Multiple network access load control devices

• US 10,244,086 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Newman, Jr., Robert C., Carmen, Jr., Lawrence R., Bull, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Toan
• Application Number:
  US13/835,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 307 18, 307 52
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may include a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol and the first communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The apparatus may also include a second communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol. The controller may be further operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical load, the apparatus comprising:

a controllably conductive device;

a controller in communication with the controllably conductive device;

a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol, the first wireless communication circuit communicatively coupled to the controller; and

a second communication circuit operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol, the second communication circuit communicatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to;

receive, via the second communication circuit from the second communication network, access information needed to access the first wireless communication network;

use the received access information of the first wireless communication network to connect the apparatus via the first wireless communication circuit to the first wireless communication network;

once connected to the first wireless communication network, receive via the first wireless communication circuit from the first wireless communication network an address for the apparatus to communicate on the first wireless communication network;

receive via the second communication circuit from the second communication network an indication to communicate configuration data via the first wireless communication network; and

responsive to receiving the indication, control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate the configuration data via the first wireless communication network, wherein to communicate the configuration data comprises to communicate the configuration data using the first protocol and the address; and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive operational commands via the second wireless communication circuit from the second communication network using the second protocol; and

responsive to receiving the operational commands, control power delivered to the at least one electrical load.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication circuit includes a first radio operable to communicate via the first protocol.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wireless IP based protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is operated at a first frequency, the first frequency being part of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second communication circuit includes a second radio operable to communicate via the second protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second protocol is a reliable radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reliable RF protocol is Clear Connect.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second protocol is operated at one or more of a second frequency or a third frequency, at least one of the second frequency or the third frequency being part of a regulated band.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second communication circuit is configured to communicate with a conductor that delivers electrical energy from a power source to the apparatus via the second protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second protocol is a power line communication protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of firmware upgrade data for the apparatus, programming data for the apparatus, user-interface data for the apparatus, or database data from the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the controller is further configured to receive operational information via the second wireless communication circuit from the second communication network using the second protocol;

and

wherein the operational information comprises at least one of operational error codes, programming error codes, or timing synchronization signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus being a first apparatus and the first apparatus being in communication with a second apparatus and a third apparatus, the second apparatus comprising a third wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on the first wireless communication network via the first protocol, the third apparatus comprising a fourth communication circuit operable to communicate on the second communication network via the second protocol, the second apparatus being inoperable to communicate via the second communication network, and the third apparatus being inoperable to communicate via the first wireless communication network, the controller being further operable to:

receive via the first wireless communication circuit at least one signal from the second apparatus, the at least one signal sent via the third wireless communication circuit and the first wireless communication network, and the at least one signal recognizable to the first apparatus as being intended for the third apparatus; and

send via the second communication circuit the at least one signal to the third apparatus via the fourth communication circuit and the second communication network.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

subsequent to communicating the configuration data via the first wireless communication network, receive via the second communication circuit from the second communication network an indication to disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network; and

response to receiving the indication to disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network, disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that a timeout period has ended; and

responsive to determining that the timeout period has ended, disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access information comprises a service set identifier (SSID) needed to access the first wireless communication network.

18. An apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical load, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

at least one of a sensor or a manual operator, the at least one sensor or manual operator being in communication with the controller;

a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol, the first wireless communication circuit communicatively coupled to the controller; and

a second communication circuit operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol, the second communication circuit communicatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to;

connect the apparatus via the first wireless communication circuit to the first wireless communication network;

receive via the second communication circuit from the second communication network an indication to communicate configuration data via the first wireless communication network;

responsive to receiving the indication from the second communication network, control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate the configuration data via the first wireless communication network, wherein to communicate the configuration data comprises to communicate the configuration data using the first protocol;

subsequent to communicating the configuration data via the first wireless communication network, at least one of;

(i) receive via the second communication circuit from the second communication network an indication to disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network, or (ii) determine that a timeout period has ended; and

responsive to at least one of;

(i) receiving the indication to disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network, or (ii) determining that the timeout period has ended, disconnect the apparatus from the first wireless communication network; and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive operational commands via the second wireless communication circuit from the second communication network using the second protocol; and

responsive to receiving the operational commands, control power delivered to the at least one electrical load.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first wireless communication circuit includes a first radio operable to communicate via the first protocol.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wireless IP based protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first protocol is operated at a first frequency, the first frequency being part of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second communication circuit includes a second radio operable to communicate via the second protocol.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second protocol is a reliable radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the reliable RF protocol is Clear Connect.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second protocol is operated at one or more of a second frequency or a third frequency, at least one of the second frequency or the third frequency being part of a regulated band.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second communication circuit is configured to communicate with a conductor that delivers electrical energy from a power source to the apparatus via the second protocol.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second protocol is a power line communication protocol.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of firmware upgrade data for the apparatus, programming data for the apparatus, user-interface data for the apparatus, or database data from the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 18,

wherein the controller is further configured to receive operational information via the second wireless communication circuit from the second communication network using the second protocol;

and

wherein the operational information comprises at least one of operational error codes, programming error codes, or timing synchronization signals.

31. The apparatus of claim 18,

wherein the controller is further configured to receive, via the second communication circuit from the second communication network, access information needed to access the first wireless communication network;

and

wherein to connect the apparatus via the first wireless communication circuit to the first wireless communication network comprises to use the received access information of the first wireless communication network to connect the apparatus via the first wireless communication circuit to the first wireless communication network.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the access information comprises a service set identifier (SSID) needed to access the first wireless communication network.

33. The apparatus of claim 18,

wherein the controller is further configured to receive, via the second communication circuit from the second communication network, an address for the apparatus to communicate on the first wireless communication network;

and

wherein to communicate the configuration data further comprises to communicate the configuration data using the first protocol and the address.