ES2303472B1 - WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

Wireless control system

It allows to govern devices (10) from a wireless device (23). It comprises a controller with a module short distance communications for communication with devices wireless (23); a search manager module (5) that generates search signals for wireless devices (23), to which these answer by sending an identifier and selectively an action to perform on the device (10) or an administration order of configuration modification; a module (6) extractor identification of a wireless device (23) to remove the identifier received; and an identifier comparator module (7) that through an action interpreter module (11) performs the device governance (10), when verifying locally or remotely the identifier, or directly upon receipt.

Description

Wireless control system

Object of the invention

The invention relates to a control system wireless that is intended to allow one or more to govern devices, which can be of the same or different nature; Y which is intended to authorize the governance of the device or devices through prior interrogation and detection of wireless devices that are close to the system, and the receive a response from any of the wireless devices detected.

It is another object of the invention to allow modify the functionality of the system upon receiving a response by  part of the wireless devices detected.

It is also the object of the invention to allow perform the above functions upon request of a password, of  form that only the government of the devices is authorized when the password received is correct.

The invention is applicable to perform the governance of any type of device operated by relays,  such as appliances, alarms, etc, Parameter reading devices such as electricity, water meters, etc, or any device that performs the measurement of a parameter; all from a wireless device that incorporates conventional short distance wireless technology, as per example bluetooth, wi-fi, etc, how can it be a telephone, PDA, remote control, etc.

Background of the invention

In the state of the art closest to the invention it is worth mentioning the Spanish Invention Patent with number of  application P-200502971 describing a wireless device control system using a device that is equipped with a mobile phone, and does not provide for the possibility of that the wireless device can be a simple command to distance.

Also in the aforementioned document the control of devices, from wireless devices, such as result of these answering a previous interrogation made from the system.

Description of the invention

The invention has developed a new system, which, like conventional ones, allows acting and governing least one device from a wireless device, for which it is equipped with at least one controller to which at least one device to govern, and including the controller a module of short distance communications through which the communication with at least one wireless device; and it is characterized because the controller is equipped with a search manager module which has means of generating search signals from wireless devices, so that upon receiving these signals from search, respond by sending at least one device identifier wirelessly and optionally can send information from a action to be performed on the device, or an administration order modification of the controller configuration; counting also the controller with an identification module or extractor of a wireless apparatus, comprising means for removing the identifier of each wireless device that has generated a response when receiving a search signal; and including the controller an identifier comparator module that is equipped of means to perform a comparison operation of the identifier extracted with identifiers stored in a memory and generate an indication to an interpreter module of action to act on the device when the identifier extracted is stored in memory, or perform an operation of authorization request to a remote access server and generate an indication to the acting interpreter module to act on the device when it receives an authorization from the remote access server; or perform an indication operation to the action interpreter module to act directly on the device. The action interpreter module is the medium through which the connection to the device is made or devices to be governed.

This configuration has the great advantage that the system allows the device to act and govern directly or devices connected to the system upon receiving a response by part of a wireless device provided in proximity to controller, (being the proximity corresponding to the scope which has the short distance communications module), as answer to the search signals previously generated by the controller. In addition, this configuration allows the performance and governance of the devices connected to the system previous detection that the wireless device that responds is authorized to carry out said government, provided that said authorization can be generated directly by the controller or from a remote access server.

In addition the controller is equipped with a module administration order interpreter to modify the controller functionality upon receiving an order from administration together with the identification of a device wireless To do this, the module identifier extractor wireless devices comprises means to detect if together with The identifier of a wireless device has received an order of administration, these means being connected to the module administration order interpreter to whom the order is sent administration to run.

The order interpreter module of administration, in addition it is equipped with means to configure the action to be performed in the action interpreter module, so that  it is allowed to modify the action to be performed on the device to govern.

On the other hand, the controller is equipped with a administration key manager module and a memory of Administration key storage, so that when the module extractor identification of a wireless device detect an administration order, make a request to user of the wireless device of an administration key, of so that when the administration key received matches the stored one, the command interpreter module of administration modify controller functionality and in case Otherwise the process stops.

The controller also includes a module. controller key manager and a key memory of controller to request the user of the wireless device a controller key before the action interpreter perform an action on the device, so if the key of received controller does not match the stored one stops the  process, and if they coincide, the action is allowed on the device

The invention provides that a plurality of administration orders among which stand out the following:

An indicative order of storage of different identifiers of the wireless devices removed by the identifier extractor module of a wireless device, in the storage memory of the different identifiers, to establish the wireless devices that are authorized the governance of the device or devices connected to the controller.

