SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MASTER UNIT AND A PLURALITY OF SLAVE UNITS

• US 20090150508A1
• Filed: 07/04/2005
• Published: 06/11/2009
• 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
• Application Number:
  US11/994,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45

Abstract

System including at least one master unit and a plurality of slave units, wherein the at least one master unit includes means for transmitting control signals to the slave units via radio frequency channels. The slave units are provided with unique addresses and are each associated with a controllable device. The at least one master unit includes means for configuring the slave units that are addressable by the master unit in a number of sectors. The master unit is further designed in such a manner that when a slave unit is allocated to a sector, one or more further slave units may automatically be allocated to the same sector in dependence on properties related to the slave units.

Claims

1. System comprising at least one master unit and a plurality of slave units, wherein said at least one master unit comprises means for transmitting control signals to said slave units via radio frequency channels, 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 configuring said slave units addressable by said master unit in a number of sectors, wherein said master unit further is designed in such a manner that when a slave unit is allocated to a sector, one or more further slave units may automatically be allocated to the same sector in dependence on properties related to said slave units.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein said properties related to said slave units may relate to the type of device associated with the slave unit, the location of the slave unit and/or the device, and/or another commonality linking said slave units.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein said properties related to said slave units relate to a device in the form of a sensor associated with the slave unit.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein said sensor associated with the slave unit is at least one of a rain sensor, a temperature sensor, a wind sensor, a motion detector, an intrusion detector, a glass break detector and an obstruction detector.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein said means of said master unit for configuring said slave units are designed in order to perform in an automatic manner.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein said predefined manner, in which said slave units may be automatically arranged, comprises an arrangement in consideration of the property of a device associated with the slave unit, in such a manner that slave units having similar properties are arranged in a consecutive manner.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein said automatic allocation of one or more slave units that have a property in common with a slave unit that has been allocated manually, may be overruled.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein said common property linking two or more slave units together, is registered in a storage facility of said master unit.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein said master unit is configured for facilitating a naming and/or re-naming of slave units and/or sectors such as for example groups, rooms, zones etc.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein said controllable devices are part of a home automation system.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein said controllable devices are associated with a building, a house, an apartment etc.

12. System according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said controllable devices is/are associated with a window or a door.

13. System according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said controllable devices is/are related to a heating system, a cooling system, an alarm system, lighting equipment, and/or locks.

14. Method for operating a system comprising at least one master unit and a plurality of slave units, wherein said at least one master unit comprises means for transmitting control signals to said slave units via radio frequency channels, said slave units each being provided with a unique address and each being associated with a controllable device, and whereby said slave units addressable by said master unit are configured in a number of sectors, whereby, when a slave unit is allocated to a sector, one or more further slave units may automatically be allocated to the same sector in dependence on properties related to said slave units.

15. Method according to claim 14, whereby said properties related to said slave units may relate to the type of device associated with the slave unit, the location of the slave unit and/or the device, and/or another commonality linking said slave units.

16. Method according to claim 15, whereby said properties related to said slave units relate to a device in the form of a sensor associated with the slave unit.

17. Method according to claim 16, whereby said sensor associated with the slave unit is at least one of a rain sensor, a temperature sensor, a wind sensor, a motion detector, an intrusion detector, a glass break detector and an obstruction detector.

18. Method according to claim 14, whereby said means of said master unit for configuring said slave units perform in an automatic manner.

19. Method according to claim 14, whereby said predefined manner, in which said slave units may be automatically arranged, comprises an arrangement in consideration of the property of the device associated with the slave unit, in such a manner that slave units having similar properties are arranged in a consecutive manner.

20. Method according to claim 14, whereby said automatic allocation of one or more slave units that have a property in common with a slave unit that has been allocated manually, may be overruled.

21. Method according to claim 14, whereby said common property linking two or more slave units together, is registered in a storage facility of said master unit.

22. Method according to claim 14, wherein said master unit is configured for facilitating a naming and/or re-naming of slave units and/or sectors.

23. Method according to claim 14, wherein said controllable devices are part of a home automation system.

24. Method according to claim 14, wherein said controllable devices are associated with a building, a house, an apartments .

25. Method according to claim 14, wherein one or more of said controllable devices is/are associated with a window or a door.

26. Method according to claim 14, wherein one or more of said controllable devices is/are related to heating system, a cooling system, an alarm system, lighting equipment, and/or locks.

27-36. -36. (canceled)