Programmable distributed appliance control system

• US 5,570,085 A
• Filed: 11/22/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ludo A. Bertsch
• Original Assignee: Ludo A. Bertsch
• Inventors: Bertsch, Ludo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US08/343,612
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/154, 395/200.84, 395/325, 395/82, 395/275, 395/2.79, 395/500, 395/775, 395/700, 395/575, 395/200.1, 395/600, 395/822, 395/309, 364/DIG. 1, 364/ 143, 364/DIG. 2, 364/146, 364/188, 364/139, 364/189, 364/133, 364/436, 364/132, 364/709.09, 364/131, 340/825.37, 340/825.69, 340/825.29, 340/825.22, 340/310.01, 340/825.54, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 340/825.25, 370/85.13
• US Class Current: 340/3.54
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21012 Configurable I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25451 Connect module to bus using interface with adaptive logic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 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: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12

Abstract

A device for incorporation into a variety of consumer appliances for use in a home automation environment. The invention comprises an electronic hardware module having software resident on the module, providing an interface between an appliance and other elements on a communications system employing the "Consumer Electronics Bus" protocol. The present invention interprets data messages sent to the appliance and signals the appliance in a preprogrammed manner. Also, the invention can be programmed to generate a specific data message for transmission to another appliance. The invention accommodates the various communication media, levels of electrical noise, and operating speeds allowed by the "Consumer Electronics Bus" protocol.

Claims

1. For use with plural consumer devices, a remotely configurable consumer device distributed interface system, comprising:

a communications medium;

plural medium interfaces each comprising a memory, each of said consumer devices connected to said communications medium via a respective one of said plural medium interfaces to provide control of said consumer devices in response to selected signals provided on said communications medium according to a program stored in said memory of said respective medium interface; and

a medium interface control unit in removable communication with said plural medium interfaces, said medium interface control unit providing customization signals to said plural medium interfaces to thereby select predetermined functions of said plural medium interfaces according to said program stored in said memory of each of said plural medium interfaces,

said distributed interface system functioning without a central control unit and wherein

once said customization signals are provided to said plural medium interfaces by said medium interface control unit, said medium interface control unit is thereafter removable from said distributed interface system, said plural medium interfaces retain said predetermined functions selected by said customization signals once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and each of said plural medium interfaces transmits and receives command and status signals with at least one other of said plural medium interfaces once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system

wherein said medium interface control unit includes;

an address and command unit providing at least one of customized interface address command and command response signals, wherein each of said plural medium interfaces assumes an address corresponding to said address provided by said address and command unit, and each of said plural medium interfaces assumes functions corresponding to said command and command response signs provided by said address and command unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said medium interface control unit applies said customization signals to said plural medium interface through said communications medium.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said medium interface control unit applies said customization signals directly to said plural medium interfaces.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said medium interface control unit comprises;

a memory containing a predetermined stored program;

a stored program processor in communication with said memory, and a control interface in communication with said stored program processor and distributed interface system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor monitoring said selected predetermined functions of at least one of said plural medium interfaces and providing a connection initiate signal if at least one of said selected predetermined functions exceeds a specified performance range, and

a dynamic controller receiving said connection initiate signal, said dynamic controller dynamically adjusting said at least one medium interface in response to said correction initiate signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

said dynamic controller includes said plural medium interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said communications medium comprises one of a power line, an infrared beam, a twisted pair of conductors, a coaxial pair of conductors, an optical fiber and a radio frequency transmission.

