Wireless communication network, sub-system therefor and method of configuring a non-native network device employing an adapter

• US 7,634,283 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Luebke, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US11/530,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/11.1, 455/557, 455/69, 455/70, 455/560, 455/561, 455/562.1, 455/575.1, 455/422.1, 455/500, 455/41.2, 455/566, 455/574, 455/343.1, 455/507, 455/88, 455/423, 340/539.26, 340/3.1, 340/506, 340/686.1, 340/539.23, 340/539.21, 340/426.13, 340/309.16, 340/573.4, 700/19, 700/20, 700/66, 700/65
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A sub-system for a wireless communication network includes a fob and an adapter. The fob includes a portable housing, a first wireless port structured to wirelessly communicate with a server, a second port structured to communicate with a native network device when the second port engages or is proximate to the native network device, and a processor operatively associated with the first wireless port and the second port. The processor is structured to receive engagement or proximity information from the second port, and send information to the server from the first wireless port. The sent information pertains to the native network device or to a non-native network device. An adapter includes a housing having a target. When the second port is properly positioned with respect to the target, the fob responsively participates in a joining procedure of the non-native network device to the server.

Claims

1. A wireless communication network comprising:

a server including a wireless port;

a number of native network devices, each of said native network devices comprising a first wireless port structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless port of said server and a second port;

a non-native network device comprising a wireless port structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless port of said server;

an adapter; and

a fob comprising;

a portable housing,

a first wireless port structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless port of said server,

a second port structured to communicate with the second port of one of said native network devices when the second port of said fob engages or is proximate to said second port of one of said native network devices, and

a processor operatively associated with the first wireless port and the second port of said fob, said processor being structured to receive engagement or proximity information from the second port of said fob, and to send information to the wireless port of said server from the first wireless port of said fob, said sent information pertaining to one of said native network devices or said non-native network device,

wherein said adapter is structured to engage or be proximate to the second port of said fob when connecting said non-native network device to said wireless communication network,

wherein the second port of said fob is structured to sense said adapter when the second port of said fob engages or is proximate to said adapter, and

wherein the second port of said fob is not structured to sense said non-native network device.

2. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein said non-native network device is structured to initiate a joining procedure with said wireless communication network before said adapter engages or is proximate to the second port of said fob.

3. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein said non-native network device is structured to initiate a joining procedure with said wireless communication network after said adapter engages or is proximate to the second port of said fob.

4. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the second port of said fob is structured to temporarily or momentarily mate with said second port of one of said native network devices.

5. The wireless communication network of claim 4 wherein said second port of one of said native network devices includes a magnet;

and wherein the second port of said fob includes a reed switch, which closes when the second port of said fob is proximate said magnet.

6. The wireless communication network of claim 4 wherein said adapter includes a housing having a magnet embedded within the housing of said adapter and a surface having a label disposed thereon proximate said magnet;

and wherein the second port of said fob includes a reed switch, which closes when the second port of said fob is proximate said magnet.

7. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein said label is a removable label including an outline of said fob to guide placement of said fob on the surface of the housing of said adapter proximate said magnet.

8. A sub-system for a wireless communication network including a server, a number of native network devices, and a number of non-native network devices, said sub-system comprising:

a fob comprising;

a portable housing,

a first wireless port structured to wirelessly communicate with said server,

a second port structured to communicate with one of said native network devices when the second port of said fob engages or is proximate to said one of said native network devices, and

a processor operatively associated with the first wireless port and the second port of said fob, said processor being structured to receive engagement or proximity information from the second port of said fob, and to send information to said server from the first wireless port of said fob, said sent information pertaining to one of said native network devices or said non-native network device; and

an adapter comprising a housing including a target,

wherein when the second port of said fob is properly positioned with respect to said target, said fob responsively participates in a joining procedure of one of said non-native network devices to said server.

9. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein a label is disposed on the housing of said adapter proximate said target, in order that the second port of said fob may be properly positioned with respect to said target.

10. The sub-system of claim 9 wherein the housing of said adapter further includes a surface;

and wherein said label is a temporary or removable label disposed on the surface of the housing of said adapter.

11. The sub-system of claim 9 wherein the housing of said adapter further includes a surface;

and wherein said label is a depression on the surface of the housing of said adapter.

12. The sub-system of claim 9 wherein the housing of said adapter further includes a molded surface;

and wherein said label is a impression in the molded surface of the housing of said adapter.

13. The sub-system of claim 9 wherein the housing of said adapter further includes a surface;

and wherein said label is an imprinted text or design on the surface of the housing of said adapter, in order to properly position said fob in order to start said joining procedure.

