Method and apparatus for providing a dynamic resource role model for subscriber-requester based protocols in a home automation and control system

• US 20030040819A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: C-Smart Corporation
• Inventors: Baker, Brian D., Gonzales, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00

Abstract

A method of dynamically selecting a role for a resource device employed in a scene automation and control system is provided. The method comprises providing an object in a resource device having a plurality of predetermined roles that are dynamically settable, said roles including a requester role and a subscriber role. The method also comprises automatically setting the role of the resource device in response to either the receipt of a setting message or the manual adjustment of the resource device. Preferably, each object has a plurality of instances, each of which is settable. Further, preferably, the capability of an object (instance) to take on a role is preset. In addition to subscriber and requester roles, preferably, objects (instances) also include administrator and active roles.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically selecting a role for a resource device employed in a scene automation and control system comprising:

providing an object in a resource device having a plurality of predetermined roles that are dynamically settable, said roles including a requester role and a subscriber role; and

automatically setting the role of the resource device in response to either the receipt of a setting message or the manual adjustment of the resource device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said roles also include an administrator role.

3. The method claimed in claim 2 wherein said roles also include an active role.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resource device includes a plurality of preset bits for determining the role capacity of said object.

5. The method claimed in claim 4 wherein said roles also include an administrator role.

6. The method claimed in claim 5 wherein said roles also include an active role.

7. The method claimed in claim 4 wherein said predetermined roles a re dynamically set in response to the receipt of a setting message or the manual adjustment of the resource device only if related role capacity bits that correspond to said predetermined roles are set.

8. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said roles also include an administrator role.

9. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said roles also include an active role.

10. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said object has a plurality of instances, each of said instances including a plurality of predetermined roles including a requester role and a subscriber role and wherein said instances of said object are automatically set in response to the receipt of a setting message or the manual adjustment of the resource device.

11. The method claimed in claim 10 wherein said roles also include an administrator role.

12. The method claimed in claim 11 wherein said roles also include an active role.

13. The method claimed in claim 10 wherein said resource device also includes preset bits for determining the role capacity of said instances of said object.

14. The method claimed in claim 13 wherein said roles also include an administrator role.

15. The method claimed in claim 14 wherein said roles also include an active role.

16. The method claimed in claim 13 wherein said roles of said instances are dynamically set in response to receipt of a setting message or the manual adjustment of said resource device only if the role capability bits that correspond to said predetermined roles are set.

17. The method claimed in claim 16 wherein said roles also include an administrator role.

18. The method claimed in claim 17 wherein said roles also include an active role.

19. A resource device for a scene automation and control system comprising:

(a) a plurality of input devices for controlling the operation of a microcontroller; and

(b) a microcontroller for controlling the operation of a load, said microcontroller including;

(1) a microprocessor; and

,

(2) firmware, said firmware;

(i) including an object having a plurality of predetermined roles that are dynamically settable, said roles including a requester role and a subscriber role; and

(ii) automatically setting the role of said object in response to either the receipt of a setting message or the manual adjustment of said plurality of input devices.

20. A resource device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said roles of said object also include an administrator role.

21. A resource device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said roles of said object also include an active role.

22. A resource device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said firmware also includes preset bits for determining the role capacity of said object.

23. A resource device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said roles of said object also include an administrator role.

24. A resource device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said roles of said object also include an active role.

25. A resource device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said predetermined roles of said resource object are dynamically set in response to the manual adjustment of said input devices or the receipt of a setting message only if related role capacity bits that correspond to said predetermined roles are set.

26. A resource device as claimed in claim 25 wherein said roles of said object also include an administrator role.

27. A resource device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said roles of said object also include an active role.

28. A resource device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said firmware includes a plurality of instances of said object, each of said instances including a plurality of predetermined roles including a requester role and a subscriber role.

29. A resource device as claimed in claim 28 wherein said roles of said instances also include an administrator role.

30. A resource device as claimed in claim 29 wherein said roles of said instances also include an active role.

31. A resource device as claimed in claim 29 wherein said firmware includes preset bits for determining the role capacity of said instances.

32. A resource device as claimed in claim 29 wherein said roles of said instances also include an administrator role.

33. A resource device as claimed in claim 30 wherein said roles of said instances also include an active role.

34. A resource device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said predetermined roles of said instances are dynamically set in response to the manual adjustment of said input devices or said setting message only if the related role capacity bits that correspond to said predetermined roles are set.

35. A resource device as claimed in claim 34 wherein said roles of said instances also include an administrator role.

36. A resource device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said roles of said instances also include an active role.