Wireless comumnication and control system

• US 20030073461A1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRS Technology Ltd. (Eamont Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SRS Technology Ltd. (Eamont Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sinclair, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/02 by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A communication and control system particularly for use by the disabled, and carers of the disabled, in a domestic environment is described. The communication and control system has at least two communication modules, each module having a processing unit which has a unique identification code. Each communication module also has a unique hierarchical address corresponding to the identification code, the address defining the physical location of the module. The hierarchical address represents at least two physical domains. Each processing unit has coupled to it a signal receiver or a signal transmitter or both a signal receiver and a signal transmitter, and at least one transducer for detecting a physical parameter and for broadcasting packets of data indicative of the status of a module or for controlling a remote module. For example, in response to a physical parameter being detected, such as temperature, one module, for example a heater, transmits a signal representative of temperature for reception by another module such as a control unit which can determine if the temperature is outside predetermined values and actuate an alarm or shut off the heater.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system having at least two physically separate wireless communication modules, at least one module being coupled to an object for controlling the operation of said object, each communication module having a processing unit, each processing unit having an unique identification code and being programmable with a hierarchical address corresponding to said unique identification code to define the location and function of the object, and each module having one of a receiver, a transmitter or both, a transmitter and a receiver, coupled to such processing unit for sending or receiving a signal indicative of the status of the object coupled to at least one of said modules.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the unique identification code is a 48-bit electronic serial number.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the communication system comprises a plurality of separate communication modules, one of said modules being a control module, the control module having at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless communication modules are radio-frequency (RF) modules.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the RF modules include an infrared (IR) transmitter and an IR receiver.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control unit includes a display for displaying graphical icons of the objects to be controlled, and a user actuatable cursor for selecting an object icon.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the processing unit in each module is a programmable microprocessor.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the microprocessor is coupled by a serial bus to an I/O processor, the I/O processor coupling the bus to a plurality of peripheral devices, such as IR control and input means, such as a keypad, joystick or jack sockets for blow switches, and to an audio output control circuit.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said control unit includes reporting means for automatically generating a signal over a telephone link to a service centre in the event of a fault occurring.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control module includes monitors for monitoring the well-being and performance of the control module.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the monitors for performance monitoring are event recorders which include storage means so that an audit trail is kept to is log all commands and response of the control module and/or the other modules.

12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control module includes a loudspeaker.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control module includes a panic button or command.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the panic button is coupled to a position indicating switch which automatically generates a “

panic signal”

when moved to a position where the position indicating switch is actuated.

15. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each module includes at least one sensor, for monitoring faults in the module and an RF transmitter in the module for relaying monitored signals to the control module so that they may be used to alert the user, a carer or direct a further command to the appliance to which the module is connected.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each module includes display means comprising at least one LED and a loudspeaker for relaying an audible message when the module receives or transmits a command.

20. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a plurality of telephone modules are accessible by the control modules, all of which may include intercom units to allow the user to speak to individuals in other rooms throughout a home when a telephone module is placed in the respective room where the individual is located.

21. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control system further comprises at least one override device similar to the control module which may be used by the carer, said override device including an unique encoded address such that the signal transmitted from the control module can only be received by the override device.

28. A communication modules as claimed in claim 7 wherein the module is a radio-frequency (RF) module.

29. A module as claimed in claim 28 wherein the control module includes a RF transmitter/receiver processor and/or an IR transmitter/receiver processor.

18. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each module includes a mains power adaptor for use with a mains socket, the power adaptor including a socket for receiving the plug of an object for use on electrical devices.

19. A system as claimed in claim 17 or 18 wherein each module includes at least one programmable relay switch which has mains power switching capability.

18-1. A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein power adaptor interface module includes a manual override facility such that the mains supply to the object can be controlled directly from the module.

22. A method of communicating between at least two communication modules of a wireless communication system, each communication module having a programmable processing unit and an unique identification code for the programmable processing unit, said module being coupled to an object for controlling the object or indicating the status of the object, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning a hierarchical address to each module corresponding said unique identification code, said hierarchical address corresponding to the physical location and function of said module,

programming each module with said hierarchical address,

each module responding to a wireless signal containing the hierarchical address of the object to control the object to generate a signal containing the address of object to indicate the status of the object.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the method is applicable to communication between a plurality of communication modules with a transmitted signal being broadcast to all wireless modules but only received by the module within the desired hierarchical address.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23 wherein the method includes the step of generating control signals from a control unit in response to user selection for broadcasting said control signals to selected modules for controlling said objects coupled to the modules or for obtaining the status of said modules.

25. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein wireless communication is performed using radio-frequency (RF) signals.

