Wireless Mesh Sensor Network for Self-Configuring Home Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current home automation systems are costly, difficult to install, and user-unfriendly, requiring complex instructions and lacking in cost-effective and user-friendly solutions for residential applications.
Innovation Solution
A residential sensor device platform with a network of sensor devices that form a wireless mesh network, each equipped with transceivers for communication, electrical controls, and sensors, allowing for self-healing, self-learning, and autonomous operation, enabling efficient home automation and energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional home automation systems are implemented, then automation functionality is achieved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the home automation network into multiple sensor devices, each independently capable of sensing, processing, and communicating. Each sensor device operates as an autonomous node with its own processor, transceiver, and sensor array, eliminating the need for a single complex centralized controller and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sensor device is designed as a multi-functional unit that can sense various environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, motion, light), process data locally, communicate with other devices, and control connected loads. This universal design reduces the need for multiple specialized devices and simplifies system architecture.
2Extent of automation
If traditional home automation systems are implemented, then automation functionality is achieved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor devices automatically configure themselves when added to the network. Each device self-registers with the mesh network, self-assigns addresses, and automatically discovers other devices and control points in the environment, eliminating the need for manual configuration and simplifying installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary network configuration and device discovery automatically during initial setup. The mesh network pre-establishes communication paths and the user interface pre-configures control associations based on automatic device detection, so users don't need to perform complex setup procedures.
3Extent of automation
If traditional home automation systems are implemented, then automation functionality is achieved, but user-friendliness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors environmental conditions and automatically adjusts controlled parameters based on sensor feedback. The user interface provides real-time feedback on system status, sensor readings, and control actions, enabling users to operate the system intuitively without needing to understand underlying complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically learns and adapts to user preferences and usage patterns over time, self-configuring optimization parameters and control strategies. This eliminates the need for users to manually program complex automation logic while maintaining high levels of automation functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If sensor devices form a wireless mesh network, then system expandability improves, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh network is segmented into multiple independent sensor device nodes, each capable of autonomous operation and communication. This segmentation allows the network to scale by simply adding more identical nodes without increasing the complexity of individual device communication protocols or network management.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations generally relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for a residential sensor device platform. In some implementations, a system includes a plurality of sensor devices. Each of the plurality of sensor devices includes a first transceiver operative to support uplink communication with a wireless router, a second transceiver operative to support mesh link communication with other sensor devices of the plurality of sensor devices, an electrical control, a sensor operative to sense a condition of a living space, and a processor. The processor is operative to communicate with the wireless router, communicate with the other sensor devices of the plurality of sensor devices, and receive the sensed condition of the living space. Processors of the plurality of sensor devices are operative to select a master sensor device, wherein the master sensor device maintains communication with the wireless router, and wherein the other sensor devices of the plurality of sensor devices form a wireless mesh network.