Communication method in a home-automation installation

• US 9,105,179 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Pellarin, Florent, Augustin, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/793,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 370/428
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

The communication method applies to a home-automation installation comprising at least one sending element, a self-powered receiving element and an element for substituting for the receiving element. The method is such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, the substitution element receives and records information sent by the sending element for the attention of the receiving element and such that, when the receiving element is no longer in sleep mode, the substitution element sends the information for the attention of the receiving element.

Claims

1. A communication method in a home-automation installation comprising at least one sending element, a self-powered receiving element, and an element for substituting for the receiving element, the sending element, the receiving element and the substitution element belonging to one and a same home-automation network such that the receiving element communicates directly with other elements of the home-automation network when the receiving element is active, the method being such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, the substitution element executes the following steps:

receiving and recording information sent by the sending element for an attention of the receiving element only after the substitution element has received a message from the receiving element regarding entry of the receiving element into the sleep mode;

confirming to the sending element that the information has been received by substituting an identifier of the receiving element for an identifier of the substitution element, and

such that, when the receiving element is no longer in sleep mode, the substitution element executes the following step;

sending the information for the receiving element,

wherein the sending element, the receiving element and the substitution element use a same authentication key to recognize a membership of the home-automation network.

2. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the receiving element is not in sleep mode, the information is transmitted directly between the sending element and the receiving element.

3. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitution element is able to substitute itself for several receiving elements.

4. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitution element is designated from among the elements of the home-automation installation in a prior designation process.

5. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitution element is determined in a prior designation procedure in which a reception level of a signal sent by the receiving element is measured in elements of the home-automation installation to determine which element is the substitution element.

6. The communication method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the signal is sent at reduced power by the receiving element.

7. The communication method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a signal reception sensitivity is reduced in each element of the home-automation installation to determine the substitution element.

8. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitution element sends the information for the attention of the receiving element by substituting the identifier of the sending element for the identifier of the substitution element.

9. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitution element is able to substitute itself for several sending elements.

10. A home-automation installation apparatus comprising at least one sending element and a receiving element that is self-powered, the home-automation installation apparatus implementing a communication such that the receiving element communicates directly with other elements of the home-automation installation apparatus when the receiving element is active, the communication being such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, a substitution element

receives and records information sent by the sending element for the receiving element only after the submission element has received a message from the receiving element regarding its entry into the sleep mode and

confirms to the sending element that the information has been received by substituting an identifier of the receiving element for an identifier of the substitution element, and such that, when the receiving element is no longer in sleep mode, the substitution element

sends the information for the receiving element, wherein the sending element, the receiving element and the substitution element use a same authentication key to recognize the membership of the home-automation network installation apparatus.

11. A communication method in a home-automation installation comprising at least one sending element, a self-powered receiving element, and an element for substituting for the receiving element, the sending element, the receiving element and the substitution element belonging to one and a same home-automation network such that the receiving element communicates directly with other elements of the home-automation network when the receiving element is active, the method being such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, the substitution element executes the following steps:

receiving and recording information sent by the sending element for an attention of the receiving element only if the information sent by the sending element contains an indication enabling receiving and recording information for the receiving element, and

confirming to the sending element that the information has been received by substituting an identifier of the receiving element for an identifier of the substitution element,

and such that, when the receiving element is no longer in the sleep mode, the substitution element executes the following step;

sending the information for the receiving element,

wherein the sending element, the receiving element and the substitution element use a same authentication key to recognize a membership of the home-automation network.

12. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, when the receiving element is not in the sleep mode, the information is transmitted directly between the sending element and the receiving element.

13. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the substitution element is able to substitute itself for several receiving elements.

14. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the substitution element is designated from among the elements of the home-automation installation in a prior designation process.

15. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the substitution element is determined in a prior designation procedure in which a reception level of a signal sent by the receiving element is measured in elements of the home-automation installation to determine which element is the substitution element.

16. The communication method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the signal is sent at reduced power by the receiving element.

17. The communication method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a signal reception sensitivity is reduced in each element of the home-automation installation to determine the substitution element.

18. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the substitution element sends the information for the attention of the receiving element by substituting the identifier of the sending element for the identifier of the substitution element.

19. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the substitution element is able to substitute itself for several sending elements.

20. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the confirming step includes a confirmation message with an indication meaning that receiving and recording information for the receiving element was performed for that information.

21. A home-automation installation apparatus comprising at least one sending element and a receiving element that is self-powered, the home-automation installation apparatus implementing a communication such that the receiving element communicates directly with other elements of the home-automation installation apparatus when the receiving element is active, the communication being such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, a substitution element

receives and records information sent by the sending element for the receiving element only if the information sent by the sending element contains an indication enabling receiving and recording information for the receiving element and

confirms to the sending element that the information has been received by substituting an identifier of the receiving element for an identifier of the substitution element, and such that, when the receiving element is no longer in the sleep mode, the substitution element

sends the information for the receiving element,

wherein the sending element, the receiving element and the substitution element use a same authentication key to recognize a membership of the home-automation network installation apparatus.

22. The home-automation installation apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the substitution element generates in a confirmation message an indication that receiving and recording information for the receiving element was performed for that information.