Wireless network design, commissioning, and controls for HVAC, water heating, and lighting system optimization

• US 9,282,427 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amatis Controls LLC
• Original Assignee: Amatis Controls LLC
• Inventors: Hill, Alex, Hill, Miles, Aguirre, Melvin, Gouin-Davis, Sebastien
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US14/212,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20140342724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 370/346, 370/449
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/659 Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for commissioning and programming a network of wireless devices are disclosed herein. These can include utilizing a commissioning tool having a directional radio frequency antenna, a microprocessor, and memory. The commissioning tool can function with a Smartphone, or be a stand-alone device. The commissioning tool can program wireless devices without direct physical access or direct line-of-sight from the commissioning tool to the device. The commissioning tool can establish network connections with a “query,” “wink,” “ping” protocol, connecting devices that control HVAC, water heating, and lighting systems wirelessly with a border router that can be for upload data collected by devices to the Internet. The method can also include collection, analysis, and illustrations of building system performance data on web-based software.

Claims

1. A method of commissioning networks of wireless device, the method comprising:

generating a device query, wherein the device query comprises a request for device information;

broadcasting the device query at a first power level, wherein the first power level is a minimum power level;

receiving a first query response comprising first device information for a first wireless device within a network of wireless devices, wherein the first device information identifies an aspect of the first wireless device;

receiving a second query response comprising second device information for a second wireless device within the network, wherein the second device information identifies an aspect of the second wireless device;

generating a first wink message, wherein the first wink message comprises instructions for a receiving device to provide a visible indicator of receipt of the first wink message, wherein the receiving device is one of the wireless devices;

selecting the first wireless device;

transmitting the first wink message to the first wireless device;

receiving location information for the first wireless device from a location database, wherein the location information identifies the location of the first device; and

storing location associating information with the first wireless device in response to the visual indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the second wireless device;

generating a second wink message, wherein the second wink message comprises instructions for the receiving device to provide a visible indicator of receipt of the second wink message;

transmitting the second wink message to the second wireless device;

receiving location information from the location database for the second wireless device; and

associating the location information with the second wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device information uniquely identifies the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device information identifies a function of the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device query is broadcast via a directional antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising rebroadcasting the device query at a second power based on the received query responses.

7. A commissioning devices comprising:

an antenna configured to broadcast and receive information;

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

generate a device query, wherein the device query comprises a request for device information;

broadcast the device query at a first power level, wherein the first power level is a minimum power level;

receive a first query response comprising first device information for a first wireless device within a network of wireless devices, wherein the first device information identifies an aspect of the first wireless device;

receive a second query response comprising second device information for a second wireless device within a network, wherein the second device information identifies an aspect of the second wireless device;

generate a first wink message, wherein the first wink message comprises instructions for a receiving device to provide a visible indicator of receipt of the first wink message, wherein the receiving device is one of the wireless devices;

select the first wireless device;

transmit the first wink message to the first wireless device; and

receive location information from a location database for the first wireless device, wherein the location information identifies the location of the first wireless device; and

request storing of information associating the location information with the first wireless device in response to the visual indicator; and

memory configured to store information associating the location information with the first wireless device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to:

select the second wireless device;

generate a second wink message, wherein the second wink message comprises instructions for the receiving device to provide a visible indicator of receipt of the second wink message;

transmit the second wink message to the second wireless device;

receive location information from the location database for the second wireless device from the second wireless device; and

associate the location information with the second wireless device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the first device information uniquely identifies the first device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first device information identifies a function of the first device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the antenna is a directional antenna.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to rebroadcast the device query at a second power based on the received query responses.