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle, e.g. if it is an air conditioning unit or an light emitting diode (LED) light.

[0022] It is possible that in the RF sensing system, the at least one plug load controller is configured to stop the smart plug or smart receptacle from performing the RF sensing task based on the inferred RF sensing property associated with the switching of the relay. For example, based on the inferred sensing property such as sensing noise, the sensing adjustment unit may avoid using this specific smart plug or smart receptacle as a RF sensing node whenever frequent switching of the smart plug or smart receptacle is observed or is imminent. This may allow the RF sensing system to better determine the presence or absence of at least one person or object in the sensing area.

[0023] Preferably, the at least one plug load controller is configured to reconfigure the sensing sensitivity and / or sensing mode of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay. That is, it is possible to reconfigure the RF sensing sensitivity or settings so that the sensing sensitivity in at least one area is increased and in at least one other area is decreased with respect to a previous sensing sensitivity.

[0024] Additionally or alternatively, for the RF sensing system, the current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle may be at least one of:

[0025] • the relay being in an on-status where current is allowed to flow or an off-status where no current is allowed to flow through the smart plug or smart receptacle; 2023PF80516

[0026] 5

[0027] • a current power-factor status, preferably, as determined by a connected external load;

[0028] • a current harmonics status, e.g., a total harmonic distortion (THD) value;

[0029] • a temperature status of the smart plug or smart receptacle;

[0030] • a state of the electricity grid, e.g., an unstable grid with poor harmonics due and under voltage to the electricity grid being overloaded on a hot day;

[0031] • an amperage currently flowing from an external load through the smart plug or smart receptacle;

[0032] • an expected time series activation profile of smart plug or smart receptacle, e.g., based on a user-defined schedule in a smart home application, or based on a lighting schedule of the control center, or an anticipated on / off time series behavior of a fridge or the like;

[0033] • a temperature and / or humidity status of the smart plug or smart receptacle or an environment; and

[0034] • a battery status of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle such as a battery status of the consumer electronic device connected to the smart plug, e.g., when it is inferred that a laptop’s battery will soon be fully charged, it can be anticipated that the smart plug will transition soon from high to lower amperage.

[0035] For example, the forecasted future internal status may be determined based on the relay state, an expected time series activation profile, a recorded temperature or temperature profile, and / or a recorded humidity or humidity profile.

[0036] Determining the forecasted future internal status based on the relay state is preferred since it is known in the system and comparatively easy to predict, as motion is measured inherently. Determining the forecasted future internal status based on the expected time series activation profile is also possible since it is generally programmed in the system and thus also comparatively easy to predict. In case the smart plug or smart receptacle has temperature and / or humidity sensors, or in case temperature and / or humidity sensors are present in other devices of the RF sensing system, temperature, humidity may also be used for determining the forecasted future internal status.

[0037] In particular, the forecasted internal status may be determined by the RF sensing system and / or a smart home system mapping the activities of daily living of the 2023PF80516

[0038] 6 user. For instance, the RF sensing system and / or a smart home system may learn that a user every day takes a shower at a certain time, e.g., 09:00 pm, and then plugs a hair drier into the smart plug or smart receptacle in the bathroom. The hair drier load, e.g., 2000 W, is associated with considerable heating of the smart plug' s or smart receptacle’s relay, compared, e.g., with a phone charger connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle.

[0039] Similarly, it is possible that the RF sensing system and / or a smart home system learns that a user moves a portable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit in the afternoon to the bedroom. The HVAC unit is a capacitive load leading to high harmonics. Right before the HVAC unit is actuated, the room temperature in the room has its maximum, e.g., 28 C, in summer days, sub sequentially the room temperature drops. At another time during a day, e.g., 10:00 pm, a user may connect a smart phone or other electronic device to a charger plugged into the smart plug or smart receptacle and charges it for typically one to three hours before the battery is full.

[0040] Similarly, the RF sensing system and / or a smart home system may know from earlier performed RF sensing tasks that when a person is entering the media room, most likely the television (TV) will be switched on next, wherein the TV is connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle.

