WO2001017091A1

WO2001017091A1 - System of state-blocks

Info

Publication number: WO2001017091A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001537
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Gustafsson; Leif Johnsson; Peter Kriens; Jan Gabrielsson
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority date: 1999-09-02
Filing date: 2000-08-03
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Also published as: AU6486100A; SE9903103L; SE9903103D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of at least two physical state-blocks (2), wherein each state-block comprises an identification stored in a state-block memory (18), a processing unit (16), one communication port (22) for communicating identification and state-information to and from said state-block. The state-block also comprises a state port (20) for applying and/or for indicating state changes. The identification for all state-blocks in said system belongs to the same identification family and that the identifications of the other state-blocks in the family are stored in the state-block memory of each state-block. A state change applied at the state port of one state-block in the system is communicated via said communication port to all other state-blocks in the family and is indicated at the state port of said other state-blocks.

Description

System of state-blocks

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a system of at least two state-blocks according to the preamble of claim 1 where a state-change of one state- block is communicated to the other state-blocks of the system and also to a method of establishing connection between physically separated user interfaces. The invention further relates to a state-block and a gateway- block according to the other independent claims.

Description of related art

US-5, 455,464 discloses a method and apparatus for providing dynamically configurable electrical switches. This patent has as starting point a traditional wiring scheme, e.g. in houses and offices, where each electrical socket is separately wired to a specific wall switch, which in turn is wired to a power source. This wire scheme has several disadvantages: Running multiple wires to accommodate each outlet and switch pair can be expensive and difficult to organize; it is difficult to locate specific individual wires running from the power source to a specific wall switch or from a specific wall switch to a specific electrical socket and if new configurations are wanted the individual wires must be located and maybe rewired.

The apparatus disclosed in US-5, 455, 464 comprises switch controls that allow a user to select a function to control a corresponding electrical device, a control unit which couples electrical power to a plurality of electrical devises through power outlets. The switch control transmits both a switch state, indicative of the function selected on the switch control, and a switch identification that uniquely identifies that switch control. When a switch command is generated in a switch control a transmitter generates a packet of digital data comprising bits of information identifying the switch control and the switch state. The digitized data is transmitted to the control unit. Different ways of transmission can be used, e.g. radio waves, infra red transmission or lower frequencies transmitted by an electrical conductor. The control unit comprises an identification map where an operator manually can enter new switch identification and select one corresponding power outlet for the switch control to operate.

The system disclosed in US-5, 455, 464 has several drawbacks, one is that it requires manual intervention or programming to set up and assign new pairs of switch controls and power outlets in the identification map.

Another drawback is that the operator needs to have certain knowledge of the system to be able to make such programming. In other words, it is not an easy handled system, which can be used immediately by anyone.

Summary of the invention

One object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a connection between globally distributed units in order to transfer state changes between these units.

These objects are achieved according to the invention as set forth in the appended independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

Thus, in order to arrange an easy handled system the identifications of all state-blocks in a state-block family (state-blocks in the same identification family) are stored in each state-block in the family. Every time a state is changed in a state-block this state change is communicated to all the other state-blocks in the state-block family.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention each state-block is connected to a gateway-block polled by the gateway-block and all state changes together with the identification of the state -block are transferred via a communication network to the other state-blocks of the state-block family. According to another preferred embodiment a state-block directory is connected to the communication network, wherein said state-block directory is provided with the identifications of all state-blocks in an identification family and adapted to assign addresses to said identifications.

According to still another preferred embodiment is the communication network an IP-based network.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention is a user interface connected to the state-block. The user interfaces on a state- block pair could e.g. be a switch connected to the state-port of one state- block in a state-block family and an electrical heating apparatus connected to the state port of another state-block in the same family. The state-block with the switch is e.g. arranged in an apartment and the other state-block is arranged in a house in the countryside. The switch could thus remotely control the heating apparatus.

Another application of the state-blocks is that one state-block in a state- block family is connected to a thermometer that gives electrical indication of the outside temperature, in e.g. Stockholm, on the state port. The other state-blocks in the family have a display connected to its respective state ports where the temperature is displayed.

Still another application of a state-block pair is the remote control of toys. In this case is one state-block arranged in relation to a remote control unit e.g. for controlling a toy robot and the other state-block is connected to a control input of the toy robot. The remote control unit and the toy robot could be placed separately anywhere in the world provided that connection to a communication network is available.

