Processors, systems, and methods for improved network communications protocol management

• US 5,796,607 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Le Van Suu, Maurice Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US08/897,395
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 364/130-132, 364/138-141, 364/146, 364/147, 364/180, 364/184, 364/187, 364/191, 364/192, 364/492, 364/528.3, 364/140.01-140.1, 395/183.12, 395/830, 395/200.39, 395/200.5-200.52, 395/651-653, 307/38, 340/310.01-310.07
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2237 Selection of master or slave

Abstract

A home automation network, and processors and methods for use in such networks. An innovative communications protocol management processor can be installed either in controller machines and controlled machines. The processor can run both applications programs and network management programs from its associated memory, but different sets of network management programs are used depending on whether the processor is operating a machine of the controller type or of the controlled type.

Claims

1. A home automation system comprising:

a communications channel providing data communication between multiple units;

at least one controlled unit connected to receive commands received through said communications channel and to correspondingly control a local device but programmed to be unable to transmit commands through said communications channel;

at least one controller unit, which is connected to receive external control inputs, and to accordingly send commands through said communications channel to said at least one controlled unit;

wherein said at least one controlled unit includes a programmable processor and stored programs for both controller and controlled unit operation, and is configured to activate controlled unit operation rather than controller unit operation; and

wherein said stored programs for controller and controlled unit operation define network management programs which are recorded indelibly in a read-only memory, and wherein applications programs of said at least one controlled unit for controlling a local device are recorded in a separable, writable memory that is accessible in a writing mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said communications channel is a power-line communications channel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said controller unit is connected to receive control inputs from a manual input connection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said controller unit includes a programmable processor and stored programs for both controller and controlled unit operation, and is configured to activate controlled unit operation rather than controller unit operation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controlled unit is configured by an external connection to a constant voltage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller unit is configured by an external connection to a constant voltage.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlled units can send information elements representing their state, and wherein the controller units comprise means to store the information elements sent by one or more controlled units.

8. A power-line communication interface station comprising:

interface circuitry for providing a transmit/receive interface to an external communications channel;

a programmable processor which is interfaced to the communications channel through said interface circuitry, and which can execute application and network management programs from separate respective locations of memory;

wherein said memory includes not only controlled-unit network management programs, but also controller-unit network management programs which are different from said controlled-unit network management programs, and a separable, writable memory portion to store application programs for at least one controlled unit which controls a local device;

and wherein said processor is nonvolatilely configured to execute either said controlled-unit network management programs or said controller-unit network management programs, but not both.

9. The station of claim 8, wherein said communications channel is a power-line signal channel.

10. The station of claim 8, wherein said interface circuitry includes a transformer.

11. The station of claim 8, wherein said processor is a 16-bit microcontroller.

12. The station of claim 8, wherein said processor is an 8-bit microcontroller.

13. The station of claim 8, wherein said processor is nonvolatilely configured by an external connection to a constant voltage.

14. A processor dedicated to the management of a communications protocol and designed to be installed in machines that are distributed along an information transmission line and form a network, the machines being functionally differentiated into controller machines and controlled machines, the processor implementing programs included in an associated program memory, these programs being functionally differentiated into network management programs and application programs, wherein:

the network management programs are always different depending on whether the machines are of the controller type or of the controlled type,

the memory including a non-volatile memory, network management programs associated with controller type machines as well as with controlled type machines indelibly stored in the non-volatile memory, and a separable writable memory,

and the processor is provided with selection means for the selective implementation of the network management programs associated with the controller type machines or with the controlled type machines; and

wherein the applications programs of the controlled-type machines for controlling a local device are recorded in the separable, writable memory that is accessible in a writing mode.

15. The processor of claim 14, wherein the machines of the controlled type can send information elements representing their state, and wherein the machines of the controller type can send control information elements to modify the state of one or more machines of the controlled type and comprise means to store the information elements sent by one or more controlled type machines.

16. The processor of claim 14, comprising a selection pin connectable to receive a signal representing the type of machine.

17. The processor of claim 14, wherein a space of the program memory is reserved to store an information element representing the type of machine.

18. The processor of claim 14, connected to be dedicated to the management of a communications protocol in a computerized home automation network.

19. A method for operating a home-automation system, comprising the steps of:

(a.) conducting data communications between at least one controller unit and at least one controlled unit over a communications channel;

(b.) controlling at least one local device by said at least one controlled unit in accordance with commands received through said communications channel;

(c.) sending commands through said communications channel from said at least one controller unit to said at least one controlled unit;

wherein said at least one controlled unit includes a programmable processor, a separable writable memory and nonvolatile memory, and stored programs for both controller and controlled unit operation, and is configured to activate controlled unit operation rather than controller unit operation;

wherein network management programs are recorded indelibly in said memory; and

wherein said at least one controlled unit also includes stored application programs for said at least one controlled unit for controlling at least one local device in writable part of the memory.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each said unit is connected to said channel through interface circuitry which includes a transformer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said processor is a 16-bit microcontroller.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said processor is an 8-bit microcontroller.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said processor is nonvolatilely configured by an external connection to a constant voltage.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said communications channel is a power-line communications channel.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing manual inputs to said at least one controller unit to adjust the operation thereof.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one said controller unit includes a programmable processor and stored programs for both controller and controlled unit operation, and is configured to activate controlled unit operation rather than controller unit operation.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one controlled unit can send information elements representing its state, and wherein said at least one controller unit can send control information elements to modify the state of said at least one controlled unit and includes means to store the information elements sent by said at least a controlled unit.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein a portion of nonvolatile program memory is reserved to store an information element representing the type of machine.