Method and apparatus for controlling network devices

• US 6,574,234 B1
• Filed: 09/05/1997
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amx LLC (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Amx Corporation (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Smith, W. Eric, Myer, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boakye, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/924,233
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 370/362, 370/364, 370/438, 370/463, 370/462, 709/223, 709/224, 709/2
• US Class Current: 370/462
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21082 At start, send first address to all modules, manually trigger first module and so on
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21086 Configuration menu program for I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25174 Ethernet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling devices on a network, such as household devices on a home automation network is presented. The present invention provides an extended addressing option and an extended packet size option. The present invention further provides packet order control, partial packet support, and multiple bit priority control. The present invention also provides a central controller that avoids the maintenance requirements of a distributed control system. The central controller may be coupled to a computer, allowing the computer to program the central controller and to act as a redundant controller in case the central controller fails or is otherwise unable to effectively control the network. The central controller may communicate with devices and other equipment over a variety of types of networks, including EIA-485 balanced cabling and ethernet networks, as well as other types of networks. The invention provides an automatic wiring testing feature that gives an indication if a node is properly wired to the controller. The invention further provides an identification mode that allows identification of devices and binding of physical devices to their corresponding representations used by the controller.

Claims

1. A method for incorporating a new device into a network comprising the steps of:

repeatedly sending a first message to a controller of said network in order to inform said controller that said new device is waiting to be added to said network;

receiving from said controller a second message containing a network address that is to be used by said new device;

receiving from said controller a third message that places said new device into a normal operating state;

sending a fourth message to said controller to acknowledge receipt of said third message;

receiving a fifth message from said controller to acknowledge receipt at said controller of said fourth message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of repeatedly sending said first message occurs in response to a step of:

initially applying power to said new device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of repeatedly sending said first message occurs in response to a step of:

receiving a sixth message from said controller.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

indicating wiring functionality following said step of receiving from said controller said second message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said new device rejects application messages until said step of receiving from said controller said second message has occurred.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first message comprises addressing information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first message comprises device type information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said first message comprises device version information.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said first message comprises device manufacturer information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein application messages received by said new device are processed by said new device when said new device is in said normal operating state but are ignored when said new device is not in said normal operating state.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein messages sent from said new device prior to said step of receiving from said controller said second message are broadcast network-wide, while said messages sent from said new device following said step of receiving from said controller said second message are addressed specifically to said controller.

12. A device capable of being incorporated into a network, said device comprising:

a transmitter for periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said device;

a processor coupled to said transmitter;

a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving a second message transmitted from a master node on said network following said broadcasting of said first identification message, said transmitter terminating said broadcasting of said first identification message following said receiving of said second message.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said transmitter begins periodically broadcasting said first identification message in response to an initial application of power to said device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said transmitter begins periodically broadcasting said first identification message in response to receiving at said receiver a third message from said master node.

15. The device of claim 12 further comprising:

an indicator coupled to said processor for indicating functionality of wiring at said device after said receiver receives said second message.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein said device rejects application level messages until said receiver has received said second message.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein said first identification message comprises addressing information.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein said first identification-message comprises device type information.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein said first identification message comprises device version information.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein said first identification message comprises device manufacturer information.

21. The device of claim 12 wherein said device can be in one of a plurality of states, said plurality of states comprising:

a first state in which all messages transmitted by said transmitter are broadcast and any application messages received by said receiver are ignored;

a second state in which all of said messages transmitted by said transmitter are directed specifically to said master node and any of said application messages received by said receiver are ignored;

a third state in which all of said messages transmitted by said transmitter are directed specifically to said master node and any of said application messages received by said receiver are processed by said device.

22. A device capable of being incorporated into a network, said device comprising:

a transmitter for repeatedly sending a first message to a controller of a network in order to inform said controller that said device is waiting to be added to said network;

a processor coupled to said transmitter;

a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving from said controller a second message containing a network address that is to be used by said device and for receiving from said controller a third message that places said device into a normal operating state, said transmitter also for sending a fourth message to said controller to acknowledge receipt of said third message, said receiver also for receiving a fifth message from said controller to acknowledge receipt at said controller of said fourth message.

23. The device of claim 22 further comprising a power input coupled to said processor, wherein said transmitter repeatedly sends said first message to said controller in response to initial application of power to said power input.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein said said transmitter repeatedly sends said first message in response to receiving a sixth message from said controller.

25. The device of claim 22 further comprising:

a wiring functionality indicator coupled to said processor for indicating wiring functionality after said receiver has received from said controller said second message.

26. The device of claim 22 wherein said device rejects application messages until said receiver has received from said controller said second message.

27. The device of claim 22 wherein said first message comprises addressing information.

28. The device of claim 22 wherein said first message comprises device type information.

29. The device of claim 22 wherein said first message comprises device version information.

30. The device of claim 22 wherein said first message comprises device manufacturer information.

31. The device of claim 22 wherein said device processes application messages received by said receiver when said device is in said normal operating state but said device ignores application messages received by said receiver when said device is not in said normal operating state.

32. The device of claim 22 wherein said transmitter broadcasts messages network-wide prior to said receiver receiving from said controller said second message, while said transmitter sends messages addressed specifically to said controller following said receiver receiving from said controller said second message.