The system can be described as a virtual connection between globally distributed state-blocks. An IP-based connection network, i.e. the Internet that nowadays has a global coverage, can provide this virtual connection. The fact that the Internet is an established communication network accepted throughout the world and that a user do not have to bother about how the communication network functions is a presumption for the easy handled state-blocks according to the invention. The present invention provides a possibility to establish the connection to the communication network, e.g. the Internet, in an easy way.

To further emphasize how user-friendly the system is a simple example is given. According to this example is a state-block arranged with some kind of user interface, e.g. a switch. The state-block is integrated e.g. in a support plate of the switch and connected to a gateway block also integrated in the support plate. Now, the switch is intended to control a heating apparatus in a house in the countryside. The other state-block in the pair is arranged integrally with the heating apparatus with the state- port connected to a control input of the heating apparatus, e.g. an on/off input and also connected to a gateway-block. Both these gateway-blocks are arranged to communicate with a respective communication block, this communication can be wireless e.g. by IR or radio waves. The communication block is placed in the vicinity of the state-block, that could mean in the same room or in the same building etc. The communication block could be a part of a PC and has a residential gateway that handles the communication to the Internet. Another possibility is that a PC performs the activity performed by the communication block and the residential gateway. The only installation effort that has to be made is to make sure that the switch and the heating apparatus are energized and that the communication blocks are activated (PC turned on) to be able to identify the other state-block via the Internet. A state change, e.g. the switch is turned on, is detected by the state-block and transferred, via the Internet, to the other state-block where a state change is detected and present at the state-port which in turn is able to control the heating apparatus to be turned on.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the system in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a state-block and a gateway block in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication block and a communication network in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 4a and 4b show block diagrams related to a functional description of the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the system in accordance with the invention. The system comprises state-blocks 2 connected to gateway-blocks 4. User interfaces 6 are connected to the state-blocks. As can be seen from figure 1 more than one state-block can be connected to each gateway-block. The gateway-block 4 is connected to a communication block 8 via a communication link 10 and the communication block 10 is in turn connected to a communication network 12. A state-block directory 14 in a state-block directory server 15 (see figure 3) is connected to the communication network 12. Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the state-block 2 and a gateway-block 4. The state-block comprises a processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor, 16 and a state-block memory 18. The user interface 6 (see figure 1) is connected to a state port 20 of the state-block and the gateway-block is connected to a communication port 22 of the state- block. The gateway-block comprises a communication control unit 24, a state-block port 25 and a communication link port 26 connected to the communication link 10. Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the communication block 8, the communication network 12 and the state-block directory server 15. The communication network is an IP-based network, e.g. the Internet. The communication block 8 comprises a communication unit 28 and a residential gateway 30.

The function of the system will now be described in greater detail with references to all the figures.

Each state-block comprises an identification stored in the state-block memory 18 of that state-block. The identifications for all state-blocks in a state-block family belong to the same identification family and the identifications of the other state-blocks in the family are also stored in the state-block memory of each state-block. The identifications are globally unique within the system of state-block families and are preferably unique 64 bit numbers. Cf. e.g. the MAC-addresses of ethernet-cards.

The state-block directory 14 in the state-block directory server 15 that is connected to the communication network, is provided with the identifications of all state-blocks in an identification family and adapted, upon request, to assign addresses to said identifications. The addresses of a state-block identification family comprise e.g. IP-addresses for all residential gateways for the state-blocks in the family. It should be noted that the state-block directory initially is empty. As soon as a state-block is activated or configured the identification together with the address to the relevant residential gateway is communicated to and stored in the state-block directory. In the residential gateway is a state- block control software arranged that in response of a received state-block identification from an activated state-block is adapted to communicate the identification and the IP-address to the state-block directory server. The state-block control software has two main tasks namely to handle the global and local information to and from the state-block. The global task, as indicated above, is to be able to locate the state-block directory server where the state-block directory is comprised and to send and receive information to and from it. The local task is to locate the locally connected gateway-blocks and to send and receive relevant information, i.e. the identification and the state of a state-block.

As indicated above the state-block directory is adapted to assign only the addresses to the state-block identifications, or more specifically to the residential gateway for each state-block identification. Thus, no data regarding the states of the state-blocks, i.e. information regarding the user interface, e.g. the type of function the state-blocks are controlling, are needed to be stored in the directory.

The state port 20 of each state-block is arranged for applying and/ or for detecting state changes. The user interface 6 connected to the state port could be e.g. a sensor, an actuator, an electrical, optical or acoustic indicator or an electrical connection. A state port could according to a simple implementation be able to indicate /detect a "0" or a " 1". This state information is then "translated" by the user interface to a specific function. Other more advanced implementations could involve an analogue state information.

