HOME NETWORK OF CONNECTED CONSUMER DEVICES

• US 20140022968A1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Procter & Gamble Incorporated (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Procter & Gamble Incorporated (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Apte, Raj B., Hasenoehrl, Erik John, Paulson, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/551,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A consumer product device has a consumer product, a communication module capable of communicating in a mesh network, and a power connector electrically coupled to the communication module.

Claims

1. A consumer product device, comprising:

a consumer product;

a communication module capable of communicating in a mesh network; and

a power connector electrically coupled to the communication module.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a room-limited communication module.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the room-limited communication module comprises a line of sight communication module.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the light of sight communication modules comprise one of an optical or an acoustic communication module.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a room-transparent communication module.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the communication module comprises a radio.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the room-transparent communication module comprises an Internet Protocol communication module.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the Internet Protocol communication module uses one of either IPv6 over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks, or Neighborhood Exchange Protocol.

9. The device of claim 1, the consumer product further comprising a dispenser containing a consumable substance.

10. The device of claim 9, the device further comprising a sensor arranged to sense a level of the consumable substance.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the consumer product is a non-powered implement.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the non-powered implement comprises one of an air freshener dispenser, a toothbrush, a cleaning tool, and a razor.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the consumer product is a powered device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the powered device comprises at least one of a coffee maker, kitchen device, a television, a hair dryer, a vacuum cleaner, air purifier, and a humidifier.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the power connector comprises at least one of a power receiver arranged to receive power wirelessly, a pronged power connector or a battery connection.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the communication modules have extended range when connected to power.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the power connector comprises an insert for a light socket.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a sensor.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises one of a security sensor, a radio frequency identification tag, a barcode reader, or an environmental sensor, motion sensor, sound sensor, odor sensor, smoke alarms, airborne particulates sensor, pollen and dust sensor, air purification system, metrology, airborne biological agents sensor, bacteria and viruses sensors, surface borne contaminants sensors, sanitary sensors, water quality sensors, moisture sensors.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises an environmental sensor configured to sense at least one of air quality, light level, temperature, and air flow.

21. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising a USB port.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the USB port provides at least one of a connection to a power source and network access.