A networked lighting control system having the capability to identify problems within its own wireless network. The system includes a plurality of luminaire nodes. Each luminaire receives, via a wireless mesh network, a series of messages containing an output control indication. The indication represents a “delta” value, which the luminaire uses, for each received message, to generate a control signal to increase the light output of its lamp by a known amount. The luminaire transmits a series of messages containing the output control indication, wherein each transmitted message corresponds to each message that had been received by the luminaire. After a series of such “delta” messages have been originated and broadcast over the mesh network, the luminaires that failed to receive some of the messages will appear dimmer than the luminaires that received all, or more of, the messages, providing a visualization of signal propagation problems.
H04L 67/125 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks involving control of end-device applications over a network
A system of luminaires, which are connected to one another within a mesh network, and which interoperate in accordance with the disclosed method. A receiving luminaire receives a notification message from a second luminaire. The second luminaire can be the luminaire that originates a notification message as a result of sensing occupancy in its vicinity, or the luminaire can be an intermediary node that is relaying the notification message from another luminaire. The notification message comprises a first source address and a first light level. The receiving luminaire modifies a first light output of its lamp, wherein the first light output is based on: (i) the first light level, (ii) a distance between (a) the receiving luminaire and (b) a node corresponding to the first source address, and (iii) whether or not the first source address is a member of a first set of neighbor addresses.
A networked lighting control system having the capability to identify problems within its own wireless network. The system includes a plurality of luminaire nodes. Each luminaire receives, via a wireless mesh network, a series of messages containing an output control indication. The indication represents a “delta” value, which the luminaire uses, for each received message, to generate a control signal to increase the light output of its lamp by a known amount. The luminaire transmits a series of messages containing the output control indication, wherein each transmitted message corresponds to each message that had been received by the luminaire. After a series of such “delta” messages have been originated and broadcast over the mesh network, the luminaires that failed to receive some of the messages will appear dimmer than the luminaires that received all, or more of, the messages, providing a visualization of signal propagation problems.
H04L 67/125 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks involving control of end-device applications over a network
G16Y 10/35 - Utilities, e.g. electricity, gas or water
G16Y 20/20 - Information sensed or collected by the things relating to the thing itself
A technique for processing Bluetooth Mesh packets that comprise erroneous cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values. The disclosed mesh node receives packets, each of which comprising a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field. The PDU comprises an AD Data field with multiple octets; the AD Data field itself comprises a Network Identifier (NID) field. After determining the value of the CRC field in a first packet to be invalid, and subject to further checks, the mesh node selects a selected set of one or more NID values, based on the validity of the value of the NID field in the first packet. The mesh node then processes at least some of the multiple octets in the AD Data field in the first packet in accordance with a set of network keys that hash to the one or more NID values in the selected set.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
H04W 12/037 - Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
5.
Networked Sensors Integrated with Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
A system of networked occupancy sensors and a thermostat that is controlled using data from the sensors. In a data network of occupancy sensors, the sensors (i) sense occupancy in a first space, such as a room within a building, and (ii) transmit data packets. Each of the data packets comprises an indication whose value is based in part on whether occupancy is sensed or not in the first space. The thermostat is situated in the first space and provides a control signal on an output line for controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), based on the temperature sensed by the thermostat. A controller unit comprises (i) a radio transceiver, capable of receiving the data packets, and (ii) a processor. The processor modifies the control signal on the output line of the thermostat, based in part on the value of the indication in the packets from the occupancy sensors.
