Network access coordination of load control devices

• US 10,742,032 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2018
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Inventors: Neyhart, Jeremy Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Jr., Michael J
• Application Number:
  US16/102,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20190006846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

An apparatus may control the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, and may comprise a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also comprise a controller that may be operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a first protocol and to join a first wireless communication network operable to communicate via the first protocol. The first wireless communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The controller may be operative to determine a first condition for communicating via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to join the first wireless communication network upon the first condition being satisfied.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical load, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a first wireless communication circuit coupled to the controller, the first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a first protocol and operable to join a first wireless communication network operable for communication via the first protocol; and

a second wireless communication circuit coupled to the controller, the second wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a second protocol;

wherein the controller is configured to;

communicate load control signals via the second protocol via the second wireless communication circuit with one or more load control devices;

determine a first condition for communicating via the first protocol; and

control the first wireless communication circuit to join the first wireless communication network and execute a task via the first wireless communication network in response to determining the first condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to disconnect from the first wireless communication network after a predetermined time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to disconnect from the first wireless communication network after completing the task.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to disconnect from the first wireless communication network in response to receiving a disconnect signal from another device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first condition comprises an internal trigger to access the first wireless communication network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first condition comprises a message received via the second wireless communication network, the message comprising a request to join the first wireless communication network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the task comprises receiving one of firmware upgrade data, configuration data, or database data via the first wireless communication network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive network access information for the first wireless communication network in a digital message received via the second wireless communication network.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a sensor circuit configured to generate a signal that is received by the control circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the internal trigger comprises a change in the signal generated by the sensor circuit, the control circuit configured to join the first wireless communication network in response to detecting the change in the signal generated by the sensor circuit and to transmit a message including information regarding the change in the signal generated by the sensor circuit via the first wireless communication network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the change in the signal generated by the sensor circuit indicates an occupancy or vacancy condition in an area in which the wireless control device is installed, the control circuit configured to include information regarding the occupancy or vacancy condition in the message transmitted via the first wireless communication network.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the change in the signal generated by the sensor circuit indicates a change in an ambient light level in an area in which the wireless control device is installed, the control circuit configured to include information regarding the ambient light level in the message transmitted via the first wireless communication network.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a wireless router or a smart phone via the first wireless network.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controllably conductive device in communication with the controller;

and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive a message via the second protocol; and

control, based on the received message, the controllably conductive device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate high-bandwidth data via the first protocol and to communicate low-bandwidth data via the second protocol.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.