Method for defining a group from among bi-directional objects

• US 7,683,754 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy SA
• Inventors: Autret, Capucine
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US10/503,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340 37- 371, 340/10.1, 340/825.22, 340/825.25, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 341/176, 348/107, 455/419, 455/420, 455/41.2, 370/461, 370/312
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/02 by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

A method for defining a group from among a plurality of bidirectional objects, comprising the following stages: a) synchronous application to the objects in a group of an initiator event, b) sending of a message containing a group identifier, and c) recording by the objects that have been subjected to the initiator event of the group identifier.

Claims

1. A method for forming a group from among a plurality of bidirectional objects acting as command receivers or command transmitters, in a home automation system, comprising at least successively:

applying a synchronous initiator event to command receivers selected to form the group, the initiator event including at least a synchronous action upon a power supply common to the command receivers selected to form the group;

sending a message by each of the command receivers subjected to the initiator event, each message including an identifier of the command receiver and a time indication resulting from the initiator event;

receiving the messages in a command transmitter and, for each message, comparing the received time indication with a calculated time indication; and

as a result of the comparison between the received time indication with the calculated time indication, recognizing in the command transmitter whether or not a particular command receiver had been subjected to the initiator event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronous action upon the power supply includes switching off and on the mains power supplying the receivers selected to form the group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the command receivers include a timer that is triggered by the initiator event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the time indication is the content of the timer when the message is sent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command receivers are provided with a clock that is sampled to note the date and time of the initiator event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the time indication is the date and/or hour of the initiator event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculated time indication results from a comparison with the time indications received from other command receivers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiator event is a combination of an external command not sent by the transmitter, the action upon the power supply, and a command sent by the command transmitter.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising sending by the command transmitter a signal representative of its identifier and a temporary allocation command, such that command receivers belonging to the group which receives the temporary allocation command will only obey commands received from the command transmitter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiator event is different according to a paired or not-paired status of the command receivers.

11. A method of centralized programming of all receivers or some receivers in a home automation system using the method for forming a group of claim 1.