An indicative order to delete the different identifiers stored in the memory of storage of identifiers, to initialize and allow establish a new list of wireless devices authorized to perform the governance of the devices connected to the controller.

An indicative order of programming the operation to be performed by an identifier comparator module, of so that it can perform one of the operations above commented as established.

An indicative order of configuration of the action to be performed by the action interpreter module, to allow to modify the action to be carried out.

An indicative order of key request from controller for the controller to request that key before act on the device, as already described.

An indicative order request to the device wireless to send a confirmation before executing a administration order received, so that it is verified that is the administration order that the user wants to be set as new operating mode in the controller.

An indicative order to change the password of controller or administration key.

Finally an indicative order of change of  power levels of the short communications module distance, so that its range can be varied, and in consequence its radius of action.

The invention provides that signal generation search for wireless devices is done every certain time, which has previously been preset in the manager module Search

On the other hand, the invention provides that search signals understand information regarding the type of wireless device to respond, so that it is set a system filter to allow the government of the devices to a certain type of wireless devices, since only devices corresponding to the type will respond indicated by search signals.

The identifier of the wireless devices it can be an address, as is the MAC address provided for each of the wireless devices, or a device name, as well As the type of wireless device.

For the identifier comparator module can verify the identification of the wireless device, the controller incorporates a memory manager module by which identifier storage memory is accessed.

To allow obtaining authorization from a remote access server, the controller of the invention incorporates a long-distance communications module through which the identifier comparator module accesses the access server remote. This communication is carried out through a network through cable or wirelessly.

Next to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and being an integral part of the same, they accompany a figure in which with character illustrative and not limiting the object of the invention.

Brief statement of the figure

Figure 1.- Shows a block diagram function of a possible embodiment of the system of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment

The invention is described below with the aid of the previously commented figure.

The invention allows to govern any type of device 10 from a wireless device 23, such as a telephone, PDA, remote control, etc., that incorporates technology conventional wireless, such as bluetooth, wi-fi, etc.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, describe the system to govern any type of device 10 whose activation is carried out by means of relays, such as the case of opening and closing doors, turning on and off lights, appliances, alarms, etc., but also allows govern adjustable position devices such as cranes, cameras and Similar; as well as the government of reading devices of parameters such as electricity meters, gas or any device that Measure a parameter. The figure represents a single device, but can incorporate a plurality of 10 different devices commented.

For this, device 10 or devices 10 a govern are connected to a controller that is endowed with a short distance frequency radio communications module 1 which has the corresponding antenna 2, receiver / transmitter 3 and decoder / encoder 4, which in turn is connected to a search manager module 5 which is equipped with means to generate search signals from nearby wireless devices 23 that meet certain previously established characteristics, such as the type of apparatus 23, so that it allows a filtering of the next devices 23 according to the characteristics established. This search is done every so often previously defined.

The search manager module 5 is connected to a module 6 wireless device identifier extractor 23 comprising means for extracting addresses or identifiers unique of the 23 wireless devices found, their names and type of device as established by the management module of searches 5.

In addition the controller comprises a module identification comparator 7 which by means of a management module of memory 8 is connected to a memory 9 in which a list of identifiers 9 ', such as addresses of wireless devices 23 authorized to govern the device or devices 10 connected to the system controller of the invention, so that access to govern can be restricted each device 10, to a series of wireless devices 23 determined, previously established by addresses 9 ' stored, as will be described later.

Additionally, the controller comprises a 17 long distance communications module that allows access to public or private networks 21 from the controller to communication with a remote access server 22 that allows carry out the authorization check of the device 23 found, instead of accessing memory 9.

The long distance communications module 17 You can access network 21 via cable or wirelessly, for which it comprises the corresponding radio frequency antenna or other type of adapter 18 for cable communications with network 21, the antenna or adapter 18 being connected to the corresponding receiver / transmitter 19 which in turn is connected to the corresponding decoder / encoder 20 by which makes the connection with the system controller of the invention.

To connect device 10 to controller, this comprises an action interpreter module 11 which is connected to an order interpreter module of administration 12, so that it comprises means for configure the action to be performed according to the signals received from the wireless device 23, and in the manner that will be described more ahead.

The invention provides for the possibility of requesting different keys to the user of the apparatus 23 that intends to govern the device 10 to allow its control, for which the controller comprises a controller key manager module 13 which is connected to a controller key memory 14 for allow, if required, request a controller key, which compares it with that stored in memory 14 and if it does not match the process is interrupted and the action is not executed. Too it comprises an administration key manager module 15 and a administration key memory 16 to allow the user, if required, a password of administration, which allows you to modify the functionality of the controller, as will be described later.

