Modular Electronic Display Platform

• US 20110128378A1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: RAJI, Reza
• Application Number:
  US12/952,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128378A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A modular touchscreen platform enables dynamic reconfiguration of the touchscreen for different functions. The touchscreen platform includes the touchscreen display and one or more removeable and replaceable modules that each enable different functions in the touchscreen platform. The modules provide different functionality through the touchscreen depending on needs of the user. The touchscreen platform can be used as an in-home consumer touchscreen with uses including home management, energy management, security, surveillance, health monitoring, elder care and other consumer applications.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing at a premise, wherein the housing contains a touchscreen display coupled to a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to at least one remote network;

an application engine coupled to the processor, wherein the application engine controls a plurality of applications executing under the processor;

a receptacle in the housing, wherein the receptacle includes a connector coupled to the processor; and

a plurality of modules each having a form-factor for connecting to the receptacle, wherein each module of the plurality of modules includes components corresponding to a function of a plurality of functions, wherein the components of each module are coupled to the processor and the application engine via the connection of the module to the receptacle and the components dynamically reconfigure the touchscreen to operate according to the function of the module.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules include an energy management module for energy management on the premise.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules include a thermostat module for temperature management on the premise.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules include a remote health monitoring module for human health monitoring on the premise.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules include a monitoring module for human monitoring on the premise.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of interfaces coupled to the processor and presented to a user via the touchscreen, wherein the plurality of interfaces correspond to the plurality of modules.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein an interface of the plurality of interfaces corresponds to the function of the module.

8. The device of claim 6, comprising modular applications that present the plurality of interfaces on the touchscreen.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the modular applications are downloaded via the at least one remote network.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor dynamically updates the plurality of interfaces using the modular applications.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of interfaces provides interactivity with a plurality of devices located at the premise.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is a radio frequency (RF) device.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is a Z-Wave device.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is an Internet Protocol device.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is a camera.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is another touchscreen.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is a device controller that controls an attached device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the device controller is a thermostat.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the device controller is an energy meter.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is a sensor.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules include a security module that generates through the touchscreen a security network by integrating into the touchscreen a security system located at the premise, wherein the security system includes a plurality of security components.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the security module includes security system software that runs on the processor of the touchscreen, wherein the security system software controls operation of the security system and interoperability of the plurality of security components.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the security system software controls processing of state data of the plurality of security components.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the security system software determines alarm system state.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the security system software generates alarm reports.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the touchscreen with the security module establishes communication with the at least one remote network.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein the touchscreen with the security module generates a subnetwork in the premise which incorporates the touchscreen, wherein the subnetwork includes at least one component and is independent from the security network.

28. The device of claim 22, wherein the touchscreen controls an exchange of data between a first component of the security network and a second component of one of the subnetwork and the remote network.

29. The device of claim 22, comprising a security interface and a network interface coupled to the processor and presented to a user via the touchscreen, wherein the security interface provides the user with control of functions of the security system and access to data collected by the security system, wherein the network interface allows the user to transfer content to and from the at least one remote network.

30. The device of claim 29, comprising a first application engine coupled to the processor, wherein the first application engine executes a security application that provides the security interface.

31. The device of claim 30, comprising a second application engine coupled to the processor, wherein the second application engine executes a content application that provides the network interface.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen with a module generates a subnetwork in the premise which incorporates the touchscreen, wherein the subnetwork includes at least one component and is independent from any other network of the premise.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the touchscreen controls an exchange of data between the at least one component of the subnetwork and any other component of the premise coupled to the touchscreen.

34. The device of claim 1, comprising a remote server coupled to the touchscreen, the remote server managing at least one of the touchscreen and the plurality of functions.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the remote server allows a user to configure content of the touchscreen.

36. The device of claim 1, wherein the remote server provides user portals that enable content and information displayed on the touchscreen to be displayed on remote devices.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the remote devices access the plurality of functions via the portals.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen includes a wireless transceiver for communicating with remote devices.

39. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one module includes a wireless transceiver for communicating with remote devices.

40. The device of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen plays live video from a camera at the premise.

41. The device of claim 1, comprising a network interface coupled to the processor and presented to a user via the touchscreen, wherein the network interface allows the user to transfer content to and from the at least one remote network.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the network interface allows the user to integrate the content with the plurality of applications.

43. The device of claim 41, wherein the network interface allows the user to integrate the content with components of the modules.

44. The device of claim 41, wherein the content includes interactive content in the form of interne widgets.

45. The device of claim 41, wherein the content includes at least one of an application, an update to an application of the plurality of applications, and an update to a component of a module.

46. The device of claim 41, wherein the network interface allows the user to control functions of devices of the premise.

47. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications provides interactivity with the plurality of functions.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications provides interactivity with a plurality of devices of the premise.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of devices is coupled to the processor.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of devices is coupled to the processor via a wireless coupling.

51. The device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of devices is coupled to the processor via a module of the plurality of modules.

52. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications includes a resident application that manages interactions between the plurality of applications.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein the resident application determines a priority of each application of the plurality of applications and manages the plurality of applications according to the priority.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the resident application allows a first application having a first priority to override a second application having a second priority when the first priority is higher than the second priority.

