US 11128710

Here's a concise summary of US patent 11128710:

Title: System and method for server-based control

Current Assignee: Smart Speaker LLC

Inventors: Yehuda Binder, Benjamin Maytal

Filing Date: July 23, 2017

Issue Date: September 21, 2021

Abstract: A system and method for control within an environment, such as a building or vehicle, is disclosed. This system utilizes a control server that includes functionalities for receiving sensor data from field units, processing this data according to a control logic, and sending commands to actuator units. The field units can communicate with a router, which in turn communicates with the control server via the Internet. The system operation or control logic may involve randomness and can incorporate various types of sensors (e.g., image, voice, temperature, motion) and actuators (e.g., light sources, motion actuators, pumps, sounders). The control server can implement or distribute controller functionalities, offering a flexible and potentially cost-effective alternative to dedicated hardware gateways.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a control system for an environment (like a building or vehicle). It centers on a "control server" that functions as a central brain. This server receives information from "field units" (which contain sensors). Based on this sensor data, the control server decides what actions to take and sends instructions to "actuator units" (which control physical phenomena). The field units and actuator units are connected to a "router," and this router communicates with the control server over the internet. Essentially, the core idea is using a remote server to manage and automate environmental controls by gathering data from sensors and directing actuators through a local router.

• Independent Claim 13: This claim describes a method (a series of steps) for controlling an environment. It outlines that a control server in a remote location receives sensor data from field units located within the environment. The server then executes a control logic based on this received data and generates commands for actuator units within the environment. These commands are then sent from the control server to the actuator units via the internet and a local router, causing the actuators to perform specific actions. This claim focuses on the process of remote, server-based control, from sensing to actuation.

• Independent Claim 14: This claim is similar to Claim 1 but specifies the inclusion of an image sensor within at least one of the field units. The control server, in this case, receives image data from this sensor and processes it (e.g., for motion sensing, face detection, or recognition). The control logic then determines actuator commands based on this image processing, which are sent back to the actuators to control a physical phenomenon in the environment. This claim highlights the integration of image-based sensing and processing into the server-based control system.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 11128710 did not return any specific results at this time. The provided search results mention several intellectual property cases filed in 2026 and discussions around patent law, but none explicitly link to US patent 11128710. Therefore, there is no authoritative information available from the CAFC dockets for this patent as of April 26, 2026.