Systems and methods for controlling and monitoring multiple electronic devices

• US 20050226192A1
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Original Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Inventors: Thompson, Daniel J., Baxter, Michael S., Red, Walter E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,270,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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

Abstract

A device control system for controlling multiple electronic devices over a network with a centralized host device is disclosed. The device control system includes a host device providing a graphical interface for a user to control various electronic devices throughout a home, building, or industrial plant. The host device is connected to multiple devices over a network and controls the electronic devices in real-time. The host device runs a managing controlling process that closes the control loops for each device over the network at the host device. Multiple devices are controlled in real-time using a 2^N time slicing algorithm. The host device can be accessed from a remote location by establishing an Internet connection.

Claims

1. A method for controlling electronic devices through a host device, the method comprising:

establishing electronic communications between the host device and a controlled device;

assigning a control frequency for the controlled device using a 2^N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer;

generating, at the host device, control input for the controlled device; and

sending the control input to the controlled device at the assigned control frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the host device, output from the controlled device in response to the control input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing electronic communications comprises establishing real-time electronic communications over a network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing real-time electronic communications with a plurality of controlled devices and assigning a discrete control frequency for each controlled device using the 2^N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of the controlled devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the 2^N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2^N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of the controlled device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a control loop process on the host device when electronic communication is established with a controlled device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing the host device from a remote computing device via the Internet.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing information relating to the controlled device to a user at the remote computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving user input at the host device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled device.

11. A computing device configured for controlling electronic devices, the computing device comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

executable instructions executable by the processor, wherein the executable instructions are configured to implement a method comprising;

establishing electronic communications between the computing device and a controlled device;

assigning a control frequency for the controlled device using a 2^N time slicing algorithm, wherein N is a non-negative integer;

generating, at the computing device, control input for the controlled device; and

sending the control input to the controlled device at the assigned control frequency.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises receiving, at the computing device, output from the controlled device in response to the control input.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein establishing electronic communications comprises establishing real-time electronic communications over a network.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises establishing real-time electronic communications with a plurality of controlled devices and assigning a discrete control frequency for each controlled device using the 2^N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the 2^N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2^N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of the controlled device.

17. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises initiating a control loop process on the computing device when electronic communication is established with a controlled device.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises initiating a torque/current control loop process at a microcontroller on the controlled device when the controlled device comprises a motor.

19. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises accessing the computing device from a remote computing device via the Internet.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises providing information relating to the controlled device to a user at the remote computing device.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises receiving user input at the computing device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled device.

22. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for implementing a method in a computing device for controlling electronic devices, the method comprising:

establishing electronic communications between the computing device and a controlled device;

assigning a control frequency for the controlled device using a 2^N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer;

generating, at the computing device, control input for the controlled device; and

sending the control input to the controlled device at the assigned control frequency.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises receiving, at the computing device, output from the controlled device in response to the control input.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein establishing electronic communications comprises establishing real-time electronic communications over a network.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises establishing real-time electronic communications with a plurality of controlled devices and assigning a discrete control frequency for each controlled device using the 2^N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the 2^N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2^N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of the controlled device.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises initiating a control loop process on the computing device when electronic communication is established with a controlled device.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises accessing the computing device from a remote computing device via the Internet.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the method further comprises providing information relating to the controlled device to a user at the remote computing device.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the method further comprises receiving user input at the computing device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled device.