Network and intelligent cell for providing sensing bidirectional communications and control

• US 4,939,728 A
• Filed: 12/19/1988
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echelon Systems Corp.
• Original Assignee: Echelon Systems Corp.
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen B., Sander, Wendell B., Markkula, Armas C. Jr., Twitty, William B., Evan, Shabtai
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US07/259,697
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 370/94, 370/60, 370/100, 370/85, 370/89, 340/825.5, 340/825.51, 371/52
• US Class Current: 370/419
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21042 Address a group, a zone
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21053 Each unit, module has unique identification code, set during manufacturing, fMAC address
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25086 Assign functions to group of complete or partial cells, modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25162 Contention, if several transmitters avoid collision, by separate transmittor code
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25163 Transmit twice, redundant, same data on different channels, check each channel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25178 Serial communication, data, also repeater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25192 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25193 Coaxial cable
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25196 Radio link, transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25197 Optical, glass fiber
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25219 Probe packet to determine best route for messages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25234 Direct communication between two modules instead of normal network
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 : Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 : Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A cell for a network which provides for sensing of conditions, communicating messages and controlling objects through messages encoded into segments of six bit codes each containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeros. The messages begin with one predetermined code which provides bit synchronization followed by a second predetermined code which provides byte synchronization.

Claims

1. A cell for a network which network provides for the sensing of conditions, communicating messages on said conditions and controlling objects based on said messages said cells communicating via at least one medium in said network, comprising:

a processor for preparing and interpreting said messages;

interface means for interfacing between said processor and said medium and for performing at least one of the functions of sensing one of said conditions or controlling one of said objects;

said processor encoding said messages into segments of 6 bit codes, each of said segments containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes and means for converting groups of 6 bit codes received over said medium into 4 bit nibbles, said messages beginning with a preamble which comprises a first one of said segments of 6 bit code followed by a second one of said segments of 6 bit code;

said interfacing means for providing bit synchronization from said first one of said segments and segment synchronization from said second one of said segments;

whereby a cell is realized.

2. The cell defined by claim 1 wherein said cell includes a unique identification number.

3. A cell for use in a network which provides for sensing, communicating and controlling, said cells communicating via at least one medium in said network, comprising:

a processor for preparing and interpreting packets;

interface means for interfacing between said processor and said medium;

said processor for encoding said packets into segments of 6 bit codes, each segment containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes and for decoding packets having said segments containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes;

said interface means for utilizing a first one of said segments for bit synchronization and said second one of a segments for segment synchronization;

whereby a cell is realized.

4. The cell defined by claim 3 wherein said first segment comprises alternate binary ones and binary zeroes.

5. A cell for use in a network having a plurality of said cells which asynchronously communicate with one another in said network through the transmission and reception of packets, comprising:

processing means for preparing said packets, for encoding said packets into segments of 6 bit coded segments each segment having three binary ones and three binary zeroes, for including at the beginning of each of said packets a preamble comprising a first predetermined one of said segments containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes, and for including after said preamble a second predetermined one of said segments containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes, and

circuit means, coupled to said processing means, for providing bit synchronization from said first predetermined segments containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes and segment synchronization from said second predetermined segments containing 3 binary one and 3 binary zeroes.

6. The cell defined by claim 5 wherein said preamble comprises n segments of said first predetermined segments containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeroes where n is greater than one.