Set-Top Box IoT Status Display via Mesh Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT device communication and control systems via customer premises equipment, such as set-top boxes or WiFi routers, are limited in functionality and range, especially for home automation features, due to the short range and limitations of wireless protocols like Bluetooth, DECT, NFC, and ZigBee.
Innovation Solution
A local area network (LAN) device with a wireless mesh network communication interface, processor, and memory is configured to pair with IoT devices, manage identifiers, and communicate status and control commands across a LAN, using Bluetooth/ZigBee and Wi-Fi, allowing centralized management and display of IoT device status on consumer interfaces like smartphones or digital televisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If wireless mesh network communication is implemented for IoT device connectivity, then communication range and coverage are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a set-top box as an intermediary device that bridges the LAN (wired or Wi-Fi) and the wireless mesh network (Bluetooth/ZigBee). This mediator handles the complexity of mesh network management, device pairing, and status retrieval, allowing IoT devices to communicate over extended ranges without requiring end devices to directly manage mesh network complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If set-top box is powered off to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but IoT device status display capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously maintaining the set-top box in a low-power standby mode where it retains the capability to retrieve and display IoT device status. The box pre-loads and caches device status information, allowing it to quickly transition from standby to full operational state when a display request occurs, thus avoiding complete power shutdown while minimizing energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If centralized management of IoT devices is implemented via set-top box, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The set-top box is designed as a universal control platform that can manage multiple types of IoT devices (lights, thermostats, appliances) through a single interface. It performs multiple functions including device pairing, status monitoring, control command issuance, and information display. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple specialized devices into one universal controller, improving ease of operation while centralizing complexity in a single device.
Data Source
AI summary
A local area network (LAN) device pairs with an interne of things (IoT) device via a wireless mesh network and receives a status of the IoT device via the wireless mesh network. The LAN device stores the received IoT status with an IoT device identifier of the IoT device in an IoT device table in memory and detects a shutdown signal to power down the LAN device. Upon detecting the shutdown signal, the LAN device retrieves the IoT device status from an IoT device database in memory and sends the IoT device status to a display device. The set-top box retrieves a control command from a control profile based on received input to control the IoT device and transmits the retrieved IoT device control command to the IoT device via the wireless mesh network.