Method for triggered activation of an actuator

• US 9,954,692 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sigma Designs Incorporated
• Inventors: Brandt, Anders T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRIAN E
• Application Number:
  US15/268,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20170005819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/06 Deflection routing, e.g. hot-potato routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 : where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/00 : Network data management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling devices, including controller and actuators are disclosed. Actuators may be devices where remote control of the device or devices is convenient, such as lights, window shades, fans and similar items. In one method, a user sends a command to a controller and to an actuator. The controller also sends a proxy update to a second controller that is also in communication with the actuator. The proxy controller, also in contact with the actuator, now has knowledge of the state or position of the actuator and is in a better position if the proxy controller is asked to assume control of the actuator. In another method, an actuator or controller may also receive a trigger setup, asking the actuator to tell the controller when an action occurs, but not to take action until receiving a further command from the controller.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an actuator, the method comprising;

sending a trigger setup command from a controller to at least one actuator of a plurality of actuators;

receiving an indication of an occurrence of a trigger at the at least one actuator;

sending a message from the actuator to the controller requesting a trigger command from the controller;

failing to receive the trigger command from the controller within a period of time; and

executing a predetermined command by the actuator after the period of time has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is initiated by a switch action.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time is 5 seconds or less.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of actuators, of which at least one actuator is selected from the group consisting of a lamp, a fan, an air conditioner and a shade.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the trigger setup command to at least one additional actuator or at least one additional controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional controller is in communication with the actuator and the at least one additional actuator, and wherein the step of sending the message to the controller requesting the trigger command comprises sending the message to the controller and the additional controller requesting the trigger command.

7. A method for controlling an actuator, the method comprising:

sending a command from a controller to an actuator;

sending a confirmation message from the actuator to the controller confirming receipt of the command;

receiving a switch action at the actuator;

sending a message to the controller requesting a command from the controller;

failing to receive the command from the controller within a period of time; and

executing a predetermined command by the actuator after the period of time has elapsed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of actuators, of which at least one actuator is selected from the group consisting of a lamp, a fan, an air conditioner and a shade.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the period of time is 5 seconds or less.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending the command to at least one additional actuator or at least one additional controller.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional controller is in communication with the actuator and the at least one additional actuator, and wherein the step of sending the message to the controller requesting the command comprises sending the message to the controller and the additional controller requesting the command.