14. The sub-system of claim 9 wherein the housing of said adapter further includes a surface;

and wherein said label is a removable label including an outline of said fob, said outline being structured to guide placement of said fob on the surface of the housing of said adapter proximate said target.

15. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein the housing of said adapter is structured to mimic one of said native network devices.

16. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein the housing of said adapter includes a rail structured to hold said fob.

17. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said non-native network device is a third party sensor or a third party device.

18. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said processor includes a display;

wherein said non-native network device is structured to receive user input and responsively send a first wireless message including an identifier of said non-native network device from said non-native network device to said server;

wherein said server is structured to receive said first wireless message and responsively send a second wireless message from said server to said fob; and

wherein said fob is structured to receive said second wireless message and responsive display a message on said display to prompt a user to engage said fob with or place said fob proximate said adapter.

19. The sub-system of claim 18 wherein the second port of said fob includes a proximity sensor structured to sense the target of said adapter, said fob responsively sending a third wireless message from said fob to said server;

and wherein said server is structured to receive the third wireless message and responsively send a fourth wireless message to said non-native network device, in order to confirm connection to a wireless communication network including said server and said fob.

20. The sub-system of claim 19 wherein said processor includes a user input device;

and wherein said fob is further structured to select the name of said non-native network device from said user input device responsive to receiving said second wireless message.

21. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said processor includes a display;

wherein said fob is structured to sense engagement of or proximity to said adapter by said fob and responsively send a first wireless message from said fob to said server to initiate a joining procedure for said non-native network device, and to time out and display a message at said display to prompt a user to undertake user input at said non-native network device;

wherein said non-native network device is structured to receive said user input at said non-native network device and responsively send a second wireless message to said server; and

wherein said server is structured to receive said first and second wireless messages at said server and responsively send a third wireless message to said non-native network device, and to send a fourth wireless message from said server to said fob.

22. The sub-system of claim 21 wherein said fob is structured to display said fourth wireless message at said display.

23. The sub-system of claim 21 wherein said processor includes a user input device;

and wherein said fob is further structured to receive user input from said user input device and responsively name said non-native network device.

24. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said processor includes a display;

and wherein said fob is further structured to display a message on said display and await receipt of a wireless message from said server.

25. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said target is a magnet embedded in or substantially within the housing of said adapter;

and wherein the second port of said fob includes a proximity sensor responsive to said magnet.

26. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said adapter is structured to be independent from said one of said non-native network devices.

27. The sub-system of claim 8 wherein said adapter is structured to be coupled to said one of said non-native network devices.

28. A method of configuring a non-native network device of a wireless communication network including a server, said method comprising:

employing a fob;

engaging said fob with or placing said fob proximate an adapter;

responsive to said engaging said fob with or placing said fob proximate an adapter, communicating a wireless message from said fob to said server in order to configure said non-native network device;

communicating a wireless message from said non-native network device to said server in order to configure said non-native network device; and

receiving a confirmation from said server and responsively displaying said confirmation at said fob that said non-native network device was configured as part of said wireless communication network.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising

receiving user input at said non-native network device;

sending a first wireless message including an identifier of said non-native network device from said non-native network device to said server;

receiving said first wireless message and responsively sending a second wireless message from said server to said fob;

after receiving said second wireless message at said fob, engaging said fob with or placing said fob proximate said adapter, sensing said adapter and responsively sending a third wireless message from said fob to said server;

receiving the second and third wireless messages at said server and responsively sending a fourth wireless message to said non-native network device, in order to confirm connection of said non-native network device to said wireless communication network.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising

employing said fob to select the name of said non-native network device.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising

displaying said second wireless message at said fob.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising

sensing engagement of said adapter by or proximity of said adapter to said fob and responsively sending a first wireless message from said fob to said server to initiate joining said non-native network device to said wireless communication network;

timing a predetermined time at said fob before displaying a message at said fob to prompt a user to undertake user input at said non-native network device;

receiving said user input at said non-native network device and responsively sending a second wireless message to said server;

receiving said first and second wireless messages at said server and responsively sending a third wireless message to said non-native network device to confirm joining said non-native network device to said wireless communication network;

sending a fourth wireless message from said server to said fob; and

displaying said fourth wireless message at said fob.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising

displaying a message at said fob before said timing a predetermined time at said fob, and awaiting receipt of a wireless message from said server.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising

receiving user input at said fob and responsively naming said non-native network device.

35. The method of claim 28 further comprising

employing said adapter independent from said non-native network device.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising

coupling said adapter to said non-native network device.