AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MULTI-LEVEL AUTHORITY TO OPERATE ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL DEVICES

• US 20130300534A1
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innohome Oy
• Original Assignee: Innohome Oy
• Inventors: MYLLYMAKI, Matti
• Granted Patent: US 9,196,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• 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 12/282 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 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 : using authorisation codes or passwords

Abstract

An automated control system for multi-level authority to operate electronic and electrical equipment, the system including one or more wireless or wired controlled devices and one or more separate communicator and/or transmitter devices for an operation authorizing code and/or separate user identifiers for communicating the codes to a customer or a device. In the process of granting authorities to operate, the system utilizes, as positional data for a user or a device, the base station information of a mobile phone network and/or at close range a wired or wireless communication link, such as a bluetooth communication link.

Claims

1. :

An automated control system for multi-level authority at a building, comprising;

an electric device located at the building configured to be protected by security codes, the electric device having a first communication interface;

an access control device fixedly installed at the building, the access control device having the first communication interface configured to communicate with the electric device, a second communication interface configured to communicate with a base station, the base station having a range covering the building, and a third communication interface for local communication; and

a mobile transmitter configured to communicate with the base station, and having the third communication interface configured to communicate with the access control device,

wherein the access control device is configured to detect a loss of connection with the mobile transmitter via the third communication interface when the mobile transmitter is moved out of a range of the third communication interface, and thereafter configured to send a first access code to the electric device via the first communication interface that limits access to functionalities of the electric device.

2. :

The automated control system according to claim 1, wherein

the access control device is further configured to receive a message from the base station when the mobile transmitter is moved out of the range of the base station, and thereafter configured to send a second access code to the electric device via the first communication interface that changes a setting of the electric device.

3. :

The automated control system according to claim 1, wherein

the access control device is further configured to receive a first time use protection code from a manufacturer of the electric device to allow use of the electric device.

4. :

The automated control system according to claim 1, wherein

the limitation of the access to functionalities of the electric device by the first access code includes an activation of a childproof lock.

5. :

The automated control system according to claim 2, wherein

the electric device includes a heating system controller, and

wherein the settings of the electric device that are changed by the second access code is a change of a setting of the heating system controller.

7. :

An automated control method performed on a system for multi-level authority, the system including,

a device located at a building having a first communication interface,

an access control device fixedly installed at the building, the access control device having the first communication interface configured to communicate with the electric device, a second communication interface configured to communicate with a base station, the base station having a range covering the building, and a third communication interface for local communication, and

a mobile transmitter configured to communicate with the base station, and having the third communication interface configured to communicate with the access control device, wherein

the method comprises the steps of;

detecting a loss of connection at the access control device with the mobile transmitter via the third communication interface when the mobile transmitter is moved out of a range of the third communication interface; and

sending a first access code by the access control device to the electric device via the first communication interface that limits access to functionalities of the electric device, after said step of detecting.

8. :

The automated control method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of

receiving a message at the access control device from the base station when the mobile transmitter is moved out of the range of the base station; and

sending a second access code by the access control device to the electric device via the first communication interface that changes a setting of the electric device, after said step of receiving.

9. :

The automated control method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of;

receiving a first time use protection code at the access control device via the second communication interface from a manufacturer of the electric device to allow use of the electric device.

10. :

The automated control method according to claim 8, wherein the limitation of the access to functionalities of the electric device by the first access code includes an activation of a childproof lock.

11. :

The automated control method according to claim 9, wherein the electric device includes a heating system controller, and wherein the settings of the electric device that are changed by the second access code is a change of a setting of the heating system controller.