# US 12,184,442 B2 · Device, system, and method of dynamically configuring a sub-1 gigahertz reception module via a Wi-Fi communication link

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- Number: US 12,184,442 B2
- Document ID: US12184442B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/382,512
- Filed: 2023-10-22
- Published: 2024-02-22
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-17
- Assignees: Olibra LLC
- Applicants: Olibra LLC
- Inventors: Zohar Shinar; Christopher Andrew Merck; Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184442B2

## CPC

- H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)}
- F04D 25/088: {Ceiling fans}
- F04D 25/166: {using fans}
- F04D 27/00: Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared
- H04L 12/2832: {Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks (single bridge functionality H04L12/4625)}
- H04L 12/2834: {Switching of information between an external network and a home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856)}
- H04L 12/2838: {Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths (adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24)}
- H04M 1/72415: for remote control of appliances
- G08C 2201/20: Binding and programming of remote control devices
- G08C 2201/40: Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
- H04L 61/5038: for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
- 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 2012/2841: {Wireless}
- H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Device, system, and method of dynamically configuring a Sub-1 Gigahertz reception module via a Wi-Fi communication link. For example, a ceiling fan includes rotatable blades, an electric motor to rotate them, and a fan controller to control activation and deactivation and rotation speed of the electric motor. The ceiling fan further includes a non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, such as a Sub-1 Gigahertz wireless receiver unit, to receive incoming non-Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands to the ceiling fan which is associated with an existing Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan also includes a Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, to receive an incoming Wi-Fi message indicating a replacement Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan includes a Fan Address Code Modification Unit, to replace (i) the existing Fan Access Code of the ceiling fan, with (ii) a replacement Fan Access Code that was received via the incoming Wi-Fi message.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A ceiling fan comprising:
(a) rotatable blades;
(b) an electric motor to rotate said rotatable blades;
(c) a Sub-1 Gigahertz wireless receiver unit, configured to receive an incoming Sub-1 Gigahertz wireless signal which carries an incoming Sub-1 Gigahertz command that was wirelessly transmitted over a Sub-1 Gigahertz communication link by a remote control device and is directed to said fan controller of the ceiling fan,
wherein said incoming Sub-1 Gigahertz command is at least one of: a Sub-1 Gigahertz command to turn off said electric motor, a Sub-1 Gigahertz command to turn on said electric motor, a Sub-1 Gigahertz command to modify a rotation speed of said electric motor;
(d) a Wi-Fi receiver unit, co-located with said Sub-1 Gigahertz receiver unit,
configured to receive an incoming Wi-Fi signal which carries an incoming Wi-Fi command that was wirelessly transmitted over a Wi-Fi communication link by an electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan,
wherein said incoming Wi-Fi command is at least one of: a Wi-Fi command to turn off said electric motor, a Wi-Fi command to turn on said electric motor, a Wi-Fi command to modify a rotation speed of said electric motor;
(e) a fan controller, configured to control activation and deactivation and rotation speed of said electric motor, based on at least one of: (i) the incoming Sub-1 Gigahertz command, (ii) the incoming Wi-Fi command;
wherein the ceiling fan comprises a controller unit that modifies one or more settings of the Sub-1 Gigahertz receiver unit, based on information that the Wi-Fi receiver unit of the ceiling fan receives over said Wi-Fi communication link from said electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ceiling fan of claim 1,
wherein the ceiling fan further comprises a Wi-Fi transmitter unit,
configured to wirelessly transmit over a Wi-Fi communication link, to said electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan, an outgoing Wi-Fi reporting message that reports a current value of an operational parameter of the ceiling fan;
wherein the outgoing Wi-Fi reporting message enables said electronic device, that is external to said ceiling fan, to wirelessly transmit Wi-Fi messages to the Wi-Fi receiver of the ceiling fan indicating commands to change operational parameters of the ceiling fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ceiling fan of claim 1,
wherein the ceiling fan further comprises a Wi-Fi transmitter unit,
configured to wirelessly transmit over a Wi-Fi communication link, from said ceiling fan to a cloud-based server, an outgoing message reporting to said cloud-based server a current value of an operational parameter of the ceiling fan;
wherein the outgoing message enables said cloud-based server to wirelessly transmit messages that are received at the Wi-Fi receiver of the ceiling fan and that indicate commands to change operational parameters of the ceiling fan.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ceiling fan of claim 1,
wherein the ceiling fan further comprises a Wi-Fi transmitter unit,
configured to send over a Wi-Fi communication link an outgoing Wi-Fi message reporting a current value of an operational parameter of said ceiling fan;
wherein said Wi-Fi transmitter unit of the ceiling fan, and said Wi-Fi receiver unit of the ceiling fan, enable said electronic device to dynamically modify or replace, via one or more Wi-Fi communication messages, the current value of said operational parameter of said ceiling fan.

