User interfaces, systems and methods for configuring smart devices for interoperability with a smart hub device

• US 10,142,122 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Hill, Edward, Kozura, John, Taylor, Haley A., Mathews, Jeff, Zimmer, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Chu, Wutchung
• Application Number:
  US14/940,132
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

This application discloses a method implemented at an electronic device for adding a smart device in a smart home environment. The electronic device receives from a client device a request to add a new smart device to the smart home environment over a first communication network, and the request is issued by a client-side application associated with a user account. In response to the request, the electronic device determines that a new smart device is available to add to the smart home environment via a second communication network. Then, the electronic device connects to the new smart device via the second communication network, obtains device information of the new smart device via the second communication network, and causes a notification to be provided to a user concerning association of the new smart device with the user account and addition of the new smart device to the smart home environment.

Claims

1. A method for commissioning a smart device to a smart home environment, comprising:

at a smart home hub in a premise of the smart home environment, the smart home hub having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, wherein the smart home hub is configured to communicate with a client device and a plurality of smart devices in the premise through a plurality of communication networks in the premise;

receiving from the client device over a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks a request to commission a new smart device in the premise to the smart home environment, wherein the new smart device is not associated with the plurality of communication networks in the premise and the request is issued by a client-side application executed by the client device, the client-side application being associated with a user account;

in response to the request to commission the new smart device;

determining using a second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment, wherein the second communication network is a short range communication network and is distinct from the first communication network;

connecting to the new smart device via the second communication network;

obtaining device information of the new smart device via the second communication network;

causing a notification to be provided to a user concerning association of the new smart device with the user account;

commissioning of the new smart device to the smart home environment, thereby enabling the new smart device to communicate via the first communication network; and

storing the device information at the smart home hub.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing a notification to be provided to a user further comprises:

providing the device information to a server for the association of the new smart device with the user account.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to determining that the new smart device is available, scanning in parallel a subset of the plurality of communication networks for a new smart device, the subset of the plurality of communication networks including the second communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a second communication protocol is associated with the second communication network and the second communication protocol includes one of a group consisting of Insteon, IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, Bluetooth Low Energy, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, OSIAN, Ethernet, and HomePlug.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the new smart device is one of a camera, a duplex receptacle, a wall switch, a smart light bulb, a thermostat, a smart power outlet, a motion sensor, an electronic lock, an appliance module, a hue bridge, an audio device and a security device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining using the second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment further comprises:

starting a WiFi device search;

scanning for one or more MAC address prefixes; and

causing a user interface displayed on the client device for prompting the user to press a button on the new smart device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining using the second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment further comprises:

starting a WiFi device search;

broadcasting one or more requests for a discovery protocol; and

receiving a response from the new smart device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining using the second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment further comprises:

causing display of a user interface on the client device for prompting the user to press a button on the new smart device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining device information of the new smart device via the second communication network further comprises:

causing another user interface displayed on the client device for prompting the user to press the button on the new smart device for a second time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining device information of the new smart device via the second communication network further comprises:

receiving a pairing request from the new smart device, and determining that the new smart device is a slave device associated with one or more point-to-point protocols, further comprising;

in response to the pairing request, sending a pairing confirmation to the slave device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining device information of the new smart device via the second communication network further comprises:

receiving a group indicator sent by the new smart device;

in response to the group indicator, determining that the new smart device is a controller device associated with one or more point-to-point protocols, and broadcasting a pairing request; and

receiving from the new smart device a pairing confirmation in response to the pairing request.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device information of the new smart device includes one or more of a device type, a device identification, one or more device features, device settings, and descriptive information of the new smart device.

13. A smart home hub in a premise of a smart home environment, wherein the smart home hub is configured to communicate with a client device and a plurality of smart devices in the premise through a plurality of communication networks in the premise, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving from the client device over a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks a request to commission a new smart device in the premise to the smart home environment, wherein the new smart device is not associated with the plurality of communication networks in the premise and the request is issued by a client-side application executed by the client device, the client-side application being associated with a user account;

in response to the request to commission the new smart device;

determining using a second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment, wherein the second communication network is a short range communication network and is distinct from the first communication network;

connecting to the new smart device via the second communication network;

obtaining device information of the new smart device via the second communication network;

causing a notification to be provided to a user concerning association of the new smart device with the user account;

commissioning of the new smart device to the smart home environment, thereby enabling the new smart device to communicate via the first communication network; and

storing the device information at the smart home hub.

14. The smart home hub of claim 13, wherein a second communication protocol is associated with the second communication network and the second communication protocol includes one of a group consisting of Insteon, IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, Bluetooth Low Energy, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, OSIAN, Ethernet, and HomePlug.

15. The smart home hub of claim 13, wherein determining using the second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment further comprises:

causing display of a user interface on the client device for prompting the user to press a button on the new smart device.

16. The smart home hub of claim 13, wherein causing a notification to be provided to a user further comprises:

providing the device information to a server for the association of the new smart device with the user account.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a smart home hub in the premise of a smart home environment, wherein the smart home hub is configured to communicate with a client device and a plurality of smart devices in the premise through a plurality of communication networks in the premise, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving from the client device over a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks a request to commission a new smart device in the premise to the smart home environment, wherein the new smart device is not associated with the plurality of communication networks in the premise and the request is issued by a client-side application executed by the client device, the client-side application being associated with a user account;

in response to the request to commission the new smart device;

determining using a second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that a new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment, wherein the second communication network is a short range communication network and is distinct from the first communication network;

connecting to the new smart device via the second communication network;

obtaining device information of the new smart device via the second communication network;

causing a notification to be provided to a user concerning association of the new smart device with the user account;

commissioning of the new smart device to the smart home environment, thereby enabling the new smart device to communicate via the first communication network; and

storing the device information at the smart home hub.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

prior to determining the new smart device is available, scanning in parallel a subset of the plurality of communication networks for a new smart device, the subset of the plurality of communication networks including the second communication network.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for determining using the second communication network of the plurality of communication networks that the new smart device is available for commissioning to the smart home environment further comprises instructions for:

starting a WiFi device search;

scanning for one or more MAC address prefixes; and

causing a user interface displayed on the client device for prompting the user to press a button on the new smart device.