[0041] Optionally, in the RF sensing system, it is possible that the at least one plug load controller is configured to change the sensing sensitivity based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle via the control communication before the relay switches an external load and / or to change the sensing sensitivity back after actuation of the relay has switched an external load. For example, the smart plug or smart receptacle may be used to on / off-control a legacy lighting device, e.g. a dumb LED lightbulb or switching a 0 to 10 V LED-driver to fully-off Yet, whenever a dumb light bulb is switched off with the smart plug or smart receptacle, the actuation of the smart plug’s or smart receptacle’s relay and / or the EMI / harmonics induced by the switching event may result in a change in CSI or RS SI disturbances which the RF sensing system may mistake as an occupancy trigger, e.g., despite of a room being vacant. It can therefore be beneficial to deliberately change the sensitivity of the RF sensing system briefly before the RF sensing system switches off the light. 2023PF80516

[0042] 7

[0043] Furthermore, optionally, in the RF sensing system, the at least one plug load controller may be configured to switch the relay according to a predefined schedule based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle via the control communication. For example, if the dumb light is switched on by a predefined lighting schedule, e.g. for mimicking occupancy in the away- from-home-state, it can be beneficial to change the sensitivity of the RF sensing system to avoid that a false intruder alert is raised by a home monitoring system.

[0044] Additionally or alternatively, in the RF sensing system, the sensing adjustment unit may be further configured for adjusting a sensing sensitivity based on an external load status of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle. For example, it is possible to take the status of at least one lighting device into account, including the duration how long this light has been off. For instance, if the light in the laundry room is not switched on during the night, this indicates that the room is currently not occupied. Hence, in this case, it is possible to allow for a RF sensing configuration allowing for more false triggers but correct for them via additional conditional logic using the state of the lighting device as input. The RF sensing may for instance be used during the night for primarily detecting water leakage from a washing machine. Preferably, the external load status is at least one of an actuation status and / or a duration of for how long an external load has been active or inactive. Furthermore, it is also possible to take the actuation status of non-lighting devices into account. For instance, if the smart plug indicates that a personal fan on a desk is actuated, it likely means that the room is occupied, even if a light is off.

[0045] Optionally, the RF sensing system may comprise at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles. Preferably, the sensing adjustment unit is further configured for adjusting a sensing sensitivity of one of the at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles taking into account the sensing sensitivity of another one of the at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles. For example, it may be beneficial to utilize multiple smart plugs or smart receptacles in a room for RF sensing. It is possible to look into consistency of the sensing results between a first and a second smart plug or smart receptacle. If, e.g., an observed RSSI disturbance in the first smart plug or smart receptacle is due to motion, then the second smart plug or smart receptacle in the room should also notice some motion. However, if the RSSI disturbance is induced, e.g., by a switching action of the first smart 2023PF80516

[0046] 8 plug or smart receptacle, the second smart plug or smart receptacle should not observe the same RS SI trigger.

[0047] In addition, it may be beneficial if in the RF sensing system, the least one plug load controller is configured for scheduling the switching of the relays of the at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles with a time offset. That is, known plug-load control systems usually simultaneously switch off all the loads in the room, e.g., a computer, a TV and a personal fan, upon detecting room -vacancy or based on a user defined schedule. Yet, it may be beneficial to schedule the switching of a first and a second smart plug or smart receptacle with a slight time offset. This may ensure that possible false triggers in the RF sensing due to the switching actions are not observed by the first and second smart plug or smart receptacle concurrently. The staggered switching off allows to use conditional logic to eliminate the false triggers.

[0048] It is particularly preferred that in the RF sensing system, the least one plug load controller is configured for preventing switching of the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle in case a predefined event is detected while performing the RF sensing task with the smart plug’s or smart receptacle’s wireless radio. A predefined event may be the detection of a fall or occupancy the like. One possible implementation would be to use wireless sensing also for fall detection, e.g. using WiFi 5 GHz / 6 GHz band. In general this parses WiFi samples over a certain time similar to breathing measurements where multiple seconds of data is needed as a person only breathes about 15 times per minute. In case of live threating situations or certain measurements have to take place, the switching, e.g., scheduled ones, may be delayed or may not take place. Yet, it may be beneficial to be able to overrule such a behavior due to a high priority switch tasks. Knowing that these measurements take place, one can also special filter the RF sensing signal at the moment of switching such that the RF sensing algorithm will not be influenced.

