US 2002/0044042 A1Published application

RF home automation system comprising nodes with dual functionality

AssigneeEnsys A/S

InventorsCarlos Melia Christensen, Jesper Knudsen

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless home automation system having a controller for controlling a broad variety of functions via two ways communication with a plurality of devices. More specifically, the invention relates to a new and flexible way of establishing a wireless network by using devices which functions as both input/output devices and repeaters. By establishing an even distribution of dual-functionality devices, the user can reach any device without use of dedicated repeater stations. The controllers and devices of the system comprises means for generating a signal comprising a destination identifier, instructions related to the input/output of the destination or source device, and a repeater identifier. The devices according to the invention are adapted to act as input/output devices and signal repeating devices in that the processors of each device comprises means for, upon reception of a signal, processing said information in its processor if the destination identifier corresponds to the device identifier of the device, and means for, upon reception of a signal, transmitting a second signal holding at least said destination identifier and said instruction if the repeater identifier corresponds to the device identifier of the device.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An automation system for controlling and monitoring devices comprising:

a plurality of devices to be controlled, each device comprising:
a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals,
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals,
a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals,
a first memory adapted to hold a device identifier identifying the device, and
means for providing an output to, or receiving an input from, an appliance operationally connected to the device,
a first controller comprising:
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals,
a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals,
a first memory comprising an organized data structure holding device identifiers of devices controlled by the first controller,
a second memory holding a controller identifier identifying the first controller, and
a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to store one or more device identifiers in the first memory, the processor comprising means for generating a first signal comprising one or more destination identifiers corresponding to device identifiers of one or more destination devices, information related to the operation of the appliances connected to said destination devices, and, if necessary, repeater identifiers corresponding to one or more signal repeating devices,
wherein one or more of the plurality of devices are further adapted to act as signal repeating devices in that the processors of each of said one or more devices comprises means for, upon reception of a first signal, processing said information in its processor if one of the one or more destination identifiers corresponds to the device identifier of the device, and means for, upon reception of a first signal, transmitting a second signal holding at least said destination identifiers and said information if one of the one or more repeater identifiers corresponds to the device identifier of the device.

10 more elements

A method for establishing an RF automation system network for controlling and monitoring devices, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a first controller comprising:
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals,
a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals,
a first memory comprising an organized data structure holding device identifiers of devices controlled by the first controller,
a second memory holding a controller identifier identifying the first controller, and
a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to store one or more device identifiers in the first memory,
providing a plurality of devices to be controlled by the first controller, each device comprising:
a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals,
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals,
a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals,
a first memory adapted to hold a device identifier identifying the device, and
a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to provide an output to, or receive an input from, an appliance operationally connected to the device,
generating a first signal comprising one or more destination identifiers corresponding to identifiers of one or more destination devices or destination controllers, information related to the operation of an appliance connected to a device, and one or more repeater identifiers corresponding to one or more signal repeating devices,
transmitting said first signal,
receiving the first signal at one of said plurality of devices,
if one of the one or more destination identifiers corresponds to the device identifier of the receiving device, then processing said information in the processor of the device, and
if one of the one or more repeater identifiers correspond to the device identifier of the receiving device, then transmitting a second signal holding at least said one or more destination identifiers and said information.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/841,050Filed 25 Apr 2001
Priority: 10 Apr 2000
Published: 18 Apr 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G05B 15/02
Systems controlled by a computer: electric
G05B 19/0426
Using digital processors: programming the control sequence
H04B 7/15507
Ground-based stations: relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area,
G05B 2219/21042
Pc I-O input output: address a group, a zone