Method and system for monitoring and controlling automation equipment by modem

• US 6,529,589 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Jon A., Price, Tim Urry
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/314,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102-1-1, 340/310.02, 340/310.08, 340/310.07
• US Class Current: 379/102.01
• 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 12/2823 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 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring and controlling automation equipment. The present invention uses a modem'"'"'s processing and memory resources to interpret and translate data and commands associated with automation equipment. When receiving data from the automation equipment, the modem interprets the data using its own processing power and stores the interpreted results in its own memory for subsequent retrieval. Commands for control are translated into a compatible format by the modem and then transmitted to the automation equipment. The present invention also allows for remote access through the modem for both monitoring and controlling without requiring any host interaction. A modem according to the present invention further provides for its host to operate in a mode of reduced processing and power consumption while the modem continues to monitor and control automation equipment.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring automation equipment through a modem attached to a host wherein the automation equipment includes at least one device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between the automation equipment and the modem; and

the modem performing the steps of;

receiving at least one data item from the at least one automation equipment device;

interpreting the received data item; and

storing the interpretation of the received data item.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the modem stores the interpretation of the received data item in memory associated with the modem.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the host operates in a mode of reduced processing and power requirements while providing power to the modem.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the modem further performs the step of receiving from the host a request for information regarding the at least one automation equipment device.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the modem further performs the step of querying the at least one automation equipment device to fulfill the host'"'"'s request for information.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the modem further performs the step of reading the stored interpretation to fulfill the host'"'"'s request for information.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the modem performs the step of communicating, to a monitoring component, the interpretation of the received data item.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing the modem by a remote user.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the modem performs the step of receiving, from the remote user, a request for information regarding the at least one automation equipment device.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the modem performs the step of querying the at least one automation equipment device to fulfill the remote user'"'"'s request for information.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the modem performs the step of reading the stored interpretation to fulfill the remote user'"'"'s request for information.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the modem further performs the step of automatically sensing when it is connected to the at least one home automation equipment device.

13. A method for controlling automation equipment through a modem attached to a host wherein the automation equipment includes at least one device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between the automation equipment and the modem; and

the modem performing the steps of;

receiving at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device;

translating the received at least one command; and

transmitting the translated command to the at least one automation equipment device.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the host provides power to the modem while the host operates in a mode of reduced power consumption and processing.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the modem further performs the step of automatically sensing when it is connected to the automation equipment.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the modem receives the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device from the host.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of accessing the modem by a remote user, wherein the modem receives the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device from the remote user.

18. A method for monitoring and controlling home automation equipment through a modem attached to a host wherein the home automation equipment includes at least one device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between the home automation equipment and the modem; and

the modem performing the steps of;

receiving at least one command to be directed to the at least one home automation equipment device;

translating the received at least one command;

transmitting the translated command to the at least one home automation equipment device;

receiving at least one data item from the at least one home automation equipment device;

interpreting the received data item; and

storing the interpretation of the received data item.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein the modem stores the interpretation of the received data item in memory associated with the modem.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the modem performs the step of communicating, to a monitoring component, the interpretation of the received data item.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the modem receives the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device from a monitoring component.

22. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the modem receives the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device from a remote user.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein the host, while operating in a mode of reduced power consumption and processing, provides power to the modem.

24. A system for monitoring automation equipment wherein the automation equipment includes at least one device, the system comprising:

a host;

a modem connected to the host, the modem further comprising;

means for receiving at least one data item from the at least one automation equipment device;

means for interpreting the received data item; and

means for storing the interpretation of the received data item; and

means for establishing a connection between the automation equipment and the modem.

25. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the means for storing the interpretation of the received data item is memory associated with the modem.

26. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the host further comprises:

means for operating in a reduced power consumption mode; and

means for delivering power to the modem while operating in the reduced power consumption mode.

27. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the modem further comprises means for querying the at least one automation equipment device in response to a request for information regarding the at least one automation device.

28. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the modem further comprises means for reading the stored interpretation of the received data item.

29. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the modem further comprises means for receiving a request for information regarding the at least one automation equipment device.

30. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the modem further comprises means for allowing access to the modem by a remote user.

31. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the modem further comprises means for communicating the stored interpretation of the received data to a monitoring component.

32. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the modem further comprises means for automatically sensing when it is connected to the home automation equipment.

33. A system for controlling automation equipment wherein the automation equipment includes at least one device, the system comprising:

a host;

a modem connected to the host, the modem further comprising;

means for receiving at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device;

means for translating the received at least one command; and

means for transmitting the translated command to the at least one automation equipment device; and

means for establishing a connection between the automation equipment and the modem.

34. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein the host further comprises:

means for operating in a reduced power consumption mode; and

means for delivering power to the modem while operating in the reduced power consumption mode.

35. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein the means for receiving the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device comprises means for receiving the command from the host.

36. A system as recited in claim 33, the modem further comprising means for access by a remote user, wherein the modem receives the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device from the remote user.

37. A computer program product for implementing a method for monitoring automation equipment via modem wherein the automation equipment includes at least one device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for implementing the method wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise;

program code means for receiving at least one data item from the at least one automation equipment device;

program code means for interpreting the received data item; and

program code means for storing the interpretation of the received data item; and

program code means for establishing a connection between the automation equipment and the modem.

38. A computer program product as recited in claim 37 wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise program code means for allowing access to the modem by a remote user.

39. A computer program product as recited in claim 37 wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise program code means for communicating the stored interpretation of the received data item to a monitoring component.

40. A computer program product as recited in claim 37 wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise program code means for automatically sensing when the modem is connected to the home automation equipment.

41. A computer program product for implementing a method for controlling automation equipment via modem wherein the automation equipment includes at least one device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for implementing the method wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise;

program code means for receiving at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device;

program code means for translating the received at least one command;

program code means for transmitting the translated command to the at least one automation equipment device; and

program code means for establishing a connection between the automation equipment and the modem.

42. A computer program product as recited in claim 41 wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise program code means for receiving the at least one command to be directed to the at least one automation equipment device from the host.

43. A computer program product as recited in claim 41 wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise program code means for allowing access by and receiving the at least one command from a remote user.