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

• US 5,844,888 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• 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., Markkula, Armas C. Jr., Twitty, William B., Evan, Shabtai, Sander, Wendell B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/480,168
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85.1, 370/94.1, 370/60, 370/255, 370/257, 370/390, 370/400
• US Class Current: 370/255
• 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 network for providing sensing and control using cells having distributed intelligence. A link between a first cell and a second cell is established by assigning some cells as repeaters. A first packet is modified with the ID of the cells that rebroadcast the packet as it makes its way in the network from the first cell to the second cell. The second cell returns a packet causing cells in the link to be assigned as repeaters.

Claims

1. In a network for sensing, communicating and controlling which comprises a plurality of cells, a method for establishing a communication link between a first cell and a second cell comprising the steps of:

determining the unique identification number (ID) assigned to each of said cells;

broadcasting a first packet from said first cell which includes the IDs of said first cell and said second cell;

rebroadcasting a modified first packet by each of said cells other than said first cell and said second cell receiving said first packet, said rebroadcasted modified first packet including the ID of each cell rebroadcasting said first packet;

receiving said modified first packet by said second cell and replying to said modified first packet with a reply packet, said reply packet including the IDs of said rebroadcasting cells included in said modified first packet;

receiving said reply packet by said first cell;

assigning said rebroadcasting cells as repeaters, thereby forming a communications link between said first and second cells.

2. The steps defined by claim 1 including the step of assigning said first cell the task of sensing a condition and broadcasting predetermined messages when said condition changes.

3. The method defined by claim 2 including the steps of assigning said second cell the task of controlling an object upon receipt of said predetermined messages from said first cell and preparing and transmitting acknowledgements to said first cell upon receipt of said predetermined messages.

4. A network for sensing, communicating and controlling having a plurality of cells which communicate with one another through packets;

a first plurality of said cells, announcer cells, being coupled to sense conditions and for transmitting packets indicating a change in said conditions;

a second plurality of said cells, listener cells, being coupled to control objects in response to predetermined ones of said packets;

at least one of said announcer cells and listener, repeater cells also performing the function of repeating at least some of said packets;

a first group of cells being programmed with a first group identification number (group ID), said first group including at least one of said announcer cells, one of said listener cells and one of said repeater cells;

a second group of cells being programmed with a second group ID, said second group including at least one of said announcer cells, one of said listener cells and repeater cells;

said first group of cells communicating among themselves with first packets, said first packets being initiated and acted upon only by cells in said first group;

said second group of cells communicating among themselves with second packets, said second packets being initiated and acted upon only by cells in said second group,

whereby communications in said network are limited to groups formed in said network.

5. The network defined in claim 4 wherein each of said announcer cells and listener cells are associated with one or more groups with each group being identified with a different group ID, however, where each of said announcer cells announce group ID for only a single one of said groups.