Execution of control commands dependent on presence being detected

Abstract

The device (1) controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, e.g., Bluetooth signals, from a mobile device (23) is configured to receive one or more signals, e.g., from the mobile device and nearby lighting devices (11-12), including the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, determine a change in the received radio frequency signals from the one or more signals, detect a presence, e.g., of a resident (51), based on the change, determine a control command from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, and execute the control command dependent on the presence being detected.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to devices controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for controlling a device by means of short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals.

[0003] The invention also relates to a computer program product enabling a computer system to carry out such a method. [Background technology]

[0004] It is becoming increasingly common to use a combination of protocols in connected lighting networks. In some cases, the same RF transceiver in a lighting device can be used for both Zigbee® and Bluetooth® (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy). For example, new Philips Hue light bulbs typically include an RF transceiver that can be used for both Zigbee and Bluetooth. Such an RF transceiver can be used to more securely commission lighting devices, as disclosed, for example, in WO 2019 / 048278 A1.

[0005] A more common use case is to allow lighting devices to be controlled by mobile devices, such as mobile phones or tablets, using Bluetooth. However, allowing lighting devices to be controlled by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals gives hackers or malicious users the opportunity to control lighting devices without authorization, for example by sneaking in a small Bluetooth device that allows connection to the lighting network at any time. Such a person could potentially turn on all the lights on all floors of a building in the middle of the night. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] A first object of the present invention is to provide a device that is difficult to control by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals transmitted by a malicious user.

[0007] A second object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling a device that makes it difficult for a malicious user to control the device by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals transmitted therethrough. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In a first aspect of the present invention, a device controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals includes at least one input interface and at least one processor configured to receive one or more signals via the at least one input interface, the one or more signals including short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, determine a change in the received radio frequency signals from the one or more signals, detect a presence based on the change, determine a control command from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, and execute the control command dependent on the presence being detected. The control command is included in the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals. For example, the short-range point-to-point wireless communication signals may be Bluetooth signals, and the command is transmitted to the device via the Bluetooth signals, for example, by a mobile phone.

[0009] If the presence of a person is detected when the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal is received (or no more than a predetermined time before or no more than a predetermined time after), control of the device is prevented by, for example, a hacked mobile phone left within range of the device to be controlled while the user is not present. In this way, someone can maliciously control the device without the user's knowledge. However, if the control commands contained in the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal are executed by the device only when the presence of a person is detected, this can make it unattractive for, for example, a hacker to maliciously control the device, as the user would detect this. This allows the user to either fix the security issue (e.g., run virus scanner software on the mobile phone and / or update security or other settings) or fix what the malicious control has caused, is causing, or will cause (e.g., by turning off the maliciously controlled device or sending different control commands).

[0010] By using RF-based sensing to detect (human) presence and allowing a device (e.g., a light) to be controlled by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals only if presence is detected, it becomes difficult for a hacker or malicious user to control the device without authorization, since they cannot control the device in an unoccupied room. RF-based sensing can be implemented relatively inexpensively, since controllable devices often use RF transceivers anyway. If the controllable device is a lighting device, the control command may include, for example, a color setting, an on / off setting, and / or a dimming level.

[0011] The processor may be configured to determine a change in the received radio frequency signal(s) from the one or more signals by determining a change in a characteristic of the received radio frequency signal from the one or more signals, each of the characteristics may be indicative of a distance between a transmitter of the respective radio frequency signal and a receiver of the respective radio frequency signal. The processor may be configured to determine the change by, for example, determining a change in signal strength of the received radio frequency signal or a change in channel conditions (e.g., CSI) associated with the received radio frequency signal.

[0012] The short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal may conform to a first communication protocol, and the device may be further controllable by a further radio frequency signal transmitted by a further device, which further radio frequency signal may conform to a second communication protocol. By allowing a device to be controlled via multiple communication protocols, more flexibility is provided to the user.

[0013] The further radio frequency signal may be a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, e.g., a signal from a device in a Zigbee star network, or an infrared signal. Alternatively, the further radio frequency signal may be a long-range radio frequency signal, e.g., a Wi-Fi or LoRa signal, and / or may be transmitted via a mesh network, e.g., a Zigbee or LoRa mesh network. For example, the first communication protocol may be Bluetooth and the second communication protocol may be Zigbee.

[0014] The one or more signals may include a further radio frequency signal, and the at least one processor may be configured to determine a further control command from the further radio frequency signal, determine whether the further device is trusted, and execute the further control command depending on whether the further device is trustworthy. The further device may be, for example, a bridge. While it is not practically feasible to create a trusted relationship between each mobile device and each controllable device, if a bridge is used, it is possible to create a trusted association between each mobile device and the bridge and between each controllable device and the bridge. In this case, presence detection is typically not required when a user controls a controllable device via the bridge.

[0015] The at least one processor may be configured to determine the change by determining the change between a recently received radio frequency signal and a reference radio frequency signal, which is how RF-based sensing is typically performed.

[0016] The one or more signals may include recently received radio frequency signals and / or characteristics of recently received radio frequency signals. The controllable device may analyze, for example, signal strength, of RF signals it receives from other devices in the sensor network, but may additionally or alternatively use analysis performed by other devices in the sensor network.

[0017] Preferably, the most recently received radio frequency signal is one that was received at most a predetermined amount of time before the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal was received. By ensuring that presence detection uses recent information, a hacker or malicious user cannot take control of the lighting device immediately after the last user left the room.

[0018] The at least one processor may be configured to determine a change in the received radio frequency signal upon receiving the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal and / or upon receiving a user request to detect presence again, and detect presence based on the change. If presence detection is not required for another application, e.g., automatic control of a lighting device, analysis of the RF signal and / or its characteristics may be postponed until a control command is received, thereby reducing power consumption. If a user's presence is not detected, the user may be provided with the option to request that presence detection be repeated, i.e., that a rescan of the space be performed. The user may move to a different location, e.g., a different room, before making this request.

[0019] In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a device by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals includes receiving one or more signals, the one or more signals including short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, determining a change in the received radio frequency signals from the one or more signals, detecting a presence based on the change, determining a control command from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, and executing the control command dependent on the detected presence. The method may be performed by software running on a programmable device. The software may be provided as a computer program product.

[0020] Further provided are computer programs for practicing the methods described herein, as well as non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon the computer programs, which may, for example, be downloaded by or uploaded to existing devices or stored during manufacture of these systems.

[0021] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores at least one software code portion that, when executed or processed by a computer, is configured to perform executable operations for controlling a device via short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals.

[0022] The executable operations include receiving one or more signals, the one or more signals including short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals; determining a change in the received radio frequency signals from the one or more signals; detecting a presence based on the change; determining a control command from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals; and executing the control command dependent on the presence being detected.

[0023] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a device, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all of which may be collectively referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system." Functions described in this disclosure may be implemented as an algorithm executed by a computer processor / microprocessor. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied as one or more computer-readable medium(s) having computer-readable program code embodied thereon, e.g., stored thereon.

[0024] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the above. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the above. In the context of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that contains or is capable of storing a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0025] A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal having computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium is not a computer-readable storage medium but may be any computer-readable medium capable of communicating, propagating, or transmitting a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0026] Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including, but not limited to, wireless, wired, fiber optic, cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the above. Computer program code for carrying out operations related to aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. This program code may run entirely on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (e.g., over the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

[0027] Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor, particularly a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU), of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to create a machine, whereby the instructions, executed by the processor of the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device, create means for performing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks.

[0028] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to function in a particular manner, thereby producing a product in which the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium include instructions that perform the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks.

[0029] Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to perform a series of operational steps to create a computer-implemented process, whereby the instructions executing on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide a process for performing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks.

[0030] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of devices, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, including one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowchart diagrams, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified functions or acts, or a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and further elucidated, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which corresponding elements are indicated by the same reference numerals, and in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a controllable device. [Figure 2] 2 illustrates an example of a space in which the device of FIG. 1 can be used. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a second embodiment of the method. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a third embodiment of the method. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a fourth embodiment of the method. [Figure 7]1 is a block diagram of an exemplary data processing system for implementing the methods of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] 1 shows one embodiment of a device controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, lighting device 1. Lighting device 1 is part of a lighting system that further includes a bridge 19 and further lighting devices 11-14. Bridge 19, lighting device 1 and further lighting devices 11-14 form a mesh and / or star network, for example a Zigbee mesh network. Bridge 19 may, for example, be a Hue bridge.

[0033] 1, lighting device 1 and further lighting devices 11-14 also form a sensor network for RF-based sensing. The further lighting devices 11-14 are controllable, but not controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals. In alternative embodiments, one or more of lighting devices 11-14 may also be controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals and configured in a similar manner as described below in relation to lighting device 1. Bridge 19 may also be part of the same sensor network.

[0034] The lighting device 1 includes a receiver 3, a transmitter 4, a processor 5, a memory 7, and a light element 9. The processor 5 is configured to receive one or more signals via the receiver 3, determine a change in the received radio frequency signal from the one or more signals, detect a presence based on the change, determine a control command from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal included in the received one or more signals, and execute the control command dependent on the presence being detected. The control command may include, for example, a color setting, an on / off setting, and / or a dim level.

[0035] In the example of Figure 1, control commands for lighting device 1 are generated at mobile devices 23 and 31. Mobile device 23 may transmit the control commands via bridge 19 or in short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, for example via Bluetooth. In the example of Figure 1, mobile device 23 may communicate with bridge 19 via wireless LAN access point 21, possibly via a base station 29 of a mobile communication network (e.g., an LTE or 5G network).

[0036] Bridge 19 may be connected to a wireless LAN access point 21, for example, via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Wireless LAN access point 21 and base station 29 are connected to the Internet 25. An Internet server 27 is also connected to the Internet 25. For example, Internet server 27 may be an Amazon Alexa server or an IFTTT ("IF This Then That") server and may be used to send control commands to the lighting devices via bridge 19. Mobile device 31 may send the control commands in short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, for example, via Bluetooth.

[0037] 1, the processor 5 is configured to receive further radio frequency signals containing further control commands from the bridge 19 and to determine whether the bridge 19 is trustworthy. For example, a physical button may need to be pressed to pair the lighting device 1 with the bridge 19, i.e., to commission the lighting device 1 in the lighting system to join the mesh network. In this case, after this pairing is successfully completed, the bridge 19 is identified as a trusted device in the memory 7. For example, the public key or the (encrypted) network key of the bridge 19 may be received during pairing and stored in the memory 7.

[0038] Any mobile device trusted by the bridge 19 can then control the lighting device 1. Further control commands (messages) may for example include a (encrypted) network key or be signed with the private key of the bridge 19. The mobile device 23 may be paired with the bridge 19 as well. Furthermore, the processor 5 is configured to execute further control commands dependent on the bridge 19 being trustworthy.

[0039] In the embodiment of the lighting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 , the lighting device includes one processor 5. In alternative embodiments, the lighting device includes multiple processors. The processor 5 of the lighting device 1 may be a general-purpose processor or an application-specific processor. The light elements 9 may, for example, be LEDs (packaged), e.g., direct-emitting or phosphor-converted LEDs. In alternative embodiments, the lighting device 1 includes two or more light elements. The memory 7 may include one or more memory units. The memory 7 may, for example, include solid-state memory.

[0040] The receiver 3 and transmitter 4 may use one or more wired or wireless communication technologies, such as Zigbee for communicating with the bridge 19 and Bluetooth for communicating directly with the mobile devices 23 and 31. In alternative embodiments, instead of a single receiver and a single transmitter, multiple receivers and / or multiple transmitters are used.

[0041] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a separate receiver and a separate transmitter are used. In an alternative embodiment, the receiver 3 and the transmitter 4 are combined into a transceiver. This transceiver may, for example, comprise a combined multiprotocol RF chip. The lighting device 1 may also comprise other components typical of a (connected) lighting device, such as a power connector. The invention may be implemented using a computer program running on one or more processors.

[0042] 2 shows an example of a space in which the devices of FIG. 1 can be used: a first floor 41 of a home. Floor 41 includes a foyer 43, a kitchen 44, and a living room 45. A bridge 19 and lighting devices 1, 11, and 12 are installed in the living room 45. A lighting device 13 is installed in the kitchen 44. A wireless LAN access point 21 and lighting device 14 are installed in the foyer 43. A home resident 51 is in the living room 45 and is controlling lighting device 1 with his / her mobile device 23. A malicious user 53 is outside the home and is attempting to control lighting device 1 with his / her mobile device 31, for example, after the resident 51 has gone upstairs or left the home.

[0043] 1, lighting device 1, lighting devices 11-14, and bridge 19 form a lighting connectivity network. Such a lighting connectivity network can span multiple rooms and typically uses technologies such as Zigbee to communicate to all connected lighting devices. Lighting device 1, lighting devices 11-14, and optionally bridge 19 also form a sensor network for RF-based sensing.

[0044] RF-based sensing can determine whether a person is present in a room. Often, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) strength of the received RF signal is measured to determine whether it has changed compared to a baseline measurement made when the room was empty. In RF-based sensing, a cluster of lighting devices is typically mapped to a room. For example, lighting device 1 (or bridge 19) and lighting devices 13 and 14 may be used to detect presence in a hallway 43, lighting devices 11, 13, and 14 (and optionally bridge 19) may be used to detect presence in a kitchen 44, and lighting devices 1, 11, and 12 (and optionally bridge 19) may be used to detect presence in a living room 45.

[0045] A room-based cluster can be formed, for example, in a Zigbee network. In this case, RF-based sensing can be performed, for example, using interpan Zigbee messages. By collecting RSSI values ​​of all Zigbee interpan messages received by RF nodes in a room, it is possible to determine whether a person is present in the same room based on these RSSI values.

[0046] Now, if a resident 51 wants to control a lighting device 1 with their mobile device 23 via Bluetooth, it will first check (using RF-based sensing) whether there is actually a person physically present in the room, and only if it is determined that there is a person in the same room as the lighting device the user wants to control will the user be able to control this lighting device.

[0047] Thus, by requiring that a human operator be present in the same room as the lighting device(s) to be controlled, a malicious user 53 cannot take over lighting control after the resident 51 has gone upstairs or left the home. If a malicious user 53 were able to take over control of the lighting device 1 while the resident 51 was still in the living room 45, the resident 51 would be immediately aware and would be able to take appropriate action.

[0048] A first embodiment of a method for controlling devices by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals is shown in Figure 3. Step 101 involves receiving a signal. Step 111 involves determining a characteristic of the signal received in step 101. The characteristic may be, for example, the signal strength of the signal or Channel State Information (CSI) associated with the signal. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the characteristic is determined from all received signals. In an alternative embodiment, the characteristic is determined only from certain signals, e.g., signals received from certain devices.

[0049] Step 113 involves storing in memory the characteristics determined in step 111 along with a timestamp. Step 103 involves determining changes in the received radio frequency signal from signals received in the previous and current iterations of step 101. Specifically, step 103 involves obtaining the characteristics, e.g., signal strength and timestamp, stored in the previous and current iterations of step 113 and determining changes in these characteristics.

[0050] In the embodiment of Figure 3, a change between a most recently received radio frequency signal and a reference radio frequency signal is determined. The most recently received radio frequency signal for which a change from the reference radio frequency signal is determined is one that was received up to a predetermined time before the signal was received in the current iteration of step 101, as determined from a timestamp.

[0051] The reference radio frequency signal may, for example, comprise a previous radio frequency signal, which allows a pattern to be recognized from the change between successive received signals. Alternatively or additionally, the reference radio frequency signal may comprise a baseline radio frequency signal whose characteristics were recorded in the absence of humans and / or animals. Step 105 comprises detecting a presence based on the change determined in step 103.

[0052] Step 107 includes determining whether the signal received in step 101 is a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal containing a control command. If so, then step 108 is performed. If not, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in FIG. 3. Step 108 includes determining whether a presence was detected in step 105. If so, then step 109 is performed. If not, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in FIG. 3. Step 109 includes executing the control command determined in step 107, for example, controlling one or more light sources. Step 101 is repeated after step 109, after which the method proceeds as shown in FIG. 3.

