Methods and apparatus for identifying and categorizing distributed devices

• US 9,167,408 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pyramid Meriden Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pyramid Meriden Inc.
• Inventors: Bucci, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Obiniyi, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/283,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20140256263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 3403101- 106, 340/539.11, 340/572.3, 340/539.21, 340/539.22, 3405721-5729, 340/539.33, 235375-385
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

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.

Claims

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 comprising identification numbers from the devices;

(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 from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength;

(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

(E) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises transmitting an RF signal to a device so as to cause the device to store category information for the device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises storing category information for a device in a memory associated with the portable device and/or in a memory associated with a remote controller.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the method further comprises:

(i) changing category information of one or more devices using a category signal which comprises a message and, so as to determine which of the devices is to have its category information changed, at least one of;

(1) previously-stored category information,

(2) previously-stored category information which has been changed one or more times,

(3) one or more identification numbers, and/or

(ii) controlling one or more devices using a control signal which comprises a message and, so as to determine which of the devices is to execute the control signal, at least one of;

(1) previously-stored category information,

(2) previously-stored category information which has been changed one or more times,

(3) one or more identification numbers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the changing of category information of one or more devices and/or the controlling of one or more devices is performed from a portable device and/or a central controller.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the category signal and/or the control signal is an RF signal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the message of the category signal and/or the message of the control signal is repeated by an RF transceiver associated with at least one of the devices.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the message of the category signal and/or the message of the control signal is only repeated at the end of a time window and only then if the message to be repeated is associated with a signal strength value less than a signal strength ceiling.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the length of the time window is random.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF transmissions comprising identification numbers are returned by devices after a random delay.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (A), the RF discovery request broadcasted from the portable device includes a signal strength threshold value which is used by devices to determine if an RF transmission comprising an identification number should be made.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of spatially-distributed electrical devices controls another device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spatially-distributed electrical devices perform generally the same function.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of spatially-distributed electrical devices is in more than one category.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an RF signal to a device having a perceived proximity greater than the closest perceived proximity so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable device.

16. A system comprising:

(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 programmed to perform at least the following operations;

(i) receive an RF discovery request from a portable programming tool;

(ii) transmit an RF signal comprising the device'"'"'s identification number in response to the RF discovery request;

(iii) receive an RF signal from a portable programming tool and cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool; and

(iv) receive an RF signal from a portable programming tool and store category information for the device; and

(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 from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength;

(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) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool, and

(vi) transmitting an RF signal to a device so as to cause the device to store category information for the device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the portable programming tool'"'"'s microprocessor system is programmed to store category information for a device in a memory associated with the portable programming tool and/or in a memory associated with a remote controller.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the portable programming tool'"'"'s microprocessor system is programmed to transmit an RF signal to a device having a perceived proximity greater than the closest perceived proximity so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a central controller which communicates by wire or RF with the spatially-distributed electrical devices to control and/or change category information of at least one of the devices.

20. A portable programming tool for use with a system that includes:

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 programmed to perform at least the following operations;

(i) receive an RF discovery request from a portable programming tool;

(ii) transmit an RF signal comprising the device'"'"'s identification number in response to the RF discovery request;

(iii) receive an RF signal from a portable programming tool and cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool; and

(iv) receive an RF signal from a portable programming tool and store category information for the device;

said portable programming tool comprising;

(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 of the system to return at least an identification number;

(ii) receiving RF signals from electrical devices of the system, the RF signals comprising identification numbers, and determining a perceived proximity for each received RF signal from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength;

(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 of the system having the closest perceived proximity,

(v) transmitting an RF signal to the device of the system associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool; and

(vi) transmitting an RF signal to a device of the system 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.

21. The portable programming tool of claim 20 wherein the microprocessor system is programmed to transmit an RF signal to a device of the system having a perceived proximity greater than the closest perceived proximity so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool.

22. The portable programming tool of claim 20 wherein the microprocessor system comprises a single microprocessor.

23. The portable programming tool of claim 20 wherein the microprocessor system comprises multiple processors.

24. The portable programming tool of claim 23 wherein the multiple processors comprise a processor of a portable computer or a portable communication device and a microprocessor which communicates with the RF transceiver and with the processor of the portable computer or the portable communication device.

25. The portable programming tool of claim 20 wherein received signal strength is determined using an AGC level.

26. Apparatus for use with a programming tool that includes:

an RF transceiver and a microprocessor system programmed to perform at least the following operations;

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 from time of flight, received signal strength, or both time of flight and received signal strength;

(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) transmitting an RF signal to the device associated with the selected identification number so as to cause the device to produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the device to an operator of the portable programming tool, and

(vi) transmitting an RF signal to a device so as to cause the device to store category information for the device;

said apparatus comprising;

(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 the programming tool;

(ii) in response to an RF discovery request, transmit an RF signal for ordering by perceived proximity by the programming tool, said RF signal comprising an identification number which the programming tool selects if said perceived proximity is the closest perceived proximity;

(iii) receive an RF signal from the programming tool and thereupon produce a human-perceivable visual or audible signal for identifying the 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.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the apparatus'"'"' microprocessor is programmed to transmit the RF signal comprising an identification number in response to the RF discovery request after a random delay.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the apparatus'"'"' microprocessor is programmed to repeat at least some RF signals received by the RF transceiver.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the apparatus'"'"' microprocessor is programmed to perform the repeat after a random delay.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the electrical device is a lighting fixture.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the electrical device is a wall switch, a thermostat, a dimmer, a sensor, an output device, or a combination thereof.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a combination thereof.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the sensor is an occupancy sensor.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the output device is one or more relays, one or more TRIACs, one or more SCRs, or a combination thereof.