Wireless node auto-reset function

• US 8,886,809 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Nass, Geoffrey Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, THONG P
• Application Number:
  US11/779,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,673 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless

Abstract

A method for wireless communication within a building automation system is disclosed. The method includes establishing a communications link between a first automation component and a second automation component, detecting a change in the communications link at the second automation component, and initiating a reset function on the second automation component in response to the detected change in the communications link. A building automation system is further disclosed. The system includes a first automation component, a second automation component in communication with the first automation component via a communication link. The second automation component further includes a reset function stored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication with the memory, such that the reset function is activated in response to a change in the communications link.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication within a building automation system, the method comprising:

establishing a first communications link, the first communications link being between a first automation component and a second automation component;

sending a communication signal from the first automation component to the second automation component via the first communications link;

detecting a change in the first communications link, via which the communication signal is sent from the first automation component to the second automation component, at the second automation component based on the sending, wherein detecting the change in the first communications link includes detecting absence of the communication signal at the second automation component;

initiating a reset function on the second automation component in response to the detected absence of the communication signal at the second automation component, the initiated reset function on the second automation component comprising restarting the second automation component;

establishing a second communications link, the second communications link being between the second automation component and a third automation component;

detecting a change in the second communications link, via which the communication signal is sendable from the second automation component to the third automation component when the communication signal is received by the second automation component from the first automation component, at the third automation component, wherein detecting the change in the second communications link includes detecting absence of the communication signal at the third automation component; and

initiating a reset function on the third automation component in response to the detected absence of the communication signal at the third automation component, the initiated reset function on the third automation component comprising restarting the third automation component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the communication signal at the first automation component; and

receiving the communication signal at the second automation component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a full function device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a reduced function device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the first communications link includes periodically detecting the change according to a timed interval.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first automation component is selected from the group consisting of:

a full function device;

a reduced function device, a terminal, and a portable computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the first communications link comprises detecting the change in the first communications link when the communication signal is not received at the second automation component.

8. A building automation system comprising:

a first automation component;

a second automation component in communication with the first automation component via a first communication link, the second automation component comprising;

a reset function stored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication with the memory, wherein a communication signal or a status query is sent from the first automation component to the second automation component via the first communication link, and wherein the reset function of the second automation component is activated at the second automation component in response to a change in the first communication link, the change in the first communication link detected based on the sending of the communication signal or the status query, the detected change in the first communication link including absence of the communication signal or the status query at the second automation component, the activated reset function of the second automation component comprising a restart of the second automation component; and

a third automation component in communication with the second automation component via a second communication link, the third automation component comprising;

a reset function stored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the second automation component is configured to send the communication signal or the status query to the third automation component via the second communication link when the communication signal is received by the second automation component from the first automation component, and wherein the reset function of the third automation component is activatable at the third automation component in response to a change in the second communication link, the change in the second communication link detected based on absence of the communication signal or the status query at the third automation component, the activated reset function of the third automation component comprising a restart of the third automation component.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first communication link between the first automation component and the second automation component is a wired communication link.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first communication link between the first automation component and the second automation component is a wireless communication link.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a full function device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a reduced function device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein activation of the reset function of the second automation component is in response to a null signal associated with the first communication link.

14. An automation component comprising:

a memory having a first memory portion and a second memory portion, the first memory portion configured to store instructions associated with high-level functionality of the automation component, and the second memory portion configured to store a reset function;

a processor in communication with the memory and configured to execute the reset function; and

a communication port configured to receive a communication signal sent from another automation component, and provide the received communication signal to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the reset function in response to absence of the communication signal sent from the other automation component, the executed reset function comprising a restart of the automation component,

wherein the communication port is configured to send the communication signal to a further automation component, a processor of the further automation component configured to execute a reset function stored in a memory of the further automation component in response to absence of the communication signal sent from the automation component to the further automation component, the executed reset function of the further automation component comprising a restart of the further automation component.

15. The component of claim 14, wherein the processor of the automation component includes a timer function having a timed period, and

wherein the reset function of the automation component is executed based on the timed period.

16. The component of claim 14, wherein the communication port is a wireless communication port.

17. The component of claim 14, wherein the communication port is a wired communication port.

18. The component of claim 14, wherein the communication signal is a null signal.

19. The automation component of claim 14, wherein the change in the received communication signal is due to one or more faults, errors, or incidents in the high-level functionality of the automation component.