Floor-plan based learning and registration of distributed devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11356519-B2
Application number	US-202117195382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2021
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A method of registering distributed devices includes discovering a plurality of devices at a central panel or server, localizing the devices, and authorizing the devices with a mobile device communicating with the central panel or server. The method also includes registering the devices with the central panel. The model can include verifying link quality with each of the devices before registering the devices with the central panel by comparing signal quality between each device and a central panel with a pre-defined threshold level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of registering distributed devices comprising:
discovering a plurality of devices at a central panel and/or server;
localizing the devices;
authorizing the devices;
registering the devices with the central panel and/or server;
comparing at the central panel and/or server a security coverage area of the devices relative to a floorplan that includes dynamically varying threat levels for respective areas of the floorplan; and
determining at the central panel and/or server whether there is a need to change placement of one or more of the devices based on a result of the comparison.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising verifying link quality with each of the devices before registering the devices with the central panel by comparing signal quality between each device and the central panel with a pre-defined threshold level.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein discovering the devices includes receiving join requests broadcast by the devices at the central panel and linking the devices to the central panel by sending a proceed to join signal to the devices.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein each join request includes a unique identifier for the respective device, and an operating profile description for the respective device and/or each proceed to join signal includes an identifier of the central panel.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 , further discovering the devices further includes comparing a device identifier in each of the join requests with a device table of the central panel and sending the proceed to join signals only to devices marked as authorized in the device table.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the device table is either created by the central panel as the central panel starts receiving join requests or is pre-downloaded to the central panel via a mobile device or the server.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising sending an awaiting authorization signal to any of the devices not marked as authorized in a device table of the central panel, and putting any of the devices receiving the awaiting authorization signal into a low power mode while the devices that received the awaiting authorization signal await authorization.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein a waiting device of the devices awaiting authorization periodically wakes up and sends a message to the central panel to check a status of the waiting device's authorization and proceeds with the remaining registration process when authorization for the waiting device is granted.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein a waiting device of the devices awaiting authorization receives an external trigger to send a message to the central panel to check a status of the waiting device's authorization and the waiting device proceeds with registration of the waiting device when authorization is granted.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein localizing the devices includes first localizing a mobile device within the floor plan and then localizing the devices with respect to the mobile device by processing a relative strength of an RF signal output by each of the device once the RF signals are received by the mobile device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein localizing the devices includes determining device locations relative to the floor plan, wherein the device locations are represented by a combination of zone location tag, octant tag, device type, and unique identifier.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein localizing the respective devices includes accepting first input into a mobile device specifying a location on the floor plan of each respective device, accepting second input into the mobile device identifying each respective device, and associating the first input with the second input for each respective device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein accepting the second input includes receiving a single tap input on the mobile device, wherein receipt of the single tap initiates accepting a device code scanned by the mobile device from at least one of a bar code, a QR code, or an RFID code provided by each respective device or entered into the mobile device by manual entry, and further initiates localizing each respective device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein multiple devices of the respective devices are scanned simultaneously for receiving the device code of each of the respective devices, wherein the multiple devices are scanned in a location other than the respective locations indicated on the floor plan.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein localizing the devices comprises:
predicting a signal fingerprint for an expected device installation location indicated on the floor plan for each of the devices, wherein each expected device installation location indicates a location at which a respective one of the devices is expected to be installed, and the predicted signal fingerprint for each of the expected device installation locations includes a predicted characteristic of signals predicted to be received at the expected device installation location from each of the other devices at their respective expected device installation locations;
after each of the devices is installed at their actual device installation locations, measuring a signal fingerprint of actual signals received at each of the actual device installation locations, wherein the measured signal fingerprint measured at each of the actual device installation locations includes an actual characteristic of signals received at the actual device installation location from each of the other devices at their respective actual device installation locations; and
identifying installation locations of the respective devices once installed at their actual device installation locations based on multiple comparisons of the respective predicted signal fingerprints predicted for each of the expected device installation locations and the respective measured signal fingerprints measured at each of the actual device installation locations.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein authorizing the devices comprises authorizing the devices based on an outcome of the comparison.

17. A security system comprising:
a central panel or server configured to register a plurality of distributed devices, the central panel or server comprising:
a memory configured to store a plurality of programmable instructions; and
at least one processing device in communication with the memory, wherein the at least one processing device, upon execution of the plurality of programmable instructions is configured to:
discover a plurality of devices at a central panel and/or server;
localize the devices;
authorize the devices;
register the devices with the central panel and/or server;
compare a security coverage area of the devices relative to a floorplan that includes varying threat levels for respective areas of the floorplan; and
determine whether there is a need to change placement of one or more of the devices based on a result of the comparison.

18. The security system recited in claim 17 , wherein the at least one processing device, upon execution of the plurality of programmable instructions is further configured to:
predict a signal fingerprint for an expected device installation location indicated on the floor plan for each of the devices, wherein each expected device installation location indicates a location at which a respective one of the devices is expected

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Tiwari Ankit
• Villaverde Berta Carballido
• Yous Sofiane
• Alberola Rodolfo De Paz
• Lakamraju Vijaya Ramaraju
• Mukherjee Kushal
• Ramoutar Michael

Classifications

• G01S5/02528

  Simulating radio frequency fingerprints · CPC title

• H04W8/005 Primary

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• H04L67/51 Primary

  Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services · CPC title

• G08B29/18

  Prevention or correction of operating errors (G08B29/02, G08B29/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04L12/6418

  Hybrid transport · CPC title