WIFI-TO-SERIAL ENCAPSULATION IN SYSTEMS

• US 20140167928A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: BURD, Dana, DAWES, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,582,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Embodiments include a device comprising an interface module for interfacing with proprietary legacy systems. The interface module comprises a data interface for interfacing with a processing component of the legacy system, where the processing component uses a proprietary protocol for processing data of the legacy system. The interface module includes a protocol module that comprises a protocol corresponding to the proprietary protocol of the legacy system, and the interface module uses the protocol to exchange data with the processing component. The interface module includes a communication device that communicates with a remote system via a wireless channel. The interface module controls communications that include passing commands from the remote system to the legacy system, and passing event data of the legacy system to the remote system.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an interface module coupled to a processor, wherein the interface module comprises a data interface for interfacing with a processing component of a legacy system installed at a location, wherein the processing component uses a proprietary protocol for processing data of the legacy system;

a protocol module coupled to the processor, wherein the protocol module comprises a protocol corresponding to the proprietary protocol, wherein the interface module uses the protocol to exchange data with the processing component; and

a communication device coupled to the processor, wherein the communication device communicates with a remote system via a wireless channel, wherein the processor controls communications that comprise passing commands from the remote system to the legacy system, and passing event data of the legacy system to the remote system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency (RF) device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular communication device, wherein the cellular communication device communicates with cellular-enabled systems via a cellular network.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the cellular communication device comprises at least one of a third Generation (3G) device, a High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) device, an Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized (EVDO) device, and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a broadband communication device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a WiFi communication device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a Z-Wave communication device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a Zigbee communication device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a plain old telephone service (POTS) device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of a cellular communication device, a third Generation (3G) communication device, a High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) communication device, an Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized (EVDO) communication device, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication device, a broadband communication device, a WiFi communication device, a Z-Wave communication device, a Zigbee communication device, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises at least two of a cellular communication device, a third Generation (3G) communication device, a High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) communication device, an Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized (EVDO) communication device, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication device, a broadband communication device, a WiFi communication device, a Z-Wave communication device, a Zigbee communication device, and a plain old telephone service (POTS) device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the remote system comprises one or more of a server, network operations center, central monitoring station, network device, gateway, personal computing device, cellular telephone, smartphone, tablet computer, personal computer.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the legacy system is a control system installed at the location, wherein the control system comprises a plurality of controlled devices.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of controlled devices comprises one or more of thermostats, lights, locks, sensors, detectors, security devices, appliances, cameras, network devices, controllers, control panel processors, Internet Protocol (IP) devices, Z-Wave devices, and Zigbee devices.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the legacy system enrolls the interface module as a known device.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the event data comprises data of the controlled components.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the processing component comprises a serial bus of the control system, wherein the proprietary protocol is a serial protocol.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of controlled devices is coupled to the serial bus and registered with a controller of the control system.

19. The device of claim 17, comprising a wire-based coupling between the interface module and the serial bus.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the wire-based coupling comprises at least one of a TTL interface, an RS-232 interface, and an RS-422 interface.

21. The device of claim 17, comprising a wireless-based coupling between the interface module and the serial bus.

22. The device of claim 17, comprising a reporting interface module coupled to the processor, wherein the reporting interface module transmits a status report to the remote system via the communication device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the reporting interface module receives the status report from the legacy system.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the reporting interface module receives the event data from the legacy system, wherein the event data comprises state data of the control system and the controlled devices.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the reporting interface module generates the status report from the event data and the state data.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the remote system comprises a network operations center.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein the reporting interface module transmits the status report to the remote system via at least one intermediate system.

28. The device of claim 13, wherein the interface module receives event data asynchronously transmitted by the legacy system and passes the event data to the remote system via the communication device.

29. The device of claim 13, wherein the communication device receives polling requests from the remote system and passes the polling requests to the legacy system via the interface module.

30. The device of claim 13, wherein the communication device conducts polling operations on behalf of the remote system.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the event data received from the legacy system in response to the polling operations is sent to the remote system.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein upon receiving the event data the processor buffers the event data prior to sending the event data to the remote system.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein upon receiving the event data the processor retransmits the event data to the remote system.

34. The device of claim 13, wherein the protocol corresponding to the proprietary protocol comprises an abbreviated command set.

35. The device of claim 13, wherein the protocol comprises a protocol translator that maps between a first set of commands of the legacy system and a second set of commands of the remote system.

36. The device of claim 1, comprising at least one proxy executed by the processor.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the at least one proxy comprises configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters include at least one of enable, disable, automatic-sense on, automatic-sense off, legacy system type, interface module type, polling type, polling level, polling commands, polling rate, and statistic period.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein configuration parameters of the at least one proxy are set via the remote system.

39. The device of claim 37, wherein configuration parameters of the at least one proxy are automatically determined and set by the at least one proxy using detected information of at least one of the legacy system and the remote system.

40. The device of claim 36, wherein the at least one proxy includes a polling proxy, wherein the polling proxy is an intermediary between the remote system and the legacy system.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the polling proxy at least one of processes, parses, translates protocol, adjusts timing, buffers, and queues messages exchanged between the remote system and the legacy system.

