Systems and methods for controlling and monitoring multiple electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9270478-B2
Application number	US-82346504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2004
Priority date	Apr 13, 2004
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A device control system for controlling multiple electronic devices over a network with a centralized host device is disclosed. The device control system includes a host device providing a graphical interface for a user to control various electronic devices throughout a home, building, or industrial plant. The host device is connected to multiple devices over a network and controls the electronic devices in real-time. The host device runs a managing controlling process that closes the control loops for each device over the network at the host device. Multiple devices are controlled in real-time using a 2 N time slicing algorithm. The host device can be accessed from a remote location by establishing an Internet connection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling one or more electronic devices through a host device, the method comprising:
establishing frequency-based, real-time electronic communications over a network between the host device and a plurality of controlled devices;
assigning each controlled device a discrete control frequency specific to that controlled device using a 2 N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer, wherein each control frequency that is assigned has a value of 2 N ;
executing control software in the host device to generate control input parameters for the one or more controlled devices;
sending the control input parameters to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the control input parameters for a particular controlled device are always sent to that controlled device at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device; and
ensuring that the sum of all the control frequencies for the one or more controlled devices does not exceed the network's bandwidth, so that electronic communication with each controlled device always occurs at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device, thereby facilitating real-time communication with that controlled device;
wherein the one or more controlled devices do not include a hardware controller for generating the control input parameters, but instead receive the control input parameters from the host device via the frequency-based, real-time electronic communications.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the host device, output parameters from the controlled devices in response to the control input parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of the controlled devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 2 N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2 N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of each controlled device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating a control loop process on the host device when electronic communication is established with a controlled devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing the host device from a remote computing device via the Internet.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising providing information relating to the controlled devices to a user at the remote computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving user input at the host device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled devices.

9. A computing device configured for controlling electronic devices, the computing device comprising:
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor; and
executable instructions executable by the processor, wherein the executable instructions are configured for:
establishing frequency-based, real-time electronic communications over a network between the host device and a plurality of controlled devices;
assigning each controlled device a discrete control frequency specific to that controlled device using a 2 N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer, wherein each control frequency that is assigned has a value of 2 N ;
executing control software in the host device to generate control input parameters for the one or more controlled devices;
sending the control input parameters to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the control input parameters for a particular controlled device are always sent to that controlled device at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device; and
ensuring that the sum of all the control frequencies for the one or more controlled devices does not exceed the network's bandwidth, so that electronic communication with each controlled device always occurs at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device, thereby facilitating real-time communication with that controlled device;

wherein the one or more controlled devices do not include a hardware controller for generating the control input parameters, but instead receive the control input parameters from the host device via the frequency-based, real-time electronic communications.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for receiving, at the computing device, output parameters from the controlled devices in response to the control input parameters.

11. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices.

12. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the 2 N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2 N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of the controlled device.

13. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for initiating a control loop process on the computing device when electronic communication is established with a controlled device.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for initiating a torque/current control loop process at a microcontroller on the controlled device when the controlled device comprises a motor.

15. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for accessing the computing device from a remote computing device via the Internet.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for providing information relating to the controlled devices to a user at the remote computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for receiving user input at the computing device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled devices.

18. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for:
establishing frequency-based, real-time electronic communications over a network between the host device and a plurality of controlled devices;
assigning each controlled device a discrete control frequency specific to that controlled device using a 2 N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer, wherein each control frequency that is assigned has a value of 2 N ;
executing control software in the host device to generate control input parameters for the one or more controlled devices;
sending the control input parameters to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the control input parameters for a particular controlled device are always sent to that controlled device at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device; and
ensuring that the sum of all the control frequencies for the one or more controlled devices does not exceed the network's bandwidth, so that electronic communication with each controlled device always occurs at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device, thereby facilitating real-time communication with that controlled device;
wherein the one or more controlled devices do not include a hardware controller for generating the control input parameters, but instead receive the control input parameters from the host device via the frequency-based, real-time electronic communications.

19. The

Assignees

• Red Walter E
• Baxter Michael S
• Thompson Daniel J
• Univ Brigham Young

Inventors

• Red Walter E
• Baxter Michael S
• Thompson Daniel J

Classifications

• H04L12/2803 Primary

  Home automation networks · CPC title

• H04L12/282

  based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204) · CPC title

• H04L41/044

  comprising hierarchical management structures · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• H04L12/2818

  from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007) · CPC title