A state change applied at the state port of one state-block in the system is communicated via the communication port to all other state-blocks in the family and is detected at the state port of the other state-blocks.

The gateway block 4 energizes via the communication port 22 the state- block. The connection between the state-block and the gateway-block is preferably a serial bus where identification and state-information to and from said state-block are communicated. The first time the state-block receives its power it will send its identification and its state to the gateway-block. The gateway-block polls the state-block at regular intervals. The polling frequency depends on the intended use. Basically any polling frequency is possible and the frequency is roughly dependent on the bandwidth of the connection between the state-block and the gateway-block. When a state has been changed it is detected during the next polling. Alternatively the state-block is arranged to indicate to the gateway-block that a state change has occurred.

The following messages can be sent between the state-block and the gateway- block:

STATE_CHANGE If sent from the state-block: The state has been changed.

If sent to the state-block: The state has been changed for another state- block in the same state-block family.

STATE_REQUEST

If sent from the state-block: Which is the current state for the other state - blocks in the same state-block family?

If sent to the state-block: Which is the current state?

RESET

Reset to power-up /initial state.

CONFIGURE Other state-blocks in same family activated?

The communication between the gateway-block and the communication block can be performed by different techniques. Both wireless communication, e.g. by radio waves, IR and communication via electrical connections are possible.

Within the communication block the communication between the communication unit and the residential gateway could be performed in many different ways. It could be a local network, e.g. a token ring or an ethernet, or have a serial or wireless interface. The residential gateway is a gateway to the communication network, e.g. a PC or a specialized "gateway-box". One commercially available gateway is known under the name "e-box".

One residential gateway can handle many gateway-blocks. The state- block control software can easily be installed on the residential gateway and will then automatically configure the system. The system comprises two state-blocks, a state-block pair, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Each state-block is connected, as described above to a residential gateway. These two residential gateways receive, respectively, from the state-block directory the IP-address for the other residential gateway. When a state is changed in one of the state-blocks information regarding the state change is sent to the other state-block via the network. In a system that comprises two state-blocks, one has a switch connected to its state-port and the other state-block has a lamp connected to its state-port. Under the presumption that the switch and the lamp, respectively, are locally energized, the switch can turn on and off the lamp. The switch and the lamp can theoretically be placed anywhere in the world provided that communication between them can be established via the communication network.

The physical shape of the state-block depends on the intended use. If for example the above-mentioned switch/ lamp configuration should be applied the state-block could be integrated (together with a gateway- block) in a lamp socket and in a switch, respectively. Another possible application is to integrate a state-block and a gateway- block in a toy, e.g. in a building block.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention the state-block further comprises an indication port where it is indicated if the other state-blocks in the family are accessible. This indication port could be connected to a light indicator, e.g. an LED.

Figure 4a discloses a block diagram showing a state-block pair related to a functional description of the present invention. A state-block pair, i.e. two state-blocks in the same state-block family comprising only two state- blocks, can be seen as one functional unit having two halves, a first and a second state-block, 2 and 2', respectively. Each state-block comprises a state-block memory 18, 18' and a state-port 20,20'. As described above in connection with figures 1-3 a state-change at the state-port of one state- block is communicated to the other state-block in the family. A state- change can be e.g. a change from "0" to " 1", a change of a stored numerical value or a change of an analogue value. The use of these values is of course optional and depends on what kind of user interface that is connected to the state-port.

An input- signal 32,32' is applied to a state-block 2,2' in order to perform a state-change of that block. The signals representing the state-change is communicated to the other state-block according to the above-described technique, a change of state of the other state-block is performed and that state-change is indicated as an output- signal 34,34'. The block diagram disclosed in figure 4a represents a general application of the state-block pair in that both input- and output- signal are provided at each state - block.

Figure 4b discloses a block diagram representing a more specific application of the present invention whereas the first state-block 2 is provided with an input-signal 32 in order to change the state of that block and the second state-block 2' is provided with an output-signal 34' for indicating that state-change.

According to one of the examples given above is a switch connected to the state-port of the first state-block 2. An input-signal 32 is generated by the switch when it is turned on or off and a corresponding state-change is thus performed in the state-block memory. The state-change is communicated to the second state-block where the same state-change is made. An output-signal indicating the state-change is then applied to e.g. a lamp that is turned on or off in response of the activation of the switch. The functional unit, i.e. the state-block pair, could be compared to a pair of gates that physically and logically are connected together, i.e. the input and output signals are physically at connected together. The difference is that in the present invention the two state-blocks, although logically connected, are physically separated, i.e the input and output signals are physically separated by logically connected.

Still another way of describing a wide concept of the invention is to study an input-signal, which can represent any physical or logical parameter. The input-signal is coded or translated into an entity that can be represented and stored in the state-block memory. This entity is then communicated to the state-block memory of the other state-block(s) where another coding or translation is performed to obtain an output-signal applicable for the intended use, e.g. to turn on a lamp. The coding or translation of the entities stored on the state-block memories is closely related to the user interface connected to it.

Another important aspect of the invention is that the user interface, e.g. a lamp connected to a state-block, is not energized by the state-block. The state-block only controls the function of the connected user interface. There are of course many obvious ways to energize a user interface, e.g. using an ordinary power supply or a battery etc.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appendant claims.

Claims

1. A system of at least two physical state-blocks (2), wherein each state- block comprises an identification stored in a state-block memory (18), a processing unit (16), one communication port (22) for communicating identification and state-information to and from said state-block, and a state port (20) for applying and/or for indicating state changes, characterized in that said identification for all state-blocks in said system belongs to the same identification family and that the identifications of the other state-blocks in the family are stored in the state-block memory of each state-block, wherein a state change applied at the state port of one state-block in the system is communicated via said communication port to all other state-blocks in the family and is indicated at the state port of said other state-blocks.

2. System according to claim 1 characterized in that said system further comprises a physical gateway-block (4) adapted to be connected to the communication port of said state-block, the gateway- block supplies power to the state-block and handles the communication to and from the state-block, wherein said gateway-block is also connected to a communication network (12) via a communication link (10).

3. System according to claim 2characterized in that said communication network is an IP-based network.

4. System according to claim 2characterized in that said communication link is wireless.

5. System according to claim 1 characterized in that a user interface (6) is connected to the state port, said interface being a sensor, an actuator, an electrical, optical or acoustic indicator or an electrical connection.

6. System according to any of claims 2-5 characterized in that said system further comprises a state-block directory (14) connected to the communication network, wherein said state-block directory is provided with the identifications of all state-blocks in an identification family and adapted to assign addresses to said identifications.

7. System according to claim 6characterized in that said system further comprises at least two communication blocks (8), each provided with a residential gateway (30) that runs a state-block control software, wherein said control software performs the following tasks: locates the state block directory server; sends identification of locally connected state-blocks and of address of the residential gateway, e.g. an IP-address, to said server and receives corresponding information regarding state-blocks in the same family.

8. System according to any preceding claim characterized in that said state-change is performed in response of an input-signal (32, 32^ applied to one state-block in a state-block family and the state-change is communicated to the other state-block(s) in the state-block family where it is indicated as an output-signal (34,34').

9. A physical gateway-block (4) comprising a communication control unit (24), a state-block port (25) adapted to be connected to at least one state-block (2) for supplying power to the state-block and for handling the communication to and from the state-block and a communication link port (26) where the gateway-block is connected to a communication network (12).

10. Gateway- block according to claim 9, c h arac te riz e d in that said communication control unit is arranged to poll an identification, that belong to an identification family, of a connected state-block and to receive state changes of the connected state-block, and to transfer, via the communication network, the state-changes to other blocks belonging to the same identification family.

11. Gateway-block according to claim 10, characterized in that said communication control unit is arranged to receive, via the communication link port, state changes from other state-blocks in the same identification family as the state-block connected to the gateway- block, and to apply said state changes to the connected state-block.

12. A physical state-block (2) comprising an identification, that belongs to an identification family, stored in a state-block memory (18), a processing unit (16), a communication port (22) for communicating identification and state-information to and from said state-block, and a state port (20) for applying and/ or for indicating state changes, wherein identifications of all other state-blocks in said identification family are stored in said state-block memory.

13. State-block according to claim 12 characterized in that the state-block is power supplied through said communication port.

14. State-block according to claim 12, c h arac te rize d in that a user interface (6) is connected to the state port, said interface being a sensor, an actuator, an electrical, optical or acoustic indicator or an electrical connection.

15. State-block according to any of claims 12-14, c h ar a c t e r i z e d i n that the state-block further comprises an indication port where it is indicated if other state-blocks in the identification family are activated.