42. The device of claim 40, wherein the polling proxy comprises message polling.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the message polling comprises providing polling commands that prompt for messages exchanged between the interface module and the legacy system, wherein the messages include at least one of legacy system state changes, legacy system mode changes, legacy system resource changes, responses to remote system commands, message management.

44. The device of claim 40, wherein the polling proxy comprises data polling.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the data polling comprises polling for data including at least one of internal state data and resource data of the legacy system,

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the data polling comprises polling for data that indicates at least one of a change of state and a change of resources.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the polling proxy compares data received during data polling to data from at least one previous query, wherein the polling proxy infers from the comparison at least one of state changes and resource changes.

48. The device of claim 36, wherein the at least one proxy includes an injection proxy running on the processor.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the injection proxy is a transparent pass-through for a first message exchanged between the remote system and the legacy system, wherein the first message is related to a non-polling function of the legacy system, wherein in response to the first message received from the remote system the injection proxy passes the first message to the legacy system, wherein in response to the first message received from the legacy system the injection proxy passes the first message to the remote system.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the injection proxy manages polling data of a second message exchanged between the remote system and the legacy system, wherein the second message is related to a polling function of the legacy system.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein, in response to the second message received from the remote system, the injection proxy generates a third message and sends the third message to the legacy system, wherein the third message is generated by injecting polling commands into the second message.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein, in response to the second message received from the legacy system, the injection proxy generates a fourth message and sends the fourth message to the remote system, wherein the fourth message is generated by removing polling information from the second message.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein the at least one proxy includes a rewrite proxy, wherein the rewrite proxy rewrites sequence numbers of messages that pass between the remote system and the legacy system.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the rewrite proxy detects a sequence number of the second message is shared as the sequence number of the first message.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the rewrite proxy rewrites sequence numbers of the first message, wherein a first sequence count corresponding to the first message between the rewrite proxy and the remote system is continuous, wherein a second sequence count corresponding to the first message between the rewrite proxy and the legacy system is continuous.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the rewrite proxy rewrites sequence numbers of the second message, wherein a third sequence count corresponding to the second message between the rewrite proxy and the remote system is continuous, wherein a fourth sequence count corresponding to the second message between the rewrite proxy and the legacy system is continuous.

57. The device of claim 1, comprising a scheduling engine coupled to the processor, wherein the scheduling engine schedules automations and events of associated devices coupled to the communication device.

58. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor controls communications by controlling at least one of protocol translation, communication translation, and timing constraints of communication events.

59. The device of claim 1, wherein the commands from the remote system comprise Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), wherein transmissions to the remote system comprise User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

60. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a WiFi communication device, wherein the remote system comprises a gateway at the location, wherein the gateway comprises a wireless access manager coupled to a gateway processor, wherein the wireless access manager establishes a communication channel with the communication device, wherein the communication channel passes communications that comprise commands to the legacy system from the remote system, and event data to the remote system from the legacy system.

61. The device of claim 60, comprising a second communication device that is a cellular communication device, wherein the cellular communication device establishes a second communication channel with at least one other remote system, wherein the second communication channel passes communications that comprise commands to the legacy system from the at least one other remote system, and event data to the at least one other remote system from the legacy system.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein the communication device comprises operating credentials received via the gateway.

63. The device of claim 62, wherein configuration and status data of the communication device is provided via the gateway.

64. The device of claim 61, wherein the at least one other remote system comprises one or more of a server, network operations, center, central monitoring station, network device, personal computing device, cellular telephone, smartphone, tablet computer, personal computer.

65. The device of claim 64, wherein the communication device communicates with at least one of the remote system and the at least one other remote system, wherein the processor controls communications that comprise passing commands from at least one of the remote system and the at least one other remote system to the legacy system, and passing event data of the legacy system to at least one of the remote system and the at least one other remote system.

66. The device of claim 60, wherein the gateway comprises a connection manager coupled to a gateway processor, wherein the connection manager is coupled to a plurality of remote servers via a network and communicates with the plurality of remote servers over the network.

67. The device of claim 66, wherein the connection manager receives via the network a set of protocols corresponding to the legacy system.

68. The device of claim 67, wherein the gateway comprises a protocol manager coupled to the gateway processor, wherein the protocol manager includes the set of protocols corresponding to the legacy system.

69. The device of claim 68, wherein the set of protocols include the protocol, wherein the protocol module receives the protocol from the protocol manager.

70. The device of claim 68, wherein the gateway comprises a device manager coupled to the gateway processor, wherein the device manager processes the commands and the event data exchanged between the remote system and the legacy system via the interface module.

71. The device of claim 70, wherein the wireless access manager initiates learning of the gateway into the legacy system using the set of protocols.

72. The device of claim 71, wherein the gateway includes at least one wireless device coupled to a gateway processor, wherein the protocol manager includes at least one wireless device protocol corresponding to the at least one wireless device, wherein the at least one wireless device provides at least one communication channel with at least one wireless device at the location.

73. The device of claim 60, wherein the gateway locates and enrolls the interface module as a known device.