Autonomously cooperating smart devices
First Claim
1. A connected cluster of smart devices, the connected cluster programmed to cooperate according to a cluster cooperation program, the cluster cooperation program for calculating target states of active units according to current states of functional units, the connected cluster comprising:
- at least one information device, each information device for reporting a current state of at least one information unit; and
at least two active devices, each active device for controlling at least one active unit, each active device including;
a communication unit included in the active device for receiving from smart devices of the connected cluster current states of functional units,a memory included in the active device for storing the cluster cooperation program, anda processor included in the active device and programmed to autonomously;
(i) calculate a target state of each active unit controlled by the active device according to the cluster cooperation program stored in the memory and at least one current state of a functional unit received via the communication unit, and (ii) control each active unit controlled by the active device for operating according to the calculated target state.
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Abstract
According to a first aspect, smart devices of a cluster cooperate by each active device autonomously deciding by itself and for itself how to respond to state changes reported by other smart devices of the cluster, which reduces the cost and improves the reliability and interoperability of clusters. According to a second advantageous aspect, manageability by users is improved by using a spreadsheet for programming the autonomous cooperation among smart devices.
33 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A connected cluster of smart devices, the connected cluster programmed to cooperate according to a cluster cooperation program, the cluster cooperation program for calculating target states of active units according to current states of functional units, the connected cluster comprising:
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at least one information device, each information device for reporting a current state of at least one information unit; and at least two active devices, each active device for controlling at least one active unit, each active device including; a communication unit included in the active device for receiving from smart devices of the connected cluster current states of functional units, a memory included in the active device for storing the cluster cooperation program, and a processor included in the active device and programmed to autonomously;
(i) calculate a target state of each active unit controlled by the active device according to the cluster cooperation program stored in the memory and at least one current state of a functional unit received via the communication unit, and (ii) control each active unit controlled by the active device for operating according to the calculated target state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating a connected cluster of smart devices to cooperate according to a cluster cooperation program, the cluster cooperation program for calculating target states of active units according to current states of functional units, the method comprising:
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in each information device of at least one information device of the connected cluster;
reporting a current state of at least one information unit; andin each active device of at least two active devices of the connected cluster;
controlling each active unit of at least one active unit controlled by the active device, by;storing the cluster cooperation program in a memory of the active device, receiving from smart devices of the connected cluster current states of functional units, autonomously calculating a target state of each active unit controlled by the active device according to the cluster cooperation program stored in the memory and at least one received current state of a functional unit, and controlling each active unit for operating according to the calculated target state. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An active device for selectably cooperating with smart devices, the active device comprising:
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an active unit included in the active device for controllably performing an action; a communication unit included in the active device for; receiving a spreadsheet that includes spreadsheet formulas, from programming devices, and receiving from smart devices current states of functional units; a memory included in the active device for storing the spreadsheet received via the communication unit; and a processor included in the active device and programmed to autonomously; interpret the spreadsheet to calculate a target state of the active unit included in the active device according to;
(i) one or more of the spreadsheet formulas, and (ii) one or more of the current states of functional units received via the communication unit, andcontrol the active unit included in the active device for performing the action according to the calculated target state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification