WO2018036642A1

WO2018036642A1 - Linking of a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device

Info

Publication number: WO2018036642A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080728
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arne BRÖRING; Andreas Kornbichler; Alejandro Ramirez
Original assignee: Siemens AG; Siemens Corp
Current assignee: Siemens AG; Siemens Corp
Priority date: 2016-08-24
Filing date: 2016-12-13
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-24

Abstract

Linking of a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device Linking of a radio transmitting switch and a physical device which comprises a radio transmitting switch, a plurality of radio receiving devices, each radio receiving device being associated with one of a plurality of physical devices, and a computing unit, which is adapted to communicate with the plurality of radio receiving devices, wherein the computing unit is adapted to receive an activation signal for linking the radio transmitting switch with one of the plurality of physical devices, to select the radio receiving device, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch, and to link the radio transmitting switch and the physical device being associated with the selected radio receiving device, and wherein the radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the physical device being associated with the selected radio receiving device after the linking. Thus, it is possible to avoid a manual configuration of each switch by automating the linking process through a location-based service.

Description

Linking of a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device

The present invention relates to a building automation system. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for linking a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device. Today, wireless switches are becoming more and more popular. Particularly useful are battery-free wireless switches, which harvest their energy, for example, from a piezoelectric ef^¬ fect. Within such systems, a switch acts as a radio transmit^¬ ter that communicates either directly with a linked device (acting as radio receiver) , or it communicates indirectly with the linked devices, namely through a radio transceiver.

In known systems, the linking of wireless switches with de^¬ vices is performed through a manual configuration process. For example, in case of linking a switch to a transceiver module, a "teach-in" procedure has to be followed, that con^¬ sists of multiple steps in which the transmitter is associat^¬ ed to a channel offered by the transceiver. The different steps of this "teach-in" protocol are initiated through pressing buttons or contacting pins. Due to the manual aspect in this process of linking radio transmitting wireless switches with radio-receiving electrical devices, this pro^¬ cess can be difficult and even error-prone. According to a known approach, configuration software can be be utilized during engineering time to configure the linkage of different devices. However, utilizing such software still requires an engineer to manually configure the linking. It is one object of the present invention to provide a sim^¬ plified and automated way of linking a switch to a receiving device . Accordingly, a building automation system is suggested in a first aspect, which comprises a radio transmitting switch, a plurality of radio receiving devices, each radio receiving device being associated with one of a plurality of physical devices, and a computing unit, which is adapted to communi^¬ cate with the plurality of radio receiving devices. The com^¬ puting unit is adapted to receive an activation signal for linking the radio transmitting switch with one of the plurality of physical devices, to select the radio receiving de- vice, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch, and to link the radio transmitting switch and the physical device being asso^¬ ciated with the selected radio receiving device. The radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the physical device being associated with the selected radio receiving device af^¬ ter the linking.

The respective unit, e.g. the computing unit, may be imple^¬ mented in hardware and/or in software. If said unit is imple- mented in hardware, it may be embodied as a device, e.g. as a computer or as a processor or as a part of a system, e.g. a computer system. If said unit is implemented in software it may be embodied as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as a program code or as an executable object.

The radio transmitting switch may be a wireless switch which can output radio signals for communicating with the computing unit and/or the radio receiving devices. These radio signals can, at the same time, be used for linking with the physical device.

The building automation system enables an automatic linking of the wireless switch to control one or multiple controlled electric physical devices, which are associated with the ra- dio receiving devices. Thereby, a switch is here a component that can be operated by a human and that can communicate wirelessly via control commands with the radio receiving de^¬ vices and/or the computing unit. In order to configure the linking between the switch and the physical device, the computing unit selects one of the radio receiving devices and thus the associated physical device which is in a specified range to the radio transmitting switch. The locations of the device (s) in the building may be known by the system and may be stored in a database. An iden^¬ tified nearness of the switch to a device, i.e. when a radio receiving device is located in a specified range to the posi- tion of the switch, may initiate a linking between the switch and the physical device being associated with the radio re^¬ ceiving device.

Thus, with the building automation system it is possible to provide an easy way of connecting switches to radio receiving devices .

According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the building automation system further comprises a database for storing the linking between the radio transmitting switch and one of the physical devices.

In the database, also the positions of the radio receiving devices and/or physical devices may be stored.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the physical device is a lamp.

A physical device in this context is an electrical component that fulfils a specific purpose, e.g., a lamp. Linking of the switch and the phyiscal device means linking the switch and the physical device by associating these two so that the switch controls a specific functionality of the physical de^¬ vice. The radio receiving device may be part of the physical device or it can be a separate entity. According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the physical device via the associated radio receiving device. In this embodiment, the radio receiving devices may forward a control signal from the radio transmitting switch to the physical device.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the physical device via the computing unit.

In this embodiment, the computing unit may forward a control signal from the radio transmitting switch to the physical de- vice. The computing unit may communicate with the physical device in a wired or wireless manner, for example via a net^¬ work communication.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to send the activation signal to the computing unit.

The computing unit may start the linking procedure when re^¬ ceiving the activation signal directly from the radio trans- mitting switch. The activation signal may include information in view of a position of the physical device.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the computing unit is adapted to determine the position of the radio transmitting switch by signal processing of the radio waves of the activation signal.

This processing can be done by processing the emitted radio waves and determining a signal strength for example.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to send the activation signal to the plurality of radio receiving devices, and the plurality of radio receiving devices are adapted to forward the activation signal to the computing unit.

Thus, the building automation system may be notified by the radio receiving devices when a linking request or activation signal from the switch is received. The forwarded activation signal may also indicate the physical device and the radio transmitting switch to be linked. Receiving the linking request may initiate the linking pro^¬ cess. After receiving the linking request, the computing unit may then start to determine the radio receiving device being nearest to the switch. According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the computing unit is adapted to select the radio receiving de^¬ vice, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch by comparing the position of the radio transmitting switch and stored loca- tions of the plurality of radio receiving devices.

Thus, the nearest radio receiving device may be determined by comparing the location of the radio receiving devices, or a range for each location, with the position of the switch or a range around this position.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the computing unit is adapted to send a signal to the physical device being associated with the selected radio receiving de- vice for activating an accept mode of the physical device be^¬ ing associated with the selected radio receiving device.

For example, a user may press the switch down. Consequently, a linking request is transmitted. Then, the computing unit may determine the location of the switch. It determines a nearness of the switch to a lamp. After this, the computing unit may bring the lamp (or the radio receiving device of the lamp) into the accept mode. According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the physical device being associated with the selected radio re^¬ ceiving device is adapted to display an activated accept mode .

The activated accept mode may be displayed visually or as an audio signal. For example, it may be signalized through spe^¬ cific blinking of the lamp.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to confirm the linking to the physical device being associated with the selected ra^¬ dio receiving device by a control signal.

For example, a user may double click the switch to establish the link to the lamp. The lamp consequently leaves the accept mode. From now on, the user may press the switch down for controlling the lamp, e.g. switch it off and on.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to reject the linking to the physical device being associated with the selected radio receiving device by a control signal and to initiate a new linking.

If a wrong radio receiving device has been selected, the switch may reject the selected radio receiving device and may request a new one. Alternatively, the switch may request to switch to the next nearest radio receiving device.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the activation signal is one of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal and a Bluetooth signal.

For example, a short-range low-power radio frequency may be integrated in the switch for sending only linking. According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the selected radio receiving device and the associated physical device are integrated in one single unit. It should be noted that the radio transmitting switch may also control more than one radio receiving device at the same time. For example, multiple radio receiving devices may be linked to one switch and can be controlled separately. Alter^¬ natively, multiple radio receiving devices build one group and can be controlled as one device.

According to a second aspect, a method for linking a radio transmitting switch and a physical device in a building automation system is suggested, wherein the building automation system comprises a radio transmitting switch, a plurality of radio receiving devices, each radio receiving device being associated with one of a plurality of physical devices, and a computing unit, which is configured to communicate with the plurality of radio receiving devices. The method comprises the following steps: receiving, by the computing unit, an activation signal for linking the radio transmitting switch with one of the plurality of physical devices, selecting the radio receiving device, of which the location is in a speci^¬ fied range to the position of the radio transmitting switch, and linking the radio transmitting switch and the physical device being associated with the selected radio receiving de^¬ vice, wherein the radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the physical device being associated with the select^¬ ed radio receiving device after the linking.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a com^¬ puter program product comprising a program code for executing the above-described method of the second aspect for linking a radio transmitting switch and a physical device in a building automation system when run on at least one computer.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means, may be embodied as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD or as a file which may be downloaded from a server in a network. For example, such a file may be provided by transferring the file comprising the computer program product from a wireless communication network.

The embodiments and features described with reference to the system of the first aspect of the present invention apply mu^¬ tatis mutandis to the method of second aspect of the present invention .

According to a fourth aspect, a building automation system is suggested, which comprises a radio transmitting switch, a plurality of radio receiving devices, a database, in which the physical locations of the plurality of radio receiving devices are stored, and a computing unit, which is adapted to communicate via a network connection with the plurality of radio receiving devices. The computing unit is adapted to re^¬ ceive a radio signal from the radio transmitting switch, to determine a position of the radio transmitting switch, to se- lect, using the database, the radio receiving device, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch, and to link the radio trans^¬ mitting switch and the selected radio receiving device. The radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the selected radio receiving device after the linking.

The respective unit, e.g. the computing unit, may be imple^¬ mented in hardware and/or in software. If said unit is imple^¬ mented in hardware, it may be embodied as a device, e.g. as a computer or as a processor or as a part of a system, e.g. a computer system. If said unit is implemented in software it may be embodied as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as a program code or as an executable object. The radio transmitting switch may be a wireless switch which can output radio signals for controlling a radio receiving device. These radio signals can, at the same time, be used for linking with the radio receiving device. The building automation system enables an automatic linking of the wireless switch to control one or multiple controlled electric devices, which are associated with the radio receiv- ing devices. Thereby, a switch is here a component that can be operated by a human and that can communicate wirelessly via control commands with linked radio receiving devices.

In order to configure the linking between switch and de- vice(s), the computing unit determines the position of the switch based on the radio signal of the wireless switch. The locations of the device (s) in the building are assumed to be known by the system and are stored in the database. An iden^¬ tified nearness of the switch to a device, i.e. if a radio receiving device is located in a specified range to the posi^¬ tion of the switch, initiates a linking between the switch and the radio receiving device.

According to an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the radio receiving device is connected to a physical device, in par- ticular a lamp.

A physical device in this context is an electrical component that fulfils a specific purpose, e.g., a lamp. Linking of the switch and the radio receiving device means linking the switch and the physical device by associating these two so that the switch controls a specific functionality of the physical device. The radio receiving device may be part of the physical device or it can be a separate entity. According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the computing unit is adapted to determine the position of the radio transmitting switch by signal processing of the radio waves of the radio signal. This processing can be done by processing the emitted radio waves and determining a signal strength for example. According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to send a radio signal to the plurality of radio receiving devices, the radio signal including a linking request, and the computing unit is adapted to receive the information from the plurality of ra- dio receiving devices that a radio signal including a linking request is received.

Thus, the building automation system may be notified by the receivers when a linking request radio signal from the switch is received. Alternatively, the computing unit may receive the linking request directly from the switch.

According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the computing unit is adapted to determine the position of the radio transmitting switch after receiving the information from the plurality of radio receiving devices.

Thus, receiving the linking request initiates the linking process. After receiving the linking request, the computing unit may then start to determine the radio receiving device being nearest to the switch.

According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the computing unit is adapted to select the radio receiving de- vice, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch by comparing the position of the radio transmitting switch and the stored locations of the plurality of radio receiving devices. Thus, the nearest radio receiving device may be determined by comparing the location of the radio receiving devices, or a range for each location, with the position of the switch or a range around this position. According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the computing unit is adapted to send a signal to the selected radio receiving device for activating an accept mode of the selected radio receiving device.

For example, a user may press the switch down. Consequently, a linking request is transmitted. Then, the computing unit may determine the location of the switch. It determines a nearness of the switch to a lamp. After this, the computing unit may bring the lamp (or the radio receiving device of the lamp) into the accept mode

According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the selected radio receiving device is adapted to display an ac^¬ tivated accept mode.

The activated accept mode may be displayed visually or as au^¬ dio signal. For example, it may be signalized through specif- ic blinking of the lamp.

According to a further embodiment of the fourth aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to confirm the linking to the selected radio receiving device by a control signal.

According to an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the radio transmitting switch is adapted to reject the linking to the selected radio receiving device by a control signal and to initiate a new linking.

According to an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the radio signal is one of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal and a Bluetooth signal.

For example, a short-range low-power radio frequency may be integrated in the switch for sending only linking.

It should be noted that the radio transmitting switch may also control more than one radio receiving device at the same time. For example, multiple radio receiving devices may be linked to one switch and can be controlled separately. Alter- natively, multiple radio receiving devices build one group and can be controlled as one device.

According to a fifth aspect, a method for linking a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device in a build- ing automation system is suggested, wherein the building automation system comprises a radio transmitting switch, a plurality of radio receiving devices, a database, in which the physical locations of the plurality of radio receiving devic^¬ es are stored, and a computing unit, which is configured to communicate via a network connection with the plurality of radio receiving devices. The method comprises the following steps: receiving, by the computing unit, a radio signal from the radio transmitting switch, determining a position of the radio transmitting switch, selecting, using the database, the radio receiving device, of which the location is in a speci^¬ fied range to the position of the radio transmitting switch, and linking the radio transmitting switch and the selected radio receiving device, wherein the radio transmitting switch is adapted to control the selected radio receiving device af- ter the linking.

According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program product comprising a program code for executing the above-described method of the fifth aspect for linking a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device in a building automation system when run on at least one computer. A computer program product, such as a computer program means, may be embodied as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD or as a file which may be downloaded from a server in a network. For example, such a file may be provided by transferring the file comprising the computer program product from a wireless communication network.

The embodiments and features described with reference to the apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention apply mutatis mutandis to the method of the fifth ascpect of the present invention.

Further possible implementations or alternative solutions of the invention also encompass combinations - that are not ex^¬ plicitly mentioned herein - of features described above or below with regard to the embodiments. The person skilled in the art may also add individual or isolated aspects and fea^¬ tures to the most basic form of the invention.

Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent descrip^¬ tion and dependent claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an automation building system;

Fig. 2 shows a sequence of steps of a method for linking a radio transmitting switch and a radio receiving device in the building automation system of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the automation building system; and Fig. 4 shows a sequence of steps of a method for linking a radio transmitting switch and a physical device in the build^¬ ing automation system of Fig. 3. In the Figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.

Fig. 1 shows a building automation system 100. The building automation system 100 comprises a radio transmitting switch 10, a plurality of radio receiving devices 20 (one of these is shown in Fig. 1), and a computing unit 30.

The computing unit 30 may comprise a database 31 in which the physical locations of the plurality of radio receiving devic- es 20 are stored. Of course, the database 31 may also be lo^¬ cated external to the computing unit 30.

The computing unit 30 can communicate via a network connec^¬ tion with the plurality of radio receiving devices 20.

If the radio transmitting switch 10 wants to link to one of the radio receiving devices 20, it sends a radio signal to the computing unit 30 or to the radio receiving device 20, which transmits the radio signal to the computing unit 30.

After the computing unit 30 has received the radio signal from the radio transmitting switch 10, the computing unit 30 determines a position of the radio transmitting switch 10 and selects, using the database 31, the radio receiving device 20, of which the location is in a specified range to the po^¬ sition of the radio transmitting switch 10. Following to this selection, the computing unit 30 links the radio transmitting switch 10 and the selected radio receiving device 20. The determination of the position of the switch 10 may be performed in a position engine 32 of the computing unit. When the linking is completed, the radio transmitting switch 10 can control the selected radio receiving device 20.

Fig. 2 shows a method for linking a radio transmitting switch 10 and a radio receiving device 20 in a building automation system 100 as shown in Fig. 1. The method comprises the fol^¬ lowing steps.

In step 201, a radio signal is received, by the computing unit 30, from the radio transmitting switch 10.

In step 202, a position of the radio transmitting switch 10 is determined. In step 203, the radio receiving device 20, of which the lo^¬ cation is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch 10, is selected using the database 31.

In step 204, the radio transmitting switch 10 and the select- ed radio receiving device 20 are linked.

Subsequently, the radio transmitting switch 10 can control the selected radio receiving device 20 after the linking. Fig. 3 shows a building automation system 300. The building automation system 300 comprises a radio transmitting switch 10, a plurality of radio receiving devices 20 (one of these is shown in Fig. 3), which are associated with physical de^¬ vices 21 (one of these is shown in Fig. 3) and a computing unit 30.

The computing unit 30 may comprise a database 31 in which the physical locations of the plurality of radio receiving devic^¬ es 20 and/or physical devices 21 are stored. Of course, the database 31 may also be located external to the computing unit 30. If the radio transmitting switch 10 wants to link (connection 6) to one of the physical devices 21, it sends an activation signal either directly to the computing unit 30 or alterna^¬ tively to the radio receiving device 20, which transmits the radio signal to the computing unit 30.

After the computing unit 30 has received the radio signal from the radio transmitting switch 10, directly (via connec^¬ tion 1) or indirectly (via connections 3 and 5), the compu- ting unit 30 selects the radio receiving device 20, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch 10.

Following to this selection, the computing unit 30 links the radio transmitting switch 10 and the physical device 21 being associated with the selected radio receiving device 20.

The determination of the position of the switch 10 may be performed in a position engine 32 of the computing unit. Al- ternatively, the switch 10 may determine its position on its own and forward this information to the computing unit 30 or the radio receiving device 20 may determine the position of the switch 10. In the same way, the position of the radio re^¬ ceiving device 20 may be determined by the computing unit 30, the switch 10 or the radio receiving device 20 itself.

When the linking is completed, the radio transmitting switch 10 can control the physical device 21 being associated with the selected radio receiving device 20. The control may be performed via a path from the radio transmitting switch 10 to the computing unit 30 and then to the physical device 21 (connections 1, 2) . Alternatively, the control may be per^¬ formed via a path from the radio transmitting switch 10 to the selected radio receiving device and then to the physical device 21 (connections 3, 4) .

Fig. 4 shows a method for linking a radio transmitting switch 10 and a physical device 21 in a building automation system 300 as shown in Fig. 3. The method comprises the following steps .

In step 401, an activation signal is received, by the compu- ting unit 30 for linking the radio transmitting switch 10 with one of the plurality of physical devices 21.

In step 402, the radio receiving device 20, of which the lo^¬ cation is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch 10, is selected.

In step 403, the radio transmitting switch 10 and the physi^¬ cal device 21 being associated with the selected radio re^¬ ceiving device 20 are linked.

Subsequently, the radio transmitting switch 10 can control the physical device 21 being associated with the selected ra^¬ dio receiving device 20 after the linking. Additionally, as was also said above, according to an advan^¬ tageous embodiment of the invention there is a building auto^¬ mation system 100 comprising:

a radio transmitting switch 10,

a plurality of radio receiving devices 20),

a database 31, in which the physical locations of the plurality of radio receiving devices 20 are stored, and

a computing unit 30, which is adapted to communicate via a network connection with the plurality of radio receiving devices 20,

wherein the computing unit 30 is adapted to receive a ra^¬ dio signal from the radio transmitting switch 10, to determine a position of the radio transmitting switch 10, to select, using the database 31, the radio receiving device, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch 10, and to link the radio transmitting switch 10 and the selected radio receiving device 20, and wherein the radio transmitting switch 10 is adapted to control the selected radio receiving device 20 after the linking . Further according to the advantageous embodiment in the pre^¬ ceding paragraph, the radio receiving device 20 is connected to a physical device.

Even further, according to the advantageous embodiment de- tailed in the two preceding paragraphs, the physical device is a 1amp .

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the three preceding paragraphs, the computing unit 30 is adapted to determine the position of the radio transmitting switch 10 by signal processing of the radio waves of the ra^¬ dio signal.

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the four preceding paragraphs, the radio transmitting switch 10 is adapted to send a radio signal to the plurality of ra^¬ dio receiving devices 20, the radio signal including a link^¬ ing request, and wherein the computing unit 30 is adapted to receive the information from the plurality of radio receiving devices 20 that a radio signal including a linking request is received .

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the preceding paragraph, the computing unit 30 is adapted to determine the position of the radio transmitting switch 10 after receiving the information from the plurality of radio receiving devices 20.

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the six preceding paragraphs the computing unit 30 is adapted to select the radio receiving device 20, of which the loca^¬ tion is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch 10 by comparing the position of the radio transmitting switch 10 and the stored locations of the plu^¬ rality of radio receiving devices 20.

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the seven preceding paragraphs the computing unit 30 is adapted to send a signal to the selected radio receiving de^¬ vice 20 for activating an accept mode of the selected radio receiving device 20. Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the preceding paragraph the selected radio receiving device 20 is adapted to display an activated accept mode.

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the two preceding paragraphs the radio transmitting switch 10 is adapted to confirm the linking to the selected radio re^¬ ceiving device 20 by a control signal.

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the preceding paragraph the radio transmitting switch 10 is adapted to reject the linking to the selected radio receiving device 20 by a control signal and to initiate a new linking.

Further, according to the advantageous embodiment detailed in the eleven preceding paragraphs, the radio signal is one of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal and a Bluetooth sig^¬ nal .

Also, a method corresponding to the above described

adavantageous embodiment relates to a method for linking a radio transmitting switch 10 and a radio receiving device 20 in a building automation system 100, wherein the building automation system 100 comprises

a radio transmitting switch 10,

a plurality of radio receiving devices 20,

a database 31, in which the physical locations of the plurality of radio receiving devices 20 are stored, and a computing unit 30, which is configured to communicate via a network connection with the plurality of radio receiving devices 20, the method comprising

receiving 201, by the computing unit 30, a radio signal from the radio transmitting switch 10,

determining 202 a position of the radio transmitting switch 10,

selecting 203, using the database 31, the radio receiving device, of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch 10, and

linking 204 the radio transmitting switch 10 and the selected radio receiving device 20,

wherein the radio transmitting switch 10 is adapted to control the selected radio receiving device 20 after the linking.

Although the present invention has been described in accord^¬ ance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that modifications are possible in all em- bodiments.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A building automation system (300) comprising:

a radio transmitting switch (10),

a plurality of radio receiving devices (20), each radio receiving device (20) being associated with one of a plurali^¬ ty of physical devices (21), and

a computing unit (30), which is adapted to communicate with the plurality of radio receiving devices (20),

wherein the computing unit (30) is adapted to receive an activation signal for linking the radio transmitting switch (10) with one of the plurality of physical devices (21), to select the radio receiving device (20), of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio trans- mitting switch (10), and to link the radio transmitting switch (10) and the physical device (21) being associated with the selected radio receiving device (20), and

wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to control the physical device (21) being associated with the selected radio receiving device (20) after the linking.

2. The building automation system according to claim 1, further comprising a database (31) for storing the linking between the radio transmitting switch (10) and one of the plurality of physical devices (21) .

3. The building automation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the physical device (21) is a lamp.

4. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 3,

wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to control the physical device (21) via the associated radio re^¬ ceiving device (20) .

5. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to control the physical device (21) via the computing unit (30) .

6. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 5,

wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to send the activation signal to the computing unit (30) .

7. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 6,

wherein the computing unit (30) is adapted to determine the position of the radio transmitting switch (10) by signal pro^¬ cessing of the radio waves of the activation signal.

8. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 7,

wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to send the activation signal to the plurality of radio receiving de^¬ vices (20) , and

wherein the plurality of radio receiving devices (20) are adapted to forward the activation signal to the computing unit (30)

9. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 8,

wherein the computing unit (30) is adapted to select the ra^¬ dio receiving device (20), of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch (10) by comparing the position of the radio transmit- ting switch (10) and stored locations of the plurality of ra^¬ dio receiving devices (20) .

10. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 9,

wherein the computing unit (30) is adapted to send a signal to the physical device (21) being associated with the select^¬ ed radio receiving device (20) for activating an accept mode of the physical device (21) being associated with the select^¬ ed radio receiving device (20) .

11. The building automation system according to claim 10, wherein the physical device (21) being associated with the selected radio receiving device (20) is adapted to display an activated accept mode.

12. The building automation system according to claim 10 or 11,

wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to confirm the linking to the physical device (21) being associated with the selected radio receiving device (20) by a control signal .

13. The building automation system according to claim 12, wherein the radio transmitting switch (10) is adapted to re^¬ ject the linking to the physical device (21) being associated with the selected radio receiving device (20) by a control signal and to initiate a new linking.

14. The building automation system according to one of claims 1 - 13,

wherein the selected radio receiving device (20) and the as- sociated physical device (21) are integrated in one single unit .

15. A method for linking a radio transmitting switch (10) and a physical device (21) in a building automation system (300), wherein the building automation system (100) comprises

a radio transmitting switch (10),

a computing unit (30), which is adapted to communicate with the plurality of radio receiving devices (20), the meth^¬ od comprising receiving (401), by the computing unit (30), an activa^¬ tion signal for linking the radio transmitting switch (10) with one of the plurality of physical devices (21),

selecting (402) the radio receiving device (20), of which the location is in a specified range to the position of the radio transmitting switch (10), and

linking (403) the radio transmitting switch (10) and the physical device (21) being associated with the selected radio receiving device (20),