Configuring a plurality of sensor devices of a structure

• US 9,618,915 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Ericsson, Bo E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Van
• Application Number:
  US14/246,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,102 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatuses for commissioning a set of devices of a structure are disclosed. One method includes communicating, by a mobile computing device, with one or more of the set of devices, communicating, by each of the one or more of the set of devices, a device identifier, and placing each of the one or more of the set of devices on a floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device. One system includes a plurality of sensor units and a mobile device. The system further includes a processor operative to place each of the one or more of the plurality of sensor units on a floor plan of a structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device.

Claims

1. A method of commissioning a set of fixed devices of a structure, comprising:

communicating through a communication channel, by a radio of the mobile computing device, with one or more of the set of fixed devices, wherein the set of fixed devices each have a fixed location within the structure;

stimulating, by the mobile communication device, a sensor of the one or more of the set of fixed devices;

communicating through the communication channel, by each of the one or more of the set of fixed devices, a device identifier upon the sensor of the one or more of the set of fixed devices having been stimulated by the mobile communication device; and

placing each of the one or more of the set of fixed devices on a floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the one or more of the set of fixed devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity dependent information allows an estimation of a proximate location of the one or more of the set of fixed devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity dependent information is communicated by each of the one or more of the set of fixed devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity dependent information is communicated by the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a backend server receives the communicating, by each of the one or more of the set of fixed devices, the device identifier, and the backend server places each of the one or more of the set of fixed devices on the floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the fixed device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

loading the floor plan to the mobile computing device, wherein the floor plan is associated with the structure;

wherein the communicating, by each of the one or more of the set of fixed devices, the device identifier includes communication back to the mobile computing device the device identifier and proximity dependent information, wherein the proximity dependent information allows the mobile computing device to an estimate a proximate location of the each of the one or more of the fixed devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a power metering device of the one or more of the set of fixed devices.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein stimulating the sensor comprises loading the power metering device with a particular type of load.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a PIR sensor, an ambient sensor or a temperature sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an RGB (red, green and blue) ambient sensor, and the communicating, by a mobile computing device, with one or more of the set of fixed devices comprises the mobile computing device stimulating RGB ambient sensor with a particular color of emitted light.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the set of fixed devices includes at least one of a lighting fixture, a power receptacle, a power junction box, an environmental control unit, or a sensor utilized for lighting or environmental control.

12. A system, comprising:

a plurality of fixed sensor units;

a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is operative to communicate through a communication channel with one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units, wherein the plurality of fixed sensor units each have a fixed location within the structure;

wherein upon a sensor of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units receiving stimulation from the mobile device, the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units communicate a device identifier through the communication channel after receiving the stimulation from the mobile device; and

a processor operative to place each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units on a floor plan of a structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile device includes the processor, and wherein the mobile device is further operative to:

receive the floor plan;

receive the device identifier from the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units; and

place each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units on the floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a backend server includes the processor, and wherein the backend server is operative to:

receive the device identifier from the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units; and

place each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units on the floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the proximity dependent information allows an estimation of a proximate location of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the proximity dependent information is communicated by each of the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the proximity dependent information is communicated by the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor includes a power metering device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensor receiving stimulation comprises loading the power metering device with a particular type of load.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a PIR sensor, an ambient sensor or a temperature sensor.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more of the plurality of fixed sensor units includes at least one of a lighting fixture, a power receptacle, a power junction box, an environmental control unit, or a sensor utilized for lighting or environmental control.