Method for discovering network of home or building control devices

• US 8,468,165 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Walker, Chris D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, BINH VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/326,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 707/769
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for discovering, identifying, and cataloguing devices on a network, particularly, devices included in a home automation or building control network. In embodiments, a node information table is populated with generic entries representing potentially-discoverable devices on the network. The table is traversed iteratively and potential devices are queried in turn to determine the type and capabilities of each potential device in the network. Device responses stored in the node information table, replacing generic entries with updated entries representative of actual network devices. Additionally, device responses may be used as a basis for subsequent queries to network devices. After device queries are completed, any remaining generic node information table entries are removed from the table, thereby only entries corresponding to positively-identified network devices remain in the table.

Claims

1. A method for discovering one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a data table having a plurality of device entries corresponding to the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices;

initializing the data table by populating the plurality of device entries with one or more of known device data and generic device data;

requesting a connected node list from at least a first of the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, wherein the connected node list identifies at least one connected device node capable of communicating with said first potentially-identifiable network device;

flagging as potentially found the device entry corresponding to the connected device node;

requesting device data from the connected device node corresponding to the flagged device entry;

determining whether or not a response to the device data request is received and whether the response to the device data request is complete or partial, wherein if the response to the device data request is partial, requesting and receiving additional device data from the connected device node;

populating the flagged device entry with received device data and/or received additional device data if the response to device data request and/or additional device data request is received; and

nullifying the flagged device entry if the response to the device data request is not received.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of providing within the flagged device entry an indication that device data was requested from the corresponding connected device node.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a device database that includes a priori device data.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a device database that includes a priori device data;

determining whether the response to the device data request is complete or partial;

responding to a determination that the response to the device data request is partial by querying the device database to obtain additional device data; and

populating a device entry with additional device data corresponding thereto.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of flagging as potentially found the device entry corresponding to the connected device node indicates that the device data request is received.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following steps prior to the flagging step:

sending a generic message to the connected device node;

determining whether a response to the generic message is received; and

responding to a determination that a response to the generic message was received by performing the step of flagging as potentially found the device entry corresponding to the connected device node.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the following steps after the flagging step and before the requesting device data step:

determining whether device data was requested from the connected device node; and

responding to a determination that device data was not requested from the connected device node by performing the step of requesting device data from the connected device node.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a step of issuing a command to the first potentially-identifiable network device, wherein the command is selected from the set consisting of activating the network device, deactivating the network device, and requesting information from the network device.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a set of programmable instructions configured for being executed by at least one processor for performing a method for discovering one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, said method comprising:

providing a data table having a plurality of device entries corresponding to the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices;

initializing the data table by populating the plurality of device entries with one or more of known device data and generic device data;

requesting a connected node list from at least a first of the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, wherein the connected node list identifies at least one connected device node capable of communicating with said first potentially-identifiable network device;

flagging as potentially found the device entry corresponding to the connected device node;

requesting device data from the connected device node corresponding to the flagged device entry;

determining whether or not a response to the device data request is received and whether the response to the device data request is complete or partial, wherein if the response to the device data request is partial, requesting and receiving additional device data from the connected device node;

populating the flagged device entry with received device data and/or received additional device data if the response to device data request and/or additional device data request is received; and

nullifying the flagged device entry if the response to the device data request is not received.

10. A home automation network, comprising:

at least one network device node;

a home automation network interface, the home automation network interface configured to communicate with the at least one network device node; and

a processor operably coupled to the home automation network interface configured to execute a set of programmable instructions for performing a method for discovering one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, said method comprising;

providing a data table having a plurality of device entries corresponding to the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices;

initializing the data table by populating the plurality of device entries with one or more of known device data and generic device data;

requesting a connected node list from at least a first of the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, wherein the connected node list identifies at least one connected device node capable of communicating with said first potentially-identifiable network device;

flagging as potentially found the device entry corresponding to the connected device node;

requesting device data from the connected device node corresponding to the flagged device entry;

determining whether or not a response to the device data request is received and whether the response to the device data request is complete or partial, wherein if the response to the device data request is partial, requesting and receiving additional device data from the connected device node;

populating the flagged device entry with received device data and/or received additional device data if the response to device data request and/or received additional device data request is received; and

nullifying the flagged device entry if the response to the device data request is not received.

11. A home automation network discovery apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to execute a set of programmable instructions for performing a method for discovering one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, said method comprising;

providing a data table having a plurality of device entries corresponding to the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices;

initializing the data table by populating the plurality of device entries with one or more of known device data and generic device data;

requesting a connected node list from at least a first of the one or more potentially-identifiable network devices, wherein the connected node list identifies at least one connected device node capable of communicating with said first potentially-identifiable network device;

flagging as potentially found the device entry corresponding to the connected device node;

requesting device data from the connected device node corresponding to the flagged device entry;

determining whether or not a response to the device data request is received;

populating the flagged device entry with received device data and/or received additional device data if the response to device data request and/or received additional device data request is received; and

nullifying the flagged device entry if the response to the device data request is not received.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

a home automation network interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the home automation network interface is configured to communicate with a home automation network.