Methods and apparatus for identifying and categorizing distributed devices
First Claim
1. A method for identifying an individual electrical device among a plurality of spatially-distributed electrical devices, each of the devices having associated therewith its own RF transceiver and its own microprocessor and associated memory for storing (i) an identification number and (ii) category information, where category information is:
- (a) information other than the device'"'"'s identification number by which the device can be selectively communicated with, and(b) information that can be changed from time-to-time,the method comprising;
(A) broadcasting, from a portable device, an RF discovery request to the spatially-distributed electrical devices requesting RF transmissions from the devices of identification information, the identification information comprising at least an identification number;
(B) receiving, at the portable device, RF transmissions comprising identification numbers returned by devices as a result of step (A) and determining a perceived proximity for each received RF transmission;
(C) ordering the identification numbers received in step (B) by perceived proximity;
(D) selecting an identification number from the ordered identification numbers of step (C), the selected identification number corresponding to the device having the closest perceived proximity, and then, as selected by an operator, performing at least one of;
(i) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a visual or audible signal;
(ii) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to store category information for the device;
(iii) storing category information for the device associated with the selected identification number in a memory associated with the portable device and/or in a memory associated with a remote controller; and
(E) as selected by an operator, repeating step (D) with at least one other identification number corresponding to a device having a perceived proximity greater than the closest perceived proximity;
wherein the perceived proximity for each received RF transmission is determined from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for identifying and categorizing distributed devices, e.g., lighting fixtures and thermostats, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a user (200) sends a low power discovery message to devices (201) using a portable programming tool (100). The devices (201) within range respond with identification information. The portable programming tool (100) organizes the responses by proximity and sends a “flash” message to the device with the closest perceived proximity. That device responds with a visual or audible signal (202), allowing the user (200) to determine whether that device is the one intended for selection. If so, the user initiates a store routine in which identification information, including category information, is stored in one or more locations, such as, the selected device (201), the portable programming tool (100), and/or a central or local controller (1100). The identification and categorization can, for example, be used to automate load shedding and to reduce energy consumption.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for identifying an individual electrical device among a plurality of spatially-distributed electrical devices, each of the devices having associated therewith its own RF transceiver and its own microprocessor and associated memory for storing (i) an identification number and (ii) category information, where category information is:
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(a) information other than the device'"'"'s identification number by which the device can be selectively communicated with, and (b) information that can be changed from time-to-time, the method comprising; (A) broadcasting, from a portable device, an RF discovery request to the spatially-distributed electrical devices requesting RF transmissions from the devices of identification information, the identification information comprising at least an identification number; (B) receiving, at the portable device, RF transmissions comprising identification numbers returned by devices as a result of step (A) and determining a perceived proximity for each received RF transmission; (C) ordering the identification numbers received in step (B) by perceived proximity; (D) selecting an identification number from the ordered identification numbers of step (C), the selected identification number corresponding to the device having the closest perceived proximity, and then, as selected by an operator, performing at least one of; (i) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a visual or audible signal; (ii) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to store category information for the device; (iii) storing category information for the device associated with the selected identification number in a memory associated with the portable device and/or in a memory associated with a remote controller; and (E) as selected by an operator, repeating step (D) with at least one other identification number corresponding to a device having a perceived proximity greater than the closest perceived proximity; wherein the perceived proximity for each received RF transmission is determined from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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(A) a plurality of spatially-distributed electrical devices, each of the devices having associated therewith its own RF transceiver and its own microprocessor and associated memory for storing (i) an identification number and (ii) category information, where category information is; (a) information other than the device'"'"'s identification number by which the device can be selectively communicated with, and (b) information that can be changed from time-to-time, the microprocessor being programmed to perform at least the following operations; (i) receive an RF discovery request from a portable programming tool; and (ii) transmit an RF signal comprising an identification number in response to the RF discovery request; (B) a portable programming tool comprising an RF transceiver and a microprocessor system programmed to perform at least the following operations; (i) broadcasting an RF discovery signal which requests spatially-distributed electrical devices to return at least an identification number; (ii) receiving RF signals from spatially-distributed electrical devices, the RF signals comprising identification numbers, and determining a perceived proximity for each received RF signal; (iii) ordering the identification numbers by perceived proximity; (iv) selecting an identification number from the ordered identification numbers, the selected identification number corresponding to the device having the closest perceived proximity, (v) receiving an operator input and based on that input, performing at least one of; (a) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a visual or audible signal; (b) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to store category information for the device; (c) storing category information for the device associated with the selected identification number in a memory associated with the portable device and/or in a memory associated with a remote controller; and (vi) receiving an operator input and based on that input, repeating (v) with at least one other identification number corresponding to a device having a perceived proximity greater than the closest perceived proximity; wherein the perceived proximity for each received RF signal is determined from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A portable programming tool comprising:
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(A) an RF transceiver, and (B) a microprocessor system programmed to perform at least the following operations; (i) broadcasting an RF discovery signal which requests electrical devices to return at least an identification number; (ii) receiving RF signals from electrical devices, the RF signals comprising identification numbers, and determining a perceived proximity for each received RF signal; (iii) ordering the identification numbers by perceived proximity; and (iv) selecting an identification number from the ordered identification numbers, the selected identification number corresponding to the device having the closest perceived proximity, and (v) receiving an operator input and based on that input, performing at least one of; (a) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a visual or audible signal; (b) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to store category information for the device, where category information is; (a) information other than the device'"'"'s identification number by which the device can be selectively communicated with, and (b) information that can be changed from time-to-time; wherein the perceived proximity for each received RF signal is determined from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus comprising:
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(A) an electrical device which needs to be identified and categorized; (B) an RF transceiver; and (C) a microprocessor programmed to perform at least the following operations; (i) receive an RF discovery request from a programming tool; (ii) transmit an RF signal comprising an identification number in response to the RF discovery request; (iii) receive an RF signal from the programming tool and thereupon produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal that serves to identify the electrical device to an operator of the programming tool; and (iv) receive an RF signal from the programming tool and thereupon store category information for the device in a memory associated with the microprocessor, where category information is; (a) information other than the device'"'"'s identification number by which the device can be selectively communicated with, and (b) information that can be changed from time-to-time. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification