Fault tolerant distributed execution of residential device control

• US 8,289,137 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David S. Labuda
• Original Assignee: David S. Labuda
• Inventors: Labuda, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US11/503,535
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/3.54, 340/3.51, 340/3.1, 340/825.22, 340/825.72, 340/538, 700/83, 700/17, 370/462
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

Distributed execution of residential device control is disclosed. A system state definition is received for a plurality of residential devices. A set of instructions for the plurality of residential devices is composed based at least in part on the system state definition. For each of the plurality of residential devices, the set of instructions is filtered to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device. At least a portion of the set of instructions is distributed to the residential device, so that the identified subset of instructions for the residential device can be executed by the residential device.

Claims

1. A method for distributed execution of residential device control comprising:

receiving a system state definition for a plurality of residential devices, wherein the system state definition includes a definition for at least a first scene and a second scene, wherein the first scene at least indicates a first state to be set for a first residential device of the plurality of residential devices and wherein the second scene at least indicates a second state to be set for a second residential device of the plurality of residential devices;

composing a set of instructions for the plurality of residential devices based at least in part on the system state definition;

for each of the plurality of residential devices;

filtering the set of instructions to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device; and

distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions;

receiving an indication of a scene change at the residential device, wherein the scene change indicates a change from the first scene to the second scene;

determining at the residential device whether the scene change is relevant to the residential device;

in the event that the scene change is relevant to the device, executing at the residential device instructions of the subset of instructions for the residential device.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system state definition comprises one or more of the following:

a residential device identifier, a residential device state, and a residential device state duration.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the residential device comprises one of the following:

a computer, a lighting unit, a dimmer unit, a light control unit, a window blind unit, a home theater screen unit, a home theater equipment unit, a stereo unit, a television unit, a projector unit, a speaker unit, a volume control unit, a heating unit, an air conditioning unit, a thermostat unit, a buddy device, a state indication unit, electrical measurement unit, or an electrical receptacle unit.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the residential device includes a manual mode that can control the residential device overriding a current system state.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein composing a set of instructions comprises one or more of the following:

generating a set of computer code instructions, generating a set of assembly code instructions, generating a set of C language instructions, generating a set of JAVA instructions, and generating a set of scripts.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system state definition is received using a graphical user interface.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein composing a set of instructions is performed using a computer.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to monitor notifications transmitted to and from a second residential device.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to record notifications transmitted to and from a second residential device.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to transmit a notification in the event that a second residential device is not responding to a notification.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to transmit one or more instructions to a second residential device in the event that the second residential device is not responding to a notification.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions includes distributing to a second residential device for fault tolerance purposes.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions includes distributing the identified subset of instructions for the residential device.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions includes distributing the set of instructions for the plurality of residential devices.

15. A method as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of residential devices is able to communicate using one or more of the following:

a local area network, a wired network, a wireless network, and a power line network.

16. A method as in claim 1, wherein filtering to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device is performed before distributing to the residential device.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein filtering to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device is performed after distributing to the residential device.

18. A method as in claim 1, further comprising testing the system state by setting a residential device in a residential device state as defined by the system state.

19. A method as in claim 1, further comprising simulating the system state by displaying on a graphical user interface a simulation of a residential device in a residential device state as defined by the system state.

20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising measuring the system state.

21. A method as in claim 1, further comprising measuring the system state and creating a report of the system state based on the measurements of the system state.

22. A computer program product for distributed execution of residential device control, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a system state definition for a plurality of residential devices, wherein the system state definition includes a definition for at least a first scene and a second scene, wherein the first scene at least indicates a first state to be set for a first residential device of the plurality of residential devices and wherein the second scene at least indicates a second state to be set for a second residential device of the plurality of residential devices;

composing a set of instructions for the plurality of residential devices based at least in part on the system state definition;

for each of the plurality of residential devices;

filtering the set of instructions to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device; and

distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions;

receiving an indication of a scene change at the residential device, wherein the scene change indicates a change from the first scene to the second scene;

determining at the residential device whether the scene change is relevant to the residential device;

in the event that the scene change is relevant to the device, executing at the residential device instructions of the subset of instructions for the residential device.

23. A system for distributed execution of residential device control comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

receive a system state definition for a plurality of residential devices, wherein the system state definition includes a definition for at least a first scene and a second scene, wherein the first scene at least indicates a first state to be set for a first residential device of the plurality of residential devices and wherein the second scene at least indicates a second state to be set for a second residential device of the plurality of residential devices;

compose a set of instructions for the plurality of residential devices based at least in part on the system state definition;

for each of the plurality of residential devices;

filter the set of instructions to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device; and

distribute to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions;

receive an indication of a scene change at the residential device, wherein the scene change indicates a change from the first scene to the second scene;

determine at the residential device whether the scene change is relevant to the residential device;

in the event that the scene change is relevant to the device, executing at the residential device instructions of the subset of instructions for the residential device.

24. A system as in claim 23, wherein the system state definition comprises one or more of the following:

a residential device identifier, a residential device state, and a residential device state duration.

25. A system as in claim 23, wherein the residential device comprises one of the following:

a computer, a lighting unit, a dimmer unit, a light control unit, a window blind unit, a home theater screen unit, a home theater equipment unit, a stereo unit, a television unit, a projector unit, a speaker unit, a volume control unit, a heating unit, an air conditioning unit, a thermostat unit, a buddy device, a state indication unit, electrical measurement unit, or an electrical receptacle unit.

26. A system as in claim 23, wherein the residential device includes a manual mode that can control the residential device overriding a current system state.

27. A system as in claim 23, wherein composing a set of instructions comprises one or more of the following:

generating a set of computer code instructions, generating a set of assembly code instructions, generating a set of C language instructions, generating a set of JAVA instructions, and generating a set of scripts.

28. A system as in claim 23, wherein the system state definition is received using a graphical user interface.

29. A system as in claim 23, wherein composing a set of instructions is performed using a computer.

30. A system as in claim 23, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to monitor notifications transmitted to and from a second residential device.

31. A system as in claim 23, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to record notifications transmitted to and from a second residential device.

32. A system as in claim 23, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to transmit a notification in the event that a second residential device is not responding to a notification.

33. A system as in claim 23, wherein the identified subset of instructions for the residential device includes instructions to transmit one or more instructions to a second residential device in the event that the second residential device is not responding to a notification.

34. A system as in claim 23, wherein distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions includes distributing to a second residential device for fault tolerance purposes.

35. A system as in claim 23, wherein distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions includes distributing the identified subset of instructions for the residential device.

36. A system as in claim 23, wherein distributing to the residential device at least a portion of the set of instructions includes distributing the set of instructions for the plurality of residential devices.

37. A system as in claim 23, wherein the plurality of residential devices is able to communicate using one or more of the following:

a local area network, a wired network, a wireless network, and a power line network.

38. A system as in claim 23, wherein filtering to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device is performed before distributing to the residential device.

39. A system as in claim 23, wherein filtering to identify a subset of instructions for a residential device is performed after distributing to the residential device.

40. A system as in claim 23, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

test the system state by setting a residential device in a residential device state as defined by the system state.

41. A system as in claim 23, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

simulate the system state by displaying on a graphical user interface a simulation of a residential device in a residential device state as defined by the system state.

42. A system as in claim 23, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

measure the system state.

43. A system as in claim 23, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

measure the system state and creating a report of the system state based on the measurements of the system state.

44. A device for distributed execution of residential device control comprising:

a plurality of residential devices, wherein each device of the plurality of residential devices comprises;

an executor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the memory to load a portion of a set of instructions, which are to be executed by the executor of the device, wherein the portion of the set of instructions is identified and composed based at least in part on a system state definition, wherein the system state definition includes a definition for at least a first scene and a second scene, wherein the first scene at least indicates a first state to be set for a first residential device of the plurality of residential devices and wherein the second scene at least indicates a second state to be set for a second residential device of the plurality of residential devices, wherein the executor executes the portion of the set of instructions, in the event that an indication is received of a scene change at the residential device and it is determined that the scene change is relevant to the device, wherein the scene change indicates a change from the first scene to the second scene.