A commissioning system and method that applies a design configuration, representative of a building automation and control system, to a mesh network of network-capable devices. A cloud-based server system works in concert with an installing device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to apply the relevant configuration of scenarios and spaces, as defined in the design configuration during a design phase, to each mesh node in the mesh network. The commissioning system first transforms the defined scenarios and spaces, which essentially represent a logical configuration of the building automation and control system, into a network-centric configuration. Then, the system decomposes the network-centric configuration into a physical configuration of each mesh node, resulting in a set of parameters for each mesh node. The commissioning system then transmits the set of parameters, including one or more group addresses, to the applicable mesh node, for each affected mesh node in the network
A system and method involving actor nodes within a building that is being controlled, to be subscribed to a set of addresses, including one or more addresses that are representative of one or more respective spaces within the building being controlled. Such addresses are referred to as “space addresses.” Each of the actor nodes acts upon received data packets only if a space address is received along with the data packets and the actor node has been subscribed to the space address. Concurrently, one or more sensor nodes in the system are configurable to transmit the one or more space addresses and the data packets. A user device in the system receives commands from a user via a user interface and transmits a set of signals such that the actor nodes are subscribed to the appropriate space addresses and the sensor nodes are configured to transmit the space addresses.
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
H04W 4/38 - Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for collecting sensor information
H04W 4/33 - Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
H04L 67/125 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks involving control of end-device applications over a network
H04L 67/12 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
8.
System and method for processing of private beacons in a mesh network
A mesh device for receiving and processing a private beacon message, which can be represented by one or more Bluetooth Low Energy mesh packets. Upon receiving the private beacon message, the mesh device decrypts a first portion of the private beacon by using a first encryption key corresponding to a first subnet, wherein the first portion comprises an initialization vector (IV), in the form of an index or other indicator. The decrypting using the first encryption key results in a first decrypted value for the IV index. The mesh device then determines whether the first decrypted value for the IV index is valid or invalid. If the mesh device determines the first decrypted value to be valid, the mesh device proceeds with authenticating the data contained in the private beacon message.
H04W 12/03 - Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
H04W 12/037 - Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
H04W 40/24 - Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
A distributed control system, comprising a data network with a plurality of controller nodes that maintain and share their internal states with one another. The controller nodes can be luminaires that are capable of controlling the ambient lighting within a building area. There are one or more ambient light sensors within the data network for sensing and reporting the ambient light level. The controller luminaire nodes are members of a defined group of nodes that share, with one another, information for synchronizing their internal states, based in part on the ambient light levels that the one or more sensors are reporting. Meanwhile, each luminaire node also continually updates its own internal state based on the synchronization data received from the other nodes.
A configurable light sensor comprising an array of photocells. The light sensor measures ambient light reflected from a surface in area to be monitored. A lens directs the light onto the array of photocells. A microcontroller reads each individual photocell and processes the signals from the photocells according to one or more of the methods disclosed herein. The light sensor is configurable in that the area that monitored by the light sensor is customized to match the area lit by an associated light source. The configuring process defines an active area to be monitored, by determining which subset of photocells in the array, referred to as the active set of photocells, corresponds to the area being illuminated by the light fixture. The light sensor is subsequently able to monitor the defined active area and to report sensor output values based on measurements made from the photocells monitoring the active area.
A method for discovering the topology of a connected lighting system. The method comprises: receiving a first measurement of a first light source in relation to a first sensor; receiving a second measurement of the first light source in relation to a second sensor; generating a first estimate of the position of the first light source, based on a first angle at the first sensor between (i) a first direction toward a current light source position and (ii) a second direction defined by the first measurement; generating a second estimate of the position of the first light source, based on a second angle at the second sensor between (i) a third direction toward the current light source position and (ii) a fourth direction defined by the second measurement; and generating an updated light source position of the first light source based on the first and second estimates.
G01J 1/06 - Restricting the angle of incident light
H05B 47/11 - Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
12.
System and method for space-driven building automation and control, including a network node comprising a sensor unit and an output unit and subscribed to an address that is representative of a space
A system and method involving actor nodes within a building that is being controlled, to be subscribed to a set of addresses, including one or more addresses that are representative of one or more respective spaces within the building being controlled. Such addresses are referred to as “space addresses.” Each of the actor nodes acts upon received data packets only if a space address is received along with the data packets and the actor node has been subscribed to the space address. Concurrently, one or more sensor nodes in the system are configurable to transmit the one or more space addresses and the data packets. A user device in the system receives commands from a user via a user interface and transmits a set of signals such that the actor nodes are subscribed to the appropriate space addresses and the sensor nodes are configured to transmit the space addresses.
