CROSS REFERENCES

This application claims priority to a U.S. Provisional Applications, Serial Nos. 61/989,564, filed on May 7, 2014 and 61/989,569, filed May 7, 2014, which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a system which can monitor the status of a device, in particular, of a deadbolt.

Background of the Invention

An absentee user of, for example, a building might wish from time to time to indication whether a deadbolt lock is bolted or not. For example, the absentee owner might desire to know, when at home, whether he or she has secured the building for the evening. Without remote monitoring capability, it might be impractical for this person to confirm that the door in fact has been bolted.

An advantageous network arrangement enables a user to securely and remotely query the status of, for example, a property entrance-door deadbolt lock using, for example, a cell phone that can be located substantially anywhere in the world without a need to subscribe to a commercial security service. A remotely situated user using conventional Application software (Apps) for Windows,

Android, or iOS is able to receive the status of the deadbolt obtained by detecting when a deadbolt lock is engaged in a door frame or when it is retracted from it based on a queried command. The queried command is applied by wireless communication via a Graphical User Interface installed on a Smartphone or Personal Computer such as a Laptop, Desktop, or Notepad that may be located in the vicinity of the deadbolt lock or at a remote location that may be far from the deadbolt lock. The deadbolt sensor assembly includes a wireless transceiver/transmitter. Responsive to the sensor output signal, the wireless transceiver/transmitter periodically transmits a first wireless signal conforming to a Bluetooth Low

Energy (BLE) protocol that contains deadbolt position information derived from a sensor output signal. A BLE- ZigBee bridge device responsive to the BLE wireless signal periodically stores the deadbolt position information. The bridge device is additionally responsive a second wireless signal conforming to the ZigBee protocol containing a request for the deadbolt position stored information. The bridge device transmits the deadbolt position stored information using a third wireless signal conforming to the ZigBee protocol at a power level that is higher than a power level of the first wireless signal. The third wireless signal may be applied to a gateway device that conveys the deadbolt position information to, for example, a remote user via, for example, a wide area network such as the Internet.

It may be desirable to avoid the need to change the appearance of the door and frame for the purpose of installing each of the sensor, wireless transceiver and the battery that energizes the wireless transceiver.

In carrying out an advantageous feature, the sensor, the BLE wireless transceiver and a battery that energizes the BLE wireless transceiver are installed together as a single unit that is inserted into a cavity formed in a frame of a door together. They are also displaced together, during operation, as a single unit in the cavity. A spring, that is also installed in the cavity, advantageously,

accommodates differences among travel distances and differences in lengths of corresponding deadbolts and also differences in gaps between doors and door frames.

Advantageously, the deadbolt sensor assembly is displaceable in the cavity and is not firmly attached to any wall of the cavity. An arc-shaped spring of the deadbolt sensor assembly is included for applying a force that hinders the deadbolt sensor assembly from falling out of the cavity when the deadbolt is in an unlock position. This feature leads to a simple installation way that is performed merely by inserting the deadbolt sensor assembly into the cavity that, advantageously, can be performed by substantially untrained user.

Advantageously, reliability of the deadbolt sensing arrangement is improved by informing the user of any malfunction by providing error detection capability that includes redundancy. For obtaining error detection , a plunger switch sensor type senses the position of the deadbolt to generate a first output signal that is indicative when the deadbolt is disposed in the cavity in a lock position and when the deadbolt is disposed outside the cavity in an unlock position. An optical proximity sensor type also senses the position of the deadbolt to generate a second output signal that is indicative when the deadbolt is disposed in the cavity in the lock position and when the deadbolt is disposed outside the cavity in an unlock position. An error detector is responsive to the first and second output signals for detecting an occurrence of an error when the first and second output signals are inconsistent with each other.

Advantageously, a sensor installed in a cavity of a frame of a door is energized by a battery that also energizes a wireless transceiver. The sensor periodically senses a position of a deadbolt. The sensor is responsive to a periodic signal for decreasing a supply current that discharges the battery during a portion of a period of the periodic signal when sensing is disabled. This feature enables the battery to last a long time which is important because it avoids the need for including a battery charging provision in the cavity. Therefore, the need for a frequent service associated with the battery is avoided.

