ADVANCED COMMISSIONING OF WIRELESS NETWORK SYSTEMS

• US 20120082062A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mccormack, James Joseph Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless network system and a method of commissioning a wireless network system is described. The network system comprises at least a network device (1) and a joining device (21). The network device (1) comprises a communication interface (2) for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium and a first network address of a first network system (30). The joining device (21) comprises a communication interface (2) for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium, a second network address of a second network system (35) and a configuration memory (28) for storing at least a network address. The network device (1) and the joining device (21) are configured for operation in a discovery mode, in which said joining device (21) broadcasts a discovery message. Said network device (1) upon reception of said discovery message enters a commissioning mode, in which the network device (1) provides joining information to said joining device (21), comprising at least a third network address of said first network system (30). The joining device (21) accordingly stores said joining information in said configuration memory (28), so that said joining device (21) is addressable in said first network system (30) and said second network system (35).

Claims

1. A wireless network system, comprising:

a network device comprising a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium and a first network address of a first network system, and

a joining device, comprising

a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium,

a second network address of a second network system and

a configuration memory for storing at least a second network address,

said network device and said joining device being configured for operation in a discovery mode, in which

said joining device broadcasts a discovery message,

said network device upon reception of said discovery message enters a commissioning mode, in which the network device provides joining information to said joining device, comprising at least a third network address of said first network system and

said joining device stores said joining information in said configuration memory, so that said joining device is addressable in said first network system and said second network system.

2. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein

said network device further comprises a predetermined proximity value,

said discovery message comprises proximity information, corresponding to the distance between said network device and said joining device and

said network device, upon reception of said discovery message determines, whether said proximity information corresponds to said predetermined proximity value and enters said commissioning mode, in case said proximity information corresponds to said proximity value.

3. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein said communication interface is configured for use in a Zigbee network system.

4. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein said communication interface in said discovery mode is configured for out-of-network communication.

5. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein said joining device is an end device.

6. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein said joining device is a control device comprising a user control interface for sending an application control command to and/or receiving an application data value from a further device in network system.

7. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein said network device is a function device comprising an application interface, connectable to an application device and configured to receive an application control command from and/or to send an application data value to a further device in the network system.

8. Wireless network system according to claim 1 with

a second network device, configured for operation in said first network system,

said first network device being further configured in said discovery mode,

to send an address request to said second network device and

said second network device, upon reception of said address request, at least sends said third network address to said first network device.

9. Wireless network system according to claim 1, wherein said

joining information comprises multiple network addresses of said first network system.

10. Joining device for use in a wireless network system according to claim 1 comprising at least

a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium and

a configuration memory for storing at least a network address, said joining device being configured with a network address for operation in a second network system, to broadcast a discovery message and upon reception of joining information of a network device, comprising at least a network address of a first network system, to store said joining information in said configuration memory, so that the joining device is addressable in said first network system and said second network system.

11. Method of commissioning a wireless network system with at least a network device being configured for operation in a first network system and a joining device being configured with a network address for operation in a second network system, wherein

said joining device broadcasts a discovery message,

said network device, upon reception of said discovery message enters a commissioning mode, in which the network device provides joining information to said joining device, comprising at least a network address of said first network system and

said joining device stores said joining information in a configuration memory, so that said joining device is addressable in said first network system and said second network system.

12. (canceled)