System and method for remotely controlling behavior of multiple devices
First Claim
1. A system for remotely controlling behavior of multiple devices comprising:
- a plurality of programmable dispensers each configured to periodically dispense a chemical, wherein each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers includes a first radio frequency communication system having a first radio and a first microcontroller coupled to the first radio, wherein the first radio frequency communication system includes a dispenser listening mode and a dispenser advertisement mode, wherein during the dispenser advertisement mode the first radio is configured to periodically advertise a custom dispenser universally unique identifier (UUID) that includes a dispenser program schedule; and
a remote master controller, wherein said master controller includes a second radio frequency communication system having a second radio, wherein the second radio frequency communication system includes a master controller listening mode and a master controller advertisement mode, wherein during the master controller advertisement mode the second radio is configured to periodically broadcast a master controller UUID that includes a desired program schedule for each of said plurality of programmable dispensers, wherein said master controller listening mode is configured to receive said periodic advertisements of said programmable dispensers and thereby determine a configuration and operational status of each of said plurality of programmable dispensers,wherein each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers is configured to receive said master controller UUID broadcast through the dispenser listening mode, and is configured to update the dispenser program schedule to match the desired program schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for remotely controlling behavior of multiple devices are presented. The system comprises a plurality of devices, e.g. puffers, and a remote master controller. Each device includes a radio frequency (RF) control system for programming and control of its operation. The communication between the puffer and the master controller during mass programming is through Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral mode and observer mode. Using its peripheral mode, the master controller advertises a desired program for the puffers in an orchard through a custom UUID. Each puffer picks up and parses the custom UUID and reprograms itself. Each puffer also uses its peripheral mode to advertise its configuration to be picked up by the master controller so that the master controller can verify that the puffer has correctly reprogrammed itself based on the mass programming advertisement.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for remotely controlling behavior of multiple devices comprising:
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a plurality of programmable dispensers each configured to periodically dispense a chemical, wherein each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers includes a first radio frequency communication system having a first radio and a first microcontroller coupled to the first radio, wherein the first radio frequency communication system includes a dispenser listening mode and a dispenser advertisement mode, wherein during the dispenser advertisement mode the first radio is configured to periodically advertise a custom dispenser universally unique identifier (UUID) that includes a dispenser program schedule; and a remote master controller, wherein said master controller includes a second radio frequency communication system having a second radio, wherein the second radio frequency communication system includes a master controller listening mode and a master controller advertisement mode, wherein during the master controller advertisement mode the second radio is configured to periodically broadcast a master controller UUID that includes a desired program schedule for each of said plurality of programmable dispensers, wherein said master controller listening mode is configured to receive said periodic advertisements of said programmable dispensers and thereby determine a configuration and operational status of each of said plurality of programmable dispensers, wherein each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers is configured to receive said master controller UUID broadcast through the dispenser listening mode, and is configured to update the dispenser program schedule to match the desired program schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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10. A method for remotely controlling behavior of multiple devices comprising:
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broadcasting a special peripheral name followed by a master controller UUID with a first radio and a BLUETOOTH®
Low Energy (BLE) advertisement mode of a remote master controller, wherein said master controller UUID includes a desired program schedule for a plurality of programmable dispensers that are configured to periodically dispense a chemical;listening for and receiving said master controller UUID at each of the programmable dispensers using a second radio and a BLE listening mode at each of the programmable dispensers; parsing said master controller UUID at each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers and using information contained therein to update a dispenser program schedule at each one of the programmable dispensers; creating a dispenser UUID at each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers that includes the updated dispenser program schedule; broadcasting said dispenser UUID with the radio of the programmable dispenser using a BLE advertisement mode at each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers; and listening for said advertisement of said dispenser UUID from each one of said plurality of programmable dispensers at the master controller to determine if the dispenser program schedule reflects said desired program schedule. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 22)
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15. A system for remotely controlling behavior of multiple devices comprising:
- a master controller including a first BLUETOOTH®
Low Energy (BLE) capable device with a first observer mode and a first advertisement mode for communication,wherein the master controller advertisement mode is configured to broadcast a custom universally unique identifier (UUID) that includes a desired program schedule for a plurality of programmable devices; and a plurality of programmable devices, wherein each one of said plurality of programmable devices includes a second BLE capable device with a second observer mode and a second advertisement mode for communication, wherein each one of said programmable devices is configured to receive said custom UUID from said master controller via said programmable device observer mode, parse said custom UUID and reprogram a device program schedule, wherein the programmable device advertisement mode is configured to broadcast a programmable device UUID that includes the device program schedule, wherein said master controller is configured to receive said programmable device UUID from each one of said plurality of programmable devices via said master controller observer mode and to use information contained in the programmable device UUIDs to determine if each one of the programmable devices is using the desired program schedule. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23)
- a master controller including a first BLUETOOTH®
Specification