Advantageously, a spring mechanically coupled to the sensor and to the wireless transmitter applies a force when flexed to displace the sensor and the wireless transmitter along an axis of displacement of the deadbolt. The spring is electrically coupled to the wireless transmitter to form an antenna for the wireless transmitter. In this way, the spring provides dual functions. This is accomplished without making any substantial mechanical modifications to the door frame, deadbolt lock, or door. Thus, such arrangement can be made low cost and simple to install.

Summary of the Invention

In carrying out an aspect of the advantageous feature, a deadbolt sensor assembly a sensor capable to be disposed in a cavity formed in a frame of a door for sensing a position of a deadbolt to generate an output signal that is indicative when the deadbolt position is in the cavity in a lock position and when the deadbolt position is disposed outside the cavity in an unlock position. A wireless transmitter responsive to the sensor output signal and capable of being disposed in the cavity is used for transmitting a wireless signal containing information derived from the output signal. The sensor and the wireless transmitter are mechanically coupled to each other and are capable of being displaced together in the cavity in accordance with the deadbolt position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1A illustrates a deadbolt sensor assembly, embodying an

advantageous feature, as installed in a door jamb;

Figure IB illustrates a side view of the sensor assembly of Figure 1 A when separated from the door jamb;

Figure 1C illustrates a front view of the sensor assembly of Figure IB;

Figure 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of the sensor assembly of Figure 1 A; Figures 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate corresponding flow charts associated with the sensor assembly of Figure 1 A; Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a communication network that includes the sensor assembly of Figure 1A; and

Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a home-automation network forming an expansion of the communication network of Figure 4.

Detailed Description

Figure 1A illustrates a sensor assembly 8, embodying an advantageous feature, for use with a deadbolt 16 forming a lock in a door 46. A housing 22 defining a deadbolt cavity 24 in a door jamb or frame 44 receives deadbolt 16, when deadbolt 16 is locked. Sensor assembly 8 is also received in cavity 24.

However, instead of installing housing 22 for forming cavity 24, door jamb 44 may be drilled out to form cavity 24. For example, it can be drilled out with 7/8 inch to 1 inch diameter spade to a depth of between 1 and ¼ inch to 1 and ½ inch. A diameter D2 of cavity 24 may range from 7/8 inch to 1 inch.

Sensor assembly 8 includes a pair of sensors 28a and 28b shown in an electrical circuit diagram of Figure 2. Similar symbols and numerals in Figures 1 A and 2 indicate similar items or functions. Sensor 28a of Figure 2 includes a mechanically operated plunger switch SI. Plunger switch SI of sensor 28a of Figure 1A is not depressed when deadbolt 16 is dis-engaged for unlocking door 46. When switch SI of Figure 2 is not depressed, switch SI forms a non-conductive or open circuit. Conversely, plunger switch SI of sensor 28a of Figure 1 A is depressed when deadbolt 16 is engaged for locking door 46. When switch SI of Figure 2 is depressed, a current path is formed between its terminals.

A field effect transistor (FET) Ql of Figure 2 has a first main current conducting terminal Qla that is coupled to a corresponding terminal of switch SI and a second main current conducting terminal Qlb that is coupled via a pull-up resistor Rl to a supply voltage V provided by a lithium coin battery Bl, Energizer CR 1220. The other terminal of switch SI is coupled to a ground terminal G at 0V. Battery Bl has a nominal voltage of 3.0 volts.

A System on Chip (SOC) Ul, such as Texas Instruments CC2541 contains a processor and a 2.4GHz Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transmitter-receiver or transceiver, which are not shown in details. BLE is a wireless personal area network technology. SOC Ul polls, in response to the periodic command, a port P0_6 of SOC Ul. The period or frequency in which SOC Ul performs the polling operation is controlled, under normal operation conditions, by a BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figures 4 and 5 that is referred to later on. Polling is accompanied in SOC Ul of Figure 2 by applying a control voltage via a port P0_2 to a gate terminal of FET Ql to turn on FET Ql. When turned on, FET Ql couples pull-up resistor Rl to port P0_6. When switch SI is depressed, switch SI couples port P0_6 of SOC Ul to ground terminal G. Consequently, a voltage at 0V is sensed at port P0_6 when SOC Ul polls port P0_6. The voltage at 0V, sensed at port P0_6 by the processor of SOC Ul, is indicative of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A being engaged to lock door 46.

