System for providing continuous cyber link between embedded controllers and web servers

• US 20030056012A1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dddi Technologies, Inc., DDI Technology
• Original Assignee: DDI Technology
• Inventors: Said, Yousri, Haidar, Mohamad, Modeste, Philbert
• Application Number:
  US09/852,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20030056012A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides a continuous cyber link connection between embedded controllers in devices installed in a home, such as digital utility meters and smart appliances, and server facilities on the World Wide Web by using a gateway with broadband connectivity to the Internet. The installed devices are interfaced in full-duplex data packet communication to the gateway through a controller. The gateway includes a translator for communication between the installed devices and a web communicator and an emulator within the gateway. The web communicator provides a link with the servers on the Web and the emulator gives a Web representation for each installed device in the user'"'"'s home in the form of a personal Home Place Web Page (“MyCHome Place Web Page”). The home user has access to the installed devices in the home through the Internet using a “dot com” Web server that allows access to the Home Place Web Page (the “MyCHome Place Web Page”).

Claims

1. A system for home automation control wherein a user at a remote location away from a home is provided with access to devices installed within the home through an internet connection, comprising:

a browser internet connection to a first web server having an associated first web site with a main page providing a home automation graphical user interface (GUI) identifying home automation control functions;

a gateway at the home communicating with the first web server, the gateway including a second web server having an associated second web site with a main page including links to additional second web site pages;

one or more home devices for providing home automation control functions within the home, each home device having an associated device page provided as an additional second web site page selectable and accessible from the second web site main page; and

a controller interfaced to the gateway and coupled to the home devices for bidirectional communication therebetween, the controller routing an information packet between the gateway and a home device in accordance with a selection made by a user through the home automation GUI of the first web site and the main page of the second web site.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the home device is a smart appliance.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the home device is a digital utility meter.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the communication link between the controller and the gateway is an interrogated connection type involving access to a digital utility meter on an interval basis.

5. A system for home automation control wherein a user at a remote location away from a home is provided with access to devices installed within the home through an internet connection, comprising:

a browser internet connection to a first web server having an associated first web site with a main page providing a home automation graphical user interface (GUI) identifying home automation control functions;

a gateway at the home communicating with the first web server, the gateway including a second web server having an associated second web site with a main page including links to additional second web site pages;

one or more smart home devices for providing home automation control functions within the home based upon digital input control data, each smart home device having an associated device page provided as an additional second web site page selectable and accessible from the second web site main page;

one or more switched home devices for providing home automation control functions within the home based upon an on/off control input, each switched home device having an associated device page provided as an additional second web site page which is selectable from the second web site main page;

a first controller interfaced to the gateway and coupled to the smart home devices, the first controller providing bi-directional communication routing of an information packet between the gateway and a home device in accordance with a selection made by a user through the home automation GUI of the first web site and the main page of the second web site; and

a second controller interfaced to the gateway and coupled to the switched home devices for communication therewith, the second controller applying a control input to a switched home device in accordance with a selection made by a user through the home automation GUI of the first web site and the main page of the second web site.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the switched home devices are relay-controlled devices.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the switched home devices are selected from a group consisting of lighting circuits and electrical outlets.

8. A system for home automation control wherein access to devices installed within the home is provided through an internet connection with a web server facility, comprising:

an internet connection with a web server facility on the internet;

a gateway at the home having a local web server communicating with the web server facility through a broadband internet connection, the gateway including a web communicator to authenticate information packets sent from the web server facility and a translator that evaluates authenticated information packets from the web communicator;

one or more home devices for providing home automation control functions within the home; and

a controller interfaced to the translator of the gateway and coupled to the home devices, the controller routing an information packet to a home device in accordance with an identification of an authenticated web server facility information packet and an identified home device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the web server facility is a utility company.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the home device comprises a digital utility meter.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the web communicator operates to provide bi-directional communication of data packets between the home device and the web server facility including a data packet sent to the web server facility and containing a reading of the digital utility meter.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the web server facility sends information packets provided through the controller to the digital utility meter that permits the web server facility to have control access to the meter.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the communication link between the controller and the gateway is an interrogated connection type involving access to a digital utility meter on an interval basis.

14. A system for home automation control wherein a user at a remote location away from a home is provided with access to devices installed within the home through an internet connection, comprising:

a browser internet connection to a web server having an associated web site with a main page providing a home automation graphical user interface (GUI) identifying home automation control functions;

a gateway at the home communicating with the web server, the gateway including;

a local web server providing a local IP address and having an associated local web site with a main page including links to additional local web site pages,

a web communicator to accept and authenticate information packets sent from the remote web server; and

a translator to evaluate authenticated information packets from the web communicator for routing to a designated destination;

one or more home devices for providing home automation control functions within the home, each home device having an associated device page provided as an additional local web site page selectable from the local web site main page; and

a controller interfaced to the gateway translator and coupled to the home devices, the controller applying control data within an information packet from the translator to a home device in accordance with a selection made by a user through the home automation GUI of the remote web site and the main page of the local web site.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a personal computer network connected to the gateway to make the files residing on a personal computer connected to the network accessible by the user through the browser internet connection to the remote web server.

16. A system for home automation control wherein a user at a remote location away from a home is provided with access to devices installed within the home through an internet connection, comprising:

a browser internet connection to a web server having an associated web site with a main page providing a home automation graphical user interface (GUI) identifying home automation control functions;

a gateway at the home communicating with the web server, the gateway including;

a local web server providing a local IP address and having an associated local web site with a main page including links to additional local web site pages,

a web communicator to accept and authenticate information packets sent to the gateway from the remote web server,

a translator to evaluate authenticated information packets passed from the web communicator over a local path for routing to a designated destination,

an emulator taking data specific to a home device from the translator and presents it to the additional local web site page associated with that specific home device; and

one or more home devices for providing home automation control functions within the home, each home device having an associated device page provided as an additional local web site page selectable from the local web site main page; and

a controller interfaced to the gateway translator and coupled to the home devices, the controller applying control data within an information packet from the translator to a home device in accordance with a selection made by a user through the home automation GUI of the remote web site and the main page of the local web site.