Method and system of programming at least one appliance to change state upon the occurrence of a trigger event

• US 8,649,886 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Bell Telephone Company (AT&T, Inc.), Indiana Bell Telephone Company Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.), Michigan Bell Telephone Company (AT&T, Inc.), The Ohio Bell Telephone Company (AT&T, Inc.), Wisconsin Bell Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Raymond W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, SUNRAY
• Application Number:
  US13/544,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/47
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0473 with hook-like parts gripping, e.g. by expanding, behind the flanges of a profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0486 forming an abutting connection of at least one tube
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21066 Disconnect data line from module before, reconnect after configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25413 Interrupt, event, state change triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

An automation system for programming appliances having programmable controllers, programmable devices and trigger devices that communicate over a communication link. The user programs the programmable devices by placing the programmable controller in its training mode, activating the trigger device to generate a trigger signed and places select programmable devices in their programmed state. After all of the desired programmable devices have been put in then programmed states, the user takes the programmable controller out of its training mode. When the programmable controller is out of its training mode, it monitors the communication link for the trigger event. Upon detecting the trigger event, the programmable controller sends messages to the selected programmable devices instructing them to go to their programmed state.

Claims

1. A method for programming a programmable controller for an environment, the method comprising:

receiving a trigger signal at a processor of the programmable controller, wherein the trigger signal is associated with a trigger event at a trigger device, wherein the trigger device comprises a sensor for sensing the trigger event, while the programmable controller is in a training mode, the trigger device being in data communication with the programmable controller, wherein the trigger signal is for causing a programmable device to change to a desired state, wherein the programmable device comprises a programmable thermostat;

receiving a message and a unique address at the processor of the programmable controller from the programmable device, wherein the programmable device is in the environment and is in the desired state for the environment, wherein the message indicates that the programmable device is in the desired state and the unique address is for the programmable device; and

subsequently, exiting the training mode at the processor of the programmable controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the programmable controller, monitoring for the trigger signal while the programmable controller is not in the training mode;

detecting the trigger signal; and

in response to the detecting of the trigger signal, broadcasting a control signal for reception by the programmable device to change the programmable device to the desired state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message that the programmable device is in the desired state is broadcasted by the programmable device as an instruction which will later be rebroadcasted as the control signal to the programmable device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger signal is generated by changing a state of a switch coupled to the programmable controller, the switch having at least two states.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger signal is generated by detecting an environment change by the sensor coupled to the programmable controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting a motion by the sensor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting an alarm condition from a security system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the receiving the trigger signal and the message comprises a radio frequency communication.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a programmable controller, cause the processor to perform operations for programming a programmable controller for an environment, the operations comprising:

receiving a trigger signal at the programmable controller, wherein the trigger signal is associated with a trigger event at a trigger device, wherein the trigger device comprises a sensor for sensing the trigger event, while the programmable controller is in a training mode, the trigger device being in data communication with the programmable controller, wherein the trigger signal is for causing a programmable device to change to a desired state, wherein the programmable device comprises a programmable thermostat;

receiving a message and a unique address at the programmable controller from the programmable device, wherein the programmable device is in the environment and is in the desired state for the environment, wherein the message indicates that the programmable device is in the desired state and the unique address is for the programmable device; and

subsequently, exiting the training mode at the programmable controller.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

at the programmable controller, monitoring for the trigger signal while the programmable controller is not in the training mode;

detecting the trigger signal; and

in response to the detecting of the trigger signal, broadcasting a control signal for reception by the programmable device to change the programmable device to the desired state.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the message that the programmable device is in the desired state is broadcasted by the programmable device as an instruction which will later be rebroadcasted as the control signal to the programmable device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the trigger signal is generated by changing a state of a switch coupled to the programmable controller, the switch having at least two states.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the trigger signal is generated by detecting an environment change by the sensor coupled to the programmable controller.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting a motion by the sensor.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting an alarm condition from a security system.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each of the receiving the trigger signal and the message comprises a radio frequency communication.

17. A programmable controller for use in an environment, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a trigger signal at the programmable controller, wherein the trigger signal is associated with a trigger event at a trigger device, wherein the trigger device comprises a sensor for sensing the trigger event, while the programmable controller is in a training mode, the trigger device being in data communication with the programmable controller, wherein the trigger signal is for causing a programmable device to change to a desired state, wherein the programmable device comprises a programmable thermostat;

receiving a message and a unique address at the programmable controller from the programmable device, wherein the programmable device is in the environment and is in the desired state for the environment, wherein the message indicates that the programmable device is in the desired state and the unique address is for the programmable device; and

subsequently, exiting the training mode at the programmable controller.

18. The programmable controller of claim 17, further comprising:

at the programmable controller, monitoring for the trigger signal while the programmable controller is not in the training mode;

detecting the trigger signal; and

in response to the detecting of the trigger signal, broadcasting a control signal for reception by the programmable device to change the programmable device to the desired state.

19. The programmable controller of claim 18, wherein the message that the programmable device is in the desired state is broadcasted by the programmable device as an instruction which will later be rebroadcasted as the control signal to the programmable device.

20. The programmable controller of claim 17, wherein the trigger signal is generated by changing a state of a switch coupled to the programmable controller, the switch having at least two states.