TRANSFERABLE INTELLIGENT CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20090082879A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Evolution Robotics Inc. (iRobot Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirjanian, Paolo, Dooley, Michael, Romanov, Nikolai
• Application Number:
  US12/234,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/3
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0084 comprising a plurality of manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1658 characterised by programming language
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40304 Modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40306 Two or more independent robots
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40397 Programming language for robots, universal, user oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/004 Artificial life, i.e. computing arrangements simulating life

Abstract

An integrated intelligent system includes a first intelligent electronic device, a second intelligent electronic device, a transferable intelligent control device (TICD) and a cross product bus. The first intelligent electronic device performs a first function and the second intelligent electronic device performs a second function. The cross product bus couples the first intelligent electronic device to the transferable intelligent control device. The TICD partially controls behaviors of the intelligent electronic device by sending commands over the cross product bus to the first intelligent electronic device and the TICD partially controls behaviors of the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function. The TICD is first attached to the first intelligent electronic device to partially control the behaviors of the first electronic device, then detached from the first electronic device, and then attached to the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function.

Claims

1. An integrated intelligent system, comprising:

a first intelligent electronic device to perform a first function;

a second intelligent electronic device to perform a second function;

a transferable intelligent control device (TICD); and

a cross product bus which couples the first intelligent electronic device to the transferable control device, wherein the TICD partially controls behaviors of the intelligent electronic device by sending commands over the cross product bus to the first intelligent electronic device and the TICD partially controls behaviors of the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function.

2. The integrated intelligent system of claim 1, wherein the TICD is first attached to the first intelligent electronic device to partially control the behaviors of the first electronic device, then detached from the first electronic device, and then attached to the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function.

3. The integrated intelligent system of claim 1, wherein software modules compatible with the TICD are first downloaded to the first intelligent electronic device, from an external source, and then transferred from the first electronic device to the second intelligent electronic device.

4. The integrated intelligent system of claim 1, further including an electronic device, wherein the TICD interfaces with the electronic device utilizing a communication protocol used by the electronic device.

5. The integrated intelligent system of claim 1, wherein the TICD communicates with the first intelligent electronic device utilizing device-specific commands of the first intelligent electronic device.

6. A transferable intelligent control device to be utilized with intelligent electronic devices, comprising:

a master application module including central logic and software routines for controlling the TICD'"'"'s operation in addition to behavior of a connected device

a hardware abstraction module; and

a bus control module to provides a standard communication link for recognizing devices connected to a cross product bus, reading relevant information from these devices and sending commands back for execution by the target device or devices that the TICD is controlling, wherein the Hardware Abstraction Module receives general instructions or commands from the master application module, and transmits commands to the device the TICD is controlling through the bus control module.

7. The TICD of claim 6, wherein the Hardware Abstraction Module further translates the general instructions or commands into device specific instructions or commands and transmits the device specific commands to the device the TICD is controlling through the bus control module.

8. The TICD of claim 7, wherein the Hardware Abstraction Module also at least two of:

(1) an identification of the device, (2) a physical description of the device'"'"'s key components;

(3) a database of the inputs, outputs and functions available on the device (4) a mapping of commands for accessing those inputs, outputs and functions of the device; and

(5) any supporting resources such as parameters, description files, settings and/or routines that enable the TICD to perform integrated behaviors using the connected device or device, and/or

9. The TICD of claim 8, wherein the Hardware Abstraction Modules also includes links or directions to external network locations that provide access to any supporting drivers, software programs, or data identified in items (1) to (5).

10. The TICD of claim 6, further including a global behavior and functions module to provide core functions within the TICD that are independent of the connected product or device where the core functions are core systems.

11. The TICD of claim 6, wherein core systems include at least two of (1) a navigation system;

(2) a positioning system; and

(3) a vision recognition system;

12. The TICD of claim 10, wherein the master application module runs the selected game program and utilizes the core systems residing within the global behavior &

functions module.

13. The TICD of claim 12, wherein the master application module'"'"'s initialization routines include loading relevant behaviors or functions into the global behaviors and functions modules.

18. The TICD of claim 6, wherein key information for the hardware abstraction module is uploaded from the connected device.

14. A method of controlling a number of intelligent electronic devices, including:

receiving general instructions, from a master application module, to direct an intelligent electronic devices;

translating the general instructions into device-specific instructions, where the device specific instructions are utilized by the intelligent electronic device to direct behaviors of the intelligent electronic device; and

transmitting, by the master application module, the device-specific instructions to the intelligent electronic device utilizing a cross-product bus.

15. The method of claim 14, further including adjusting the device-specific instructions based on settings in a look up table which are specific for the intelligent electronic devices which is being communicated with.

16. The method of claim 14, further including transmitting software routines and/or system calls that the master application module makes calls to and receives results from the intelligent electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14, further including updating settings, after connection to the intelligent electronic device, the settings including at least two of a make/model of the intelligent electronic device, a general classification for the intelligent electronic device, a specific list of functions available on the intelligent electronic device, device specific commands and parameters for accessing controls of the intelligent electronic device and intermediary settings available on the intelligent electronic device.