Method for transmitting information between bidirectional objects

• US 20050237957A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Orsat, Jean-Michel, Pellarin, Florent, Autret, Capucine
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00888 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

Secure transfer of information between a first command transmitter and a second command transmitter such as those employed for remote control of actuators employed in home automation systems for example for opening and closing windows, solar protection, ventilation, roller blinds, garage doors and the like, is achieved by first authenticating the first command transmitter with respect to a third object preferably constituting part of the existing network, such as a command receiver or command transmitter and only transferring information to the second command transmitter when authentication of the first command transmitter has succeeded. The method particularly applies when a new second command transmitter is to be installed on a home automation network, having identical rights and functionalities to those of the existing first command transmitter.

Claims

1. A method for transferring information between a first bidirectional command transmitter and a second bidirectional command transmitter, the method comprising:

establishing authentication between said first command transmitter and a third bidirectional object, and then, if authentication is successful

transferring information from said first command transmitter to said second command transmitter, and

storing said information in said second command transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the said third object is a command receiver.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the command receiver controls an actuator for an openable member such as a door or a blind.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third object is a third command transmitter.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises a step in which said third object is designated, during which the third command transmitter issues a command that designates it as being a third object for the remaining command transmitters.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein during said transfer step, part of the information is transferred from the first command transmitter to the second command transmitter via said third object.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein during said transfer step, all the information is transferred from the first command transmitter to the second command transmitter.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises a second authentication step.

9. The method according to the claim 8, wherein the second authentication step includes analyzing biometric data of a user.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said second authentication step includes analyzing a manual action performed by the user.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said analysis is performed within said third object.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information is object configuration information, including at least one of a common key and a bidirectional object identifier.

13. A communications network comprising

first and second bidirectional objects, such as a first and second command transmitter;

a third bidirectional object;

said second object being adapted to store information received via an information transfer method for transferring information between the first bidirectional command transmitter and the second bidirectional command transmitter, the method comprising;

establishing authentication between said first command transmitter and a third bidirectional object, and then, if authentication is successful

transferring information from said first command transmitter to said second command transmitter; and

storing said information in said second command transmitter.

14. A bidirectional command transmitter comprising an authentication routine with another bidirectional object and an information transfer routine to another bidirectional command transmitter, said transfer routine only being able to be implemented when said authentication routine has yielded a positive result.

15. The command transmitter according to claim 14, wherein said information is object configuration information such as a common key and/or a bidirectional object identifier.

16. The command transmitter according to claim 14, further including a memory storing an identifier for the bidirectional object with which said authentication routine is performed.