BUILDING

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a communication system for a device automation system of a building. More particularly it relates to a hybrid wireless communication system for a device automation system for a building that controls the functionality of one or more devices in the building,

Background of to Invention

A smart home system may include a control system for monitoring the security of (he building and automation of devices or appliances in the building such as air conditioning and lighting units. Mobile and wireless communication devices such as smattphones, tablets, laptop computer may be used with the control system to operate the selected devices.

The present invention provides a hybrid wireless communication system for a device automation system of a building. The hybrid wireless ccinmunication system comprises visible light communication (VLC) that works in tandem with radio frequency (RF) communication such as Wi-Fi to allow a user to transmit secured and unmterrupted wireless information to a control system to operate devices such as lights and air conditioners in the building. In operation, if and when one communication means, for example, the VLC, does not function the other communication means, the RF facility will continue to transmit the required information to the control system and/or the users.

A control system of a building for smart home application may use this hybrid wireless communication system. The control system will include visible light communication (VLC) that works in tandem with radio frequency (RF) communication to transmit a secured and uninterrupted wireless information to the control system to operate and automate selected devices in the building. The data communication via the VLC is established between a light source which acts as a transmitter and a photo sensor which acts as a receiver. The VLC is able to provide a quick communication of data with high data rates and does not interfere with the RF communication. As the light source of the communication system of the present invention may include a standard domestic or industrial light such as a light emitting diode (LED), the light source may act as a normal home lighting.

The area which is lit by the VLC light would be the area suitable for data communication. Being visible in its communication, the spread of the light can be blocked, for instance, by the wall of the building from being transmitted beyond the wall or being seen by others from the outside of the building. Blocking the propagation of the visible light that is to be transmitted to or received by the receiver will results in an interruption to an established light communication. This interruption will cause the receiver to read a data which is different from the initial data of the established light communication. The difference in data of the VLC may allow the control system to automatically provide signal or alert the user. The irregularity of the data received by the receiver may also be monitored.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, a communication system for a device automation system of a building comprises a first wireless communication means having a first downlink channel for receiving input data; and a second wireless communication means having a second downlink channel for receiving input data and an uplink channel fix- providing data feedback; wherein the first downlink and the second downlink works in tandem for the communication system to receive input data; and the first downlink channel is to continue receiving the data input when an interruption of communication occurs to the second downlink channel whereby the interruption to the second downlink channel will automatically provide a feedback data and/or alert via the uplink channel and to the device automation system.

A visible light communication (VLC) acts as the first wireless communication means while a radio frequency (RF) communication acts as the second wireless communication means. in the context of this present invention, downlinking may be referred to a communication channel where data or information is sent to a system from a user whereas uplinking may be referred to a communication channel where the information is sent from the system to the user or a feedback from the system.

The first wireless downlink is securely linked to a receiving devices with encryption. Preferably, the first wireless downlink include a consistent connectivity. For instance, connectivity of the visible light communication system is maintained above lGBps per single point.

The communication system for a device automation system in the building may comprise a computer mainboard which is in communication with a VLC system for providing visible light communication and a RF system for providing RF communication. Preferably, Wi-Fi is used for RF communication. The mainboard includes microprocessor and algorithms for carrying out instructions which includes correlating a plurality of sequence of codes throughout the systems. The VLC downlinking information of the communication system provides a secured way of communication as the light which is being visible may not pass through a wall or an object and can be prevented from being seen by others from the outside of the building, and hence the information that is being transmitted could not be tempered by an unauthorized party. Further, the VLC provides one way of direct communication to the system. Blocking or interrupting the propagation of the VLC means mat the downlinking information from the user is cut off. In the event, the propagation of the VLC is interrupted or being blocked by an object, the communication system will automatically switch to the RF communication for a continuous communication of data to and from the user and may at the same time alert the user of such event and/or activate certain devices such as an alarm in the building. This provides a hybrid system of a wireless communication.

The devices in the building include but are not limited to an alarm system, electronic devices and electrical appliances such as air conditioning units and lights. Users which have been identified by the communication system may control the functionality and operation of the devices and monitor the status of the devices using their mobile phone or personal computer (PC).