16. Method of establishing connection between physically separated user interfaces, wherein each user interface is connected to and controlled by a state-block, using a system according to any of claims 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said method comprises the following steps: a) to contact a state-block directory in a state-block directory server via a communication network; b) to receive information from said directory regarding the address for other state-blocks in the state-block family and whether they are activated and connected; c) to establish a direct contact between state-blocks in the family; d) to exchange information between state-blocks in the family with regard to the states and state-changes for these state-blocks, and e) to control a function of a user interface in response of a state of a state-block connected to that user interface.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 8 December 2000 (08.12.00); original claims 1-16 replaced by new claims 1-15

(4 pages)]

Amended Claims

1. A system of at least two physical state-blocks (2), wherein each state- block comprises an identification stored in a state-block memory (18), a processing unit (16), one communication port (22) for communicating identification and state-information to and from said state-block, and a state port (20) for applying and/ or for indicating state changes, characterized in that said identification for all state-blocks in said system belongs to the same identification family and that the identifications of the other state-blocks in the family are stored in the state-block memory of each state-block, wherein a state change applied at the state port of one state-block in the system is communicated via said communication port to all other state-blocks in the family and is indicated at the state port of said other state-blocks, said system further comprises a state-block directory (14) in a state block directory server connected to a communication network (12), wherein said state-block directory is provided with the identifications of all state-blocks in an identification family and adapted to assign addresses to said identifications.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said system further comprises a physical gateway-block (4) adapted to be connected to the communication port of said state-block, the gateway- block supplies power to the state-block and handles the communication to and from the state-block, wherein said gateway-block is also connected to the communication network (12) via a communication link (10).

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said communication network is an IP-based network.

4. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said communication link is wireless.

5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that a user interface (6) is connected to the state port, said interface being a sensor, an actuator, an electrical, optical or acoustic indicator or an electrical connection.

6. System according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that said system further comprises at least two communication blocks (8), each provided with a residential gateway (30) that runs a state-block control software, wherein said control software performs the following tasks: locates the state block directory server; sends identification of locally connected state-blocks and of address of the residential gateway, e.g. an IP-address, to said server and receives corresponding information regarding state-blocks in the same family.

7. System according to any preceding claim characterized in that said state-change is performed in response of an input-signal (32,32") applied to one state-block in a state-block family and the state-change is communicated to the other state-block(s) in the state-block family where it is indicated as an output-signal (34,34').

8. A physical gateway-block (4) adapted to be used in a system according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said gateway-block comprises a communication control unit (24), a state-block port (25) adapted to be connected to at least one state-block (2) for supplying power to the state-block and for handling the communication to and from the state-block and a communication link port (26) where the gateway-block is connected to the communication network (12).

9. Gateway-block according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said communication control unit is arranged to poll an identification, that belong to an identification family, of a connected state-block and to receive state changes of the connected state-block, and to transfer, via the communication network, the state-changes to other blocks belonging to the same identification family.

10. Gateway-block according to claim 9, c h arac te rize d in that said communication control unit is arranged to receive, via the communication link port, state changes from other state-blocks in the same identification family as the state-block connected to the gateway- block, and to apply said state changes to the connected state-block.

11. A physical state-block (2) adapted to be used in a system according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that said state-block comprises an identification, that belongs to an identification family, stored in a state-block memory (18), a processing unit (16), a communication port (22) for communicating identification and state- information to and from said state-block, and a state port (20) for applying and/or for indicating state changes, wherein identifications of all other state-blocks in said identification family are stored in said state - block memory.

12. State-block according to claim 11 characterized in that the state-block is power supplied through said communication port.

13. State-block according to claim 11, characterized in that a user interface (6) is connected to the state port, said interface being a sensor, an actuator, an electrical, optical or acoustic indicator or an electrical connection.

14. State-block according to any of claims 11-13, c h arac te rize d i n that the state-block further comprises an indication port where it is indicated if other state-blocks in the identification family are activated.

15. Method of establishing connection between physically separated user interfaces, wherein each user interface is connected to and controlled by a state-block, using a system according to any of claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said method comprises the following steps: a) to contact the state-block directory in the state-block directory server via the communication network; b) to receive information from said directory regarding the address for other state-blocks in the state-block family and whether they are activated and connected; c) to establish a direct contact between state-blocks in the family; d) to exchange information between state-blocks in the family with regard to the states and state-changes for these state-blocks, and e) to control a function of a user interface in response of a state of a state-block connected to that user interface.