System and apparatus for controlling an appliance situated within a premises

• US 6,380,866 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1995
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wright, Gregory Alan, Sizer, Theodore II
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/486,544
• Time in Patent Office: 2,518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.24, 340/3.1, 340/3.9, 370/402, 359/145, 379/102.3, 219/448
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/618 Details of network addresses

Abstract

A system and apparatus for controlling an appliance situated within a premises such as a home or office has a premises controller for receiving and storing appliance control information. The premises controller includes a wireless transmitter for generating and transmitting a packet of appliance control information to an appliance controller based on the stored appliance control information. In one aspect of the invention, the appliance controller is spaced from the premises controller but within range of the generated packet transmission for interfacing with the premises appliance. The appliance controller further includes a packet receiver for receiving the packet of control information. In one aspect of the invention, the premises controller has a microprocessor. An infrared pulse generator is operatively connected to the microprocessor and generates and transmits an infrared pulse code to the appliance.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an appliance contained within a premises comprising:

premises controller means for receiving and storing appliance control information, the premises controller means including radio transmission means for generating and transmitting a packet of appliance control information to the appliance based on the stored appliance control information;

appliance controller means spaced from said premises controller means but within range of said generated packet transmission for interfacing with the appliance, said appliance controller means further including;

means for receiving and translating said packet of appliance control information for controlling operation of the appliance; and

means for generating a radio signal back to said premises controller means relating to operation of the appliance;

responsive to the radio signal back, the premises controller means generating and transmitting a further packet of control information to the appliance controller for closed loop control of the appliance within the premises;

wherein the premises controller interoperates wirelessly, in both directions, with appliance controllers out of the premises controller'"'"'s line of sight.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said appliance control means further comprises:

microprocessing means translating the packet of appliance control signals;

wherein said premises control means further comprises;

high frequency radio transmitting means for delivering the packet of appliance control information to said microprocessing means; and

wherein said appliance control means further comprises;

pulse generation means being operatively connected to said microprocessing means for receiving said translated packet of appliance control information and generating and transmitting an appliance control signal.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said appliance control means further includes ROM for storing various pulse sequences depending on the type of appliance to be controlled.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said radio transmission means further includes a antennae through which said transmitted packet of appliance control information is sent.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said packet of appliance control information includes an address portion and a payload portion.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said radio transmission means includes means for generating a packet radio signal in the range of 2.45 Ghz to about 6.0 Ghz to said appliance control means.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said premises control means includes processing means including ROM which stores said appliance control information.

8. A system for controlling the operation of appliances comprising:

a premises having a plurality of appliances situated therein;

premises controller means for receiving and storing appliance control information, and including radio transmission means for generating and transmitting a packet of appliance control information to the appliances based on the stored appliance control information, said packet of appliance control information including an address portion indicating a specific appliance to be controlled and a data portion representing the appliance control information for the appliance to be controlled; and

a plurality of appliance controller means spaced from said premises controller means but within range of said generated packet transmission for interfacing with respective appliances, each of said appliance controller means having a specific address and including;

means for receiving and translating a respective packet of appliance control information based on the designated address for controlling operation of the respective appliance; and

means for generating a radio signal back to said premises controller means relating to operation of the appliance;

responsive to the radio signal back, the premises controller means generating and transmitting further packet control information to the appliance controller means for closed loop control of the appliance within the premises;

wherein the premises controller interoperates wirelessly, in both directions, with appliance controllers out of the premises controller'"'"'s line of sight.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said appliance control means further comprises:

microprocessing means translating the packet of appliance control signals;

wherein said premises control means further comprises;

radio transmitting means for delivering the packet of appliance control information to said microprocessing means; and

wherein said appliance control means further comprises;

pulse generation means operatively connected to said microprocessing means for receiving said translated packet of appliance control information and generating and transmitting a control signal to the appliance.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein said appliance control means further includes ROM for storing various pulse sequences depending on the type of appliance to be controlled.

11. The system according to claim 8 wherein said radio transmission means further includes a antennae through which said transmitted packet of appliance control information is sent.

12. The system according to claim 8 wherein said packet of appliance control information comprises an address portion and a payload portion.

13. The system according to claim 8 wherein said radio transmission means includes means for generating a packet radio signal in the range of 2.45 Ghz to about 6.0 Ghz to said appliance control means.

14. The system according to claim 8 wherein said premises control means includes processing means including ROM which stores said appliance control information.

15. An apparatus for controlling an appliance contained within a premises comprising:

premise controller means for receiving and storing appliance control information; and

radio transmission means for generating and transmitting a packet of control information to an appliance controller means spaced from said controller means but within range of said generated packet transmission for interfacing with the appliance, said appliance controller means including means for receiving and translating said packet of control information for controlling operation of the appliance and means for generating a radio signal back to said controller means relating to operation of the appliance;

the premises controller means generating and transmitting further packet control information to the appliance controller for closed loop control of the appliance within the premises;

wherein the premises controller interoperates wirelessly, in both directions, with appliance controllers out of the premises controller'"'"'s line of sight.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said premise control means further comprises the radio transmitting means operates in the range of 2.45 Ghz to about 6.0 Ghz for delivering the packet of control information.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein said control means further includes ROM for storing various pulse sequences depending on the type of appliance to be controlled.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein said packet of control information includes an address portion and a payload portion.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein said premise controller means is responsive to said radio signal back to said controller means relating to operation of the appliance for generating and transmitting further control information to said appliance controller means for closed loop control within the premises.

20. The system according to claim 15 wherein said control means includes processing means, including ROM which stores said control information.