A commissioning system and method that applies a design configuration, representative of a building automation and control system, to a mesh network of network-capable devices. A cloud-based server system works in concert with an installing device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to apply the relevant configuration of scenarios and spaces, as defined in the design configuration during a design phase, to each mesh node in the mesh network. The commissioning system first transforms the defined scenarios and spaces, which essentially represent a logical configuration of the building automation and control system, into a network-centric configuration. Then, the system decomposes the network-centric configuration into a physical configuration of each mesh node, resulting in a set of parameters for each mesh node. The commissioning system then transmits the set of parameters, including one or more group addresses, to the applicable mesh node, for each affected mesh node in the network.
H05B 47/19 - Controlling the light source by remote control via wireless transmission
H04L 12/24 - Arrangements for maintenance or administration
14.
System and method for space-driven building automation and control including an actor node subscribed to an address that is representative of a space within a building
A system and method involving actor nodes within a building that is being controlled, to be subscribed to a set of addresses, including one or more addresses that are representative of one or more respective spaces within the building being controlled. Such addresses are referred to as “space addresses.” Each of the actor nodes acts upon received data packets only if a space address is received along with the data packets and the actor node has been subscribed to the space address. Concurrently, one or more sensor nodes in the system are configurable to transmit the one or more space addresses and the data packets. A user device in the system receives commands from a user via a user interface and transmits a set of signals such that the actor nodes are subscribed to the appropriate space addresses and the sensor nodes are configured to transmit the space addresses.
A commissioning system and method that applies a design configuration, representative of a building automation and control system, to a mesh network of network-capable devices. A cloud-based server system works in concert with an installing device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to apply the relevant configuration of scenarios and spaces, as defined in the design configuration during a design phase, to each mesh node in the mesh network. The commissioning system first transforms the defined scenarios and spaces, which essentially represent a logical configuration of the building automation and control system, into a network-centric configuration. Then, the system decomposes the network-centric configuration into a physical configuration of each mesh node, resulting in a set of parameters for each mesh node. The commissioning system then transmits the set of parameters, including one or more group addresses, to the applicable mesh node, for each affected mesh node in the network.
A system of luminaires, which are connected to one another within a mesh network, and which interoperate in accordance with the disclosed method. Each luminaire in the mesh network is capable of originating a notification message whenever one of a predefined set of state changes is detected by the luminaire's controller. Also, a given type of state change might correlate to more than one type of event having occurred. For example, a particular type of state change can be attributed to any of i) a sensing of occupancy in the vicinity of the luminaire, ii) manual actuation of a light switch, iii) a timer going off, and iv) an external command being received. The luminaire's controller is also capable of receiving and processing notification messages originated by other luminaires, and of relaying, to other luminaires in the mesh network, information from received notification messages.
A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables.
An automation system that does not require any of the source node devices transmitting packets of information to have knowledge of the recipients of those packets. The automation system comprises sensor nodes and actor nodes. The sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network based on conditions that are sensed by the sensors, such as a button being pushed, motion being detected, or the current ambient light level. The actor nodes detect the information that is transmitted over the wireless network and control their device functions, such as lighting and climate control, based on the information detected. In particular, the actor nodes monitor the network for packets that contain information that is relevant to each node, such as one or more sensor node source addresses previously configured to be of interest to each actor node and which are used in the decision-making that is performed by each actor node.
A motorized system that allows for calibration by a user, and that features circuit protection and detection of motor stoppage. A motorized window-blind system is an example of such a system and is disclosed herein. In particular, a circuit is featured that comprises a TRIAC, or “triode for alternating current,” and TVS diodes, or “transient-voltage-suppression diodes,” providing voltage protection to various types of motor-related electronic components. A controller is disclosed that features measurement of voltage that is induced on a secondary winding of a motor, in order to detect certain events that occur during the operation of the motor. A calibration method is also disclosed that can account for one or both of the protection circuit and event-detecting controller. The calibration method accounts for human interaction and, in doing so, is intended toward making a calibration process of a motorized household system less prone to human error.
