EP1145570A2

EP1145570A2 - Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home

Info

Publication number: EP1145570A2
Application number: EP00964352A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Frati
Original assignee: Homerider Systems
Current assignee: Homerider Systems
Priority date: 1999-09-23
Filing date: 2000-09-22
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Also published as: WO2001022745A2; EP1145570A3; FR2799096A1; AU7530300A; US20010033567A1; FR2799096B1; JP2003510914A; WO2001022745A3

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for providing services and transmitting data in the home, using a plurality of peripheral modules (4 - 7) for measuring a predetermined quantity or for detecting a particular state. It comprises a concentrator housing (1) provided with a power supply source, and incorporating: a bi-directional radio modem (20) associated with an antenna (17) for transmitting and receiving radio waves within a predetermined perimeter towards different peripheral modules (4 - 7); a telephone modem (19) for transmitting data under an Internet-compatible protocol via a telephone network at a delocalised central service (8), and for receiving data therefrom; a processor (18) associated with a software storage memory, designed to enable hertzian communications, retrieval of data derived from said communications and formatting thereof according to the protocol for communicating data between the device and the central service, according to the Internet network protocol.

Description

DTSPOSTTTF FOR PROVIDING SERVICES AND TRANSMITTING DATA IN THE HABITAT.

The invention relates to a device for providing services and transmitting data in the home, and therefore relates more particularly to home automation.

More specifically, it aims at a system and a device capable of allowing the concentration of a certain number of information relating to the habitat in particular, and their transmission to a server center capable, depending on the information communicated to it, of '' generate in addition to the transmission of information in return, also the triggering of certain actions.

Different services existing in the home, such as in particular water, gas, electricity meters, alarm detection, etc., traditionally use their own network and are unable to share a single central dispatch point. information. They require an electrical supply through the low voltage network or batteries, rechargeable or not.

This results in a high sales price for the corresponding modules, in addition to the impossibility for the user to upgrade his installation and / or to add new additional services.

These various services are traditionally made up of modules independent of each other, interrogable at short distance by radio waves and therefore requiring an appropriate interrogation device for each of said modules, significantly encumbering the corresponding services.

The object of the invention is to overcome these different drawbacks, in particular by proposing to concentrate the different information from the different housing services within the same structure, and as a corollary, to route via the Internet. , therefore at low cost, this information to an appropriate host.

This device for providing services in the home and for transmitting information using a plurality of peripheral modules installed within the home and intended to measure a determined quantity or to detect a particular state, comprises a box. reception concentrator, with an electrical power source, and incorporating: • a two-way radio modem, associated with an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves within a determined perimeter towards various peripheral modules or bodies of the habitat indicated in the provision of the services; • a telephone modem intended to allow the transmission of data under Internet compatible protocol via a telephone network at the level of a remote server center, as well as the reception of data from it;

• a processor associated with a software storage memory, intended to enable wireless communications, the extraction of data from these communications and the shaping thereof according to the protocol format capable of enabling communication data between the device and the server center, according to the Internet network protocol.

In other words, the device according to the invention makes it possible to mix, in a small space, the technologies of low-power two-way radio, telephony and the Internet.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the concentrator unit in question is capable of being nestable in the standard telephone socket connected to the switched telephone network, and in this case, the source of electrical energy necessary for its operation is directly drawn, within the limits imposed by laws and other regulations, from the energy carried by the switched telephone network to which said socket is connected.

According to another embodiment of the invention, telephone communication takes place over the GSM network (Global System For Mobile Communication), that is to say according to the standard standard of so-called cellular telephone communications.

Finally, according to another embodiment, the exchange of data with the server center takes place via local loops, that is to say a radio telephone network.

The manner in which the invention can be embodied and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments given by way of indication and without limitation in support of the appended figures. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of the housing according to the invention, in the embodiment of the plug-in type on the switched telephone network. Figure 2 is a schematic sectional representation of said housing.

FIG. 3 is a more advanced embodiment than that shown in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the operating pπncipe of the device according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the concept of operation of the concentrator housing according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the concept of operation of the peripheral modules, implemented in the context of the present invention.

It has been shown in connection with Figure 4, the operating pπncipe of the device according to the invention.

As already said, it is intended to allow the provision of services in the home, these services being of a formative, even decision-making nature.

By way of example and not limitation, these services can be as follows. It may be the use of sensors (4), (5), (6), (7), ensuring respectively:

• meter reading (Water, gas, electricity, heat ...); • tank level reading (Fuel, Gas, LPG ...);

• power failure detection;

• detection of offenses;

• smoke and / or fire detector;

• distress alert.

Each of these sensors (4), (5), (6), and (7) is self-lied, for example by means of a lithium battery or batteπe. They are each provided with a radio module, capable of transmitting in unidirectional radio frequency in the direction of the concentrator unit (1) described below in more detail.

They are advantageously provided with a motherboard or microprocessor ensuring, in addition to the processing of the signals transmitted by the sensor, in order to allow their communication by hertzian way, also the management of energy (batteπe, pile), as well as the preparation of the frames for the transmission in radio mode of the information concerning them to the level of the concentrator unit (1). Transmission takes place, as already mentioned, in radio frequency mode, such as in particular in the standardized bands 433 MHz or 868 MHz. Obviously, the indication of these frequencies is in no way limiting as to the scope of the present invention. 5

FIG. 6 represents the conceptual diagram of the operation of these peripheral modules (4 - 7).

The housing (1) has at least the function of concentrating the information emanating from these modules (4 - 7), hence its name concentrator housing. It will now be described in more detail.

Basically, it has an energy source or an organ capable of storing energy. -15

In the embodiment shown in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, said concentrator unit (1) is plugged in via a male socket (15) within a socket of the well-known switched telephone network.

As is known, a low voltage and low amperage current flows over the switched telephone network, which can be stored at the level of a capacitor (21) associated with a switching power supply, electrically connected to the conductive tracks of the male plug (15) with which the housing is provided.

This capacitor is dimensioned in such a way as to be able to have sufficient energy to allow the other members, in particular modems with which the housing is provided, to function.

This concentrator unit (1) first of all comprises a telephone modem 30 (19), supplied with electrical energy drawn from the telephone line of the switched network and stored in the capacitor (21). This modem is intended, in known manner, to allow via an interface with the telephone line, the transmission of information or data by means of the switched telephone network to which said box is connected. 35 This also includes a bi-directional radio modem (20), also feeds from the electrical energy drawn from the telephone line and stored in said storage member, and in this case the capacitor (21).

It comprises an antenna (17), intended to allow communication in radio frequency mode between the radio modem (20) and the various peripheral modules (4) to (7).

Finally, it is provided with a processor + memory card (18), the functions of which are as follows.

The memory stores one or more software, intended first of all to allow the detection of the communication in radio frequency mode in the determined perimeter of the habitat, typically a hundred meters.

Furthermore, at least one of the software that it integrates is intended to allow the extraction of data from said radio frequency waves thus captured, or on the contrary, the shaping of information intended to be transmitted in radio frequency mode. by the antenna at the level of the peripheral modules concerned (4 - 7).

Last but not least, it is intended to allow data to be formatted in a format compatible with an Internet protocol, and in particular commumcation protocols:

• PPP PAP;

. IP; • UDP.

These communication protocols are perfectly known, so there is no need to describe them here in detail. They are intended to allow the formatting of information according to the proper format to allow data communication on the Internet.

In fact, and in the example decπt, the telephone modem (19) is equipped with an IP address (Internet Protocol) suitable for thus allowing the use of the Internet portal.

In this regard, the operating software stored in the memory associated with the processor (18) is updated remotely through the Internet portal so as to allow the scalability of services in the home. In this way, the concentrator unit (1) is able to communicate by the Internet network (1 1) by means of the telephone line (13) on which it is connected, and also by means of an Internet communication line ( 12) at the level of a server center represented by the general reference (8), integrating for example the server proper (9), as well as a database (10).

This host center can also be equipped with a man / machine interface, an Internet interface, etc. and its activity is obviously linked in this case to housing services.

In addition to a billing service, taking into account the consumption of energy available in the home, it can also integrate a distribution service, in particular for filling tanks, for example, but also a service for rerouting the user's telephone communications with choice of cheapest operator depending on destinations and time slot.

The concentrator housing (1) comprises in the first embodiment described a female socket (16) within which is likely to be plugged in the telephone socket (24) of the user.

There is shown in relation to Figure 5 the conceptual diagram of this housing.

In a more advanced version, described in relation to FIG. 3, the concentrator unit (1 ′) is offset, that is to say not directly positioned on the telephone socket. It can for example be fixed on a wall or a partition.

In this case, it is connected by a wired link (22) to a male / female socket (23) which is plugged into the telephone socket of the switched telephone network, within which is in turn plugged in ( 24) from the user's phone.