26. A communication module for use in a wireless communication system having at least two wireless communication modules, said communication module being adapted to be coupled to an object for indicating the status of the object or controlling the functions of the object, said communication module having a programmable processing unit having an unique identification code and being programmable with a hierarchical code corresponding to said unique identification code and being indicative of the physical location and function of the module, and each said module having one of a transmitter, a receiver or a transmitter and a receiver for broadcasting information about the status of the object or for receiving a signal addressed to the module for controlling a preselected function of said object.

27. A module as claimed in claim 26 wherein the wireless communications module is incorporated into a control module for broadcasting wireless control signals, each control signal containing an address for a wireless communications module, said control module having a display coupled to said processing unit for displaying details of each object to be controlled, user input control means coupled to the processor for selecting an object in said display, interface means coupled to said processing means for receiving a control signal from said processing means and for converting said signal to a wireless broadcast signal with an address of a wireless communications module for receiving said wireless broadcast signal.

30. A module as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 29 wherein the control unit is dimensioned and proportioned to be hand-held and has a LCD display and user operable keys for selecting graphically illustrative icons corresponding to objects coupled to communication modules in a physical location.

31. A wireless communication and control system for remotely controlling the operation of a plurality of objects in a domestic environment, said wireless communication and control system comprising:

a wireless control unit having a display and user input means for inputting user commands to the control unit, a microprocessor disposed in said control unit for executing input signals and providing output signals, said microprocessor being coupled to said display and to an output interface, said wireless control unit having a programmable address, the display being controllable by said microprocessor to display a list of objects to be controlled from said wireless control unit, an object from the list being selectable by a user via said user input means,

a plurality of separate remote wireless communication modules each coupled to an object to be controlled or from which status is required, each remote wireless communication module having a microprocessor and an unique identification code and a corresponding hierarchical address corresponding to the identification code and defining the physical location and function of the object in said domestic environment and one of a wireless receiver for receiving control or status signals, a wireless transmitter for transmitting control or status signals, or a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting control and status signals,

the arrangement being such that in response to a user input, at least one object to be controlled is selected from the display and a control signal broadcast from said wireless control unit, said wireless broadcast signal containing at least one hierarchical address of said object or objects to be controlled, said address having a first code portion identifying the location of said at least one object by at least two hierarchical levels, a second code portion identifying the control unit by said at least two hierarchical levels, a data code portion containing control information for operating said object and a check code portion for checking the integrity of said control signal, the remote wireless communication modules with at least one address matching said first code portion responding to said broadcast control signal and operating said at least one object in accordance with information contained in said data code portion.

32. A method of operating a plurality of remote devices from a control unit using the communication system according to claim 31.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the method further includes the step of transmitting a confirmatory signal from the wireless object module to the wireless control unit to confirm that the command has been received.

34. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 33 wherein the wireless communication is by radio-frequency (RF).

35. A method as claimed in claim 32 or 34 wherein the method also includes the steps of changing the status of a visible indicator or audible indicator on the object module when the command has been received by the object module.

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 35 wherein the method further includes the steps of providing the user with a visible or audible indicator via the control unit that the command has been received at the object module and that the appliance is operating according to the command.

37. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 36 wherein the method also includes the steps of continuously polling of all the object modules in the system by the control unit to check the status of each object.

38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 37 wherein the method includes the step of transmitting a failure signal from an object module to the control unit in the event of failure or unexpected changes in operating status of the object.

39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 38 wherein the method also includes the steps of programming a set of commands into the microprocessor of the control unit and downloading the program of commands to a selected object module to respond to said commands at pre-programmed times or time intervals.

40. A method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 39 wherein the method includes the step of RF broadcasting the command signal to all object modules and said object modules re-broadcasting, using RF, the signal to all modules when the interface module is out of range of the control unit.

41. A method of remotely operating an object connected to a wireless communications module of a wireless communications control system, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a system telephone to said wireless communications module to be controlled;

dialling the system telephone from a further telephone at a remote location, said further telephone having a keypad;

entering a password on the keypad of the further telephone to gain access to the control system;

entering an address code on the keypad of said further telephone for the wireless communication module coupled to the object to be controlled;

entering a command code for the keypad of the further telephone for operating said object;

transmitting a command signal including a hierarchical address of said object from the system telephone said hierarchical address defining the location and function of the object;

receiving the command signal at the object communication module and decoding the hierarchical address in the signal, and

operating the object in accordance with instructions in the command signal.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41 wherein the communication system is radio-frequency (RF) controlled and the communication module is an RF module.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the method further includes the steps of transmitting a confirmatory signal from the object RF communication module to the telephone communications module to confirm that the command signal has been received, and transmitting the confirmatory signal in an audible signal to the further telephone at the remote location.

44. A method as claimed in any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein the method further includes the step of relaying status information about an object to a further telephone at the remote location so that the product can be monitored.