# US 12,176,660 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 12,176,660 B1 - Document ID: US12176660B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/195,831 - Filed: 2021-03-09 - Granted: 2024-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-31 - Assignees: Deako, Inc. - Applicants: Deako, Inc. - Inventors: Derek Richardson; Patrick Prendergast; Kyle Montgomery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12176660B1 ## 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 may include a controller and two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with swappable devices. Any of the two or more backplates may include a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and a controller address for communicating with the controller, and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information. Upon coupling of a particular swappable device to a particular backplate, the particular swappable device may receive the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and further communicate with the controller using the controller address to receive controller-based configuration information from the controller, which may include information for communicating with additional swappable devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular device backbone comprising: one 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 a particular backplate of the one or more backplates comprises: a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information, wherein the backplate-based configuration information includes a backplate identifier unique to the particular backplate, wherein the backplate-based configuration information further includes protocols allowing a coupled one of the plurality of swappable devices to receive controller-based configuration information from a controller on a modular device network, wherein the controller-based configuration information includes data indicative of electrical wiring connections to one or more loads connected to the particular backplate; 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 the particular backplate, the particular swappable device receives the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and further communicates with the controller using the protocols in the backplate-based configuration information to receive the controller-based configuration information from the controller, wherein the particular swappable device self-configures to operate the one or more loads connected to the particular backplate based on at least one of the backplate-based configuration information or the controller-based 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 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the configuration storage device comprises: at least one of printed text, a bar code, or a QR code. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the protocols include a controller address of the controller on the modular device network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more backplates includes an electrical backplate configured to be connected to a power distribution panel via electrical wiring throughout the user space, wherein the electrical backplate is configured to provide electrical connections between the power distribution panel and a coupled one of the plurality of swappable devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The modular device backbone of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of swappable devices includes an electrical load, wherein the electrical backplate is configured to provide electrical connections between the electrical load and the power distribution panel upon coupling. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular device backbone of claim 7, wherein the electrical load comprises: at least one of a luminaire, a fan, an outlet, or a sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The modular device backbone of claim 7, wherein the electrical load comprises: at least one of an air vent, window blinds, a door lock, or a door opener. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The modular device backbone of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of swappable devices includes an electrical load controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The modular device backbone of claim 10, wherein the electrical load controller 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 12 (depends on 10) The modular device backbone of claim 10, wherein the electrical load controller comprises: a dimmer to regulate power from the power distribution panel to the at least one electrical load. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The modular device backbone of claim 10, wherein the electrical load controller 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 14 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the one 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 15 (depends on 1) The modular device backbone of claim 1, wherein the one 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 16 A modular device network comprising: one or more backplates distributed throughout a user space and configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein a particular backplate of the one or more backplates comprises: a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information, wherein the backplate-based configuration information includes a backplate identifier unique to the particular backplate, wherein the backplate-based configuration information further includes protocols allowing a coupled one of the plurality of swappable devices to receive controller-based configuration information from a controller on a modular device network, wherein the controller-based configuration information includes data indicative of electrical wiring connections to one or more loads connected to the particular backplate; and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information; and one or more swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices coupled to the one or more backplates, wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the one or more swappable devices to the particular backplate, the particular swappable device receives the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and further communicates with the controller using the protocols in the backplate-based configuration information to receive the controller-based configuration information from the controller, wherein the particular swappable device self-configures to operate the one or more loads connected to the particular backplate based on at least one of the backplate-based configuration information or the controller-based configuration information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The modular device network of claim 16, wherein the controller comprises: at least one of a hub, a local server, or a remote server. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The modular device network of claim 16, 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 19 (depends on 16) The modular device network of claim 16, wherein the configuration information further includes a list of the additional swappable devices coupled to the additional backplates. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The modular device network of claim 16, wherein the configuration storage device comprises: at least one of printed text, a bar code, or a QR code. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The modular device network of claim 16, wherein the protocols include controller address of the controller on the modular device network. ### Claim 22 A method for providing a modular device network comprising: mounting one or more backplates throughout a user space, wherein the one or more backplates are configured to couple with any of a plurality of swappable devices, wherein a particular one of the one or more backplates comprises: a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information, wherein the backplate-based configuration information includes a backplate identifier unique to the particular backplate, wherein the backplate-based configuration information further includes protocols allowing a coupled one of the plurality of swappable devices to receive controller-based configuration information from a controller on a modular device network, wherein the controller-based configuration information includes data indicative of electrical wiring connections to one or more loads connected to the particular backplate; and a communication unit to transmit the configuration information; and coupling one or more swappable devices of the plurality of swappable devices with at least one of the one or more backplates, wherein, upon coupling of a particular swappable device of the one or more swappable devices to the particular backplate, the particular swappable device receives the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and further communicates with the controller using the protocols in the backplate-based configuration information to receive the controller-based configuration information from the controller, wherein the particular swappable device self-configures to operate the one or more loads connected to the particular backplate based on at least one of the backplate-based configuration information or the controller-based configuration information. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the controller comprises: at least one of a hub, a local server, or a remote server. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, 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.