# US 10,700,477 B1 · Modular device backbone for a network of user-swappable products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,700,477 B1 - Document ID: US10700477B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/119,953 - Filed: 2018-08-31 - Granted: 2020-06-30 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-31 - Assignees: Deako, Inc. - Applicants: Deako, Inc. - Inventors: Derek Richardson; Patrick Prendergast; Kyle Montgomery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10700477B1 ## CPC - G05F 1/565: sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage, power factor (G05F1/563 takes precedence) - H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor} - H01R 13/6691: {with built-in signalling means (H01R13/717 takes precedence)} - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - H02J 13/1331: {using wireless data transmission} - H02J 13/14: the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)} - H02J 2105/42: Home appliances - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/242: Home appliances - Y04S 40/18: Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A modular device backbone includes two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with swappable devices. Each of the one or more backplates may include a configuration storage device to store configuration information for communicating with additional swappable devices coupled to additional backplates. Each of the one or more backplates may further include a communication unit to provide the configuration information to a coupled swappable device, where the coupled swappable device unit establishes a communication link to the additional swappable devices based on the configuration information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular device backbone comprising: a controller; two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein each of the two or more backplates comprises: a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and further including information for communicating with the controller; and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information, wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the plurality of swappable devices to a particular backplate of the two or more backplates, the particular swappable device receives configuration information including the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and controller-based configuration information associated with the backplate identifier from the controller, wherein the configuration information includes information for communicating with additional swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices and a location of the particular backplate in the user space, wherein the particular swappable device self-configures location-based functionality based on the location, wherein the coupled swappable device establishes a communication link to the additional swappable devices based on the configuration information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises: at least one of a hub, a local server, or a remote server. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the configuration information further includes a list of the additional swappable devices coupled to the additional backplates. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modular device backbone of claim 3, wherein the two or more backplates include an electrical backplate configured to be connected to a power distribution panel via electrical wiring throughout the user space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The modular device backbone of claim 4, wherein the electrical backplate is configured to couple with any of a set of the plurality of swappable devices including electrical loads and further provide connections to the power distribution panel upon coupling. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The modular device backbone of claim 5, wherein the electrical loads comprise: at least one of a luminaire, a fan, an outlet, or a sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The modular device backbone of claim 5, wherein the electrical loads comprise: at least one of, an air vent, window blinds, a door lock, or a door opener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The modular device backbone of claim 4, wherein the electrical backplate is configured to couple with any of a set of the plurality of swappable devices including electrical load controllers and further provide connections to the power distribution panel at least one electrical load upon coupling. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modular device backbone of claim 8, wherein at least one of the electrical load controllers comprises: a switch to toggle power from the power distribution panel to the at least one electrical load between a powered state and an unpowered state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The modular device backbone of claim 8, wherein at least one of the electrical load controllers comprises: a dimmer to regulate power from the power distribution panel to the at least one electrical load. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The modular device backbone of claim 8, wherein at least one of the electrical load controllers comprises: a control panel to regulate power from the power distribution panel to the at least one electrical load according to user-selected values. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the two or more backplates include a thermostat backplate configured to be connected to a HVAC system, wherein the thermostat backplate is configured to couple to a set of swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices including thermostat control units and further configured to provide connections to the HVAC system upon coupling. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the two or more backplates include a plumbing backplate configured to be connected to a plumbing system, wherein the plumbing backplate is configured to couple to a set of swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices including plumbing fixtures and further configured to provide connections to the plumbing system upon coupling. ### Claim 14 A modular device network comprising: a controller; two or more backplates distributed throughout a user space and configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein each of the two or more backplates comprises: a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and further including information for communicating with the controller; and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information; and two or more swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices coupled to the two or more backplates, wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the two or more swappable devices to a particular backplate of the two or more backplates, the particular swappable device receives configuration information including the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and controller-based configuration information associated with the backplate identifier from the controller, wherein the configuration information includes information for communicating with additional swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices and a location of the particular backplate in the user space, wherein the particular swappable device self-configures location-based functionality based on the location, wherein the two or more swappable devices establish a communication link between each other based on the configuration information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modular device network of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises: at least one of a hub, a local server, or a remote server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The modular device network of claim 14, wherein the configuration information further includes a location of the corresponding backplate within the user space, wherein each of the two or more coupled swappable devices self-configures location-based functionality based on the location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The modular device network of claim 14, wherein the configuration information further includes a list of the additional swappable devices coupled to the additional backplates. ### Claim 18 A method for providing a modular device network comprising: mounting two or more backplates throughout a user space, wherein the two or more backplates are configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein each of the two or more backplates comprises: a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and further including information for communicating with a controller; and a communication unit to transmit the configuration information; and coupling two or more swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices with the two or more backplates, wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the two or more swappable devices to a particular backplate of the two or more backplates, the particular swappable device receives configuration information including the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and controller-based configuration information associated with the backplate identifier from the controller, wherein the configuration information includes information for communicating with additional swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices and a location of the particular backplate in the user space, wherein the particular swappable device self-configures location-based functionality based on the location, wherein the two or more swappable devices establish a communication link between each other based on the configuration information.