[0053] A second embodiment of a method for controlling a device by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals is shown in Figure 4. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the controllable device is further controllable by a further radio frequency signal transmitted by a further device, which may be, for example, a bridge.

[0054] Step 101 includes receiving a signal. Step 103 includes determining a change in the received radio frequency signal from signals received in the previous and current iterations of step 101. Step 105 includes detecting a presence based on the change determined in step 103. Steps 111 and 113 may be performed between steps 101 and 103, as shown in FIG. 3. After step 105, step 131 includes determining whether the signal received in step 101 includes a control command. If so, then step 133 is performed. If not, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in FIG. 4.

[0055] Step 133 includes determining whether the signal received in step 101 is a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal conforming to a first communication protocol, e.g., Bluetooth, or a further radio frequency signal conforming to a second communication protocol, e.g., Zigbee. The further radio frequency signal may be a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, or alternatively, a long-range radio frequency signal and / or a signal transmitted via a mesh network (and therefore not point-to-point). A single mobile device may be capable of transmitting both radio frequency signals conforming to the first communication protocol and radio frequency signals conforming to the second communication protocol.

[0056] If, in step 133, it is determined that the signal received in step 101 is a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal conforming to the first communications protocol, then step 108 is executed. Step 108 includes determining whether a presence was detected in step 105. If so, then step 109 is executed. If not, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in FIG.

[0057] If it is determined in step 133 that the signal received in step 101 is a further radio frequency signal conforming to a second communications protocol, then step 135 is executed. Step 135 includes determining whether the further device that transmitted the further radio frequency signal is trustworthy. If it is determined that the further device is trustworthy, then step 109 is executed. If not, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in FIG. 4.

[0058] Step 109 involves executing the control command determined in step 133, for example controlling one or more light sources. Step 101 is repeated after step 109, after which the method proceeds as shown in FIG.

[0059] A third embodiment of a method for controlling a device by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals is shown in Figure 5. This third embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment of Figure 3. In the embodiment of Figure 5, step 151 is performed after step 113. Step 151 includes determining whether the signal received in step 101 includes one or more characteristics of recently received frequency signals. These recently received frequency signals are typically those received by other devices in the same sensing network.

[0060] If step 151 determines that the signal received in step 101 includes one or more characteristics of a recently received frequency signal, then step 153 is executed. Otherwise, step 153 is skipped and step 103 is executed. Step 153 includes storing in memory the one or more characteristics received in step 101 along with timestamps. These one or more timestamps are preferably extracted from the received signal if they are included in the received signal. Otherwise, the time of reception of the signal may be stored as the timestamp(s). Step 103 is executed after step 153. The method then proceeds as described in relation to FIG. 3.

[0061] 5, the characteristics are not only received from one or more other devices, but are also determined from the signal itself (in step 111). In an alternative embodiment, the characteristics are not determined from the signal itself, and steps 111 and 113 are omitted.

[0062] A fourth embodiment of a method for controlling a device by a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal is shown in Figure 6. Step 101 includes receiving a signal. Step 111 includes determining a characteristic of the signal received in step 101. Step 113 includes storing the characteristic determined in step 111 in memory along with a timestamp. Step 107 is performed after step 113. Step 107 includes determining whether the signal received in step 101 is a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal containing a control command. If not, then step 171 is performed.

[0063] Step 171 involves determining whether the signal received in step 101 includes a user request to again detect a presence, i.e., to rescan the space in which the lighting device is located. The user may first move to a different location, e.g., a different room, before using their mobile device to make this request. If the signal received in step 101 includes this user request, step 173 is executed.

[0064] Step 173 involves transmitting signals to other devices, for example, neighboring devices in the same sensor network. In the embodiment of Figure 6, these signals include requests to transmit radio frequency signals to the controllable device, and these radio frequency signals are received in the next iteration of step 101. In an alternative embodiment including steps 151 and 153 of Figure 5, characteristics of the radio frequency signals transmitted by the controllable device to other devices are determined by the other devices, transmitted to the controllable device, and then received and stored by the controllable device in the next iteration of steps 151 and 153.