### Claim 5

A ceiling fan comprising:
(a) rotatable blades;
(b) an electric motor to rotate said rotatable blades;
(c) a non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, configured to receive incoming non-Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands that are particularly addressed to said ceiling fan and not to other ceiling fans;
(d) a Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, configured to receive incoming Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands that are particularly addressed to said ceiling fan and not to other ceiling fans;
(e) a fan controller, configured to control activation and deactivation and rotation speed of said electric motor, based on at least one of: (i) the incoming non-Wi-Fi signals, (ii) the incoming Wi-Fi signals;
wherein the ceiling fan comprises a controller unit that modifies one or more settings of the non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, based on information that the Wi-Fi receiver unit of the ceiling fan receives over said Wi-Fi communication link from an electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The ceiling fan of claim 5,
wherein the ceiling fan further comprises a Wi-Fi transmitter unit,
configured to wirelessly transmit over a Wi-Fi communication link, to said electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan, an outgoing Wi-Fi reporting message that reports a current value of an operational parameter of the ceiling fan;
wherein the outgoing Wi-Fi reporting message enables said electronic device, that is external to said ceiling fan, to wirelessly transmit Wi-Fi messages to the Wi-Fi receiver of the ceiling fan indicating commands to change operational parameters of the ceiling fan.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The ceiling fan of claim 5,
wherein the ceiling fan further comprises a Wi-Fi transmitter unit,
configured to wirelessly transmit over a Wi-Fi communication link, from said ceiling fan to a cloud-based server, an outgoing message reporting to said cloud-based server a current value of an operational parameter of the ceiling fan;
wherein the outgoing message enables said cloud-based server to wirelessly transmit messages that are received at the Wi-Fi receiver of the ceiling fan and that indicate commands to change operational parameters of the ceiling fan.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The ceiling fan of claim 5,
wherein the ceiling fan further comprises a Wi-Fi transmitter unit,
configured to send over a Wi-Fi communication link an outgoing Wi-Fi message reporting a current value of an operational parameter of said ceiling fan;
wherein said Wi-Fi transmitter unit of the ceiling fan, and said Wi-Fi receiver unit of the ceiling fan, enable said electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan to dynamically modify or replace, via one or more Wi-Fi communication messages, the current value of said operational parameter of said ceiling fan.

### Claim 9

A method for wirelessly and remotely controlling a ceiling fan that has an electric motor configured to rotate blades, the method comprising:
(a) at a non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit of said ceiling fan,
receiving incoming non-Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands that are particularly addressed to said ceiling fan and not to other ceiling fans;
(b) at a Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit of said ceiling fan,
receiving incoming Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands that are particularly addressed to said ceiling fan and not to other ceiling fans;
(c) at a fan controller unit of said ceiling fan,
controlling activation and deactivation and rotation speed of the electric motor of said ceiling fan, based on at least one of: (i) the incoming non-Wi-Fi signals, (ii) the incoming Wi-Fi signals;
and also, at said fan controller unit of said ceiling fan, modifying one or more settings of the non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, based on information that the Wi-Fi receiver unit of the ceiling fan receives over said Wi-Fi communication link from an electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
(d) at a Wi-Fi transmitter unit of said ceiling fan,
wirelessly transmitting over a Wi-Fi communication link, to said electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan, an outgoing Wi-Fi reporting message that reports a current value of an operational parameter of the ceiling fan;
wherein the outgoing Wi-Fi reporting message enables said electronic device, that is external to said ceiling fan, to wirelessly transmit Wi-Fi messages to the Wi-Fi receiver of the ceiling fan indicating commands to change operational parameters of the ceiling fan.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
(d) at a Wi-Fi transmitter unit of said ceiling fan,
wirelessly transmitting over a Wi-Fi communication link, from said ceiling fan to a cloud-based server, an outgoing message reporting to said cloud-based server a current value of an operational parameter of the ceiling fan;
wherein the outgoing message enables said cloud-based server to wirelessly transmit messages that are received at the Wi-Fi receiver of the ceiling fan and that indicate commands to change operational parameters of the ceiling fan.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9,
further comprising:
(d) at a Wi-Fi transmitter unit of said ceiling fan,
wirelessly transmitting over a Wi-Fi communication link an outgoing Wi-Fi message reporting a current value of an operational parameter of said ceiling fan;
wherein the transmitting by said Wi-Fi transmitter unit of the ceiling fan, and the receiving by said Wi-Fi receiver unit of the ceiling fan, enable said electronic device that is external to said ceiling fan to dynamically modify or replace, via one or more Wi-Fi communication messages, the current value of said operational parameter of said ceiling fan.