SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NETWORKING CONSUMER DEVICES

• US 20140023060A1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Apte, Raj B., Isaacs, Ellen, Paulson, Christopher, Hasenoehrl, Erik John
• Application Number:
  US13/943,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20140023060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for enrolling nodes into an ad hoc network associated with a multi-roomed structure. Nodes within the ad hoc network comprise a communication module configured to communicate with the ad hoc network using at least one of room-limited communications and room-transparent communications.

Claims

1. A method for enrolling nodes into an ad hoc network associated with a multi-roomed structure, each node comprising a communication module configured to communicate with the ad hoc network using at least one of room-limited communications and room-transparent communications, the method comprising:

transmitting by a first node in the ad hoc network a room-limited communication wherein the first node is coupled to a wall of a room in the multi-roomed structure;

determining at a second node in the ad hoc network whether the room-limited communication was received;

when the first room-limited communication was received, segmenting the second node into the room associated with the first node, wherein the segmentation is stored in a room list in a database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is associated with a wall switch.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first node comprises a wall switch.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is associated with a wall outlet.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first node comprises a wall outlet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the room-limited communication is an optical signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the optical signal is imperceptible to the human eye.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining a spatial distance between the first node and the second node.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving an identifier from the second node, wherein the identifier identifies a consumer product.

10. A method for enrolling nodes into an ad hoc network associated with a multi-roomed structure, each node comprising a communication module configured to communicate with the ad hoc network using at least one of room-limited communications and room-transparent communications, the method comprising:

transmitting by a first node in the ad hoc network a room-limited communication wherein the first node is associated with an electrical outlet on a wall of a room in the multi-roomed structure;

determining at a second node in the ad hoc network whether the room-limited communication was received;

when the first room-limited communication was received, segmenting the second node into the room associated with the first node, wherein the segmentation is stored in a room list in a database.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

measuring at a first node in the ad hoc network an ambient condition level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ambient condition level is a lighting level and the room-limited communication is an optical signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical signal is imperceptible to the human eye.

14. The method of claim 10, comprising:

determining a spatial distance between the first node and the second node.

15. The method of claim 10, comprising:

receiving an identifier from the second node, wherein the identifier identifies a consumer product.

16. A method for enrolling nodes into an ad hoc network associated with a multi-roomed structure, each node comprising a communication module configured to communicate with the ad hoc network using at least one of room-limited communications and room-transparent communications, the method comprising:

transmitting by a first node in the ad hoc network a room-limited communication wherein the first node is associated with a light switch on a wall of a room in the multi-roomed structure;

determining at a second node in the ad hoc network whether the room-limited communication was received;

when the first room-limited communication was received, segmenting the second node into the room associated with the first node, wherein the segmentation is stored in a room list in a database.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

measuring at a first node in the ad hoc network an ambient condition level, wherein the ambient condition level is a lighting level and the room-limited communication is an optical signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the optical signal is imperceptible to the human eye.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising:

determining a spatial distance between the first node and the second node.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising:

receiving an identifier from the second node, wherein the identifier identifies a consumer product.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the identifier is one of a stock keeping unit (SKU) number, a network address, a bar code, and a presumed identity.

22. A method for enrolling nodes into an ad hoc network associated with a multi-roomed structure, each node comprising a communication module configured to communicate with the ad hoc network using at least one of room-limited communications and room-transparent communications, the method comprising:

transmitting by a first node in the ad hoc network a room-limited communication;

determining at a second node in the ad hoc network whether the room-limited communication was received;

wherein the second node is coupled to a wall of a room in the multi-roomed structure;

when the first room-limited communication was received, segmenting the first node into the room associated with the second node, wherein the segmentation is stored in a room list in a database.