[0065] Step 101 is repeated after step 173, after which the method proceeds as shown in Figure 6. If in step 171 it is determined that the signal does not again include a user request to detect presence, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in Figure 6.

[0066] If, in step 107, it is determined that the signal received in step 101 is a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal containing a control command, then step 103 is executed. Step 103 involves determining changes in the received radio frequency signal from signals received in the previous and current iterations of step 101. Specifically, step 103 involves obtaining characteristics stored in the previous and current iterations of step 113 and determining changes in these characteristics, e.g., signal strength.

[0067] Next, step 105 involves detecting presence based on the change determined in step 103. Step 108 involves determining whether presence was detected in step 105. If so, then step 109 is performed. If not, step 101 is repeated and the method proceeds as shown in Figure 6. Step 109 involves executing the control command determined in step 107, for example, controlling one or more light sources. Step 101 is repeated after step 109, after which the method proceeds as shown in Figure 6.

[0068] 6, the user must send another control command after sending the request to detect presence again. In an alternative embodiment, steps 103, 105, 108 and modified step 109 are automatically performed some time after step 173 is performed, for example, after a certain amount of time has elapsed and / or after a certain number of signals have been received. In modified step 109, the control command performed is the control command received before the user request to detect presence again is received.

[0069] The embodiments of Figures 3-6 differ from one another in several ways, i.e., multiple steps are added or replaced. In variations on these embodiments, only a subset of these steps are added or replaced, and / or one or more steps are omitted. As a first example, steps 131, 133, and 135 of the embodiment of Figure 4 may be added to the embodiments of Figures 5 and / or 6. As a second example, steps 151 and 153 of Figure 5 may be added to the embodiment of Figure 6.

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data processing system that may implement the methods as described with reference to FIGS.

[0071] 7, data processing system 300 may include at least one processor 302 coupled to memory elements 304 via a system bus 306. Thus, the data processing system may store program code in memory elements 304. Furthermore, processor 302 may execute program code accessed from memory elements 304 via system bus 306. In one aspect, the data processing system may be implemented as a computer suitable for storing and / or executing program code. However, it should be understood that data processing system 300 may be implemented in the form of any system including a processor and memory capable of performing the functions described herein.

[0072] Memory elements 304 may include one or more physical memory devices, such as, for example, local memory 308 and one or more mass storage devices 310. Local memory may refer to random access memory or other non-persistent memory devices typically used during the actual execution of program code. Mass storage devices may be implemented as hard drives or other persistent data storage devices. Processing system 300 may also include one or more cache memories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least some program code to reduce the number of times the program code must be retrieved from mass storage device 310 during execution. Processing system 300 may also be able to use memory elements of another processing system, for example, if processing system 300 is part of a cloud computing platform.

[0073] Input / output (I / O) devices, shown as input devices 312 and output devices 314, may optionally be coupled to the data processing system. Examples of input devices include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a microphone (e.g., for voice and / or speech recognition), etc. Examples of output devices include, but are not limited to, a monitor or display, speakers, etc. The input and / or output devices may be coupled to the data processing system directly or through intervening I / O controllers.

[0074] In one embodiment, the input and output devices may be implemented as a hybrid input / output device (illustrated in FIG. 7 by the dashed line surrounding input device 312 and output device 314). One example of such a hybrid device is a touch-sensitive display, sometimes referred to as a "touchscreen display" or simply a "touchscreen." In such an embodiment, input to the device may be provided by movement of a physical entity, such as a stylus or a user's finger, on or near the touchscreen display.

[0075] Network adapters 316 may also be coupled to the data processing system to enable the data processing system to be coupled to other systems, computer systems, remote network devices, and / or remote storage devices through intervening private or public networks. A network adapter may include a data receiver for receiving data transmitted to data processing system 300 by such systems, devices, and / or networks, and a data transmitter for transmitting data from data processing system 300 to such systems, devices, and / or networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are examples of various types of network adapters that may be used with data processing system 300.

