Integrated programmable system for controlling the operation of electrical and/or electronic appliances of a premises

• US 20050246408A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intexact Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Intexact Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Chung, Hau Leung Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,161,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

There is disclosed an integrated programmable system for controlling the operation of a number of electrical and/or electronic appliances of a premises, the application being controllable electrically, electronically, wirelessly, by infrared and/or by radio frequency, the system including a central data processing apparatus, e.g. a home server, or a central controller, connected with a common digital communication backbone, and the central data processing apparatus is connectable with the appliances via the digital communication backbone.

Claims

1. An integrated programmable system for controlling the operation of a plurality of electrical and/or electronic appliances of a premises, wherein said plurality of appliances are controllable electrically, electronically, wirelessly, by infrared and/or by radio frequency, wherein said system includes a central data processing apparatus connected with a digital communication backbone, wherein said central data processing apparatus is adapted to be connected with said appliances via said digital communication backbone.

2. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in that said system includes sound producing means connected to a plurality of sources of audio signals for selectively outputting sound upon receipt of audio signals from at least one of said sources or outputting audible alarm prompts upon receipt of audio signals from said system.

3. A system according to claim 2 further characterized in that audio signals from said system are prioritized above audio signals from said sources of audio signals.

4. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in that said data processing apparatus comprises a computer server.

5. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in that said communication backbone includes at least a network hub, switch or router.

6. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in including at least one controller for controlling the operation of said plurality of electrical and/or electronic appliances in a predetermined manner.

7. A system according to claim 6 further characterized in including a plurality of said controllers which are spaced apart from one another.

8. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in being adapted to be connected with said electrical and/or electronic appliances via at least two different standard interfaces.

9. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in that said system is adapted to connect at least two said appliances together by Home Audio Video interoperability (HAVi) standard.

10. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in being adapted to be connected with at least one said appliance via Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) architecture.

11. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in incorporating a unified devices abstraction layer with at least one translator for translating proprietary means of controlling individual devices into standard interfaces, and thereby to allow said system to control devices in a uniform manner.

12. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in that said system is adapted to be connected with at least one said appliance via a standard serial bus interface.

13. A system according to claim 1 further characterized that said system is adapted to be connected with at least a lighting device via at least one electrical power control module.

14. A system according to claim 2 further characterized in that said sound producing member comprises a speaker.

15. A system according to claim 2 further characterized in that said plurality of audio signal sources include said central data processing apparatus, an audio system, an audio-visual system, and a microphone.

16. A system according to claim 1 further characterized in being adapted to be connected with a security system.

17. A system according to claim 16 further characterized in that said system is adapted to be connected with and to connect a plurality of components of said security system via said common communication backbone.

18. A system according to claim 16 further characterized in that said security system includes at least a motion detector.

19. A system according to claim 16 further characterized in that said security system includes at least a speaker.

20. A system according to claim 16 further characterized in that said security system includes means for dialing at least one pre-determined telephone number.