55. The device of claim 52, wherein the resident application manages interactions between a plurality of devices at the premise.

56. The device of claim 1, comprising a core engine coupled to the processor, the core engine controlling dynamic provisioning of the plurality of applications and content.

57. The device of claim 56, wherein the core engine manages images received from a plurality devices of the premise.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein the images include video.

59. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is coupled to the at least one remote network via a broadband coupling.

60. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is coupled to the at least one remote network via a cellular data coupling.

61. A method comprising:

containing in a housing at a premise a touchscreen display coupled to a processor, wherein the housing comprises a receptacle that includes a connector coupled to the processor;

coupling the processor to at least one remote network;

controlling a plurality of applications executing under the processor with an application engine; and

receiving at the receptacle individual ones of a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules includes components corresponding to a function of a plurality of functions, wherein the components of each module are coupled to the processor and the application engine via the connection of the module to the receptacle and the components dynamically reconfigure the touchscreen to operate according to the function of the module.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of modules includes at least one of an energy management module for energy management on the premise, a thermostat module for temperature management on the premise, a remote health monitoring module for human health monitoring on the premise, and a monitoring module for human monitoring on the premise.

63. The method of claim 61, comprising presenting a plurality of interfaces to a user via the touchscreen, wherein the plurality of interfaces are coupled to the processor and correspond to the plurality of modules.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein an interface of the plurality of interfaces corresponds to the function of the module.

65. The method of claim 63, comprising modular applications that present the plurality of interfaces on the touchscreen, wherein the modular applications are downloaded via the at least one remote network, wherein the processor dynamically updates the plurality of interfaces using the modular applications.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the plurality of interfaces provides interactivity with a plurality of devices located at the premise.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein a device of the plurality of devices is a radio frequency (RF) device.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein the plurality of devices includes at least one of a Z-Wave device, an Internet Protocol device, a camera, another touchscreen, a device controller that controls an attached device, and a sensor.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of modules includes a security module that generates through the touchscreen a security network by integrating into the touchscreen a security system located at the premise, wherein the security system includes a plurality of security components.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the security module includes security system software that runs on the processor of the touchscreen, wherein the security system software controls operation of the security system and interoperability of the plurality of security components.

71. The method of claim 70, comprising controlling with the security system software processing of state data of the plurality of security components.

72. The method of claim 70, comprising determining via the security system software alarm system state and generating alarm reports.

73. The method of claim 70, comprising using the touchscreen with the security module to generate a subnetwork in the premise which incorporates the touchscreen, wherein the subnetwork includes at least one component and is independent from the security network.

74. The method of claim 70, comprising controlling via the touchscreen an exchange of data between a first component of the security network and a second component of one of the subnetwork and the remote network.

75. The method of claim 70, comprising generating and presenting to a user via the touchscreen a security interface and a network interface, wherein the security interface provides the user with control of functions of the security system and access to data collected by the security system, wherein the network interface allows the user to transfer content to and from the at least one remote network.

76. The method of claim 75, comprising running a first application engine under the processor, wherein the first application engine executes a security application that provides the security interface.

77. The method of claim 76, comprising running a second application engine under the processor, wherein the second application engine executes a content application that provides the network interface.

78. The method of claim 61, comprising generating via the touchscreen and a module a subnetwork in the premise which incorporates the touchscreen, wherein the subnetwork includes at least one component and is independent from any other network of the premise.

79. The method of claim 78, comprising controlling via the touchscreen an exchange of data between the at least one component of the subnetwork and any other component of the premise coupled to the touchscreen.

80. The method of claim 61, comprising establishing a coupling between a remote server and the touchscreen, the remote server managing at least one of the touchscreen and the plurality of functions.

81. The method of claim 61, comprising accessing the plurality of functions via remote devices.

82. The method of claim 61, wherein the touchscreen includes a wireless transceiver for communicating with remote devices.

83. The method of claim 61, wherein at least one module includes a wireless transceiver for communicating with remote devices.

84. The method of claim 61, comprising presenting a network interface to a user via the touchscreen, transferring content to and from the at least one remote network using the network interface.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the network interface allows the user to integrate the content with the plurality of applications.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the network interface allows the user to integrate the content with components of the modules.

87. The method of claim 84, wherein the content includes at least one of interactive content in the form of internet widgets, an application, an update to an application of the plurality of applications, and an update to a component of a module.

88. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of applications provides interactivity with the plurality of functions.

89. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of applications provides interactivity with a plurality of devices of the premise.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the plurality of devices is coupled to the processor.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein the plurality of devices is coupled to the processor via a wireless coupling.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein the plurality of devices is coupled to the processor via a module of the plurality of modules.

93. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of applications includes a resident application that manages interactions between the plurality of applications.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the resident application determines a priority of each application of the plurality of applications and manages the plurality of applications according to the priority.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the resident application allows a first application having a first priority to override a second application having a second priority when the first priority is higher than the second priority.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein the resident application manages interactions between a plurality of devices at the premise.

97. The method of claim 61, comprising a core engine coupled to the processor, the core engine controlling dynamic provisioning of the plurality of applications and content.