Abstract: A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables.

Abstract: A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables.

Abstract: A sensor and control platform includes a smart wall plate and a variety of optional sensor/control elements that removably couple to and interact and communicate with the smart wall plate to enhance the functionality and power of a premises automation system. The smart wall plate contains a plurality of sensors, a microprocessor control unit, and a wireless transceiver. The optional sensor/control elements can be a control dial, a monitoring device, or a camera. The smart wall plate can dictate the functionality of the optional sensor/control elements or the optional sensor/control elements can alter the functionality of the smart wall plate.

Abstract: A motorized system that allows for calibration by a user, and that features circuit protection and detection of motor stoppage. A motorized window-blind system is an example of such a system and is disclosed herein. In particular, a circuit is featured that comprises a TRIAC, or “triode for alternating current,” and TVS diodes, or “transient-voltage-suppression diodes,” providing voltage protection to various types of motor-related electronic components. A controller is disclosed that features measurement of voltage that is induced on a secondary winding of a motor, in order to detect certain events that occur during the operation of the motor. A calibration method is also disclosed that can account for one or both of the protection circuit and event-detecting controller. The calibration method accounts for human interaction and, in doing so, is intended toward making a calibration process of a motorized household system less prone to human error.

Abstract: A system and method involving actor nodes within a building that is being controlled, to be subscribed to a set of addresses, including one or more addresses that are representative of one or more respective spaces within the building being controlled. Such addresses are referred to as “space addresses.” Each of the actor nodes acts upon received data packets only if a space address is received along with the data packets and the actor node has been subscribed to the space address. Concurrently, one or more sensor nodes in the system are configurable to transmit the one or more space addresses and the data packets. A user device in the system receives commands from a user via a user interface and transmits a set of signals such that the actor nodes are subscribed to the appropriate space addresses and the sensor nodes are configured to transmit the space addresses.

Abstract: A motorized system that allows for calibration by a user, and that features circuit protection and detection of motor stoppage. A motorized window-blind system is an example of such a system and is disclosed herein. In particular, a circuit is featured that comprises a TRIAC, or “triode for alternating current,” and TVS diodes, or “transient-voltage-suppression diodes,” providing voltage protection to various types of motor-related electronic components. A controller is disclosed that features measurement of voltage that is induced on a secondary winding of a motor, in order to detect certain events that occur during the operation of the motor. A calibration method is also disclosed that can account for one or both of the protection circuit and event-detecting controller. The calibration method accounts for human interaction and, in doing so, is intended toward making a calibration process of a motorized household system less prone to human error.

Abstract: The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.

Abstract: A motorized system that allows for calibration by a user, and that features circuit protection and detection of motor stoppage. A motorized window-blind system is an example of such a system and is disclosed herein. In particular, a circuit is featured that comprises a TRIAC, or “triode for alternating current,” and TVS diodes, or “transient-voltage-suppression diodes,” providing voltage protection to various types of motor-related electronic components. A controller is disclosed that features measurement of voltage that is induced on a secondary winding of a motor, in order to detect certain events that occur during the operation of the motor. A calibration method is also disclosed that can account for one or both of the protection circuit and event-detecting controller. The calibration method accounts for human interaction and, in doing so, is intended toward making a calibration process of a motorized household system less prone to human error.

Abstract: The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.

Abstract: The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.

Abstract: A home automation and control system that enables the coordinated performance of household functions by appliances and of shopping for consumables, including shopping for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and other consumables that are needed and used by appliances and their consumer users. The disclosed system comprises one or more networked “smart” appliances and a controlling device such as a smartphone that executes an application configured to interact with the smart appliances. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the smart appliances are configured to sense various needs as they arise and to broadcast those needs to the system at large. In addition, at least some of the smart appliances are configured to fulfill those needs advertised by the other appliances within the system and to perform household functions.

Abstract: A monitoring device for use in an automation system, such as for a home, warehouse, or any type of structure. The monitoring device includes sensors, a processor, and a transmitter. Using its sensors, the monitoring device is capable of acquiring data about itself and/or its environment. That data is used by the monitoring device and/or a central controller to generate a request for an actor, such as lighting, an HVAC system, motorized drapes, a home entertainment system, other home systems, or appliances, to change its state.

Abstract: A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables.

Abstract: A user interface is presented to a user via a computer system such as a tablet computer and enables users to create relations between selected products or services, such as those related to home automation. The graphical user interface (GUI) features a display that is analogous to that of a slot machine, with a touch-enabled screen that is operated with the user's fingers. The display icons of the GUI, arranged in rolls as on a slot machine's display, are representative of the products or services. The GUI presents the rolls of icons to the user, enabling the user to select an item in each roll and to define relations among the corresponding products or services. In this way, a sensor device associated with a first product/service can be linked to an actor device associated with a second product/service, so that the two devices are capable of telecommunicating with each other.