The system of the invention can work according to two different modes: administration mode, to modify the system configuration, and normal mode to govern the device 10.

The system goes into administration mode when the controller is turned on and / or when a button is pressed (not shown) included in the controller. In this mode of operation the search manager module 5 generates the signals Search sent through the short communications module distance 1 to the devices 23 so that they answer by sending their names and identification addresses and then the search manager module 5 detects all devices wireless 23 that respond to the signaling sent, so which sends the device identifier extractor module 6 Wireless 23 the name and identification address of each of the control devices 23 captured that have responded to the signaling generated by the search manager module 5.

Module 6 identifier extractor wireless devices 23 comprises means to detect if any of the names of the detected devices 23 contains an order or administration command that allows you to modify the configuration controller. If so, module 6 extractor wireless device identifier 23 activates the management module of administration key 15 to generate a signal of request, to the detected device 23, of an administrator password of so that upon receiving the response of the device 23 access to the administrator key memory 16 and check if the password received coincides with that stored in said memory, so that If yes, send the administration order to the module administration order interpreter 12 executing the order of administration and enters the normal operating mode. Also in the case where the module 6 extractor wireless device identifier 23 does not detect that the name of the detected device 23 contains an order or command of administration, also happens to work in normal mode, which will be described later.

The operation of the  system for the case in which the module 6 extractor wireless device identifier 23 detect that the name detected from the device 23 is associated with an order of administration.

An administration order, for example, could be receiving the device name 10.

So for example one of the orders of administration can indicate the completion of learning by part of the controller, which consists of storing of the different addresses of the devices 23 to which they are allows the device 10 to be controlled through the controller the invention.

In this case once the manager module of administration key 15 verifies that the administration key received matches the one stored, delivered to the module administration order interpreter 12 the order of learning and this, indicates module 6 identifier extractor of wireless devices 23 that deliver the different addresses of the devices 23 that were extracted, memory manager 8, the which stores all addresses 9 'in memory 9, leaving thus the system ready to allow the access of the devices of control 23 whose address has been stored.

Another administration order that the system can perform is deleting the address list  9 'of authorized wireless devices 23 that have been stored in memory 9, in which case the process would be similar to the one described for learning, but with the difference that in this of course the memory manager 8 by means of the module indication administration order interpreter 12 deletes all addresses 9 'that were previously stored in the memory 9.

Another administration order you can make The system of the invention consists in programming the module identification comparator 7 to prevent the comparison of an address of an apparatus 23 received with a stored, whose operation will be explained with later.

The administration orders also include  highlight the modification of the action to be performed in the module action interpreter 11, such as the type of activation of device 10, which can be activated by a relay (not shown) that governs the activation / deactivation, for what when detecting the command interpreter module of administration 12 an order of modification of the action, acts on the action interpreter module 11 so that it modifies the action as indicated. An example may be the modification of activation time.

Another administration function consists of modify the request mode of the controller key, that is define if when you find devices 23 that are authorized to operate, ask for a controller key before executing the order, in which case the command interpreter module of administration 12 acts on the key manager module of controller 13 that sends through decoder / encoder 4 a request for a controller key, so that upon receipt compares it with that stored in the controller key memory 14 and proceed in the manner already mentioned.

Within this function the interpreter module of administration orders 12 allows to receive a address of those allowed for access to the controller, it execute the order received without asking for any type of password controller, indicating it to the action interpreter module 11 the which proceeds to perform the action received.

It also allows the interpreter module to administration orders 12 can request the device 23 to send  of a confirmation before executing an action received, which it may consist of the user of the device 23 canceling the confirmation request, in which case you receive the answer and proceeds to execute the action through the interpreter module of action 11.

In addition it also allows the change of controller and administrator key for what you access corresponding manager 13 or 15 and stores the new key in the corresponding memory 14 or 16.

Another example of management orders consists of modifying the power levels of both the module communications 1 as of communications module 2 for which the administration order interpreter module 12 is connected directly to the corresponding receiver or sender 3 or 19.

Regarding normal operation, the module search manager 5 requests the short communications module distance 1 that searches for nearby devices 23 from time to time predefined, as already commented with anteriority.

When the search manager module 5 finds any device 23, pass the information concerning the device 23 up to module 6 device identifier extractor wireless 23, to extract your address or identifier unique, and optionally name, type and other identifiers of the apparatus 23.

