Hierarchical PoE Control for Addressable Devices Under Command Conflicts

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart control systems for devices like lighting and HVAC in smart buildings and homes face command conflicts and reliability issues when using network-addressed and powered devices, particularly during power outages or network failures, as they rely on conventional high voltage switches that lose state information when power is cut.

Innovation Solution

A hierarchical control architecture that uses a combination of Permanent Master and Temporary Master commands, along with a grouping database, command database, and status controller, to manage and process control commands efficiently and predictably, ensuring devices maintain their states even during power outages by leveraging PoE technology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional high voltage switches are used for smart control devices, then the devices can be controlled in an automated manner, but the devices lose state information when power is cut and require external power sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate retention during power outageVSAvoidpower source requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power delivery and data communication into a single PoE infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate external power sources and high voltage switches. Network cables simultaneously provide both electrical power and control commands to devices, simplifying the power architecture while maintaining state retention during outages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical high voltage switching systems with electronic PoE-based control. Instead of using mechanical switches that require external power and lose state during outages, the system uses PoE-powered devices with non-volatile memory to store and retrieve state information, substituting a more reliable electronic system for the mechanical one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If PoE technology is used to power devices over network cables, then external power sources are eliminated, but command conflicts occur when multiple devices attempt to control the same device simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower source integrationVSAvoidcommand conflict resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hierarchical command structure with Permanent Masters and Temporary Masters acting as intermediaries. PMs provide stable, persistent control authority that survives reboots, while TMs provide temporary, condition-based control. This intermediary hierarchy mediates between multiple control sources and the controlled device, preventing command conflicts through defined priority and scope rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments control authority into distinct hierarchical levels: Permanent Masters with persistent control rights and Temporary Masters with conditional control rights. This segmentation of control privileges allows multiple devices to coexist in the network without conflict, as each has clearly defined boundaries of authority stored in a command database with timestamps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If multiple addressable devices are connected in a high-number system, then system coverage is increased, but addressing conflicts and command management become unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of addressable devicesVSAvoidcommand processing predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing a hierarchical command structure before conflicts occur. Permanent Masters and Temporary Masters are designated in advance with specific control authorities and conditions stored in databases. When multiple devices need to control the same target, the pre-defined hierarchy and timestamp-based command records provide predictable resolution without requiring real-time negotiation or conflict detection algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for reliable and predictable operation of network-addressed and powered devices, ensuring that lighting and other controlled elements maintain their states and functions without data loss during power outages, and efficiently manage competing commands, enhancing the reliability of smart control systems.

Implementation Method 1

Power over Ethernet (PoE) refers to an architecture that passes electric power along with data on a twisted pair Ethernet cable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPower over Ethernet (PoE):

Data Source

PatentUS11310319B1Computing architecture for hierarchical control of network addressable devices

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 POEWIT TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A control system for controlling a networked system of multiple individually addressable devices, such as lighting devices, each having a logical address based on a network addressing scheme, each lighting device being connected to a computer network through a cable that transmits electric power for powering one or more lighting elements of the lighting device and hierarchical control data for addressing and controlling the lighting device. Each lighting device includes a controller for receiving the hierarchical control data and controlling a state of the one or more lighting elements in accordance with the control data.