System Comprising a Master Unit and a Plurality of Slave Units for Operating a Plurality of Devices

• US 20080198035A1
• Filed: 07/04/2005
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VKR Holding A/S (Villum Fonden)
• Original Assignee: VKR Holding A/S (Villum Fonden)
• Inventors: Ebbe, Ulrik Vagn, Byberg, Henrik Raun, Lindby, Steen, Kjaersgaard, Preben
• Application Number:
  US11/994,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

System including at least one master unit and a plurality of slave units, wherein the master unit and the slave units have means for performing communication via radio frequency channels. The at least one master unit including means for transmitting control signals to the slave units, and the slave units are each provided with a unique address and are each associated with a controllable device. The at least one master unit includes means for executing a sequential transmission of control signals to at least one of the slave units upon activation of a function control key.

Claims

1. System comprising at least one master unit and a plurality of slave units, said master unit and said slave units comprising means for performing communication via radio frequency channels, wherein said at least one master unit comprises means for transmitting control signals to said slave units, said slave units each being provided with a unique address and each being associated with a controllable device, and wherein said at least one master unit comprises means for executing a sequential transmission of control signals to at least one of said slave units in response to an initiation indication.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein said master unit comprises timing means for facilitating delayed execution of said transmission of control signals.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said master unit comprises storage means for information related to said sequential transmissions, e.g. information related to addresses for specified slave units, control information, time information etc.

4. System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said slave units are configured for transmitting an acknowledgement signal to said master unit in response to the reception of a control signal.

5. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said master unit is configured for transmitting a status request signal to said slave units that have received a control signal and that said master unit is configured for transmitting said status request signal after a time delay corresponding to the time taken by the slave unit to perform an operation in response to the received control signal.

6. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said slave units are addressable by said master unit in a number of sectors, wherein said master unit further has means for allocating predefined identifications to said slave units, and wherein said master unit has display means, by means of which said predefined identifications may be displayed.

7. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said master unit is provided with at least one predefined sequential execution of control signals, said predefined sequence being executable upon manipulation of said function control key.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein said master unit is configured for facilitating modifications of said at least one predefined sequential execution of control signals.

9. System according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said master unit is configured for receiving and storing one or more application programmes comprising predefined sequential execution of control signals.

10. System according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein said master unit is configured for comprising one or more application programmes comprising predefined sequential execution of control signals, wherein said master unit is configured for activating one or more of said programmes in dependence on properties of the system and in dependence of an approval.

11. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said initiation indication comprises an activation of a function control key, a timer signal or a control signal received from a controller or a sensor.

12. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said master unit comprises means for recording and storing a number of sequences corresponding to sequential transmission of control signals, said means comprising the use of at least one function control key.

13. System according to claim 12, wherein said master unit is configured for executing a sequence corresponding to sequential transmission of control signals by manipulating said at least one function control key and wherein said master unit is configured for executing at specific sequence in dependence on the manner, in which said function control key is manipulated, e.g. the number of times the key is pushed.

14. System according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said master unit is configured for executing a sequence corresponding to sequential transmission of control signals by manipulating said at least one function control key and wherein said master unit is configured for executing a specific sequence in dependence on manipulation of said function control key, and wherein the stored sequences are activated cyclically.

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said master unit is configured for assigning a label, e.g. a number or name to stored sequence corresponding to sequential transmission of control signals, and wherein a renaming is facilitated.

16. System according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said master unit is configured for facilitating the deletion of a stored sequence corresponding to sequential transmission of control signals, whereby the label or name is deleted without influencing on other labels or names.

17. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said master unit is configured for facilitating an editing of a stored sequence corresponding to sequential transmission of control signals.