Network and intelligent cell for providing sensing, bidirectional communications and control

• US 5,475,687 A
• Filed: 07/27/1993
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• 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:
  US08/097,587
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85.1, 370/85.15, 370/60, 370/94.1, 395/200, 395/325
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• 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 12/2823 : Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 : Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A cell for use in a network which provides sensing, control and communications. Each cell, as part of its manufacturing process, includes a unique 48-bit identification number. A terminal on the cell enables the broadcast of this unique number onto the network during initialization of the network so that each cell can be identified. The input/output section of each cell communicates with the plurality of processors in the cell allowing one processor to interpret messages received from the network without interrupts of functions performed by other processors.

Claims

1. A cell for coupling to a network having a plurality of such cells comprising:

a processing means having multiple processors sharing a memory, for preparing messages for broadcast over said network and for interpreting messages received from said network, said processing means executing a computer program stored in said memory by at least one of said processors for carrying out at least one of the functions of sensing, communicating or controlling in said network, said memory storing a unique cell identification number;

an input and output section having a plurality of subsections for;

coupling messages between said processing means and said network to

provide said function of communicating; and

,

providing at least one of said functions of sensing and controlling;

said processing means interfacing with said input/output section such that said processing means receives or transmits messages without interrupting the execution of said program in said one of said processors executing said program; and

,

said input/output section including a terminal coupled to said memory for enabling broadcasting of said unique cell identification number onto said network so that said cell can be identified by said network.

2. The cell defined by claim 1 wherein said cell is fabricated on a single substrate as an integrated circuit.

3. The cell defined by claim 2 wherein said memory includes a programmable memory.

4. The cell defined by claims 1 or 3 wherein said cell identification number is a 48 bit binary number.

5. The cell defined by claim 1 wherein said input/output section includes an analog-to-digital converter and a digital-to-analog converter.

6. The cell defined by claim 5 wherein said cell is fabricated on a single substrate as an integrated circuit.

7. The cell defined by claim 6 wherein said cell identification number is a 48 bit binary number.

8. A cell for coupling to a network having a plurality of such cells, comprising:

a processing means having multiple processors sharing a memory, for preparing messages for broadcast over said network and for interpreting messages received from said network, said processing means executing a computer program stored in said memory by at least one of said processors for carrying out at least one of the functions of sensing, communicating or controlling in said network, said memory storing a unique cell identification number;

an input and output section being addressed by said processing means through a dedicated address space, said input and output section having a plurality of subsections each being able to communicate with each of said processors, said processing means receiving or transmitting messages without interrupting the execution of said program in said one of said processors executing said program, said input/output section for;

coupling messages between said processing means and said network to

provide said function of communicating; and

,

providing at least one of said functions of sensing and controlling; and

,

said input/output section including a terminal coupled to said memory for enabling broadcasting of said unique cell identification number onto said network so that said cell can be identified by said network.

9. The cell defined by claim 8 wherein said cell is fabricated on a single substrate as an integrated circuit.

10. The cell defined by claim 9 wherein said memory includes a programmable memory.

11. The cell defined by claim 10 wherein said unique cell identification number is a 48 bit binary number.