Apple has patented a technology that is designed to automatically control your home appliances based on your location, which can be determined by your iPhone.
The patent, issued by the US Patent Office, describes a wireless communication system that predicts when you want devices such as your lighting or air conditioning turned on based on your current location rather than a routine.
The Apple system is the latest step in the growing area of what is called the “Internet of Things”, with more off-the-shelf devices being connected to smartphones through the internet.
Belkin has the WeMo range which includes light switches and power-points linked to motion detectors that let you turn on devices remotely from a tablet or smartphone or set up rules, such as turn on the lights when the sun sets or when you enter the room.
Samsung also recently release a wi-fi enabled washer/dryer that you can turn on using a smartphone.
Another product, the iKettle lets you turn on the kettle to boil at a temperature of your choice while you’re still in bed playing with your iPhone.
The Apple patent describes a system that goes beyond basic rules or manual control.
“Automatic operations are frequently sub-optimal due to variations in a person’s daily routines,” the patent says.
“A person can leave work at different times each day, can encounter different traffic patterns, or can exhibit different hunger levels. Thus, unpredictable events and emotions can make it difficult to establish automatic operations that consistently produce desired results.”
While lodging a patent for a technology does not mean Apple will necessarily launch a product, the system is an obvious use of the M7 motion co-processor chip in the iPhone 5S and the new iPad Air.
The M7 which data using an accelerometer, gyroscope and a compass which, combined with the phone’s GPS, can determine a person’s location, speed and direction of movement.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.