G05G 5/00 - Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member
E06B 9/68 - Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
G05D 3/10 - Control of position or direction without using feedback
H02P 25/04 - Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
H02P 23/24 - Controlling the direction, e.g. clockwise or counterclockwise
20.
System and method for space-driven building automation and control including actor nodes subscribed to a set of addresses including addresses that are representative of spaces within a building to be controlled
A system and method involving actor nodes within a building that is being controlled, to be subscribed to a set of addresses, including one or more addresses that are representative of one or more respective spaces within the building being controlled. Such addresses are referred to as “space addresses.” Each of the actor nodes acts upon received data packets only if a space address is received along with the data packets and the actor node has been subscribed to the space address. Concurrently, one or more sensor nodes in the system are configurable to transmit the one or more space addresses and the data packets. A user device in the system receives commands from a user via a user interface and transmits a set of signals such that the actor nodes are subscribed to the appropriate space addresses and the sensor nodes are configured to transmit the space addresses.
An automation system without any of the devices in the system being required to have knowledge of each other or of the topology of the network. The automation system comprises sensor nodes and actor nodes. The sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network based on changes that are sensed by the sensors, such as a button being pushed or motion being detected. The actor nodes detect the information that is transmitted over the wireless network and control appliance functions based on the information detected. After the sensor and actor nodes are initialized, the sensor nodes transmit packets into the network based on changes that are detected in their environment. Meanwhile, the actor nodes monitor the network for packets that contain information of scenes that are relevant to each node. Based on the information contained in each such packet, the node acts on the information by controlling its appliance function.
An automation system without any of the devices in the system being required to have knowledge of each other or of the topology of the network. The automation system comprises sensor nodes and actor nodes. The sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network based on changes that are sensed by the sensors, such as a button being pushed or motion being detected. The actor nodes detect the information that is transmitted over the wireless network and control appliance functions based on the information detected. After the sensor and actor nodes are initialized, the sensor nodes transmit packets into the network based on changes that are detected in their environment. Meanwhile, the actor nodes monitor the network for packets that contain information of scenes that are relevant to each node. Based on the information contained in each such packet, the node acts on the information by controlling its appliance function.
A motorized system that allows for calibration by a user, and that features circuit protection and detection of motor stoppage. A motorized window-blind system is an example of such a system and is disclosed herein. In particular, a circuit is featured that comprises a TRIAC, or “triode for alternating current,” and TVS diodes, or “transient-voltage-suppression diodes,” providing voltage protection to various types of motor-related electronic components. A controller is disclosed that features measurement of voltage that is induced on a secondary winding of a motor, in order to detect certain events that occur during the operation of the motor. A calibration method is also disclosed that can account for one or both of the protection circuit and event-detecting controller. The calibration method accounts for human interaction and, in doing so, is intended toward making a calibration process of a motorized household system less prone to human error.
The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.
H04L 9/30 - Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert and users' encryption keys not requiring secrecy
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.
H04L 9/30 - Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert and users' encryption keys not requiring secrecy
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
A monitoring device for use in an automation system, such as for a home, warehouse, or any type of structure. The monitoring device includes sensors, a processor, and a transmitter. Using its sensors, the monitoring device is capable of acquiring data about itself and/or its environment. That data is used by the monitoring device and/or a central controller to generate a request for an actor, such as lighting, an HVAC system, motorized drapes, a home entertainment system, other home systems, or appliances, to change its state.
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
G05D 23/19 - Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
G05D 25/00 - Control of light, e.g. intensity, colour or phase
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
G08C 23/04 - Non-electric signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using light waves, e.g. infrared
H04Q 9/00 - 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
27.
Automation and control system with context awareness
An automation system is disclosed in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each sensor device that is relevant to the environment being controlled. Each sensor device monitors a particular physical condition, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition, which is made available to the system controller. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when a sensor device reported a particular state of the condition that the sensor monitors. By considering the information reported by the various and multiple sensor devices, as well as by accounting for the memorized states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to generate and continually update a representation of the state of the controlled environment. Having such context awareness enables the design and implementation of sophisticated reasoning logic and conditional logic.
A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables.
patents