Access to the communication system is limited to authorized users. When a user communicates with the communication system, an identification process in the system will verify an identification of the user via a unique sequence of code and authorize the user to a selected access to the system which the user has been pre-authorized to access. A user may have a different authority from the other user.

The VLC system of the control system of the present invention comprises a source of light such as light emitting diode (LED) that act as transmitter and photo detecting element or photo sensor as a receiver. The light from the LED is modulated so that it can be recognized by the sensor. Detailed Description of the Invention

A communication system for a device automation system of a building comprises a first wireless conununication means and a second wireless communication means that work in tandem for the communication system to receive data input i.e. data input from a user. The second wireless communication means include an uplink channel for the communication system to send feedback data. The visible light communication (VIC) acts as a first downlink channel and the radio frequency (RF) acts as the second downlink channel and the uplink channel.

In an embodiment, a communication system (10) for a device automation system (401) of a building comprises a visible light communication system that works in tandem with a radio frequency communication system for controlling functionality of one or more devices that are connected to the device automation system, wherein an input data from a user is transmitted to the device automation system (401) via the visible light communication system and the radio frequency conununication system for an uninterrupted transmission of input data; and a feedback data is transmitted to the user via the radio frequency communication system to notify status of the device, whereby one of the systems will continue to transmit the input data if the other system is tempered The visible light communication system is securely linked to one or more receiving devices with encryption, for example devices that are in communication with the VLC system.

The VLC system comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The VLC system is connected to the internet or online/computer network via a web server module/interface. For example, the interface is a RS485/RS232 electronic device.

Fig. 1 shows an example of the communication system (10) for a device automation system of a building- The communication system (10) comprises a first VLC mainboard (101 ) which is connected to a light source (102) such as a LED via a modulator (103) that will modulate the baseband signal of the LED. Typically, the frequency of the visible light is in the range of 400-800THz.

The modulator (103) will modulate data signal from the VLC mainboard (101). The light from the LED located at one end will transmit the data to a photo sensor (104) located at the other end wherein the distance between the two locations forms a propagation channel for the light. The photo sensor (104) will capture the light containing the data from the LED and the data will be demodulated by a demodulator

(105) and will be processed by a second VLC mainboard (106). This visible light communication is for primary downlinking from the user.

The first VLC mainboard (101) is in communication with the second VLC mainboard

(106) via RF communication such as Wi-Fi whereby data and instructions between the first and second mainboards (101, 106) are communicated tor primary/secondary downlinking from the user and primary uplinking to the user. Each of the mainboards ( 101 , 106) is provided with RF facility to establish the RF communication. These RF facilities form the RF system and terminal servers (301a. 301b) of the communication system.

The first VLC mainboard (101) is in communication with a modem (203) and/or a personal computer (PC) via a local area network (LAN) (205) and via the terminal server (301 a) whereby the users can access the control system wirelessly via the modem or using the PC.

The second VLC mainboard (106) is in communication with a device automation system (401 ) via a local area network (LAN) whereby instructions from the mainboard (106) will activate or automate devices connected to the device automation system (401). The device automation system (401 ) comprises an alarm controller (602) that is connected to automation controller (604). The alarm controller (602) is for monitoring sensors at a protected zone. The alarm controller (602) can be connected to an additional automation controller for controlling additional number of automation points or devices. The alarm controller (602) includes a reporting function to the user in the event an alarm is triggered, a status of the alarm is requested or automation of alarm is required. The alarm main controller may connect to a user interface (609) such as an alarm keypad panel.

A web server module (WSM) (608) is provided in the device automation system (401) to allow a connection to the terminal server (301b). The WSM (608) is connected to the alarm controller (602) via an alarm panel interlace module (AIM) (606) and is connected to me communication system or VLC system via the internet or LAN

The AIM acts as a gateway interface between the alarm controller (602) and web server module (608). It is a slave module to the alarm controller (602) and WSM (608). It works as a translator between an alarm panel protocol and external protocol communication protocol.

The user may use a pie-installed program that works with the communication system in a mobile phone (501 ) to control the functionality and operation of the devices in the building. In the event, the VLC is interrupted or not functioning, any instructions or information that is sent by the user will be channel via the Wi-Fi between the first VLC mainboaid (101) and second VLC mainboard (106).