IP Library Granted Patent US 11,445,348
Granted Patent B2
US 11,445,348 · App. 16/751,149 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Bluetooth perimeter extension

Inventors: Robert D. Juntunen (Minnetonka, MN); Steven C. Nichols (Plymouth, MN)
Assignee: Ademco Inc.
H04W4/80H04W4/38G16Y10/80G16Y20/10G16Y40/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,445,348
App. No.
16/751,149
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some examples, a system for comfort or security in a building and its premises includes a plurality of “first” devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; a plurality of “second” devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices.

Claims (68)

1. A system for comfort or security in a building and premise, the system comprising:

a plurality of first devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard;

a plurality of second devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard,

wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices, and

wherein at least one of:

the plurality of second devices comprises at least one sensor device;

the plurality of first devices comprises a first device configured to:

receive sensor data from the at least one sensor device via the BTLE 5.0 standard;

convert the sensor data from a BTLE 5.0 format to an IEEE 802.15.4 format and

transmit the sensor data to the hub device via the IEEE 802.15.4 standard; or

the plurality of second devices comprises at least one controllable device;

the plurality of first devices comprises a second device configured to:

receive program instructions from the hub device via the IEEE 802.14.4 standard;

convert the program instructions from the IEEE 802.15.4 format to the BTLE 5.0 format and

transmit the program instructions to the at least one controllable device via the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first devices comprises:

a smart thermostat;

a portal contact sensor; or

a motion sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor device comprises:

a carbon-monoxide detector;

a motion sensor;

a portal contact sensor;

an air sensor; or

a passive infrared sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controllable device comprises an air vent damper configured to open or close an air vent in response to wirelessly receiving the program instructions.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one sensor device comprises:

a carbon-monoxide detector;

a motion sensor;

a portal contact sensor;

an air sensor; or

a passive infrared sensor; and

the at least one controllable device comprises:

an air vent damper.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controllable device is further configured to perform an action in response to receiving the program instructions.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one controllable device comprises an air vent damper, wherein the air vent damper is configured to close an air vent in response to receiving the program instructions.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first devices is configured to communicate via the IEEE 802.15.4 standard in a first plurality of time slots and communicate via the BTLE 5.0 standard in a second plurality of time slots, wherein each of the first plurality of time slots is different from each of the second plurality of time slots.

9. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of second devices comprises both the at least one sensor device and the at least one controllable device, and

wherein the plurality of first devices comprises both the first device of the plurality of first devices and the second device of the plurality of first devices.

10. A method for communicating in a system for comfort or security in a building and premise, the method comprising:

wirelessly communicating between a plurality of first devices and a hub device, wherein the hub device is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, and wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; and

wirelessly communicating between a plurality of second devices that are battery powered, and respective ones of the plurality of first devices using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices, and

wherein at least one of:

the plurality of second devices comprises at least one sensor device;

the method further comprising:

receiving, with a first device of the plurality of first devices, sensor data from the at least one sensor device via the BTLE 5.0 standard;

converting, with the first device of the plurality of first devices, the sensor data from a BTLE 5.0 format to an IEEE 802.15.4 format and

transmitting, with the first device of the plurality of first devices, the sensor data to the hub device via the IEEE 802.15.4 standard; or the plurality of second devices comprises at least one controllable device;

the method further comprising:

receiving, with a second device of the plurality of first devices, program instructions from the hub device via the IEEE 802.14.4 standard;

converting, with the second device of the plurality of first devices, the program instructions from the IEEE 802.15.4 format to the BTLE 5.0 format and

transmitting, with the second device of the plurality of first devices, the program instructions to the at least one controllable device via the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first devices comprises:

a smart thermostat;

a portal contact sensor; or

a motion sensor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor device comprises:

a carbon-monoxide detector;

a motion sensor;

a portal contact sensor;

an air sensor; or

a passive infrared sensor.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controllable device comprises an air vent damper.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

wherein the plurality of second devices comprises both the at least one sensor device and the at least one controllable device, and

wherein the plurality of first devices comprises both the first device of the plurality of first devices and the second device of the plurality of first devices.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: RESIDEO LLC
Reel/Frame 071546/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2022
From: BRK BRANDS, INC.; ADEMCO INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059571/0686 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2020
From: JUNTUNEN, ROBERT D.; NICHOLS, STEVEN C.
To: ADEMCO INC.
Reel/Frame 051604/0423 →