Wireless Device Provisioning via Electrical Load Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Provisioning multiple wireless devices can be time-consuming and challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing devices within one premises from those in neighboring premises, especially when they are within wireless range of each other.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves wireless detection and electrical power load analysis to identify and filter wireless devices connected to a specific electrical power circuit, using time-based measurements and powerline communications to establish paired relationships and associate devices with a group identifier in a database system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless devices are provisioned using traditional wireless detection methods, then devices can be detected within wireless range, but it becomes difficult to distinguish devices within one premises from those in neighboring premises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the provisioning process into two distinct phases: wireless detection phase and electrical load detection phase. The wireless detection phase identifies devices within range, while the electrical load detection phase determines which devices are connected to the local electrical circuit. This segmentation allows the system to combine information from multiple sources to accurately identify devices within the premises.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using electrical power circuit information as an additional identification layer. The electrical load detection component acts as a mediator that correlates wireless device detections with electrical circuit connections, providing the missing premises boundary information that wireless detection alone cannot provide.
2Productivity
If all detected wireless devices are provisioned, then provisioning completeness is improved, but time-consuming operations increase due to need to distinguish devices from neighboring premises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary electrical load detection to identify devices connected to the local electrical circuit before finalizing provisioning. By pre-filtering devices based on electrical circuit connection status, the system avoids time-consuming manual verification and provisioning attempts for devices that are clearly outside the premises.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic electrical load measurements to detect changes in power consumption patterns that indicate the presence or absence of specific devices. This periodic detection allows the system to efficiently track device status without continuous manual intervention, balancing completeness with time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless devices are provisioned using multiple factors. As part of a wireless detection phase, multiple wireless communications are received that were transmitted by multiple wireless devices. Individual wireless devices are distinguished from each other among the multiple wireless devices based on a distinguishing feature of each of the multiple wireless communications to obtain a provisional set of wireless devices. As part of an electrical load detection phase, one or more wireless devices connected to an electrical power circuit are identified based on time-based measurements of electrical power consumed by electrical loads on the electrical power circuit and/or powerline communications received via the electrical power circuit. The provisional set of wireless devices obtained by wireless detection may be filtered to obtain a filtered set of wireless devices that excludes wireless devices of the provisional set not connected to the same electrical power circuit.