Radio frequency multiple protocol bridge

• US 7,778,262 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand Home Systems Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Vantage Controls, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Beagley, James J., Taylor, Peter L., Lemke, Jared T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Irace; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/634,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 370501-503, 370/401, 370/480, 370/573
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus for interfacing with devices using different communication protocols. The apparatus may scan a range of known frequencies for a communication protocol. The apparatus may decode and translate the communication protocol into a common interface language. The apparatus may include a pair of separate and co-located transceivers to accomplish the interface.

Claims

1. An interfacing apparatus comprising:

a scanning module configured to scan a predetermined range of communication protocols associated with a plurality of devices;

a send/receive module configured to sending and receive distinct communication protocols associated with the plurality of devices, each distinct communication protocol including a communication packets containing information;

a decoding module configured to decode;

(i) each received distinct communication protocol and (ii) the information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded distinct communication protocol;

and a conversion module configured to convert;

(i) a each decoded distinct communication protocol, and (ii) the decoded information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded distinct communication protocol, into at least one of another distinct communication protocol and a common interface language as required by a recipient device;

a weighting module adapted and programmed to calculate and limit the amount of distinct communication protocols to be scanned for by the scanning module;

wherein the weighting module limits the amount of communication protocols to be scanned for by the scanning module by weighting each distinct communication protocol based on at least one of;

(i) the amount of time required for the scanning module to lock onto a signal on a distinct communication protocol, (ii) the number of times a signal on a distinct communication protocol is repeated, and (iii) the speed of a signal on a distinct communication protocol.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handshake module configured to establish a communication path with a controller so that a communication packet sent by the send/receive module and received by the controller is acknowledged by the controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded distinct communication protocols from a first device is status or command information associated with the first device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded distinct communication protocols from a first device is proprietary information to the manufacturer of the first device.

5. A system for interfacing between devices, comprising:

a primary radio frequency interface configured to send and receive signals using a common interface language;

a secondary radio frequency interface configured to;

(i) scan a predetermined range of communication protocols associated with at least a first device and a second device, and (ii) send and receive distinct communication protocols associated at least with the first device and the second device, each distinct communication protocol including a communication packet containing information;

a first device in communication with the primary and secondary radio frequency interfaces, the first device adapted to transmit and receive a first communication protocol, each first communication protocol including a communication packet containing information;

a second device in communication with the primary and secondary radio frequency interfaces, the second device adapted to transmit and receive a second communication protocol, each second communication protocol including a communication packet containing information;

at least a first decoding module configured to decode at least;

(i) each received first communication protocol, and (ii) the information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded first communication protocol; and

at least a first conversion module configured to convert at least;

(i) each decoded first communication protocol, and (ii) the decoded information contained in the communication;

comprising a weighting module adapted and programmed to calculate and limit the amount of communication protocols to be scanned for by the secondary radio frequency interface;

wherein the weighting module limits the amount of communication protocols to be scanned for by the secondary radio frequency interface by weighting each communication protocol based on at least one of;

(i) the amount of time required for the secondary radio frequency interface to lock onto a signal on a distinct communication protocol, (ii) the number of times a signal on a distinct communication protocol is repeated, and (iii) the speed of a signal on a distinct communication protocol.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising at least one contact input in communication with the first device, the at least one contact input configured to detect a momentary switch closure.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising at least one relay in communication with the first device, the at least one relay configured to be activated to emulate a contact switch closure.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising a display, the display configured to facilitate use of the primary and secondary radio frequency interfaces by a user.

9. The system of claim 5 further comprising at least a second decoding module configured to decode at least:

(i) each received second communication protocol, and (ii) the information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded second communication protocol; and

at least a second conversion module configured to convert at least;

(i) each decoded second communication protocol, and (ii) the decoded information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded second communication protocol, into at least one of the first communication protocol and the common interface language to allow communication between the second device and the first device.

10. The system of claim 5 further comprising a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna associated with the primary radio interface and the second antenna associated with the secondary radio interface.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the primary radio interface and the secondary radio interface operate on different frequencies.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded first communication protocols from the first device is status or command information associated with the first device.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded first communication protocols from the first device is proprietary information to the manufacturer of the first device.

14. A system for interfacing between radio devices, the system comprising:

a processor;

a radio interface;

an antenna;

a transceiver;

a controller;

a memory containing modules for execution on the processor, the modules including;

i) a scanning module configured to scan a predetermined range of communication protocols associated with a plurality of devices;

(ii) a send/receive module configured to send and receive distinct communication protocols associated with the plurality of devices, each distinct communication protocol including a communication packet containing information;

(iii) a decoding module configured to decode;

(a) each received distinct communication protocol, and (b) the information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded distinct communication protocol;

iv) a conversion module configured to convert;

(a) each decoded distinct communication protocol, and (b) the decoded information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded distinct communication protocol, into at least one of another distinct communication protocol and a common interface language as required by a recipient device;

v) a handshake module configured to establish a communication path with the controller so that a communication packet sent by the send/receive module and received by the controller is acknowledged by the controller;

and a bus configured to operably connect the processor antenna, transceiver, radio interface, and memory;

a weighting module adapted and programmed to calculate and limit the amount of distinct communication protocols to be scanned for by the scanning module;

wherein the weighting module limits the amount of communication protocols to be scanned for by the scanning module by weighting each distinct communication protocol based on at least one of;

(i) the amount of time required for the scanning module to lock onto a signal on a distinct communication protocol. (ii) the number of times a signal on a distinct communication protocol is repeated, and (iii) the speed of a signal on a distinct communication protocol.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded distinct communication protocols from a first device is status or command information associated with the first device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded distinct communication protocols from a first device is proprietary information to the manufacturer of the first device.

17. A system for interfacing between devices comprising:

a processor;

a memory containing modules for execution on the processor, the modules including;

(i) a scanning module configured to scan a predetermined range of communication protocols associated with a plurality of devices;

(ii) a weighting module adapted and programmed to calculate and limit the amount of distinct communication protocols to be scanned for by the scanning module;

(iii) a send/receive module configured to send and receive distinct communication protocols associated with the plurality of devices, each distinct communication protocol including a communication packet containing information;

(iv) a decoding module configured to decode;

(a) each received distinct communication protocol, and (b) the information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded distinct communication protocol;

(v) a conversion module configured to convert;

(a) each decoded distinct communication protocol, and (b) the decoded information contained in the communication packet associated with that received and decoded distinct communication protocol, into at least one of another distinct communication protocol and a common interface language as required by a recipient device; and

wherein the weighting module limits the amount of communication protocols to be scanned for by the scanning module by weighting each distinct communication protocol based on at least one of;

(i) the amount of time required for the scanning module to lock onto a signal on a distinct communication protocol, (ii) the number of times a signal on a distinct communication protocol is repeated, and (iii) the speed of a signal on a distinct communication protocol.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded distinct communication protocols from a first device is status or command information associated with the first device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the information contained in the communication packet of at least one of the received and decoded distinct communication protocols from a first device is proprietary information to the manufacturer of the first device.