8. For use with plural consumer devices, a remotely configurable consumer device distributed interface system, comprising:

a communications medium;

plural medium interfaces each comprising a memory, each of said consumer devices connected to said communications medium via a respective one of said plural medium interfaces to provide control of said consumer devices in response to selected signals provided on said communications medium according to a program stored in said memory of said respective medium interface; and

a medium interface control unit in removable communication with said plural medium interfaces, said medium interface control unit providing customization signals to said plural medium interfaces to thereby select predetermined functions of said plural medium interface according to said program stored in said memory of each of said plural medium interfaces,

said distributed interface system functioning without a central control unit,

wherein once said customization signals are provided to said plural medium interfaces by said medium interface control unit, said medium interface control unit is thereafter removable from said distributed interface system, said plural medium interfaces retain said predetermined functions selected by said customization signals once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and each of said plural medium interfaces transmits and receives command and status signals with at least one other of said plural medium interfaces once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and

wherein said medium interface control unit comprises;

a memory containing a predetermined stored program;

a stored program processor in communication with said memory;

a control interface in communication with said stored program processor and distributed interface system; and

an address and command unit providing at least one of customized interface address, command and command response signals, wherein each of said plural medium interfaces assumes an address corresponding to said address provided by said address and command unit, and each of said plural medium interfaces assumes functions corresponding to said command and command response signals provided by said address and command unit.

9. For use with plural consumer devices, a remotely configurable consumer device distributed interface system, comprising:

a communications medium;

plural medium interfaces each comprising a memory, each of said consumer devices connected to said communications medium via a respective one of said plural medium interfaces to provide control of said consumer devices in response to selected signals provided on said communications medium according to a program stored in said memory of said respective medium interface;

a medium interface control unit in removable communication with said plural medium interfaces, said medium interface control unit providing customization signals to said plural medium interfaces to thereby select predetermined functions of said plural medium interfaces according to said program stored in said memory of each of said plural medium interfaces;

a monitor monitoring said selected predetermined functions of at least one of said plural medium interfaces and providing a connection initiate signal if at least one of said selected predetermined functions exceeds a specified performance range; and

a dynamic controller receiving said connection initiate signal, said dynamic controller dynamically adjusting said at least one medium interface in response to said correction initiate signal,

said distributed interface system functioning without a central control unit,

wherein once said customization signals are provided to said plural medium interfaces by said medium interface control unit, said medium interface control unit is thereafter removable from said distributed interface system, said plural medium interfaces retain said predetermined functions selected by said customization signals once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and each of said plural medium interfaces transmits and receives command and status signals with at least one other of said plural medium interfaces once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and

wherein said medium interface control unit further comprises;

an address and command unit providing at least one of customized interface address, command and command response signals, wherein each of said plural medium interfaces assumes an address corresponding to said address provided by said address and command unit, and each of said plural medium interfaces assumes functions corresponding to said command and command response signals provided by said address and command unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

said dynamic controller includes said plural medium interfaces.

11. For use with plural consumer devices, a remotely configurable consumer device distributed interface system, comprising:

a communications medium comprising one of a power line, an infrared beam, a twisted pair of conductors, a coaxial pair of conductors, an optical fiber and a radio frequency transmission;

plural medium interfaces each comprising a memory, each of said consumer devices connected to said communications medium via a respective one of said plural medium interfaces to provide control of said consumer devices in response to selected signals provided on said communications medium according to a program stored in said memory of said respective medium interface; and

a medium interface control unit in removable communication with said plural medium interfaces, said medium interface control unit providing customization signals to said plural medium interfaces to thereby select predetermined functions of said plural medium interfaces according to said program stored in said memory of each of said plural medium interfaces,

said distributed interface system functioning without a central control unit,

wherein once said customization signals are provided to said plural medium interfaces by said medium interface control unit, said medium interface control unit is thereafter removable from said distributed interface system, said plural medium interfaces retain said predetermined functions selected by said customization signals once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and each of said plural medium interfaces transmits and receives command and status signals with at least one other of said plural medium interfaces once said medium interface control unit is removed from said distributed interface system, and

wherein said medium interface control unit further comprises;

an address and command unit providing at least one of customized interface address, command and command response signals, wherein each of said plural medium interfaces assumes an address corresponding to said address provided by said address and command unit, and each of said plural medium interfaces assumes functions corresponding to said command and command response signals provided by said address and command unit.