Redundant Wireless Control via WLAN-WPAN Bridging for Home Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home automation systems face challenges with unreliable wireless communication, particularly WLAN and WPAN, which complicate installation, reduce range, and increase complexity and cost, especially in large structures.
Innovation Solution
An architecture combining WLAN and WPAN communication for redundant control of wireless devices, using a bridge device to forward commands over WPAN when WLAN is unavailable, ensuring long-range operation and reliability without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If WLAN communication is used for long-range control, then operating range is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to AP failure and signal strength issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge device as an intermediary that receives control commands via WLAN from a remote location and forwards them via WPAN to the wireless device. This mediator architecture allows the system to leverage the long-range capability of WLAN while using the more reliable WPAN for the final communication step, thus resolving the contradiction between operating range and communication reliability.
2Reliability
If WPAN communication is used for reliable short-distance control, then communication reliability is improved, but operating range deteriorates due to short transmission distance and poor wall penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into two distinct segments: a long-range WLAN segment for transmitting commands to a nearby bridge device, and a short-range WPAN segment for reliable final delivery to the target device. This segmentation allows each protocol to operate in its optimal range, with WLAN handling the long-distance portion and WPAN handling the short-distance portion, thus achieving both long operating range and high reliability.
3Length of moving object
If WLAN adaptors are used for long-range communication, then operating range is improved, but power consumption deteriorates due to significant power resource demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication capabilities of two different wireless protocols into a single system. The battery-powered wireless device uses WPAN (which is low-power) for communication with nearby devices, while WLAN capability is provided separately by the bridge device that does not rely on battery power. This merging allows the battery-powered device to maintain long-range control capability through the bridge without incurring the high power costs of a WLAN adaptor, thus resolving the contradiction between operating range and power consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, an architecture for redundant control of wireless devices (e.g., wireless light fixtures, wireless light strips, wireless window shades, or other wireless devices) of a home automation system is provided that uses a combination of WLAN and WPAN communication. During normal operation of the home automation system, control commands generated in response to user input in a control application (app) on a control device (e.g., a remote control, mobile device, or other electronic device) are transmitted via a WLAN (e.g., Wi-Fi) to a bridge device (e.g., a lamp module or wireless keypad) proximate to the wireless device, which forwards the commands over a WPAN (e.g., BLE) to the wireless device. In the absence of an available WLAN connection (e.g., due to failure, prior to its configuration, etc.), the control device may send control commands via the WPAN (e.g., BLE) directly to the wireless device.