[0049] Another example where preventing switching of the relay can be beneficial is to control the sensitivity of the RF sensing system based on (expected) smart plug actuations and / or an expected activity for the sensing area. For instance, if the RF sensing system has the expectation that an elderly person may fall, e.g., as the person looks unstable, the RF sensing system may temporarily prevent the smart plugs in the room from switching off their electrical plug loads and thereby prevents being disturbed in its acquisition of life-safety critical RF sensing data, e.g., as a fall event may occur soon. In 2023PF80516

[0050] 9 other words, whenever the RF sensing system is busy with sensing for a very important predefined event, it is possible to proactively tell the smart plug or smart receptacle to hold off on changing its relay state. In this way, the smart plug can contribute to provide reliable RF sensing data to the sensing system.

[0051] Preferably, in the RF sensing, the at least one plug load controller is configured for determining an on / off cycle of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle. Furthermore, preferably, the sensing adjustment unit is configured for adjusting a sensing sensitivity of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined on / off cycle of the external load. That is, there are several electrical loads in a typical home that exhibit frequent power cycles. Some examples include fans that may cycle on and off to maintain the desired speed or temperature, air conditioners that may turn on and off frequently to maintain the desired temperature, refrigerators that may cycle on and off to keep the contents cool, washing machines that may cycle on and off during the wash and spin cycles, computers that may go into screen saver, sleep mode or hibernate mode when not in use, which causes them to cycle on and off, water heaters that may cycle on and off to maintain the desired temperature of the water, pool pumps and aquarium pumps. Hence, it may therefore be beneficial if the RF sensing system is configured to recognize that a specific smart plug is connected to an electrical load which frequently power cycles. Preferably, it is possible to reconfigure the RF sensing system in anticipation of a switching event of the third party load. For instance, if the least one plug load controller just has observed an on / off cycle of a window air conditioner, the least one plug load controller may determine based on the air condition’s behavior observed earlier today that there will be at least ten minutes before the next on / off cycle. Hence, it may be possible to determine with the least one plug load controller that it is possible to assign this smart plug for the next five minutes for a sensitive RF sensing task without having to be worried about disturbances from load switching event. However, after eight minutes there may be an increased risk of the smart plug or smart receptacle reporting a false positive. Thus, knowing the state of appliances and operation mode may be more and more possible to the home system integration. Having the application programming interfaces (API) of, for instance, a washing machine available, it may be possible to know if it is on, and in which washing state it is on, e.g., using standard in matter. 2023PF80516

[0052] 10

[0053] Additionally or alternatively, in the RF sensing, the at least one plug load controller may be further configured to monitor a time-series pattern of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle and to control the switching of the relay based on the monitored time-series pattern. For example, a smart plug or smart receptacle may not only be used for switching dumb loads but may be used in conjunction with smart loads connected to a home automation system. For instance, the smart plug or smart receptacle may be used by a user to reduce the standby power of a stereo music system or deactivate HVAC. The at least one plug load controller may be configured to monitor the time-series pattern of the HVAC, e.g., its on / off cycles, and then may purposefully wait with the activation of the smart plug or smart receptacle relay for a predefined time when the HVAC draws little power. This may reduce the disturbance of the load switching event caused on the RF sensing performance. Similarly, to reduce the switching noise in the smart plug or smart receptacle, before the smart plug or smart receptacle switches the external load such as the HVAC off, it first asks the external load to ramp down the external load’s power consumption. This may further reduce the disturbance on the RF sensing. Moreover, this may reduce the disturbance of the load switching event caused on the RF sensing performance.

[0054] According to the present invention, also a method for performing a RF sensing task is proposed. The method comprises the steps of:

[0055] - wirelessly controlling a smart plug or smart receptacle with at least one plug load controller via a control communication between the plug load controller and the smart plug or smart receptacle, the smart plug or smart receptacle comprising a wireless radio that is configured for performing a RF sensing task and a relay that is configured for switching an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle,

[0056] - determining a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle with the at least one plug load controller,

[0057] - inferring a RF sensing property associated with the switching of the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined current internal status or forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle, and

[0058] - adjusting a sensing sensitivity of the smart plug or smart receptacle with the at least one plug load controller based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle via the control 2023PF80516

[0059] 11 communication and based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

[0060] The method can be carried out using the RF sensing system as described herein.

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program for performing a RF sensing task. The computer program includes instructions for executing the steps of the method for performing a RF sensing task as described herein, when run on a computer. The present invention also relates to a non-transitory computer readable data medium storing the computer program described herein.

