Auto-addressing mechanism for a networked system

• US 20070162615A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 777388 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: 777388 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Rusu, Mircea
• Application Number:
  US10/548,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21028 Address of module determined by position
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21029 Address of module determined by function of module
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21053 Each unit, module has unique identification code, set during manufacturing, fMAC address
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]

Abstract

A system for assigning addresses to components in a networked system. The network includes a control unit and two or more functional components. The system provides the capability to address an individual component or a group of components in the network. The components may be speakers, sound masking units, lighting units, HVAC units or other elements coupled in a network. According to another aspect, there is a method for assigning addresses to components in a networked system having a plurality of components.

Claims

1. A system for assigning addresses to components in a networked system, said system comprising:

(a) a communication network;

(b) a plurality of functional components, at least some of said functional components including a communication interface for coupling said functional components to said communication network for receiving control signals over said communication network; and

(c) a control unit, said control unit including, a communication interface for. coupling said control unit to said communication network for transmitting control signals over said communication network to said functional components, and a component for assigning logical addresses for each of said functional components, said control signals including signals for selectively communicating with said functional components according to said logical addresses.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication interface comprises an address component for recognizing control signals intended for one or more said functional components according to the logical addresses associated with said functional components.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control unit comprises a component for generating a logical address for each of said functional components, said logical address being derived from an identifier associated with each of said functional components.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said identifier comprises a positional reference based on the physical location of said associated functional component.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said identifier comprises a serial number associated with each of said functional components.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control signals further include signals for selectively controlling the operational characteristics of said functional components.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said functional components include a control component, said control component being responsive to control signals for controlling the operational characteristics of said functional components.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said functional components further include a switch for selectively directing said command signals from said control unit to said functional components.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said switch directs said command signals to one or more said functional components according to the logical addresses associated with said functional components.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said functional components are speakers.

11. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said functional components are sound masking units.

12. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said functional components comprise lighting units.

13. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said functional components comprise alarm units.

14. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said functional components comprise HVAC units.

15. A method for assigning addresses to components in a networked system having a plurality of components, each component having an associated identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a component having a predetermined characteristics;

(b) generating a logical address for said component, said logical address being derived from the identifier associated with said component; and

(c) assigning said logical address to said component.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of storing said logical address in memory, wherein said logical address is stored in association with said identifier.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the predetermined characteristic is a logical address of 0.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said identifier comprises A positional reference based on the physical location of said associated functional component.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said identifier comprises a serial number associated with each of said functional components.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a logical address of 0.