Device description profile for a fabric network

• US 9,716,686 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Grant M., Schultz, Richard J., Stebbins, Andrew W., Logue, Jay D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamara, Mohamed
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATKINS JR., GEORGE CALVIN
• Application Number:
  US14/590,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/33 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• 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 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• 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: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 41/0816 : the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 : Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0805 : by checking availability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 : Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 : Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 : using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 : Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 : specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/143 : Termination or inactivation of sessions, e.g. event-controlled end of session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 : Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 : Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 : for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• 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 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and systems for obtaining device information include sending a device description request message to a remote device. The device description request message includes indications of criteria for a responding device, and the indications of criteria for the responding device include a fabric identifier for the responding device. Moreover, the fabric identifier identifies a fabric to which the responding device is connected. The indications of criteria also include a device mode for the responding device. The device mode indicates a mode for the responding device. The indications of criteria further include a vendor identifier for the responding device with the vendor identifier identifies a vendor for the responding device. Obtaining device information also includes a product identifier for the responding device that identifies a product type for the responding device.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining device information comprising:

sending a device description request message to a plurality of remote devices, wherein the device description request message comprises indications of criteria for a responding device that is at least one of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the indications of criteria for the responding device comprises;

a fabric identifier that identifies a fabric to which the responding device is connected;

a device mode that indicates a mode for the responding device;

a vendor identifier that identifies a vendor for the responding device; and

a product identifier that identifies a product type for the responding device; and

receiving a response message from only the responding device using a wireless communication protocol capable of utilizing more than a single frequency band in response to the device description request message that satisfy all criteria indicated in the indications of criteria, wherein the response message includes device description data about the responding device, and the device description data in the response message is encoded in a tag-length-value format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response message comprises information about the responding device, wherein the information indicates whether the responding device can connect to a home alarm panel, a power type for the responding device, the fabric identifier, a device identifier, device features, product revision, manufacture date, a MAC address, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the device description request message to the plurality of remote devices comprises addressing the device description request message for at least one remote device of the plurality of remote devices as a unicast message when an address for the at least one remote device is known to a requesting device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the device description request message to the plurality of remote devices comprises sending the device description request message out as a multicast distribution to be propagated through a network or fabric on which the responding device resides.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device description request message comprises a request for information about the responding device, wherein the information comprises a plurality of elements that indicate whether the responding device can connect to a home alarm panel, a power type for the responding device, the fabric identifier, a device identifier, device features, product revision, manufacture date, and a MAC address.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a response to the device description request message from the responding device, wherein when an element of the plurality of elements is not supported by the responding device when the element of the plurality of elements is missing from the response message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric identifier, the device mode, the vendor identifier, or the product identifier for the responding device pass a value that indicates that any possible value for an indicated criteria category may cause the responding device to respond when one or more indications of the criteria are to be bypassed in a request to use only remaining criteria categories for determining one or more responding devices.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the responding device to add a network using an add network request, wherein the add network request comprises a network configuration field encoded in the tag-length-value format that contains configuration details for the network to be added or created by the responding device, and wherein the configuration details comprise a network name, security types, and credentials for the network.

8. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed, are configured to cause a processor to:

send a device description request message to a plurality of remote devices, wherein the device description request message comprises indications of criteria for a responding device that is at least one of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the indications of criteria for the responding device comprises;

a fabric identifier that identifies a fabric to which the responding device is connected;

a device mode that indicates a mode for the responding device;

a vendor identifier that identifies a vendor for the responding device; and

a product identifier that identifies a product type for the responding device; and

receive a response message from only the responding device using a wireless communication protocol capable of utilizing more than a single frequency band in response to the device description request message that satisfy all criteria indicated in the indications of criteria, wherein the response message includes device description data about the responding device, and the device description data in the response message is encoded in a tag-length-value format.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the device description request message comprises a tag with a first value indicating that the message is a device description request message, and the response message comprises a tag with a second value indicating that the message is a response message.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to send an echo request that requests a response from the responding device to indicate that a connection is current to the responding device, wherein the echo request includes a tag of a first value that indicates that the sent message is a request.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive an echo response from the responding device as a response to the echo request, wherein the echo response includes a tag of a second value that indicates that the received data pertains to an echo response.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the echo request includes echo request data, and the echo response includes response data that matches the echo request data to enable devices to correlate the echo response to the echo request.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the echo request data is encrypted using an encryption type and secured using signatures having one or more signature types, wherein the echo response data is encrypted using the encryption type and secured using the one or more signature types.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the responding device comprises a smart doorbell configured to detect a person'"'"'s approach to or departure from a location, control audible functionality, announce a person'"'"'s approach or departure via audio or visual means, or control settings on a security system.

21. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the responding device comprises:

a light switch configured to detect ambient lighting conditions, detect room-occupancy states, control a power and/or dim state of one or more lights, or control a power state and/or speed of a fan;

or

a wall plug interface configured to detect occupancy of a room or enclosure and control supply of power to one or more wall plugs based on the detected occupancy.

22. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the responding device comprises a sensor configured to detect at least one of acceleration, temperature, humidity, water, supplied power, proximity, external motion, device motion, sound signals, ultrasound signals, light signals, fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, global-positioning-satellite (GPS) signals, or radio-frequency (RF) signals.

23. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the responding device comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a hazard-related sensor, an environmental sensor, an accelerometer, a microphone, an optical sensor, an active or passive radiation sensor, a GPS receiver, or a radiofrequency identification detector.

24. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the responding device comprises a sensor configured to detect that a user has pulled into a garage by detecting motion in the garage, detecting a change in light in the garage, or detecting opening of a garage door of the garage.

14. An electronic device comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

memory; and

a processor configured to;

send, via a network interface of the one or more network interfaces, a device description request message to a plurality of remote devices, wherein the device description request message comprises indications of criteria for a responding device that is at least one of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the indications of criteria for the responding device comprises;

a fabric identifier that identifies a fabric to which the responding device is connected;

a device mode that indicates a mode for the responding device;

a vendor identifier that identifies a vendor for the responding device; and

a product identifier that identifies a product type for the responding device; and

receive a response message from only the responding device using a wireless communication protocol capable of utilizing more than a single frequency band in response to the device description request message that satisfy all criteria indicated in the indications of criteria, wherein the response message includes device description data about the responding device, and the device description data in the response message is encoded in a tag-length-value format.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to send a scan networks request that is configured to cause the responding device to:

in response to the scan networks request, scan for networks from one or more network interfaces of the responding device; and

in response to a successful network scan, send a network scan complete message that includes a network list to the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the network scan complete message comprises:

a result count field, wherein the result count field comprises an unsigned integer value that indicates a number of networks detected during the scan; and

a scan results field, wherein the scan results field comprises information about each network.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the scan results field for an 802.11 local area network comprises:

an SSID for the 802.11 local area network;

a security type for the 802.11 local area network; and

a signal strength for the 802.11 local area network.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the scan results field for an 802.15.4 local area network comprises:

a network name for the 802.15.4 local area network;

an extended personal area network identifier for the 802.15.4 local area network; and

a signal strength for the 802.15.4 local area network.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to cause the responding device to add a network using an add network request, wherein the add network request comprises a network configuration field encoded in tag-length-value format that contains configuration details for the network to be added or created by the responding device, wherein the configuration details comprise a network name, security types, and credentials for the network.

25. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the responding device comprises a sensor configured to detect a user approaching a front door to cause a general audio or visual signal to be generated and presented or to cause a location-specific audio or visual signal to be generated and presented.

26. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the responding device comprises an irrigation system, a refrigerator, a stove, an oven, a television, a washer, a dryer, one or more lights, a stereo, an intercom system, a garage-door opener, a floor fan, a ceiling fan, a whole-house fan, a wall air conditioner, a pool heater, an irrigation system, or a security system.

27. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the responding device is configured to detect when a location about the responding device is occupied.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the responding device is configured to detect when the location about the responding device is occupied via analyzing microphone signals, user movements, opening or closing of a door, opening or closing of a garage door, wireless signals, an IP address of a received signal, or operation of one or more devices within a time window.

29. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to identify particular occupants or objects when the processor detects that the location about the responding device is occupied.