[0062] It shall be understood that the RF sensing system of claim 1, the method of claim 13, the computer program of claim 14, and the non-transitory computer readable data medium of claim 15, have similar and / or identical preferred embodiments, in particular, as defined in the dependent claims.

[0063] It shall be understood that a preferred embodiment of the present invention can also be any combination of the dependent claims or above embodiments with the respective independent claim.

[0064] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

[0065] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] In the following drawings:

[0067] Fig. 1 schematically and exemplary shows a RF sensing system for performing a RF sensing task; and

[0068] Fig. 2 schematically and exemplary shows a flowchart diagram representing a method for performing a RF sensing task.

[0069] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0070] Figure 1 schematically and exemplary shows a RF sensing system 100 for performing a RF sensing task. The RF sensing task can be fall detection monitoring, occupancy detection, heart rate monitoring, gesture detection, vital sign detection or the like. 2023PF80516

[0071] 12

[0072] The RF sensing system 100 comprises a smart plug 102 and a smart receptacle 104 that each comprise a wireless radio 108, 110, respectively. The wireless radios 108, 110 are configured for performing the RF sensing task by transmitting RF signals 112, 114, respectively. These RF signals, which may also be used for radio communication, when passing through a sensing volume, are affected by presence / movement of a person or an object like a car within the sensing volume e.g., via reflection, absorption, scattering etc. In RF-based sensing such deviations of RF signals can be used, e.g., to infer presence of the person or the object. Next to inferring the presence of a person or an object, RF-based sensing also extends to other applications such as location detection, fall detection, gesture detection, vital signs detection etc., which are also based on how RF signals are affected in a sensing volume.

[0073] Furthermore the RF sensing system 100 comprises a plug load controller 106 that is arranged and configured for controlling wirelessly the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104. The RF sensing system 100 comprises one smart plug 102 and one smart receptacle 104, however, more smart plugs and / or smart receptacles could be present. It is also possible that only smart receptacles and no smart plugs are present or vice versa. For controlling the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 wirelessly with the plug load controller 106 is achieved using a control communication 130, 132 that can include WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or Z-Wave or the like.

[0074] The smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 function as a remote- controlled power switch for switching external loads 116, 118 (not part of the RF sensing system 100) that is connected to either the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104. Thereby, the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 can be used for making a “dumb” external load 116, 118 “smart” and to enable the use of such external loads 116, 118 for home automation or building automation purposes. Examples for such external loads 116, 118 that can be made “smart” using smart plug 102 or smart receptacle 104 include fans, washing machines, air-conditioners, computers, water pumps, water heaters, ovens or the like. For wirelessly switching an external load 116, 118 connected to the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104, each of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 comprises a relay 120, 122 that is configured for switching the external load 116, 118 connected to the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104, respectively. 2023PF80516

[0075] 13

[0076] For wirelessly controlling the RF sensing of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 via the control communication 130, 132, the plug load controller 106 comprises a status determination unit 124, a RF sensing property determination unit 126, and a sensing adjustment unit 128. With the status determination unit 124, a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 can be determined. A current internal status and a forecasted future internal status can be whether the relay 120, 122 is in an on-status or in an off-status, a current power-factor status as determined by one of the external loads 116, 118, a current harmonics status such as a THD value, a temperature status of the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104, a state of the electricity created, and amperage currently flowing from one of the external loads 116, 118 through the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104 or an expected time series activation profile of the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104. For example, the current internal status or the forecasted future internal status can be determined based on smart plug data or smart receptacle data that are indicative of an operation property of the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104, respectively. Such smart plug data or smart receptacle data can be retrieved wirelessly via the control communication 130, 132 and processed by software and hardware of the status determination unit 124.

[0077] The RF sensing property determination unit 126 is configured for inferring a RF sensing property associated with the switching of the relay 120, 122 of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104, respectively. In particular, a RF sensing property can be a RF sensing noise that is introduced in the RF signal 112, 114 when switching the relay 120, 122. Yet, a RF sensing property can also be a signal distortion or a signal change of the RF signal 112, 114. To this end, the RF sensing property determination unit 126 can analyze the detected RF signal 112, 114 using corresponding hardware and software of the RF sensing property determination unit 126.

[0078] By means of the sensing adjustment unit 128, it is possible to adjust by using the control communication 130, 132 a sensing sensitivity and / or a sensing mode of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104. In particular, the sensing adjustment unit 128 is configured to adjust the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 using the current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 as determined by 2023PF80516

[0079] 14 the status determination unit 124. In addition, for adjusting the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104, the sensing adjustment unit 128 is configured to take into account the RF sensing property as inferred by the RF sensing property determination unit 126.

