TRANSDUCER ACCESS POINT
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for exposing (i.e. bridging) data and services offered by low power, low duty cycle transducers (e.g. sensors and actuators) in a standardized format over existing and established home networking technologies. A transducer access point is a functional component that serves as a proxy for health devices and sensors that are off/asleep the majority of the time to conserver power (e.g. battery life). The transducer access point may be implemented as a stand alone device or embedded within a computing device such as a home PC.
1 . A transducer access device configured to:
communicate with a transducer device through a first communications protocol;
communicate with a control device through a second communications protocol;
control the transducer device according to a signal received through the second communications protocol from the control device;
pass to the control device an event notification received from the transducer device; and
initiate an action based on a signal received from the control device, the signal having been generated in response to the event notification.
2 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer device is selected from the group consisting of: a Bluetooth device, a device operating using a Zigee protocol, a WiFi device, and a Z-Wave device.
3 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer device is a motion sensor.
4 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer device is a door sensor.
5 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer device is a light sensor.
6 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer device is a light switch actuator.
7 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the device further comprises a virtual transducer device associated with the transducer device.
8 . The transducer access device of claim 7 wherein:
the virtual transducer device communicates with the control device in a network.
9 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein:
the control device is selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a television, and a mobile device.
10 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein the transducer access device is further configured to implement a technology protocol in order to discover the transducer device and to associate a virtual transducer with the transducer device.
11 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein the transducer device is an actuator.
12 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein the transducer device is a phone.
13 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein the transducer device is a television.
14 . The transducer access device of claim 1 wherein the transducer device is lighting.