Device interaction aggregator
First Claim
1. A method of establishing device interaction in an environment having an aggregator and a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
- transmitting a message to the aggregator from a first device;
receiving the message at the aggregator; and
referencing interaction rules at the aggregator in relation to the message from the first device to direct communications from the aggregator to one or more devices of the plurality.
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Abstract
Aggregator devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction in an environment containing other electronic devices and the aggregator device. The aggregator device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules, and a processor for implementing the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The methods involve transmitting a message to the aggregator from a first device, referencing rules of device interaction for the environment, and then according to the rules of device interaction, transmitting a message from the aggregator to a second device. The rules of device interaction may include instructions that are to be transmitted from the aggregator in response to the aggregator receiving change of state messages from devices of the environment.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of establishing device interaction in an environment having an aggregator and a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
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transmitting a message to the aggregator from a first device;
receiving the message at the aggregator; and
referencing interaction rules at the aggregator in relation to the message from the first device to direct communications from the aggregator to one or more devices of the plurality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of establishing device interaction in an environment having an aggregator and a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
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detecting a change of state at a first device;
in response to detecting the change of state, transmitting a change of state message to the aggregator from the first device;
receiving the change of state message at the aggregator;
referencing interaction rules at the aggregator in relation to the change of state of the first device to determine a change of state instruction for a device of the plurality; and
transmitting the change of state instruction to the device from the aggregator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An aggregator for establishing device interaction in an environment having a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the aggregator comprising:
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at least one transmitter;
at least one receiver;
a memory that stores interaction rules for the plurality of devices; and
a processor in communication with the transmitter, receiver, and memory, the processor being configured to receive a message from a first device through the at least one receiver, reference the interaction rules in relation to the message from the first device to direct communications through the at least one transmitter to one or more devices of the plurality. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification