In-premises management of home area networks

• US 9,541,421 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Shudark, Jeff, Salazar Cardozo, Ruben Emilio
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US14/045,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing in-premises management of home area networks. An example management includes a network interface device, a processor in communication with the network interface device, and a transceiver device in communication with the processor. The network interface device can establish a paired communication link with a computing device that is in communication with a head-end system. The processor can receive a command originating from the head-end system and communicated to the management device from the computing device via the paired communication link. The processor can identify a terminal device of the home area network that can perform a function in response to the command. The processor can generate a message for the terminal device including the command. The transceiver device can transmit the message from the processor to the terminal device via a wireless communication link of the home area network.

Claims

1. A management device configured for managing a home area network, the management device comprising:

a network interface device configured for establishing a paired communication link with a computing device communicatively coupled to a head-end system via a data network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface device, the processor configured for;

executing an application programming interface comprising functions for managing the home area network;

receiving, via the paired communication link and from the computing device, a function call for the application programming interface that corresponds to instructions originating from the head-end system, wherein the paired communication link is limited to communicating inter-processor commands comprising function calls of the application programming interface,

generating, via execution of the application programming interface, a command based on the function call,

identifying a terminal device of the home area network that is configured to perform a function in response to the command, and

generating a message for the terminal device including the command; and

a transceiver device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured for transmitting the message from the processor to the terminal device via a wireless communication link of the home area network.

2. The management device of claim 1,

wherein the home area network is configured for communicating information regarding a resource consumed at a geographical area serviced by the home area network,

wherein the computing device comprises a metering device configured to monitor consumption of the resource at the geographical area,

wherein the function is associated with monitoring a portion of the resource consumed by the terminal device.

3. The management device of claim 2,

wherein the resource provided to the geographical area comprises power,

wherein the function comprises notifying the management device of the portion of the power consumed by the terminal device in a period of time specified by the command,

wherein the processor is further configured to generate an additional message to the metering device comprising power consumption information at least partially determined from the portion of the power consumed by the terminal device.

4. The management device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for establishing the home area network between the management device and the terminal device by:

receiving a device identifier from the terminal device; and

authenticating the terminal device for communication via the home area network based on the identifier.

5. The management device of claim 1, wherein the paired communication link comprises a power cable configured for providing power line communication between the computing device and the management device.

6. The management device of claim 1, wherein the paired communication link comprises at least one of an Ethernet cable and a fiber optic cable for communicating data between the computing device and the management device.

7. The management device of claim 1, wherein the paired communication link comprises a microwave link for communicating data between the computing device and the management device.

8. A system configured for monitoring consumption of a resource at a geographical area, the system comprising:

a metering device communicatively coupled to a head-end system via a data network, wherein the metering device is configured for receiving a command from the head-end system;

a management device communicatively coupled to the metering device via a paired communication link and configured for managing a home area network, wherein the paired communication link is limited to communicating inter-processor commands comprising function calls of the application programming interface, the management device comprising;

a network interface device configured for receiving, via the paired communication link, an inter-processor command corresponding to the command from the head-end system;

a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface device, the processor configured for;

identifying a terminal device of the home area network that is configured to perform a function in response to the command, and

generating, from the inter-processor command, a message for the terminal device including the command; and

a transceiver device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured for transmitting the message from the processor to the terminal device via a wireless communication link of the home area network, wherein the command included in the message comprises a function call for an application programming interface of the management device.

9. The system of claim 8,

wherein the resource provided to the geographical area comprises power,

wherein the function comprises notifying the management device of a portion of the power consumed by the terminal device in a period of time specified by the command,

wherein the processor is further configured to generate an additional message to the metering device comprising power consumption information at least partially determined from the portion of the power consumed by the terminal device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured for establishing the home area network between the management device and the terminal device by:

receiving a device identifier from the terminal device; and

authenticating the terminal device for communication via the home area network based on the identifier.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the paired communication link comprises a power cable configured for providing power line communication between the metering device and the management device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the paired communication link comprises at least one of an Ethernet cable and a fiber optic cable for communicating data between the metering device and the management device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the paired communication link comprises a microwave link for communicating data between the metering device and the management device.

14. A method comprising:

establishing a paired communication link between a computing device configured for communicating with a head-end system via a data network and a management device configured for managing a home area network, wherein the paired communication link is limited to communicating inter-processor commands comprising function calls of the application programming interface;

establishing the home area network between the management device and a terminal device, wherein a command corresponding to instructions from the head-end system causes the terminal device to perform a function; and

communicating to the terminal device via the data network and the home area network, wherein communicating the command comprises;

receiving, by the management device and from the computing device, an inter-processor command comprising a function call for an application programming interface comprising functions for managing the home area network,

generating, by the management device, the command based on the function call, and

transmitting, by the management device, the command to the terminal device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the home area network is configured for communicating information regarding a resource consumed at a geographical area serviced by the home area network and the function is associated with monitoring a portion of the resource consumed by the terminal device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the resource provided to the geographical area comprises power and wherein the function comprises notifying the management device of the portion of the resource consumed by the terminal device in a period of time specified by the command.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing the home area network between the management device and the terminal device comprises:

receiving, by the management device, a device identifier from the terminal device; and

authenticating, by the management device, the terminal device for communication via the home area network based on the identifier.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the paired communication link comprises a power cable configured for providing power line communication between the computing device and the management device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the paired communication link comprises at least one of an Ethernet cable and a fiber optic cable for communicating data between the computing device and the management device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the paired communication link comprises a microwave link for communicating data between the computing device and the management device.