METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A GROUP OF WIRELESSLY CONTROLLED APPLIANCES

• US 20100013609A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: SYMOEN, Lionel, SOURAIN, Remi
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.110
• 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: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless

Abstract

A method for controlling a group of wirelessly controlled appliances comprising at least one appliance in a home automation network comprising a master controller, characterized in that it comprises:

• • a reception step in which the master controller receives a wireless command intended for an appliance of the group, then
  • a connection step in which the master controller connects the appliance to mains power, if the appliance was previously disconnected from the mains power, then
  • a disconnection step in which the appliance is automatically disconnected from mains power.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a group of wirelessly controlled appliances comprising at least one appliance in a home automation network comprising a master controller, which comprises:

a reception step in which the master controller receives a wireless command intended for an appliance of the group, then

a connection step in which the master controller connects the appliance to mains power, if the appliance was previously disconnected from the mains power, then

a disconnection step in which the appliance is automatically disconnected from mains power.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a transmission step in which the master controller retransmits the wireless command to the appliance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a determination step in which the master controller determines whether the wireless command must be repeated to the appliance, and decides to execute or not a transmission step in which the master controller retransmits the wireless command to the appliance.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, in the determination step, the master controller determines whether the appliance can receive the wireless command.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the master controller evaluates the remaining duration (rd) of transmission of the wireless command and compares it to a previously determined reaction time (ε

i) of the appliance after connection to mains power.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the master controller disconnects the appliance after a determined time period after the connection step or after the transmission step.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the duration of the determined time period is determined by analysis of the wireless command by the master controller.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the disconnection step is triggered by a feedback received by the master controller and provided by the appliance upon execution of the wireless command.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the disconnection step is triggered by analyzing the current drawn by the appliance.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the master controller analyses the wireless command in order to connect to the mains power only a minimal number of appliances including the appliance.

11. A master controller for controlling a group of wirelessly controlled appliances comprising at least one appliance wherein it comprises switching means to connect the at least one wirelessly controlled appliance to mains power and disconnect the at least one wirelessly controlled appliance from the mains power, a receiving means to receive a wireless command, a transmitting means to transmit the wireless command and hardware and software means to implement the method according to claim 1.

12. The master controller according to claim 11, wherein switching means include intensity measurement means.

13. The master controller according to claim 11, wherein it includes means to deactivate during daily periods and/or immediately after a change in environmental conditions.

14. A home automation network comprising at least one wirelessly controlled appliance and a master controller according to claim 11.

15. A method for configuring the operation of a master controller controlling a wirelessly controlled appliance, wherein it comprises:

a connection step in which the master controller connects the appliance to mains power, the appliance being previously disconnected from the mains power,

a transmission step in which the master controller transmits a signal to the appliance,

a detection step in which the master controller detects a reaction of the appliance, and

a determination step in which the master controller determine the duration between the connection step and the detection step.