JPH09200229A - Radio network for house and building - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a house/building local area network(LAN) capable of controlling various electric equipments in a resident by using a prescribed radio network. SOLUTION: The LAN is constituted of plural home units 14 and a network manager. Each home unit 14 is provided with a communication device 16 for executing the communication of radio frequency waves by the use of the manager. The device 16 includes a 1st transceiver 18 and a device driver 20. The network manager is constituted of a personal computer 22 including an extended board 32, a display 28 and so on and the extended board 32 is provided with a 2nd transceiver 34 capable of executing communication with the 1st transceivers 18 of all communication devices 16 to transmit/receive an information signal such as a command in the LAN.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to wireless local area networks.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The concept of networking is evolving from wired (wired) networks to wireless networks. In a wired network, signals are sent over physical media such as copper wire or fiber optics.
Flow from one device to another. In wireless networks, signals travel over radio waves at radio frequencies.

[0003]

According to the wireless network,
It avoids two unsuitable features of wired networks. That is, in the case of a wireless network, it is not necessary to see the cable and the cost of installing the cable is unnecessary. Also, if it is a wireless network,
The devices in it are unconstrained and can move freely. The present invention takes advantage of the fact that the device is not bound to configure the wireless network to control multiple home units.

[0004]

A local area network according to the present invention includes a plurality of interface units having a plurality of home units, each having an electrical interface to the corresponding home unit, and a plurality of interface units. And a plurality of first RF transceivers, each of which is in electrical communication with a corresponding interface unit. Further, the network includes a second RF transceiver operative to communicate with the plurality of first RF transceivers and a processor programmed to generate commands to control and check the status of the home unit. And, including. This command is sent by the second transceiver to the plurality of interface units. In response to the command, the interface unit configures the corresponding home unit (configures = configures environment).

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a network manager 12,
1 illustrates a local area network 10 including various home units 14 such as various appliances and consumer electronic devices. Each home unit 14 is equipped with a communication device 16 that communicates over radio waves of radio frequency using the network manager 12. On the downlink frequency, the network manager 12 sends status and command frames to the home unit 14. Periodically, the network manager 12 sends a status frame for the purpose of accessing the functional status of the home unit 14. At times, network manager 12 sends command frames for the purpose of programming a particular home unit 14. On the uplink frequency, the home unit 14 sends bursts to the network manager 12 in response to status and command frames. The burst indicates the functional status of the household unit 14.

Each communication device 16 includes a first transceiver 18 and a device driver 20. The first transceiver 18 may be a simple ASIC with low input power, typically a few milliwatts. Ranges typically vary up to hundreds of feet. The device driver 20 is a programmable logic device configured to receive data from the electronic devices of the home unit 14. Both the first transceiver 18 and the device driver 20 carry current from the home unit power supply. The operation of the communication device 16 will be described below with reference to FIG.

The network manager 12 includes a microprocessor 24, a storage device such as a hard disk drive 26, a display 28, and a keyboard 30.
A personal computer 22 having a. The network manager 12 also includes an expansion board 32. The expansion board 32 is electrically connected to the microprocessor 24 and includes a second transceiver that communicates with all of the first transceivers 18 of the communication device 16. The expansion board 32 also includes a second transceiver 34
And a device driver 36 that provides an interface between the microprocessor 24 and the microprocessor 24.

By way of example, the home unit 14 includes a television, VCR, water heater, thermostat for an air conditioner, security system, oven, and the like. The network manager 12
Send a status frame to check the functionality of unit 14. The frame is simultaneously received by the TV set, VCR, water heater, air conditioner thermostat, security system and oven. Television sets, ovens and security systems respond with bursts that indicate whether they are on or off. Water heaters and thermostats respond with a burst indicating the temperature at which they are set. The VCR responds with a burst indicating the time and program that it is set to record.

The network manager 12 stores the desired settings for the home unit 14 and compares the conditions contained in each burst with the desired settings. When the television set is on, the network manager 12 sends a command frame to the television set to command it to turn off. If the room temperature is below what it should be, the network manager 12 sends another frame instructing the thermostat to switch off the air conditioner. If the VCR is programmed to record the "Simpsons", the network manager 12 sends yet another command to command the VCR to switch off.

FIG. 2 illustrates the steps performed by communication device 16 for home unit 14. The first transceiver 18 receives the frame (step 10
2) The device driver 20 divides the frame into a header part and a data part (step 104). The header portion indicates which home unit the frame is intended for. If the address in the header portion matches the address of the home unit 14 (step 106), the device driver 20 processes the data portion (step 108). If the data portion indicates that the frame is a status frame (step 110), the device driver 20 generates a burst indicating the source and status (eg, thermostat or room temperature setting) and the first transceiver 18 To send the burst on the uplink frequency (step 114). If the data portion indicates that the frame is a command frame (step 110), the device driver 20 sets the home unit 14 to the set state stored in the data portion, and the home unit 14 source And a new condition is generated (step 118) and the first transceiver 18 is instructed to send the burst on the uplink frequency (step 114).

FIG. 3 shows the steps performed by the network manager 12. The network manager 12 executes application programs stored on the hard disk drive 26. When the program starts, a menu is displayed on the display 28 (step 202). The menu is "at home",
Identify states such as “sleeping” and “on vacation”. The menu also specifies settings in various states for the home unit 14. Each state has its own default settings. Default settings are also stored on the computer's hard drive 26.

The user selects a state and reviews the displayed settings. If the user wishes to change the settings (step 204), an input is made via the keyboard 30. The new settings are received (step 20).
6) The settings on the menu are updated (step 20)
6). If the settings are satisfactory, the user either exits the program or the network manager 12
To control the home unit 14. When starting control, the network manager 12 sends a status frame to the home unit 14 (step 21).
2) Wait for a feedback burst (step 216).

Once the burst is received (step 218), each state therein is compared to the desired setting (step 220). For each home unit 14, if the state indicated in the burst matches the desired setting (step 222), the network manager 12 waits an interval and sends the next state frame (step 224). ).

If the condition indicated in the burst does not match the desired setting (step 222), the network manager 12 sends a command frame instructing the home unit 14 to change that setting (step 222). 226). After the command frame has been sent, the network manager 12 waits for a feedback burst indicating the new state of the unit 14 (step 228).

Referring again to FIG. 1, if the computer has a modem 38, the network manager 12 can connect to a wide area network. Wide area networks provide access to other local area networks in the vicinity. Wide area networks also provide connectivity to local police stations. The network manager 12 may contact the police station if the security system indicates an unauthorized entry through a window or door. If the home unit 14 does not respond to the status frame, the potential for intrusion is increased.

Thus, the network 10 for controlling the home unit 14 is disclosed. The home unit 14 can check its status and can also be programmed remotely. Moreover, all of the units 14 in the home can be conveniently programmed from a single source. The network 10 can also function as a home security system, providing a high level of security and reliability.

The embodiments described herein are merely examples, and many modifications and alterations of the present invention are possible with reference to the above disclosure. For example, the network 10
Can be used to control various units within an office building (complex) as well as those within a residence. The scope of the invention is therefore defined only by the appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network according to the present invention.

2 is a flow diagram of steps performed by a communication device forming part of the network shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of steps performed by a network manager that also forms part of the network shown in FIG.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor John Dern Aloha, Saratoga, California, USA 14725 (72) Inventor Sandeep Jagi Winton Way, San Jose, California 4089, USA

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A local for multiple home units.
In the area network, a plurality of interface units corresponding to the plurality of home units, each having an electrical interface to the corresponding home unit, and corresponding to the plurality of interface units, each of A plurality of first RF transceivers in electrical communication with corresponding interface units; a second RF transceiver operative to communicate with the plurality of first RF transceivers; A processor programmed to control and check the state of a unit, the command being transmitted by the second transceiver to the plurality of interface units, the interface unit responsive to the command. Its corresponding household A local area network characterized by including a processor forming a unit.