[0080] Since the current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 and in addition the inferred sensing property, e.g., associated with the switching of the relay 120, 122, are used for adjusting the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode of the smart plug 102 and / or the smart receptacle 104, the RF sensing task can be performed with the RF sensing system 100 in a controlled and reliable manner. In particular, since the inferred RF sensing property such as an introduced RF sensing noise is considered for adjusting the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104, it is possible with the RF sensing system 100 to generate comparatively less false triggers.

[0081] For example, the plug load controller 106 can change a sensing mode in a way to stop the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104 from performing the RF sensing task in case the inferred RF sensing property meets a predefined criterion such as exceeding a predefined RF sensing noise threshold or a signal distortion threshold. In case the plug load controller 106 stops the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104 from performing the RF sensing task, subsequently, the plug load controller may reconfigure the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode and may control the smart plug 102 or the smart receptacle 104 to continue performing the RF sensing task with the adjusted sensing sensitivity and / or sensing mode. It may also be possible to stop the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 from performing the RF sensing task and to subsequently reconfigure the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104, but, to adjust a sensing parameter associated with the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode while performing the RF sensing task and to continue performing the RF sensing task with the adjusted sensing parameters. Adjusting the sensing sensitivity and / or the sensing mode with the plug load controller 106 can also be performed according to a predefined schedule for example that is related to certain times during a day. The plug load controller 106 may also be configured for adjusting the sensing sensitivity and / or sensing mode of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 based on an external load status that is associated with the external loads 116, 118 connected to the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104. For 2023PF80516

[0082] 15 example, an external load status may relate to an activation status or a duration of activity status of the external load 116, 118. It is also possible to use the plug load controller 106 to analyze the sensing sensitivity and / or sensing status of the smart plug 102 and to adjust the sensing sensitivity and / or sensing mode of the smart receptacle 104 based on the sensing sensitivity or sensing status of the smart plug 102, or vice versa. Thereby it can be beneficial to switch the relays of the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle in a controlled manner with a predefined time of set to increase the control and reliability of performing the sensing task. In case, a critical situation as detected by the RF sensing system 100 such as an increased risk that a person may fall, the plug load controller 106 can prevent the relays 108, 110 from switching and to continue capturing and analyzing RF signals 112, 114 provided by the smart plug 102 and the smart receptacle 104 to reliably perform the assigned sensing task such as fall detection.

[0083] Figure 2 schematically and exemplary shows a flowchart diagram representing a method for performing a RF sensing task. The method can be carried out using the RF sensing system 100 described with reference to figure 1.

[0084] In the method, one or more smart plugs and / or one or more smart receptacles such as smart plug 102 or smart receptacle 104 are wirelessly controlled with at least one plug load controller such as plug load controller 106 employing a control communication based on, e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (step SI). The smart plugs or smart receptacles each comprises a wireless radio configured for performing a RF sensing task and a relay for switching an external load connected to the respective smart plug or smart receptacle. Furthermore, in the method, a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plugs and / or smart receptacles is determined (step S2) such as a current activation status as one example of a current internal status or an expected future activation status as one example of a forecasted future internal status. For determining the current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle, the plug load controller such as plug load controller 106 of RF sensing system 100 can be used. Subsequently, in the method, a RF sensing property associated with the switching of the relay of the smart plugs and / or smart receptacles is inferred (step S3) by the plug load controller. To this end, the plug load controller uses the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plugs or smart receptacles. Eventually, based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted 2023PF80516

[0085] 16 internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle as well as based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay of that smart plug or smart receptacle, a sensing sensitivity and / or sensing mode of the respective smart plug or smart receptacle is adjusted (step S4) by the plug load controller via the control communication.

[0086] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0087] In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0088] A single unit or device may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. 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.

[0089] Procedures like the wirelessly controlling a smart plug or smart receptacle, the determining a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle, the inferring a RF sensing property associated with the switching of the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle, et cetera, performed by one or several units or devices can be performed by any other number of units or devices. These procedures, particularly the adjusting a sensing sensitivity and / or a sensing mode of the smart plug or smart receptacle in accordance with the method for performing a RF sensing task carried out by the plug load controller, can be implemented as program code means of a computer program and / or as dedicated hardware.

