RF home automation system with replicable controllers
First Claim
1. An automation system for controlling and monitoring a plurality of devices using controllers, the automation system comprising:
- a plurality of devices, each comprising;
a receiver for receiving signals, a transmitter for transmitting signals, a first memory holding a device identifier identifying the device, a processor for controlling the reception and transmission of signals, and means for providing an output to, or receiving an input from, an appliance connected to the device in response to a received signal, a first controller comprising;
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals, a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals, a first memory comprising an organized data structure holding device identifiers of devices controlled by the first controller and routing data relating to, for each device controlled by the first controller, other devices which can receive and process signals transmitted by the device, a second memory holding a controller identifier identifying the first controller, and a processor for controlling the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to store and read device identifiers in the first memory, the processor comprising means for generating a signal addressed to one or more devices and comprising instructions related to the operation of the appliance connected to the device, a second controller comprising;
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals, a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals, a first memory comprising an organized data structure, corresponding to the organized data structure of the first memory of the first controller, for holding at least device identifiers of devices controlled by the second controller, a second memory for holding a controller identifier identifying the second controller, and a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to store and read at least device identifiers in the first memory, the processor comprising means for generating a signal addressed to one or more devices and comprising instructions related to the operation of the appliance connected to the device, wherein the processor the first controller further comprises means for generating one or more signals comprising device identifiers and routing data from organized data structure of the first memory of the first controller, and wherein the processor of the second controller has a first, normal mode of operation in which it is adapted to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, devices controlled by the second controller, and a second mode of operation in which it is adapted to receive said one or more signals from the first controller and store said device identifiers and routing data correspondingly in the organized data structure of the first memory the second controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a wireless home automation system having controllers for controlling a broad variety of functions via two-way communication with a plurality of devices. More specifically, the invention relates to sharing information related to the system between controllers, e.g. by updating a second controller with the newly learned information of a first controller, or by replicating a controller by making a second controller a complete copy of a first controller. The information can be shared by generating and transmitting, with a first controller, a list of device identifiers of devices controlled by the first controller to a second controller. The list is received by the second controller and stored in a memory of the second controller dedicated to store device identifiers of devices controlled by the second controller. This function proves advantageous when new controllers are introduced or if a controller is lost, worn out, or destroyed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automation system for controlling and monitoring a plurality of devices using controllers, the automation system comprising:
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a plurality of devices, each comprising;
a receiver for receiving signals, a transmitter for transmitting signals, a first memory holding a device identifier identifying the device, a processor for controlling the reception and transmission of signals, and means for providing an output to, or receiving an input from, an appliance connected to the device in response to a received signal, a first controller comprising;
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals, a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals, a first memory comprising an organized data structure holding device identifiers of devices controlled by the first controller and routing data relating to, for each device controlled by the first controller, other devices which can receive and process signals transmitted by the device, a second memory holding a controller identifier identifying the first controller, and a processor for controlling the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to store and read device identifiers in the first memory, the processor comprising means for generating a signal addressed to one or more devices and comprising instructions related to the operation of the appliance connected to the device, a second controller comprising;
a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals, a radio frequency receiver for receiving signals, a first memory comprising an organized data structure, corresponding to the organized data structure of the first memory of the first controller, for holding at least device identifiers of devices controlled by the second controller, a second memory for holding a controller identifier identifying the second controller, and a processor for administering the reception and transmission of signals and being adapted to store and read at least device identifiers in the first memory, the processor comprising means for generating a signal addressed to one or more devices and comprising instructions related to the operation of the appliance connected to the device, wherein the processor the first controller further comprises means for generating one or more signals comprising device identifiers and routing data from organized data structure of the first memory of the first controller, and wherein the processor of the second controller has a first, normal mode of operation in which it is adapted to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, devices controlled by the second controller, and a second mode of operation in which it is adapted to receive said one or more signals from the first controller and store said device identifiers and routing data correspondingly in the organized data structure of the first memory the second controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 13. A method for sharing information between a first and a second controller in a wireless automation system for controlling and monitoring a plurality of devices using controllers, so as for the second controller to have at least the same functionality as the first controller in terms of controlling the devices of the system, the first controller comprising a memory holding an organized data structure comprising device identifiers of devices controlled by the first controller and routing data relating to, for each device controlled by the first controller, other devices which can receive and process signals transmitted by the device, the method comprising the steps of generating and transmitting one or more signals comprising the device identifiers and routing data of devices controlled by the first controller, receiving said one or more signals at the second controller, and storing said device identifiers and routing data in an equivalent organized data structure in a memory of the second controller.
Specification