WIRELESS BRIDGE FOR FACILITATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT NETWORK

• US 20140052783A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Mann, Timothy, Swatsky, Matthew J., Kruse, John David, Steffie, I, Jamie
• Application Number:
  US13/835,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

One or more load control devices and/or user interfaces that are part of a first network operating via a first protocol may communicate and/or control one or more load control devices and/or user interfaces that are part of a second network operating via a second protocol. For example, a wireless bridge may be provided. The wireless bridge may include a gateway. The gateway may be used to bridge the two networks that communicate using the different protocols such that the devices of the different networks may communicate with each other.

Claims

1. A device for performing communication translation between a first protocol-based network and a second protocol-based network, the device comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a first message received from a first node of the first protocol-based network, the first message sent via the first protocol;

determine a correspondence between the first message and a second node of the second protocol-based network;

generate a second message via the second protocol, the second message corresponding to the first message; and

direct the second message to the second node.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first protocol comprises at least one of Zigbee or Z-wave.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second protocol comprises Clear Connect.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises at least one of the following:

an indication of an adjustment to make to the second node or an indication on whether to add the second node from the second protocol-based network or remove the second node from the second protocol-based network.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first message further comprises at least one of a command or a request to the second node communicated in the first protocol.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second message comprises at least one of the command or the request to the second node translated into the second protocol.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein to determine the correspondence between the first message and the second node of the second protocol-based network, the processor is further configured to compare an endpoint provided in the first message with endpoints in an endpoint management table.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to direct the second message to the second node based on the comparison between the endpoints in the endpoint management table.

9. A device for performing communication registration between a first-protocol-based network and a second-protocol-based network, the device comprising:

a processor configured to;

dynamically identify a first node of the second-protocol-based network;

dynamically identify a second protocol-based address of the first node;

dynamically create a first protocol-based address for the first node corresponding to the second-protocol-based address of the first node; and

dynamically register the first protocol-based address and the second protocol-based address such that the first protocol-based address corresponds to the second protocol-based address in the registration.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically determine a node type for the first node, and wherein the dynamic registration further includes a mapping between the first protocol-based address of the first node, the second protocol-based address of the first node, and the node type for the first node.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first protocol-based address comprises at least one of a Zigbee endpoint or Z-wave endpoint.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the second protocol-based address comprises a Clear Connect serial identifier.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the dynamic registration is made using an endpoint management table.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the endpoint registration management table comprises the first protocol-based address, the second protocol-based address, and an indication of whether the first protocol-based address and the second protocol-based address are mapped.

15. A device for initiating communication registration between a first protocol-based network and a second protocol-based network, the device operating as a first node of the first protocol-based network, the device comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a first input as a command to register a second node of the second protocol-based network;

initiate a first message to a third node in response to the first input to register the second node, the third node being in communication with the first node and the second protocol-based network; and

receive a second message from the third node, the second message indicating a first protocol-based registration of the second node.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the second message comprises an endpoint of the first protocol-based-registration of the second node.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first protocol comprises at least one of Zigbee or Z-wave.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the second protocol comprises Clear Connect.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the first input comprises at least one of an actuation of the second node or an interaction with the first node.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to associate the second node with an endpoint of the first node in an endpoint management table during the first protocol-based registration of the second node.