Home system including a portable fob having a display

• US 20050086366A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Luebke, Charles John, Higgins, Michael Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,319,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A home wellness system includes a headless base station having a first wireless communication port, a portable fob having a second wireless communication port, a user input device and a display, and plurality of sensors. Each of the sensors senses information and includes a third wireless communication port, which sends the sensed information to the first wireless communication port of the headless base station. The headless base station sends the sensed information for one, some or all of the sensors from its first wireless communication port to the second wireless communication port of the portable fob. The portable fob displays the sensed information for one, more or all of the sensors at its display.

Claims

1. A system for a structure, said system for a structure comprising:

a server including a first wireless communication port;

a portable fob including a second wireless communication port, a user input device and a display; and

a plurality of sensors, each of said sensors sensing information and including a third wireless communication port, which sends said sensed information to the first wireless communication port of said server, said server sending said sensed information for at least one of said sensors from the first wireless communication port of said server to the second wireless communication port of said portable fob, said portable fob displaying said sensed information for at least one of said sensors at the display of said portable fob.

2. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein the display of said portable fob includes a graphical capability.

3. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein the display of said portable fob includes a plurality of graphical objects;

and wherein the user input device of said portable fob is a single rotary switch, which is employed to select one of the graphical objects of said display.

4. The system for a structure of claim 3 wherein said rotary switch is adapted to be pushed to select said one of the graphical objects.

5. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein the display of said portable fob includes a plurality of representations of at least some of said sensors;

wherein the user input device of said portable fob selects one of said representations; and

wherein the display of said portable fob responsively displays said sensed information for a corresponding one of said sensors.

6. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said sensors and said server employ bi-directional wireless communication links between said third wireless communication ports and said first wireless communication port;

and wherein said sensors include a routing function in some of said sensors to communicate with said server through other ones of said sensors.

7. The system for a structure of claim 6 wherein said server, said portable fob and said sensors employ bi-directional wireless communication links between said first wireless communication port, said second wireless communication port and said third wireless communication port;

and wherein said portable fob and said sensors include a routing function in which said portable fob and some of said sensors communicate with said server through other ones of said sensors.

8. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said server is adapted to communicate with one of a telephone line, a cellular telephone, a global communication network, a local area network, and a pager as another user interface.

9. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said portable fob is adapted to be worn by a user.

10. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said portable fob is adapted to be carried by a user.

11. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said portable fob is adapted to be placed on a household object.

12. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said portable fob is adapted to be attached to a household object.

13. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said portable fob is adapted to configure said sensors for communication with said server.

14. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said portable fob is adapted to configure said portable fob for communication with said server.

15. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said server is a headless base station.

16. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said server is a network coordinator for said sensors and said portable fob.

17. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said server, said portable fob and said sensors form an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network.

18. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said server, said portable fob and said sensors form an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless personal area network.

19. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said server further includes a processor, which detects a state change of one of said sensors, and which sends said state change from the first wireless communication port to the second wireless communication port of said portable fob.

20. The system for a structure of claim 19 wherein said portable fob further includes a processor, which receives said state change from the second wireless communication port and which responsively drives said display.

21. The system for a structure of claim 20 wherein said portable fob further includes an alert device;

and wherein the processor of said portable fob responsively drives said alert device in response to said state change.

22. The system for a structure of claim 21 wherein said alert device is one of an audible device, a visual device and a vibratory device.

23. The system for a structure of claim 21 wherein said alert device includes a first backlight for said display and a second backlight for said display;

and wherein the processor of said portable fob responsively drives one of said first and second backlights in response to said state change.

24. The system for a structure of claim 1 wherein said sensors periodically send said sensed information to the first wireless communication port of said server;

and wherein said portable fob periodically requests and receives said sensed information for said sensors between the first and second wireless communication ports.

25. The system for a structure of claim 24 wherein the display of said portable fob includes a plurality of graphical objects corresponding to the received sensed information for said sensors.