The address obtained from the device 23 is passed to identification comparator module 7, in which previously You have defined whether to verify that the address 9 'is stored in memory 9, in which case you access it through of memory manager 8 and makes the comparison, so if it will be stored in memory 9, send the order to action interpreter module 11, which executes the action on the device 10.

At this point it should be noted that the possibility that the addresses of the devices 23 to which allows them access, are stored on an access server 22, for which the identification comparator module 7, in which previously it has been defined that the address in the access server 22, which you access through the module Long distance communications 2, to obtain authorization whether or not access to device 23 is allowed. The comparator  7 receives the response and in case access is allowed sends the order to the action interpreter module 11, which executes the action on the device 10.

In the case where the comparator module of ID 7 is programmed not to carry out the address comparison, directly deliver the order to action interpreter module 11.

The action interpreter module 11 before executing the action you can ask the device 23 for a password controller the way it was already described, or ask for a confirmation of order execution, or execute it directly, as it was also described previously.

Claims (11)

1. Wireless control system, which allows at least one device (10) to operate and govern from a wireless device (23), for which it comprises at least one controller to which at least one device (10) is connected; and that includes a communication module at short distance of communication with at least one wireless device (23); It is characterized in that the controller comprises:

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a search manager module (5) that has generation means of search signals of wireless devices (23); to those who wireless devices (23) answer by sending at least one wireless device identifier (23) and selectively a information of an action to be performed on the device (10); or one change management order of the configuration of the controller;

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a module (6) identification extractor of a wireless device (23) comprising means to extract the identifier of each wireless device (23) that has responded;

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a action interpreter module (11) by which the connection to at least device (10) for its operation and government;

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a identifier comparator module (7) which is provided with means to perform an operation selected from:

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\ vtcortauna a comparison of the extracted identifier with identifiers (9 ') stored in the memory (9) and generate an indication to the action interpreter module (11) that it acts on the device (10) when the extracted identifier is stored in the memory (9) );

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\ vtcortauna an authorization request to a remote access server (22) and generate an indication to the action interpreter module (11) that it acts on the device (10) when it receives an authorization from the remote access server (22);

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\ vtcortauna and an indication to the action interpreter module (11) that it acts directly on the device (10).

2. Wireless control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless device identifier extractor module (6) comprises means for detecting whether an administration order has been received together with an identifier of a wireless device (23) , which sends an administration order interpreter module (12) to modify the functionality of the controller upon receiving an administration order together with the identifier. 3. Wireless control system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the administration order interpreter module (12) comprises means for configuring the action to be performed in the action interpreting module (11). 4. Wireless control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller comprises an administration key management module (5) and an administration key memory (16), so that upon detecting the module (6) identification extractor of a wireless device (23) an administration order, activate the management key manager (15) in which a request signal is generated to the user of the wireless device (23) of a management key, which when received is compared with the one stored in the administration key manager module (15) and in case of coincidence the administration orders interpreter module (12) modifies the functionality of the controller. 5. Wireless control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller comprises a controller key manager module (13) and a controller key memory (14) for requesting the user of the wireless device (23) a controller key before the action interpreter module (11) performs an action on the device (10). 6. Wireless control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the administration orders are at least selected from:

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a indicative order of storage of the different identifiers (9 ') of the wireless devices (23) removed by the module (6) wireless device identifier extractor (23), in the identifier storage memory (9) (9 ');

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a indicative order of deletion of the different identifiers (9 ') stored in the corresponding memory (9);

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a indicative order of programming of the operation to be carried out by the identifier comparator module (7);

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a indicative order of configuration of the action to be performed by the action interpreter module (11);

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a Indicative order of controller key request;

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a indicative order of request to the wireless device (23) that send a configuration before executing the order administration received;

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a Indicative order of change of controller key or key of administration;

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and one indicative order of change of the power levels of the module short distance communications (1).

7. Wireless control system according to previous claims, characterized in that the generation of search signals of wireless devices (23) is carried out from time to time previously defined. 8. Wireless control system according to previous claims, characterized in that the search signals comprise information regarding the type of wireless device (23) to be answered. 9. Wireless control system according to previous claims, characterized in that the identifier of the wireless device (23) is selected from an address, a name, type of wireless device (23) and a combination thereof. 10. Wireless control system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a long-distance communications module (17) through which the identifier comparator module (7) accesses the remote access server (22). 11. Wireless control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the identifier storage memory (9) is connected to the identifier comparator module (7) by means of a memory manager module (8).