Systems and methods to link network controllers using installed network devices

• US 9,531,587 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartlabs
• Original Assignee: Smartlabs
• Inventors: Cregg, Daniel Brian, Anchia, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US14/539,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A new network controller installed onto an existing home-control network links to a network device on the home-control network. The linked network device returns its linked list to the new network controller, which contacts each network device on the linked list. Responding network devices are linked to the new network controller and return their linked lists. The new network controller contacts the network devices on these linked lists that have not been previously contacted to request additional linked lists. The procedure continues until the new controller determines that there are no un-contacted devices.

Claims

1. A system to install a new hub onto an existing home-control network, the system comprising:

a plurality of network devices, each storing in memory a unique device identifier, each network device configured to receive messages comprising its unique device identifier over a home-control network;

at least one cloud server configured to transmit an identifier list of the unique device identifiers associated with the plurality of network devices on the home-control network; and

a hub configured to transmit a message to a first network device over the home-control network, the message comprising a first unique device identifier from the identifier list and associated with the first network device, the hub further configured to receive a first linked list from the first network device, the first linked list comprising a second unique device identifier associated with a second network device linked to the first network device, the hub configured to send a message over the home-control network to the second network device when the second unique device identifier is not found on the identifier list.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the message sent to the second network device comprises the second unique device identifier and requests a second linked list from the second network device, the second linked list comprising unique device identifiers associated with network devices linked to the second network device.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an intelligent device configured to communicate with the at least one cloud server and to request that the at least one cloud server transmit the identifier list to the hub.

4. The system of claim 1 where the unique device identifier comprises a random number unique to its associated network device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the home-control network comprises a mesh network configured to propagate messages using powerline signaling and radio frequency (RF) signaling.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the powerline signaling comprises message data modulated onto a carrier signal and the modulated carrier signal is added to a powerline waveform, and wherein the RF signaling comprises the message data modulated onto an RF waveform.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the hub comprises a network key and is further configured to send and receive messages comprising the network key over the home-control network.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the network key comprises an encryption key unique to the hub.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hub is further configured to request the first network device to initiate a database record link with the network key.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the hub transmits an updated list of unique identifiers associated with the plurality of network devices on the home-control network to the at least one cloud server.

11. A method to install a new hub onto an existing home-control network, the method comprising:

storing in a memory of each network device of a plurality of network devices a unique device identifier, each network device configured to receive messages comprising its unique device identifier over a home-control network;

transmitting from at least one cloud server to a hub an identifier list of the unique identifiers associated with the plurality of network devices on the home-control network;

transmitting a message from the hub to a first network device over the home-control network, the message comprising a first unique device identifier from the identifier list and associated with the first network device;

receiving a first linked list from the first network device to the hub over the home-control network, the first linked list comprising a second unique device identifier associated with a second network device linked to the first network device; and

transmitting a message from the hub to the second network device over the home-control network when the second unique device identifier is not found on the identifier list.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the message sent to the second network device comprises the second unique device identifier and requests a second linked list from the second network device, the second linked list comprising unique device identifiers associated with network devices linked to the second network device.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising requesting from an intelligent device that the at least one cloud server transmit the identifier list to the hub.

14. The method of claim 11 where the unique device identifier comprises a random number unique to its associated network device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the home-control network comprises a mesh network configured to propagate messages using powerline signaling and radio frequency (RF) signaling.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the powerline signaling comprises message data modulated onto a carrier signal and the modulated carrier signal is added to a powerline waveform, and wherein the RF signaling comprises the message data modulated onto an RF waveform.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the hub comprises a network key and is configured to send and receive messages comprising the network key over the home-control network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the network key comprises an encryption key unique to the hub.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising requesting the first network device to initiate a database record link with the network key.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting an updated list of unique identifiers associated with the plurality of network devices on the home-control network to the at least one cloud server.