In addition, it can be provided with a screen (2), capable of allowing the display of information of the consumption, maintenance, etc. type, as well as general information, coming from the peripheral modules (4 - 7 ) or the host center (8). There is shown by reference (3) a set of push buttons, capable of being activated by the user in the context of an interaction, in particular with the server center (8), in order, for example, to validate a proposal made by the latter in view of the data detection at the peripheral modules (4 - 7), and displayed on the screen. Such a proposal may for example consist in filling the fuel tank, the passage of the maintenance service, etc. In the diagram, these push buttons are 4 in number, and allow respectively to validate said proposal, to move a cursor up or down, and to return to the home page, for example.

In another embodiment of the invention, the telephone network used is no longer the switched telephone network but the GSM network. In this hypothesis, the conventional telephone modem (19) is replaced by a GSM modem at the level of said housing, in this hypothesis, remote.

In view of the fact that said box is then no longer supplied with energy by the switched telephone network, either it is provided with either a battery, or it is connected to the low-voltage domestic electrical supply sector.

In another embodiment of the invention, the concentrator unit (1) communicates with the server center (8) no longer via the GSM network but via the local loop network, that is to say a telephone network operating over the air, developed for some time in relatively small residential areas, such as municipalities or neighborhoods, with the aim of limiting all connectivity as much as possible.

The GSM modem or the conventional modem (19) is in this case replaced by a modem adapted to the local loop network.

The device according to the invention therefore has many advantages. First of all, we can see that, given the proximity of radio wave communications between the peripherals and the concentrator unit, and the reduced volume of the data thus transmitted, we have a system that consumes very little energy, thus allowing the use, of course within the limits set by law, of the energy of the telephone line of the switched telephone network or, low power batteries and therefore long life. Moreover, it has ^a system dedicating the uniqueness of the point of communication, in this case the housing hub, receiving the general data for the various services described above.

In addition to these, and when equipped with the display screen (2), it can also receive predefined information, such as weather forecasts, stock market prices, electronic reduction coupons, intervention communication from from different suppliers, etc.

Furthermore, the concentrator box being of reduced size, typically 7 x 7 x 3 cm, it turns out to be compact and easy to access.

Claims

1. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home, using a plurality of peripheral modules (4 - 7) intended to measure a determined quantity or to detect a particular state, characterized in that it comprises a concentrator box (1) having an electrical power source, and integrating:

• a two-way radio modem (20), associated with an antenna (17) suitable for enabling the transmission and reception of radio waves within a determined perimeter in the direction of various peripheral modules (4 - 7);

• a telephone modem (19), intended to allow the transmission of data under Internet compatible protocol via a telephone network at a remote server center (8), as well as the reception of data from that -this ; • a processor (18) associated with a software storage memory, intended to enable wireless communications, the extraction of data from these communications and the shaping thereof according to the protocol format suitable for allow data communication between the device and the server center, according to the Internet network protocol.

Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to claim 1, characterized in that the telephone modem (19) is equipped with an EP (Internet Protocol) address suitable for allowing the use of the Internet Portal.

3. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating software stored in the memory associated with the processor (18) is updated remotely via the Portal. Internet, so as to allow the scalability of services in the home.

4. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the concentrator unit (1) can be fitted into a standard telephone socket connected to the switched telephone network, and in that it includes a storage member

(21) of electrical energy carried by said switched telephone network to which said socket is connected.

5. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to claim 4, characterized in that the concentrator housing (1) is also provided with a female socket (16) on which is likely to come from s '' plug in the user's telephone socket.

6. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the concentrator unit (1) is indirectly connected to the switched telephone network, and in that it comprises a storage member (21) of electrical energy conveyed by said switched telephone network to which said socket is connected.

7. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the electrical energy storage member consists of a capacitor (21) electrically connected to the conductive tracks of the male plug (15) with which the housing (1) is provided.

8. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the concentrator unit is connected to the GSM network by means of a dedicated GSM modem.

Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the concentrator unit (1) is connected to a radio telephone network of the “local loop” type by means of 'a modem dedicated to such a network.

10. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the concentrator unit further comprises a screen (2), capable of allowing the display of information of the consumption, maintenance, etc. type, coming from the peripheral modules (4 - 7) or from the server center (8).

11. Device for providing services and transmitting data in the home according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the services provided are included in the group comprising: * referral of telephone communications to the cheapest telephone operator; * reading of the water, gas and electricity meters, said meters being themselves provided with a transmitting and receiving antenna of hertzian waves compatible with the waves emitted by the radio modem;

* reading heat meters; * consultation of the levels of fuel and gas tanks and other fluid storage tanks;

* monitoring intrusion protection systems;

* monitoring smoke and / or fire detection systems;

* distress alert for the elderly; * monitoring the electrical supply of freezers and / or refrigerators; specialized communication to a mobile display of predefined information.