Proxy commands and devices for a home automation data transfer system

• US 7,698,448 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Original Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Inventors: Doorhy, Brendan, Reckamp, Steven R., Duitsman, Tim, Pelland, Michael, Bovee, Jeffrey K., Gaza, Brian, Aper, Gregory J., Mazza, Joseph, Dinescu, Miky
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alam; Uzma
• Application Number:
  US11/590,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/250, 709226-229, 709217-218
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• 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 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system level interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system level interface includes proxy command libraries configured to designate a proxy device from the automation network devices. The proxy device accepts commands or messages to be transmitted to another automation network device.

Claims

1. A device automation network, comprising:

an automation network device in communication with the device automation network; and

a system layer interface embodied in a tangible medium and configured to interface with a transport layer and an application layer of the device automation network, where the system layer interface comprises a proxy command library configured to designate a proxy device from the automation network device, the proxy device adapted to accept a command or message to be transmitted to another automation network device;

where the proxy device sends a data packet to the system layer interface informing the system layer interface that the proxy device is available to serve as proxy for the automation network device.

2. The automation network of claim 1, where the command or the message to be transmitted comprise a command or a message transmitted across a medium running a protocol different from the device automation network.

3. The automation network of claim 1, where the automation network device requests that the system layer interface designate the proxy device through a serial connection coupling the automation network device and the proxy device.

4. The automation network of claim 3, where the proxy device passes the accepted command or the accepted message to the automation network device associated with the proxy device through the serial connection.

5. The automation network of claim 1, where the system layer interface further comprises a proxy request command adapted to send a request for a destination network device for which the recipient is a proxy device associated with the destination network device.

6. The automation network of claim 3, where the proxy device comprises a battery charger.

7. The automation network of claim 3, where the another automation network device comprises a handheld remote.

8. The automation network of claim 1, where the system layer interface further comprises a proxy data command adapted to reroute commands for a network node through a sending network device.

24. The automation network of claim 1, where the proxy device is adapted to accept a command or message to be wirelessly transmitted to another automation network device.

9. A method for organizing an automation network including an automation network device, the method comprising:

accessing a proxy command library, the proxy command library including a command to route a command or a message between automation network devices;

designating a proxy device using a proxy command selected from the proxy command library;

sending a data packet to a system layer interface informing the system layer interface that the proxy device is available to serve as proxy for the automation network device; and

processing the command or message, at the proxy device, where the command or the message is to be transmitted to another automation network device, where the proxy device is configured to accept the command or the message on behalf of the automation network device associated with the proxy device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the command or the message across a medium running a protocol different from the automation network.

11. The method of claim 9, where designating the proxy device comprises requesting that the system layer interface designate the proxy device through a serial connection coupling the automation network device and the proxy device, the system layer interface embodied in a computer-readable medium and configured to interface with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network, and where the system layer interface includes a reference to the proxy command library.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the accepted command or the accepted message to the automation network device associated with the proxy device through the serial connection.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a request for a destination network device for which the recipient is a proxy device associated with the destination network device with a proxy request command selected from the plurality of proxy command libraries.

14. The method of claim 11, where the proxy device comprises a battery charger, and the automation network device comprises a handheld remote.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising routing commands for a network node through a sending network device with a proxy data command selected from the plurality of proxy command libraries.

25. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the accepted command or the accepted message to the automation network device associated with the proxy device through a wireless connection.

16. A computer program product having a tangible medium tangibly embodying computer executable code for organizing an automation network including an automation network device in communication with the automation network, the computer program product comprising:

computer executable code for accessing a proxy command library, the proxy command library including a proxy command to route a command or a message between the automation network devices;

computer executable code for designating a proxy device using a command selected from the proxy command library;

computer executable code for sending a data packet to a system layer interface informing the system layer interface that the proxy device is available to serve as proxy for the automation network device; and

computer executable code for processing the command or the message, at the proxy device, where the command or the message is to be transmitted to another automation network device, where the proxy device is configured to accept the command or the message on behalf of the automation network device associated with the proxy device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising computer executable code for transmitting the command or the message across a medium running a protocol different from the automation network.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, where the computer executable code for designating the proxy device comprises computer executable code for requesting that a system level layer interface designate the proxy device through a serial connection between the automation network device and the proxy device, the system layer interface embodied in a tangible computer-readable medium and configured to interface with a transport layer and an application layer of the auromation network, where the system layer interface includes references to the proxy command library.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer executable code for transmitting the accepted command or the accepted message to the automation network device associated with the proxy device through the serial connection.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer executable code for transmitting a request for a destination network device for which the recipient is a proxy device associated with the destination network device, using a proxy request command selected from the proxy command library.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, where the proxy device comprises a battery charger.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, where the automation network device comprises a handheld remote.

23. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising computer executable code for routing a command for a network node through a sending network device using a proxy data command selected from the proxy command library.