Process for allocating addresses to newly connected apparatus in a domestic network controlled by a master controller

• US 5,481,750 A
• Filed: 09/01/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moulinex SA (SEB SA)
• Original Assignee: Moulinex SA (SEB SA)
• Inventors: Parise, Vital A., Letorey, Joseph A. P. M., Leveque, Patrick M. G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US08/299,651
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 364/132, 364/188, 395/280, 395/800, 370/93
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21073 Each module has push button, trigger circuit to initialise address setting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21074 Master has keyboard to enter address of called slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25188 Superposition high frequency data signal on power lines, current carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25209 Device status answer, response, acknowledge
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25211 Broadcast mode, length message, command, address of originator and destination
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25214 Wait, delay after message
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25257 Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 : for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

The process uses the technique of carrier currents between the emitter-receivers (2, 3 . .) called slaves comprising each a microcontroller (4, 5 . .), and a master controller (6) comprising a microcontroller (7) whose memory contains addresses relating to the slaves and to the dwelling. According to the invention, during connection of a slave to the network there is activated the master controller (6) by typing a number on the programming keyboard of the master controller (6), one pushes a pushbutton (13) so as to trigger a subprogram (14) for production of a message (M1) containing the following information: general distribution; request for address allocation; slave address, there is sent (15) the message. One awaits (16) a second message (M2) from the master controller, then during reception of the second message M2, the applicant slave sends to the master controller (6) an acknowledgement AS comprising information on the allocation of the slave, this information being transmitted to the user by means of a display.

Claims

1. Process for the allocation of addresses in a domestic network for the distribution of electrical energy in a dwelling, said domestic network using carrier currents for a transmission of information between emitter-receivers (2, 3) called slaves which are connected by a socket (9) to said domestic network, each of said slaves comprising a microcontroller (4, 5) and an EEPROM memory adapted to contain the addresses relative to the slave and to the dwelling and at least one master controller (MC) (6) comprising a display unit (DU) and a microcontroller (7) for information processing which is connected to a programming keyboard (8), said master controller comprising memory storing user programs and the address allocated to each slave located in said dwelling, said process comprising the steps of:

a) a user activating the master controller (MC) by typing on the keyboard (8) a numeral corresponding to said address to be allocated and for indicating to said master controller (MC) that a new slave is connected to said domestic network and requests the allocation of an address;

b) awaiting a first message M1 from the slave and starting simultaneously a time-delay at the end of which the master controller (MC) is automatically deactivated if it receives no message from the slave newly connected;

c) said user actuating a pushbutton (13) on the said newly connected slave which triggers a production by a program (14) of said first message (M1) for requesting the allocation of an address;

d) sending said first message (M1) onto said domestic network to the master controller (MC);

e) delaying the transmission of an acknowledgment signal (ACK) from said slave until said slave receives a second message (M2) transmitted by the master controller (MC);

f) transmitting a second message (M2) to the slave, by the master controller (MC) upon receiving a message (M1), said message (M2) comprising said numeral corresponding to said address allocated by said user of the slave; and

g) storing, in said EEPROM memory of said slave, said allocated address contained in said message (M2), said allocated address thus becoming the address of said slave on said domestic network;

h) transmitting, through said domestic network, by said slave upon receipt of the message (M2), the acknowledgment signal (ACK) to the master controller (MC).

2. Process for the allocation of addresses in a domestic network according to claim 1, in which there are used programs included in the EEPROM of the master controller (MC) and in each slave'"'"'s EEPROM, said programs being adapted to be executed for generating messages.

3. Process for the allocation of addresses in a domestic network according to claim 1, wherein the message (M1) comprises the following three principal bytes:

a first byte comprising;

a first bit used to acknowledge a receipt of a message,

next three bits defining a diffusion mode, and

last four bits indicating a length of the message (M1),

a second byte comprising;

a first bit indicating a type of device to which the message (M1) must be sent,

three bits defining primary control codes, and

last four bits representing data which will be used for programming the master controller (MC), and

a third byte comprising

eight bits which are used to address devices connected to said domestic network through said slaves.

4. Process for the allocation of addresses in a domestic network according to claim 3, wherein the message (M2) is structured identically as (M1).

5. Process for the allocation of addresses in a domestic network according to claim 4, wherein both the message (M1) and the message (M2) comprise optional bytes used according to a control mode to define:

a house number,

a family number,

zone number,

an address called, and

a master controller'"'"'s number.