A device control system for controlling multiple electronic devices over a network with a centralized host device is disclosed. The device control system includes a host device providing a graphical interface for a user to control various electronic devices throughout a home, building, or industrial plant. The host device is connected to multiple devices over a network and controls the electronic devices in real-time. The host device runs a managing controlling process that closes the control loops for each device over the network at the host device. Multiple devices are controlled in real-time using a 2N time slicing algorithm. The host device can be accessed from a remote location by establishing an Internet connection.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for controlling one or more electronic devices through a host device, the method comprising: establishing frequency-based, real-time electronic communications over a network between the host device and a plurality of controlled devices; assigning each controlled device a discrete control frequency specific to that controlled device using a 2 N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer, wherein each control frequency that is assigned has a value of 2 N ; executing control software in the host device to generate control input parameters for the one or more controlled devices; sending the control input parameters to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the control input parameters for a particular controlled device are always sent to that controlled device at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device; and ensuring that the sum of all the control frequencies for the one or more controlled devices does not exceed the network's bandwidth, so that electronic communication with each controlled device always occurs at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device, thereby facilitating real-time communication with that controlled device; wherein the one or more controlled devices do not include a hardware controller for generating the control input parameters, but instead receive the control input parameters from the host device via the frequency-based, real-time electronic communications.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the host device, output parameters from the controlled devices in response to the control input parameters.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of the controlled devices.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 2 N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2 N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of each controlled device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating a control loop process on the host device when electronic communication is established with a controlled devices.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing the host device from a remote computing device via the Internet.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising providing information relating to the controlled devices to a user at the remote computing device.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving user input at the host device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled devices.
9. A computing device configured for controlling electronic devices, the computing device comprising: a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and executable instructions executable by the processor, wherein the executable instructions are configured for: establishing frequency-based, real-time electronic communications over a network between the host device and a plurality of controlled devices; assigning each controlled device a discrete control frequency specific to that controlled device using a 2 N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer, wherein each control frequency that is assigned has a value of 2 N ; executing control software in the host device to generate control input parameters for the one or more controlled devices; sending the control input parameters to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the control input parameters for a particular controlled device are always sent to that controlled device at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device; and ensuring that the sum of all the control frequencies for the one or more controlled devices does not exceed the network's bandwidth, so that electronic communication with each controlled device always occurs at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device, thereby facilitating real-time communication with that controlled device; wherein the one or more controlled devices do not include a hardware controller for generating the control input parameters, but instead receive the control input parameters from the host device via the frequency-based, real-time electronic communications.
10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for receiving, at the computing device, output parameters from the controlled devices in response to the control input parameters.
11. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices.
12. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the 2 N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2 N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of the controlled device.
13. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for initiating a control loop process on the computing device when electronic communication is established with a controlled device.
14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for initiating a torque/current control loop process at a microcontroller on the controlled device when the controlled device comprises a motor.
15. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for accessing the computing device from a remote computing device via the Internet.
16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for providing information relating to the controlled devices to a user at the remote computing device.
17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for receiving user input at the computing device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled devices.
18. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for: establishing frequency-based, real-time electronic communications over a network between the host device and a plurality of controlled devices; assigning each controlled device a discrete control frequency specific to that controlled device using a 2 N time slicing algorithm, where N is a non-negative integer, wherein each control frequency that is assigned has a value of 2 N ; executing control software in the host device to generate control input parameters for the one or more controlled devices; sending the control input parameters to the one or more controlled devices, wherein the control input parameters for a particular controlled device are always sent to that controlled device at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device; and ensuring that the sum of all the control frequencies for the one or more controlled devices does not exceed the network's bandwidth, so that electronic communication with each controlled device always occurs at the assigned control frequency for that controlled device, thereby facilitating real-time communication with that controlled device; wherein the one or more controlled devices do not include a hardware controller for generating the control input parameters, but instead receive the control input parameters from the host device via the frequency-based, real-time electronic communications.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for receiving, at the computing device, output parameters from the controlled device in response to the control input parameters.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein N is independently determined for each controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the 2 N time slicing algorithm comprises assigning the control frequency at 2 N hertz, where N is a non-negative integer that will yield a discrete control frequency in proximity to a preferred control frequency of the controlled device.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for initiating a control loop process on the computing device when electronic communication is established with a controlled device.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for accessing the computing device from a remote computing device via the Internet.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for providing information relating to the controlled devices to a user at the remote computing device.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the executable instructions are also configured for receiving user input at the computing device from the user at the remote computing device, wherein the input relates to the controlled devices.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 13, 2004
February 23, 2016
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