Method, system and computer program product for controlling a plurality of devices in an environment

• US 20090102617A1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas Thommes
• Original Assignee: Douglas Thommes
• Inventors: Thommes, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US11/976,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.110
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31165 Control handover in wireless automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and computer program product for controlling a plurality of devices in an environment is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments can include a controller connected to a wireless network, such as a WLAN. The controller can have a control panel interface. The control panel interface can be customizable. Control stations can be connected to a wireless network and can convert instructional commands to device-specific control commands. Infrared remote-controlled legacy devices can be associated with the control stations. The legacy devices can be responsive to the device-specific control commands. Electrical outlet devices and electrical switch devices having microcontrollers and wireless receivers can be connected to the wireless network. Electrical outlet device and electrical switch devices can be responsive to state-changing commands.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of devices, comprising:

a controller connected to a wireless network, the controller having a control panel interface;

one or more control stations connected to the wireless network, each of the control stations for converting a plurality of instructional commands to a plurality of device-specific control commands;

one or more legacy devices associated with each of the control stations, each of the legacy devices responsive to one or more of the plurality of device-specific control commands;

one or more electrical outlet devices connected to the wireless network, each of the electrical outlet devices responsive to one or more state-changing commands; and

one or more electrical switch devices connected to the wireless network, each of the electrical switch devices responsive to one or more state-changing commands.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless network is a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

).

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, a portable media player and any combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is one of a hand-held unit, a tabletop unit and a wall-mounted unit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein an instructional command is embodied in radio data signal when transmitted.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein a device-specific command is embodied in infrared data signal when transmitted.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein a state-changing data commands is embodied in radio data signal when transmitted.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller, the one or more control stations, the one or more legacy devices, the one or more electrical outlet devices and the one or more electrical switch devices are located in a private residence.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more legacy devices are infrared remote-controlled electronic devices.

10. A method of controlling a plurality of devices in an environment, comprising:

providing a control panel interface on a controller;

processing a command inputted via the control panel interface;

transmitting a first data signal embodying the command over a wireless network;

receiving the command at one of a control station, an electrical outlet device and an electrical switch device; and

processing the command at one of the control station, the electrical outlet device and the electrical switch device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the command is received and processed at the control station, further comprising:

transmitting a second data signal embodying a device-specific command; and

effectuating an operation of a legacy device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the command is received and processed at one of the electrical outlet device and the electrical switch device, further comprising:

effectuating a state-change at one of the electrical outlet device and the electrical switch device, respectively.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the control panel interface is customizable through human operation.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein providing the control panel interface on the controller includes providing the control panel interface on a touch screen display of the controller.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the command is one of an instructional command for a control station, a state-changing command for the electrical outlet device and a state-changing command for the electrical switch device.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the first data signal is a radio signal.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the second data signal is an infrared signal.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the control station is associated with at least one legacy device.

19. A computer program product for controlling a plurality of devices in an environment, comprising:

a computer storage medium; and

a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to manage a plurality of devices, the computer program code mechanism comprising;

a first computer code device configured to provide a control panel interface, the control panel interface having a plurality of buttons assigned to a plurality of device commands;

a second computer code device configured to accept a selection from the plurality of buttons;

a third computer code device configured to match the selection to an assigned device command; and

a fourth computer code device configured to effectuate transmittal of the command to a device via a network, wherein the command is to be transmitted by a radio data signal.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the control panel interface is customizable through human operation.