Apparatus and method of configuring a device in a network
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a physical device in a network to operate according to predetermined functional requirements for the network stored in a data processing apparatus external to the physical device, comprising the steps of:
- defining functional requirements for a virtual device corresponding to the physical device, wherein the predetermined functional requirements comprise the defined functional requirements for the virtual device;
loading the functional requirements for the virtual device into a memory of the physical device;
receiving first positional information for the physical device at the data processing apparatus;
relating the first positional information to first functional requirements included in the predetermined functional requirements;
transmitting, by the data processing apparatus, the first functional requirements for the physical device to the network;
controlling the physical device by the data processing apparatus according to the first functional requirements; and
automatically determining, by the data processing apparatus, whether updated positional information for the physical device results in any change from the first functional requirements, in response to receiving a message indicating a change in a position of the physical device, and a determination of the updated positional information for the physical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method, apparatus and computer program product for ensuring that a device (26) operable in a network (1) is configured to operate according to documented functional requirements for the network. Positional information comprising the coordinates of each device (26, 9, 50) in the network (1) is received via a gateway (9, 50) at a data processing apparatus (10) storing the documented functional requirements. The coordinates of each device (26, 9) in the network (1) are used to deduce the required functionality of the device based on the stored functional requirements, instructions for implementing the functionality are generated and the instructions are sent via the gateway (9, 50) to the network. The invention has particular relevance in the commissioning stage of a lighting control network.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a physical device in a network to operate according to predetermined functional requirements for the network stored in a data processing apparatus external to the physical device, comprising the steps of:
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defining functional requirements for a virtual device corresponding to the physical device, wherein the predetermined functional requirements comprise the defined functional requirements for the virtual device; loading the functional requirements for the virtual device into a memory of the physical device; receiving first positional information for the physical device at the data processing apparatus;
relating the first positional information to first functional requirements included in the predetermined functional requirements;transmitting, by the data processing apparatus, the first functional requirements for the physical device to the network; controlling the physical device by the data processing apparatus according to the first functional requirements; and automatically determining, by the data processing apparatus, whether updated positional information for the physical device results in any change from the first functional requirements, in response to receiving a message indicating a change in a position of the physical device, and a determination of the updated positional information for the physical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for controlling an external physical device operable in a network to operate according to predetermined functional requirements for the external physical device in the network including first functional requirements for the external physical device, comprising:
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a processor configured to define functional requirements for a virtual device corresponding to the external physical device, wherein the predetermined functional requirements comprise the defined functional requirements for the virtual device; the processor further configured to transmit the functional requirements for the virtual device for loading into a memory of the external physical device; a memory configured to store the first functional requirements for the external physical device; a receiver configured to receive first positional information of the external physical device, wherein the first positional information of the external physical device is stored in the memory; the processor further configured to relate the first positional information to the first functional requirements; and a transmitter configured to transmit the first functional requirements for the external physical device to the network, wherein the receiver is configured to automatically receive a message indicating a change in a position of the external physical device, and to automatically receive updated positional information from the external physical device, and wherein the processor is configured to compare the updated positional information to the first positional information of the external physical device, in response to receiving the message indicating the change in the position of the external physical device, and to determine whether the updated positional information results in any change from the first functional requirements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A physical device operable in a network,
comprising: -
an application unit; a receiver configured to receive defined functional requirements for a virtual device corresponding to the physical device, wherein the physical device is configured to operate according to predetermined functional requirements, and wherein the predetermined functional requirements comprise the defined functional requirements for the virtual device; a processor configured to load the functional requirements for the virtual device into a memory of the physical device; means for obtaining first positional information of the physical device with respect to at least three other physical devices in the network; a transmitter configured to transmit the first positional information via the network to an apparatus configured to store the functional requirements including first functional requirements and second functional requirements; the receiver further configured to receive first instructions via the network in response to transmission of the first positional information to the apparatus; the processor further configured to process the first instructions and controlling the application unit for operating according to the first functional requirements; and wherein the processor is configured to automatically determine a change of position of the physical device, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit each of a message indicating the change in the position of the physical device and the updated positional information via the network to the apparatus, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive second instructions via the network in response to the change of position of the physical device, the second instructions different than the first instructions, and wherein the processor is further configured to process the second instructions and control the application unit to operate according to the second functional requirements.
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Specification