[0076] As shown in Figure 7, memory element 304 may store application 318. In various embodiments, application 318 may be stored in local memory 308, one or more mass storage devices 310, or may be separate from the local memory and mass storage devices. It should be appreciated that data processing system 300 may also execute an operating system (not shown in Figure 7) that may facilitate the execution of application 318. Application 318 may be implemented in the form of executable program code and may be executed by data processing system 300, for example, by processor 302. In response to executing the application, data processing system 300 may be configured to perform one or more of the operations or method steps described herein.

[0077] 7 illustrates input device 312 and output device 314 as separate from network adapter 316. However, additionally or alternatively, input may be received and output may be sent via network adapter 316. For example, data processing system 300 may be a cloud server. In this case, input may be received from and output may be sent to user devices functioning as terminals.

[0078] Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system, the program of the program product defining the functions of the embodiments (including the methods described herein). In one embodiment, the program may be contained on various non-transitory computer-readable storage media; as used herein, the phrase "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium" includes all computer-readable media, with the sole exception of a transitory propagating signal. In another embodiment, the program may be contained on various transitory computer-readable storage media. Exemplary computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, (i) non-writable storage media in which information is permanently stored (e.g., a read-only memory device internal to a computer, such as a CD-ROM disk readable by a CD-ROM drive, a ROM chip, or any type of non-volatile solid-state semiconductor memory), and (ii) writable storage media in which changeable information is stored (e.g., a flash memory, a floppy disk inside a diskette drive or hard disk drive, or any type of random-access solid-state semiconductor memory). The computer program may be executed on the processor 302 described herein.

[0079] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that as used herein, the terms "comprise" and / or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0080] Corresponding structure, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means-plus-function or step-plus-function elements in the following claims are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the function in combination with other claim elements as specifically claimed. The description of the embodiments of the present invention has been presented for illustrative purposes, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed form of implementation. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles and some practical applications of the invention, and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention in terms of various embodiments with various modifications as suited to the particular uses contemplated.

Claims

1. 1. A device controllable by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, the device comprising: at least one input interface; receiving one or more signals via the at least one input interface, the one or more signals including the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal; determining a change in the received radio frequency signal from the one or more signals; detecting the presence of a person based on the change; determining a control command for controlling the device from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, the control command being included in the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal; and executing the control command dependent on the presence being detected, such that the device is controlled by the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal only if the presence is detected; at least one processor configured to: Including, the device.

2. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals conform to a first communication protocol, and the device is further controllable by further radio frequency signals transmitted by a further device, the further radio frequency signals conforming to a second communication protocol.

3. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more signals include the further radio frequency signal, and the at least one processor is configured to determine a further control command from the further radio frequency signal, determine whether the further device is trustworthy, and execute the further control command depending on whether the further device is trustworthy.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the further radio frequency signal is a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the further radio frequency signal is a long-range radio frequency signal and / or is transmitted via a mesh network.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first communication protocol is Bluetooth and the second communication protocol is Zigbee.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the change by determining a change in signal strength of the received radio frequency signal.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the change by determining a change between a most recently received radio frequency signal and a reference radio frequency signal.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more signals include the recently received radio frequency signal and / or a characteristic of the recently received radio frequency signal.

10. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the most recently received radio frequency signal is received up to a predetermined time before the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal is received.

11. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the change in the received radio frequency signal upon receiving the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal and / or upon receiving a user request to again detect a presence, and to detect the presence based on the change.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a lighting device and the control commands include a color setting, an on / off setting, and / or a dimming level.

13. 1. A method for controlling a device by short-range point-to-point radio frequency signals, the method comprising: receiving one or more signals, the one or more signals including the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal; determining a change in the received radio frequency signal from the one or more signals; detecting the presence of a person based on the change; determining a control command for controlling the device from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, the control command being included in the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal; and executing the control command in dependence on the presence being detected, such that the device is controlled by the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal only if the presence is detected; A method comprising:

14. 14. A computer program or computer readable storage medium storing said computer program, comprising at least one software code portion, which, when executed on a computer system, causes said computer system to perform the method of claim 13.

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