33. A method for controlling devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;

providing in response to a first message received from said master node an indication at a plurality of slave nodes capable of being selected to control said device;

transmitting a second message from a selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to said master node to indicate selection of said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to control said device;

sending a third message from said master node to said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing said indication;

sending a fourth message from said master node to said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to display an indication of a second device to be designated to be controlled.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of:

detecting said selection of said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes by sensing activation of a switch at said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of sensing activation of said switch further comprises the step of:

sensing multiple activations of said switch.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of:

sending a fourth message from said master node to said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to display an indication of a second device to be designated to be controlled.

37. Apparatus for controlling network devices comprising:

a plurality of slave nodes coupled to a network, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

a plurality of devices to be controlled coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device;

a master node coupled to said network for managing said plurality of slave nodes and said plurality of devices to be controlled,

said master node comprising means for transmitting a first message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to provide an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected for control of said first device,

said first slave node comprising means for transmitting a second message to said master node to indicate that said first slave node has been selected,

said master node comprising means for transmitting a third message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected; and

wherein said first slave node comprises means for transmitting a fourth message to said master node, said master node comprises means for transmitting a fifth message to said first slave node, and said first slave mode comprising means for providing a second indication of communication integrity between said first slave node and said master node.

38. Apparatus for controlling network devices comprising:

a plurality of slave nodes coupled to a network, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

a plurality of devices to be controlled coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device;

a master node coupled to said network for managing said plurality of slave nodes and said plurality of devices to be controlled,

said master node comprising means for transmitting a first message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to provide an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected for control of said first device,

said first slave node comprising means for transmitting a second message to said master node to indicate that said first slave node has been selected, and

said master node comprising means for transmitting a third message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected;

wherein said master node comprises sending a fourth message to said first slave node to indicate to said user a second device to be designated to be controlled.

39. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for controlling devices on a network, said method steps comprising the steps of:

designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;

providing in response to a first message received from said master node an indication at a plurality of slave nodes capable of being selected to control said device;

transmitting a second message from a selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to said master node to indicate selection of said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to control said device;

sending a third message from said master node to said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing said indication;

sending a fourth message from said master node to said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to display an indication of a second device to be designated to be controlled.

40. A method for controlling devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;

transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;

providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;

awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;

designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;

transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said first indication comprises an audible indication.

41. A method for controlling devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;

transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;

providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;

awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;

designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;

transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said confirmation is provided via a user input device for said master node.

42. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for controlling devices on a network, said method steps comprising the steps of:

designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;

transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;

providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;

awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;

designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;

transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said first indication comprises an audible indication.

43. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for controlling devices on a network, said method steps comprising the steps of:

designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;

transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;

providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;

awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;

designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;

transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said confirmation is provided via a user input device for said master node.

44. A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;

receiving at said master node said first identification message;

transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;

receiving at said first slave node said second message;

terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;

indicating functionality of wiring at said first slave node after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message.

45. A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;

receiving at said master node said first identification message;

transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;

receiving at said first slave node said second message;

terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;

wherein said first slave node rejects application level messages until said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message has occurred.

46. A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;

receiving at said master node said first identification message;

transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;

receiving at said first slave node said second message;

terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;

wherein said first identification message comprises device type information.

47. A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;

receiving at said master node said first identification message;

transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;

receiving at said first slave node said second message;

terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;

wherein said first identification message comprises device version information.

48. A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;

receiving at said master node said first identification message;

transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;

receiving at said first slave node said second message;

terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;

wherein said first identification message comprises device manufacturer information.

49. A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;

periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;

receiving at said master node said first identification message;

transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;

receiving at said first slave node said second message;

terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;

wherein said first slave node can be in one of a plurality of states, said plurality of states comprising;

a first state in which all messages transmitted by said first slave node are broadcast and any application messages received by said first slave node are ignored;

a second state in which all of said messages transmitted by said first slave node are directed specifically to said master node and any of said application messages received by said first slave node are ignored;

a third state in which all of said messages transmitted by said first slave node are directed specifically to said master node and any of said application messages received by said first slave node are processed by said first slave node.

50. A network controller coupled to a network comprising:

memory for storing data representative of capabilities of each of a plurality of devices coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device and a second device;

a processor coupled to said memory for establishing bindings between said data of said first device and said data of said second device;

a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving incoming signals from said first device, said processor modifying said data in response to said incoming signals, wherein said incoming signals are representative of a state of said first device;

a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting outgoing signals to said second device in response to said data modified by said processor.

51. A network controller coupled to a network comprising:

memory for storing data representative of capabilities of each of a plurality of devices coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device and a second device;

a processor coupled to said memory for establishing bindings between said data of said first device and said data of said second device;

a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving incoming signals from said first device, said processor modifying said data in response to said incoming signals;

a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting outgoing signals to said second device in response to said data modified by said processor, wherein said outgoing signals control a state of said second device.

52. A network controller coupled to a network comprising:

memory for storing data representative of capabilities of each of a plurality of devices coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device and a second device;

a processor coupled to said memory for establishing bindings between said data of said first device and said data of said second device;

a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving incoming signals from said first device, said processor modifying said data in response to said incoming signals;

a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting outgoing signals to said second device in response to said data modified by said processor;

a display coupled to said processor for graphically displaying said data.

53. The network controller of claim 52 wherein said data are graphically displayed with unbound data segregated from bound data.

54. The network controller of claim 53 wherein said bindings are graphically displayed for said bound data.

55. The network controller of claim 54 wherein said unbound data may be graphically manipulated to initiate establishment of said bindings.