Repeater-Based Sensor Enrollment for Extended Security System Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of repeaters in security and home automation systems complicates the enrollment process and increases costs due to the need for separate actions to enroll remote devices, requiring physical proximity to the control panel and additional installer training.
Innovation Solution
A repeater is used to store enrollment data, allowing devices to be enrolled at their intended location without direct proximity to the control panel, facilitating a common installation process through the repeater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a repeater is installed to extend system range, then the operational range of the system is improved, but the installation complexity and time increase due to separate enrollment procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the enrollment functions for both repeaters and remote devices into a single unified process. The control panel is modified to automatically detect whether a enrolled device is a repeater or a remote device, and handles both enrollment types through the same procedure, eliminating the need for separate enrollment methods and reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater serves as an intermediary that can itself be enrolled through the control panel using the same process as remote devices. The repeater then acts as a parent device to enroll remote devices within its range, creating a hierarchical enrollment structure that simplifies the overall installation process while extending system range.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate enrollment procedures are used for repeaters and remote devices, then enrollment accuracy is maintained, but installation time and training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel's enrollment function is designed to be universal, handling both repeater and remote device enrollment through a single procedure. The system automatically detects the device type and applies the appropriate enrollment logic internally, maintaining enrollment accuracy while eliminating the need for installers to learn multiple separate procedures, thus reducing installation time and training requirements.
3Reliability
If physical proximity to control panel is required for device enrollment, then direct communication reliability is ensured, but the ease of operation at intended installation location is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The enrollment process is segmented into two independent paths: repeater enrollment through the control panel (ensuring direct communication reliability), and remote device enrollment through the repeater (enabling enrollment at the intended installation location). This segmentation allows each path to maintain its own communication reliability standards while improving overall ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a hierarchical dimension to the enrollment process, where repeaters act as intermediate parent devices. Remote devices can be enrolled through the repeater in a different spatial dimension (through the repeater's communication range) rather than requiring direct enrollment with the control panel, thus enabling enrollment at the intended installation location while maintaining communication reliability through the hierarchical structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a sensor device, a repeater, and a control panel. The sensor device is in two-way communication with the repeater, and the repeater is in two-way communication with the control panel. The repeater includes a repeater module storing child table data and routing table data. The child table data stored by the repeater module, at the repeater, includes a sensor device address, sensor device descriptor, and/or sensor device status. The routing table data stored by the repeater module, at the repeater, includes channel operational information, such as a network ID, a first repeater operating channel of the repeater, a second repeater operating channel for the repeater different than the first repeater operating channel, a first information channel, and/or a second information channel different than the first information channel.