Non-cloud based communication platform for an environment control system

• US 10,063,499 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James, White, Colby
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mian, Mohammad Yousuf A
• Application Number:
  US14/201,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

An environment management system includes a communication platform disposed remote from a site, and at least one client associated with the site. The communication platform includes at least one external XMPP server communicatively coupled with the at least one client via an instant message communication stream, and the at least one external XMPP server is configured to utilize an Extensible Message Presence Protocol (XMPP) standard to communicate with and alter an operating condition of said at least one client at the site.

Claims

1. An environment management system comprising:

at least one fixed geographic site;

a communication platform disposed remotely from said site and including at least one external XMPP server;

a plurality of network devices physically located at said site and at least some of the plurality of network devices each including an internal XMPP server that is federated with another internal XMPP server; and

at least one mobile device configured to;

communicate with and alter an operating condition of the plurality of network devices via the external XMPP server, and

in response to entering the site, initiating a search to communicate with and alter the operating condition of the at least one of some of the plurality of network devices including the internal XMPP via the internal XMPP server;

said at least one external XMPP server including;

at least one memory storing instructions, and

at least one processor capable of executing the stored instructions to;

communicatively couple with each of said plurality of network devices via an instant message communication stream, said stream comprising two separate TCP/IP connections for each of said plurality of network devices to establish communication between each of said plurality of network devices and said external XMPP server in opposing directions,

receive information from each of said plurality of network devices including identification information and intended association with said site,

assign a network device specific ID including an identification of the external XMPP server to each of said plurality of network devices based on the received information, and

utilize an Extensible Message Presence Protocol (XMPP) standard to communicate with and alter an operating condition of said at least one of said plurality of network devices located at said site via said instant communication stream based on the assigned network device specific IDs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the plurality of network devices and the at least one mobile device includes a sender network device and at least one recipient network device each independently and communicatively coupled to said at least one external XMPP server via a separate instant message communication stream.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

wherein said sender network device is configured to initiate an instant message to said external XMPP server via said respective instant message communication stream, said instant message including an altered operating condition for said at least one recipient network device;

wherein said external XMPP server is configured to receive said instant message sent from said sender network device and to forward said instant message to said at least one recipient network device via said respective instant messaging communication stream; and

wherein said recipient network device is configured to implement said altered operating condition included within the instant message.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said external XMPP server is further configured to create and manage a roster of network device IDs for said site, said roster of network device IDs including a list of each of said network device specific IDs associated with the site.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein each of said separate instant message communication streams comprise a publish-subscribe instant message communication stream.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of said publish-subscribe instant message communication streams is associated with a multi-user chat room mechanism.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said multi-user chat room mechanism is configured to automatically set-up when said sender network device registers with said external XMPP server.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said multi-user chat room mechanism is configured to register each of said at least one recipient network devices associated with said sender network device for allowing said sender network device to publish a message within said multi-user chat room mechanism to all of said registered recipient network devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said multi-user chat room mechanism is configured to track said registered recipient network devices.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein each of said separate instant message communication streams comprise a request-response instant message communication stream.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the plurality of network devices including the internal XMPP server includes each of said sender network device and said at least one recipient network device and wherein at least one of said internal XMPP servers includes a gateway, said gateway having both an internal XMPP server address and an external XMPP address and said gateway further managing a system map that identifies all of said plurality of network devices and said at least one site within said environment management system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of said internal XMPP servers are federated internal XMPP servers to facilitate communication of said instant messages between said sender network device and said at least one recipient network device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile device associated with said site and configured to communicate with and alter the operating condition of said at least one network device by way of said external XMPP server through use of said instant message communication stream.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile device is configured to communicate with said internal XMPP server and said external XMPP server using at least one of a WIFI or 802.11 based communication, a Bluetooth based communication, a Zigbee based communication, a subscriber based wireless data based communication, or a WiMax based communication.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one network device located at said site includes the internal XMPP server that is configured to search for a gateway of said site and to implement a gateway for said site if one does not exist, and wherein said gateway includes an internal XMPP gateway address and an external XMPP gateway address and said gateway further managing a system map that identifies all of said plurality of network devices and said at least one site within said environment management system, said gateway enabling federation of said external XMPP server with said internal XMPP server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said gateway is configured to search for instant messages addressed to at least one recipient network device associated with said site and further configured to deliver said instant message to said at least one recipient network device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least plurality of network devices includes at least one of a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart phone, a cellular or mobile phone, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a network server or storage device, an energy substation, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat, an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a power measurement device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, or a wireless router.