Transducer access point

• US 7,826,906 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Deleeuw, William C., Kushalnagar, Nandakishore, Welles, Devon M., Gough, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman; Sean P
• Application Number:
  US11/590,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 700/1, 700/2, 700/3, 700/9, 700/10, 700/19, 700275-277, 700/282, 700/284, 700/286, 719/311, 719317-324, 719/310, 718/1, 718/100, 705/15, 709/200, 709/208, 709220-222, 709/224, 709230-232, 709/236, 709/237, 315/297, 315/307, 315/308, 315/321
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for exposing (i.e. bridging) data and services offered by low power, low duty cycle transducers (e.g. sensors and actuators) in a standardized format over existing and established home networking technologies. A transducer access point is a functional component that serves as a proxy for health devices and sensors that are off/asleep the majority of the time to conserver power (e.g. battery life). The transducer access point may be implemented as a stand alone device or embedded within a computing device such as a home PC.

Claims

1. A network for bridging data and services, comprising:

a plurality of transducer devices accessible via the network through a first network protocol;

a transducer access device configured with a plurality of technology protocols to discover the plurality of transducer devices, and associate a virtual transducer device for each of the plurality of transducer devices discovered, wherein the transducer access device is configured to communicate with the plurality of transducers devices through the first network protocol; and

a plurality of control devices configured to control the plurality of transducer devices via the transducer access device, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to communicate with the transducer access device and control the plurality of transducers devices through a second network protocol that is different than the first network protocol, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to subscribe to receive event notifications from the transducer device discovered by the transducer access device, determine activities occurring on the network as a result of an event on the transducer device, and initiate an action based on the determined activities,

wherein the activities occurring on the network include an emergency related to an individual as determined by the plurality of transducer devices, the transducer access device, or both.

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducer devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth device, a device operating using a Zigee protocol, a WiFi device and a Z-Wave device.

3. The network according to claim 1, wherein the transducer access device is part of a computing device.

4. The network according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducer devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a blood pressure monitor, a scale, a sensor and a bed.

5. The network according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of control devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer, a television, a mobile device and a mirror.

6. The network according to claim 1, wherein the transducer access device is configured to send out advertisements, respond to searches by the plurality of control devices and maintain a state of the plurality of transducer devices.

7. The network according to claim 1, wherein the transducer access device comprises an inference engine.

8. The network of claim 1, further comprising discovering the plurality of transducer devices and determining an inference based on data from the plurality of transducer devices.

9. The network of claim 1, wherein the action includes transmitting a message to an emergency service center, the plurality of control devices, or both.

10. The network of claim 1, wherein the transducer access device serves as a functional block wherein the virtual transducer device is located in the network.

18. The network according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a light level sensor, a pressure sensor and a presence sensor.

11. A device comprising a transducer access device configured to communicate with a plurality of transducer devices accessible via a network through a first network protocol and configured to communicate a plurality of control devices configured to control the plurality of transducer devices via the transducer access device, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to communicate with the transducer access device and control the plurality of transducers devices through a second network protocol that is different than the first network protocol, and

wherein the transducer access device is configured with a plurality of technology protocols to discover the plurality of transducer devices, and associate a virtual transducer device for each of the plurality of transducer devices discovered, wherein the transducer access device is configured to communicate with the plurality of transducers devices through the first network protocol,

wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to subscribe to receive event notifications from the transducer device discovered by the transducer access device, determine activities occurring on the network as a result of an event on the transducer device, and initiate an action based on the determined activities,

wherein the activities occurring on the network include an emergency related to an individual as determined by the plurality of transducer devices, the transducer access device, or both.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of transducer devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth device, a device operating using a Zigee protocol, a WiFi device and a Z-Wave device.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the transducer access device is part of a computing device.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of transducer devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a blood pressure monitor, a scale, a sensor and a bed.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises a plurality of virtual transducer devices associated with each of the plurality of transducer devices.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein plurality of virtual transducer devices communicate with a plurality of control devices in a network.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of control devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer, a television, a mobile device and a mirror.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a light level sensor, a pressure sensor and a presence sensor.