Efficient communication for devices of a home network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9451573-B2
Application number	US-201615096673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2016
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 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. A network device, comprising:
a network interface configured for communication using a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol, the first communications protocol being different than the second communications protocol; and
a memory and processor system comprising instructions that are executable to configure the network device to:
establish communication with another network device using the second communications protocol, the other network device configured to communicate with a service at a server via a first network using the first communications protocol;
receive network configuration information from the other network device to enable the network device to join the first network;
establish communication with the first network using the received network configuration information; and
connect to the service via the first network using the first communications protocol.

2. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the first communications protocol is an IEEE 802.11 communications protocol.

3. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the second communications protocol is an IEEE 802.15.4 communications protocol.

4. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the other network device communicates with the service using Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).

5. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the other network device comprises a camera.

6. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the other network device is a thermostat.

7. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the other network device is a hazard detector.

8. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the other network device is a light switch.

9. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the light switch is configured to sense one or more of an ambient light level or an occupancy.

10. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the other network device is at least one of:
a wall plug interface;
an entry interface device;
a security system;
an appliance;
a garage door opener; or
a ceiling fan.

11. A method for communicating by a network device using a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol, the method comprising:
establishing communication with another network device using the second communications protocol, the other network device configured to communicate with a service at a server via a first network using the first communications protocol, the first communications protocol being different than the second communications protocol;
receiving network configuration information from the other network device to enable the network device to join the first network;
in response to said receiving the network configuration information, establishing communication with the first network; and
connecting to the service via the first network using the first communications protocol.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first communications protocol is an IEEE 802.11 communications protocol.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second communications protocol is an IEEE 802.15.4 communications protocol.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the other network device communicates with the service using Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the other network device comprises a camera.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the other network device is at least one of:
a thermostat;
a hazard detector;
a light switch;
a wall plug interface;
an entry interface device;
a security system;
an appliance;
a garage door opener; or
a ceiling fan.

17. A system comprising:
a network device configured for communication using a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol, the first communications protocol being different than the second communications protocol, the network device configured to:
establish communication with another network device using the second communications protocol, the other network device configured to communicate with a service at a server via a first network using the first communications protocol;
receive network configuration information from the other network device to enable the network device to join the first network;
establish communication with the first network using the received network configuration information; and
connect to the service via the first network using the first communications protocol;

the other network device configured to:
transmit the network configuration information to the network device; and
in response to the network device establishing communication with the first network, communicate with the service via the network device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first communications protocol is an IEEE 802.11 communications protocol, and wherein the second communications protocol is an IEEE 802.15.4 communications protocol.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the other network device comprises a camera.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the other network device is at least one of:
a thermostat;
a hazard detector;
a light switch;
a wall plug interface;
an entry interface device;
a security system;
an appliance;
a garage door opener; or
a ceiling fan.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Erickson Grant Michael
• Logue Jay D
• Boross Christopher Anthony
• 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