[0090] A computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium, supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0091] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0092] In summary, the present invention relates to a RF sensing system and to a method for performing a RF sensing task. Smart plug or smart receptacle having a wireless radio and a relay are wirelessly controlled to perform the RF sensing task using a plug load controller. In particular, by switching the relays, an activation status of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle can be controlled. With the plug load 2023PF80516

[0093] 17 controller, a sensing sensitivity and / or a sensing mode of the smart plug or smart receptacle can be adjusted based on a determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle and based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

Claims

2023PF8051618CLAIMS:

1. A radio frequency sensing system that is configured for performing a radio frequency sensing task, the radio frequency sensing system comprising: at least one plug load controller that is configured for wirelessly controlling a smart plug or smart receptacle via a control communication between the plug load controller and the smart plug or smart receptacle, and a smart plug or smart receptacle comprising a wireless radio that is configured for performing a radio frequency sensing task and a relay that is configured for switching an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle, the least one plug load controller comprising: a status determination unit that is configured for determining a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle, a radio frequency sensing property determination unit that is configured for inferring a radio frequency sensing property associated with the switching the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined current internal status or forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle, a sensing adjustment unit that is configured for adjusting via the control communication a sensing sensitivity of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle and based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

2. The radio frequency sensing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plug load controller is configured to stop the smart plug or smart receptacle from performing the radio frequency sensing task based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

3. The radio frequency sensing system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one plug load controller is configured to reconfigure the sensing sensitivity and / or2023PF8051619 sensing mode of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

4. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle is at least one of: the relay being in an on-status where current is allowed to flow or an off-status where no current is allowed to flow through the smart plug or smart receptacle; a current power-factor status, preferably, as determined by a connected external load; a current harmonics status; a temperature status of the smart plug or smart receptacle; a state of the electricity grid; an amperage currently flowing from an external load through the smart plug or smart receptacle; an expected time series activation profile of smart plug or smart receptacle; a temperature and / or humidity status of the smart plug or smart receptacle or an environment; and a battery status of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle.

5. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one plug load controller is configured to change the sensing sensitivity based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle via the control communication before the relay switches an external load and / or to change the sensing sensitivity back after actuation of the relay has switched an external load.

6. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one plug load controller is configured to switch the relay according to a predefined schedule based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle via the control communication.2023PF80516207. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing adjustment unit is further configured for adjusting a sensing sensitivity based on an external load status of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle.

8. The radio frequency sensing system according to claim 7, wherein the external load status is at least one of an actuation status and a duration of for how long the external load has been active.

9. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles, wherein the sensing adjustment unit is further configured for adjusting a sensing sensitivity of one of the at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles taking into account the sensing sensitivity of another one of the at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles.

10. The radio frequency sensing system according to claim 9, wherein the least one plug load controller is configured for scheduling the switching of the relays of the at least two smart plugs or smart receptacles with a time offset.

11. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the least one plug load controller is configured for preventing switching of the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle in case a predefined event is detected while performing the radio frequency sensing task with the smart plug’s or smart receptacle’s wireless radio.

12. The radio frequency sensing system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one plug load controller is further configured for determining an on / off cycle of an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle and wherein the sensing adjustment unit is further configured for adjusting a sensing sensitivity of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined on / off cycle of the external load.2023PF805162113. A method for performing a radio frequency sensing task, the method comprising the steps of: wirelessly controlling a smart plug or smart receptacle with at least one plug load controller via a control communication between the plug load controller and the smart plug or smart receptacle, the smart plug or smart receptacle comprising a wireless radio that is configured for performing a radio frequency sensing task and a relay that is configured for switching an external load connected to the smart plug or smart receptacle, determining a current internal status or a forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle with the at least one plug load controller, inferring a radio frequency sensing property associated with the switching of the relay of the smart plug or smart receptacle based on the determined current internal status or forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle, and adjusting a sensing sensitivity of the smart plug or smart receptacle with the at least one plug load controller based on the determined current internal status or the forecasted future internal status of the smart plug or smart receptacle via the control communication and based on the inferred sensing property associated with the switching of the relay.

14. A computer program for performing a radio frequency sensing task, the computer program including instructions for executing the steps of the method according to at least one of the preceding claims, when run on a computer.

15. A non-transitory computer readable data medium storing the computer program of claim 14.

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