Efficient communication for devices of a home network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326307-B2
Application number	US-201514712436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for efficient communication through a fabric network of devices in a home environment or similar environment. For example, an electronic device may efficiently control communication to balance power and reliability concerns, may efficiently communicate messages to certain preferred networks by analyzing Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) packet headers that use an Extended Unique Local Address (EULA), may efficiently communicate software updates and status reports throughout a fabric network, and/or may easily and efficiently join a fabric network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a storage element configured to store instructions to operate at least a portion of a network stack;
a processor configured to execute the instructions to operate at least the portion of the network stack; and
a network interface configured to communicate a message to a target device based on at least the portion of the network stack;
wherein the network stack comprises:
an application layer configured to provide an application payload comprising data to be transmitted in the message;
a transport layer configured to selectively transport the message using either a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP); and
a network layer configured to communicate the message

wherein the processor is configured to vary selection of a transportation protocol of the message using TCP or UDP depending on an urgency of the message, wherein the message comprises an urgent message when the message communicates a device alarm and wherein the message comprises a non-urgent message when the message communicates an indication of a non-hazardous environmental condition without a device alarm.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is configured to communicate the message to the target device via an intervening device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the network interface is configured to cause the device to join a network-connected fabric of devices comprising the target device and the intervening device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to transport the message using TCP or UDP based on an amount of available power of the electronic device, wherein the processor is configured to vary the selection of transportation of the message using TCP or UDP based in part on an amount of power to be consumed by an intervening device.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to vary the selection of transportation of the message using TCP or UDP based in part on an amount of power to be consumed by the electronic device.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to vary the selection of transportation of the message using TCP or UDP based in part on an amount of power to be consumed by the target device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the message is configured to be transported using TCP when the message comprises an urgent message, wherein the message is configured to be transported using UDP when the message comprises a non-urgent message.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the message is configured to be transported using TCP when the device is powered by a power source external to the device, wherein the message is configured to be transported using UDP when the device is powered by a power source internal to the device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the application layer is configured to is configured to vary the selection of transportation of the message using TCP or UDP depending on whether the device is transmitting the message to the target device comprises a service.

10. The tangible non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the network layer configured to communicate the message using Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) via an 802.11 wireless network, an 802.15.4 wireless network, a powerline network, a cellular network, an Ethernet network, a low-power wireless network, or any combination thereof.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the network layer is configured to communicate the message via an 802.11 wireless network, an 802.15.4 wireless network, a powerline network, a cellular network, an Ethernet network, a low-power wireless network, or any combination thereof.

12. An electronic device comprising:
a storage element configured to store instructions to operate at least a portion of a network stack;
a processor configured to execute the instructions to operate at least the portion of the network stack; and
a network interface configured to communicate a message to a target device based on at least the portion of the network stack;
wherein the network stack comprises:
an application layer configured to provide an application payload comprising data to be transmitted in the message;
a transport layer configured to selectively transport the message using either a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP); and
a network layer configured to communicate the message;

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to transport the message using TCP or UDP based on a type of network over which the message is to be sent, wherein the message is configured to be transported using TCP when the network over which the message is to be sent comprises a WiFi network, wherein the message is configured to be transported using UDP when the network over which the message is to be sent comprises an 802.15.4 wireless network.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the target device comprises at least one of a refrigerator, a stove, an oven, a television, a washer, a dryer, one or more lights, a stereo, an intercom system, a garage-door opener, a floor fan, a ceiling fan, a whole-house fan, a wall air conditioner, a pool heaters, an irrigation system, or a security system.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, or a smartphone.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a light switch configured to detect ambient lighting conditions, detect room-occupancy states, control a power and/or dim state of one or more lights, or control a power state and/or speed of a fan.

16. An electronic device comprising:
a storage element configured to store instructions to operate at least a portion of a network stack;
a processor configured to execute the instructions to operate at least the portion of the network stack; and
a network interface configured to communicate a message to a target device based on at least the portion of the network stack;
wherein the network stack comprises:
an application layer configured to provide an application payload comprising data to be transmitted in the message;
a transport layer configured to selectively transport the message using either a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP); and
a network layer configured to communicate the message;

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to transport the message using TCP or UDP based on a distance over which the message may travel to reach its destination, wherein the message is configured to be transported using TCP when the distance over which the message may travel through the fabric network is greater than a threshold, wherein the message is configured to be transported using UDP when the distance over which the message may travel through the fabric network is less than a threshold.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the distance represents a number of hops to reach the target device.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the distance represents a number of different types of networks that are traversed to reach the target device.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the distance represents an actual distance through the network, or any combination thereof.

20. A tangible non-transitory machine readabl

Assignees

• Google Inc
• Google Inc

Inventors

• Erickson Grant M
• Logue Jay D
• Boross Christopher J
• Smith Zachary B
• Hardison Osborne B
• Schultz Richard J
• Gujjaru Sunny P
• Neeley Matthew G

Classifications

• H04L12/2814

  Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network (arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08) · CPC title

• H04L12/2823

  Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network (device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title

• H04W72/53

  based on regulatory allocation policies · CPC title

• G08B21/0415

  detecting absence of activity per se · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title