Centralized wireless network for multi-room large properties

• US 8,102,799 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
• Original Assignee: Assa Abloy Hospitality Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Alexander, Arnon, Bakke, Jan C., Elfstrom, Jan, Kjallman, Martin, Zimmerman, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TOAN D
• Application Number:
  US11/872,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20080089277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255, 370/328, 370/331, 370/401, 370/408, 348/154, 455/446, 705/13, 709/223
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities 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: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Method and devices for use in a centralized wireless network are provided. The centralized wireless network employs a wireless communication protocol to communicate with various devices throughout the network. In addition to communication, the protocol may be used to control and monitor various aspects of the devices throughout the network.

Claims

1. A method of managing a multi-room property having a plurality of end devices, comprising:

opening a first parent wireless device to child discovery;

causing a first of the plurality of end devices to associate with the first parent wireless device;

causing a second of the plurality of end devices to associate with the first parent wireless device;

opening a second parent wireless device to child discovery;

causing the first parent wireless device to associate with the second parent wireless device;

facilitating intermittent wireless communications of control messages from the first parent wireless device to at least one of the first and second end devices;

facilitating intermittent wireless communications of status messages from at least one of the first and second end devices to the first parent wireless device;

the first parent wireless device transferring one or more control messages received from the second parent wireless device to at least one of the first and second end devices; and

limiting the wireless communications of control messages transmitted by the first parent wireless device to child wireless devices that associated themselves with the first parent wireless device during the first parent wireless device child discovery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first parent wireless device transferring the status messages received from at least one of the first and second end devices to the second parent wireless device;

limiting the wireless communications of control messages transmitted by the second parent wireless device to child wireless devices that associated themselves with the second parent wireless device during the second parent wireless device child discovery.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

monitoring the status messages transmitted from the first and second end devices; and

analyzing the status messages transmitted from the first and second end devices to ensure that all of the status messages transmitted have been received by both the first parent wireless device and the second parent wireless device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising closing the second parent wireless device to child discovery.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising closing the first parent wireless device to child discovery.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a first message was transmitted by the first end device and not received by a parent device which is associated with the first end device;

sending a request for the first end device to retransmit the first message;

the first end device retransmitting the first message;

receiving the first message; and

assembling the first message in order with other previously received messages.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that the first parent device has failed;

causing the first and second end devices to begin searching for an alternative parent wireless device;

the first and second end devices finding an alternative parent wireless device; and

the first and second end devices associating with the alternative parent wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the alternative parent wireless device is sufficient as a permanent replacement to the first parent wireless device; and

allowing the permanent association between the first and second end devices and the alternative parent wireless device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the alternative parent wireless device is insufficient as a permanent replacement to the first parent wireless device;

causing the first and second end devices to continue searching for activity of the first parent device;

determining that the first parent device has been restored; and

causing the first and second end devices to re-associate with the first parent device.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining the alternative parent wireless device is sufficient as a temporary replacement to the first parent wireless device;

allowing temporary association between the first and second end devices and the alternative parent device;

determining that the first parent device has been restored; and

causing the first and second end devices to re-associate with the first parent device.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing all messages generated by the first and second end devices until an association with an alternative parent device is created; and

,

wirelessly transmitting the stored messages to the alternative parent device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

assembling the stored messages in order with other previously received messages.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first parent device comprises one of a gateway and a router.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end device is associated with a first room and the second end device is associated with a second different room.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second end device comprise at least one of a mini-bar end device, a safe end device, an access end device, a light switch end device, a door switch end device, a sensor end device, a thermostat end device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the first end device with the first parent wireless device comprises each device sharing their respective addresses such that a table of wireless network architecture can be generated based on child and parent addresses.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the table of wireless network architecture is maintained in at least one of the first parent wireless device and a central server.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermittent wireless communications between the first parent wireless device and the first and second end devices are conducted using a ZigBee communication protocol.

19. A method of managing a multi-room property having a plurality of end devices, comprising:

opening a first parent wireless device to child discovery;

causing a first of the plurality of end devices to associate with the first parent wireless device;

causing a second of the plurality of end devices to associate with the first parent wireless device;

closing the first parent wireless device to child discovery;

facilitating intermittent wireless communications of control messages from the first parent wireless device to at least one of the first and second end devices;

facilitating intermittent wireless communications of status messages from at least one of the first and second end devices to the first parent wireless device;

detecting activity at the first of the plurality of end devices, wherein the first of the plurality of end devices is associated with a first room;

generating a first message comprising information related to the detected activity;

wirelessly transmitting the first message from the first of the plurality of end devices to the first parent wireless device, wherein the first parent wireless device and first of the plurality of end devices are within a first common wireless transmission area;

the first parent wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the first message to a third wireless device, wherein the third wireless device is associated with a second room;

forwarding the first message from the third wireless device to a central server;

determining at least one action to be performed by the first of the plurality of end devices in response to the detected activity;

generating a second message comprising control information related to the determined at least one action;

transmitting the second message to the third wireless device;

the third wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the second message to the first parent wireless device;

the first parent wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the second message to the first of the plurality of end devices; and

the first of the plurality of end devices performing the at least one action.