Sensor-Driven Load Control for Multi-Vendor Home Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home automation systems are limited by proprietary communication protocols, making it difficult to integrate devices from different vendors, leading to high installation costs and inefficiencies, as they often require all appliances and controllers to be from the same manufacturer.
Innovation Solution
A system that configures, monitors, and controls multiple interfacing devices across a network, allowing them to communicate and process sensor data from various vendors' devices, enabling unified control and monitoring of physical devices through a centralized controller, regardless of manufacturer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary communication protocols are used for device control, then device reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication protocol that allows the control system to interface with multiple different appliance types and vendor devices through a single standardized protocol, eliminating the need for proprietary protocols for each device type while maintaining reliable control
2Reliability
If all appliances and controllers must be from the same manufacturer, then system reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with universal communication capabilities that enable it to work with appliances from different manufacturers by implementing a standardized protocol that can interpret and generate commands for various device types, thereby achieving both reliability and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a standardized communication protocol as an intermediary layer between the controller and diverse appliance devices, allowing seamless integration of multi-vendor devices without requiring proprietary protocols while maintaining system reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary communication protocols are used, then device compatibility within a vendor's ecosystem is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing a universal communication protocol, the system allows appliances from different manufacturers to be integrated without requiring specialized proprietary protocol implementations, thereby simplifying installation and manufacturing while maintaining compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
A load-controlling interfacing device obtains and processes event data, for example, from a touch-screen user interface and/or other devices, and that processes rules based on the event data to control an electrical load, such as a light fixture. During operation, when the interfacing device obtains event data, the interfacing device selects a rule to process based on the event data from the touch-screen user interface. If the interfacing device determines that the rule's condition is satisfied, the interfacing device can process the rule's action description to perform a corresponding action for controlling power to the electrical load.