Method for defining a group from among bi-directional objects

• US 20050083224A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy SA
• Inventors: Autret, Capucine
• Granted Patent: US 7,683,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/02 by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

A method for defining a group from among a plurality of bidirectional objects, comprising the following stages: a) synchronous application to the objects in a group of an initiator event, b) sending of a message containing a group identifier, and c) recording by the objects that have been subjected to the initiator event of the group identifier.

Claims

1. A method for defining a group from among a plurality of bidirectional objects, comprising the following stages:

(a) synchronous application to the objects in a group of an initiator event;

(b) sending of a message containing a group identifier, and

(c) recording by the objects that have been subjected to the initiator event of the group identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronous application includes an action on a power supply common to the objects in the group.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronous application includes the sending to the objects of a command.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending stage is carried out by an object that has been subjected to the initiator event.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein an object which has been subjected to the initiator event sends a message containing a group identifier if it does not receive such a message during a time interval following the initiator event.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein an object which has been subjected to the initiator event records the group identifier only if the message is received during a predetermined time interval following the initiator event.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message containing a group identifier contains a time reference counted by reference to the initiator event.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the time reference comprises an indication of the time between the initiator event and sending the message containing the group identifier.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein each object is provided with an internal clock, and in that the time reference comprises an indication of the date or hour of the initiator event.

10. A program for operating a bidirectional object, comprising:

(a) a routine for receiving an initiator event;

(b) a routine for receiving a message and extracting a group identifier contained in the message; and

(c) a routine for recording the group identifier.

11. The program according to claim 10, wherein the routine for receiving an initiator event is capable of detecting variations in the power supply to the object.

12. The program according to claim 10, wherein the routine for receiving an initiator event is capable of receiving an initiation message.

13. The program according to claim 10 further including a routine for sending a message containing a group identifier.

14. The program according to claim 13, wherein the sending routine is inhibited by starting the message reception routine.

15. The program according to claim 10, further including a time calculation routine starting from execution of the routine for receiving an initiator event and in that the recording routine is only started during a predetermined time interval.

16. The program according to claim 10, further including a time calculation routine starting from execution of the routine for receiving an initiator event and in that the message reception routine is capable of extracting a time reference from the message.

17. The program according to claim 10, further including a bidirectional object with:

a reception stage;

a transmission stage; and

a logic unit controlling the reception stage and the transmission stage.