Learning device interaction rules

• US 20060195412A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Olsson, Stefan, Slemmer, John B., Jarboe, Andre, Kleinfelter, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/028 using expert systems only
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23443 Upon detected function changes of remote device, activate proper local program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/046 Forward inferencing; Production systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities 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 41/16 using machine learning or artificial intelligence

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing interaction among electronic devices of an environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory for storing interaction rules, and a processor for learning the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The device also includes components for performing the device specific functions and a state sensor for determining the logical or physical state of the device. Methods involve observing at one or more devices change of state activity among the plurality of devices through receiving a change of state message that is transmitted to the one or more devices. A set of rules are learned at the one or more devices based upon observing the change of state activity. The learned set of rules are then applied at the one or more devices to automatically control changes of state of devices within the plurality of devices.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for providing communications between devices in an environment comprising:

monitoring the environment for a state change in one or more of the devices;

detecting the state change in the one or more devices;

after detecting the state change in the one or more devices, determining if communications should occur between devices by referencing a set of interaction rules; and

if communications between device should occur, providing communications between devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein communications between devices occurs using messages.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a message includes identification data for identifying a first device.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the state change controls operations for the one or more devices.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each operation for the one or more devices is unique.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the state change is used to create an interaction rule.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising determining if a first device is associated with the state change.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising determining if a second device is associated with the state change.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein if the first device is associated with the state change, determining whether a second device should change state in response to the first device being associated with the state change.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the determination of whether the second device should change state in response to the first device being associated with the state change is based on a set of interaction rules for the second device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first device creates an interaction rule by adding the second device and the state change associated with the second device to a subscriber list.

32. The method of claim 21 further comprising observing communications activity between device in the environment to learn interaction rules.

33. A method for providing communications between devices in an environment comprising:

monitoring the environment for a state change in one or more of the devices;

detecting the state change in the one or more devices;

after detecting the state change in the one or more devices, determining the state change should be broadcast to other devices in the environment; and

if broadcasting should occur, broadcasting the state change to the other devices in the environment.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein after broadcasting the state change to the other devices in the environment, each device in the environment monitors itself to determine if a state change occurs.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein if it determined that a state change occurs with a device, adding the state change to a subscriber list.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the state change is used to create an interaction rule.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the broadcast includes a message.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the message is sent to each of the other devices in the environment using a specific address for each device.

39. The method of claim 33 further comprising determining whether a reply from the other devices in the environment is required.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the determination uses an interaction rule stored in each of the other devices in the environment.