Advantageously, FET Ql of Figure 2 is turned on to activate detection of the status of switch SI only, during periodic intervals, when the aforementioned polling occurs. At other times FET Ql is turned off. This mode of operation is utilized in order to reduce discharge or depletion of battery B 1. This feature is particularly important because battery B 1 is not connected to any battery charger. Yet, battery B 1 is required to serve for a long time without a need for frequent replacement service. If switch SI was turned on as long as deadbolt 16 is engaged, there would have been an undesirable constant draw of approximately 30 micro- amps from battery B 1 via resistor Rl .

As indicated before, switch SI is not depressed when deadbolt 16 of Figure 1A is disengaged for unlocking door 46. When not depressed, switch SI of Figure 2 is non-conductive. Therefore, FET Ql couples port P0_6 to battery Bl voltage V of 3V via pull-up resistor Rl . Thus, SOC Ul sensing the presence of battery Bl voltage V at port P0_6 is indicative of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A being disengaged to unlock door 46.

Advantageously, redundant sensor 28b utilizes an infra-red (IR) proximity detector U2. Sensor 28b facilitates error detection feature. An FET Q2 of Figure 2 has a first main current conducting terminal Q2a that is coupled both to a supply terminal U2a of proximity detector U2 and to a current limiting resistor R2. A second main current conducting terminal Q2b of FET Q2 is coupled to supply voltage V of battery B 1. SOC Ul applies a voltage to a port P0_7 that is coupled to a gate terminal of FET Q2 to turn on FET Q2 for performing polling operation in proximity detector U2. Similarly to FET Ql, FET Q2 is turned on to activate the detection associated with proximity detector U2 only when the aforementioned polling occurs in sensor 28b. At other times, FET Q2 is turned off. This mode of operation that is similar to that applicable to FET Qlis utilized in order to reduce discharging battery B 1.

Optical proximity detector U2 of the type Silicon Labs Sil 102 operates in cooperation with an IR light emitting diode (LED) DS 1 of a type, Everlight HIR91-01C. LED DS1 is driven via current limiting resistor R2 by FET Q2, when FET Q2 is turned on for polling an output signal PRX of detector U2.

Optical proximity detector U2 is an active optical reflectance proximity detector with an on/off digital output whose state is based upon the comparison of reflected IR light against a set threshold. LED DS 1 produces light pulses at a strobe frequency of 2.0 Hz of which reflections from a front face 16a of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A reach a photodiode, not shown, of proximity detector U2 of Figure 2 and are processed by proximity detector U2 analog circuitry, not shown. The rate detector U2 detects proximity of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A is controlled by a resistor R13 of Figure 2. The average current drawn by detector U2 is 5 micro- amps with proximity detection frequency of 2.0 Hz. A resulting most recent or current state of the detected proximity is developed at output signal PRX of detector U2 that is polled by port P2_0 of SOC Ul . If the reflected light is above the detection threshold, proximity detector U2 asserts an active-LOW output signal PRX to indicate that dead-lock 16 of Figure 1 A is locked. Conversely, if the reflected light is below the detection threshold, proximity detector U2 of Figure 2 asserts a HIGH output signal PRX to indicate that deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A is unlocked.

A pair of terminals RF_P and RF_N of SOC Ul communicate Radio

Frequency (RF) modulated signal transmitted/received by the BLE transceiver, not shown, of SOC Ul in accordance with the BLE protocol. Terminals RF_P and RF_N of SOC Ul are coupled to corresponding pair of terminals, respectively, of an Impedance Matched RF Front End Differential Balun-Low Pass Filter

integrated passive component Tl . Component Tl is made by Johanson

Technology, Inc, part number 2450BM15A0002. An output terminal of integrated passive component Tl is coupled to an antenna El for transmitting/receiving the RF signal associated with the BLE transceiver of SOC Ul.

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c provide flow charts useful for explaining the operation of sensor assembly 8 of Figures 1 A and 2. Similar symbols and numerals in

Figures 1 A- 2, 3a, 3b and 3c indicate similar items or functions. Except otherwise noted, sensor assembly 8 of Figures 1 A and 2 participate in each step referred to in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c.

Under normal operation, a periodic command referred to in more details later on, may be transmitted using BLE wireless signal initiated, for example, in BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figure 4, which is also referred to later on, and received by the BLE transceiver of SOC Ul of Figure 2. Upon the occurrence of the aforementioned periodic command, SOC Ul, operating in a so-called Sleep Mode prior to the occurrence of the aforementioned periodic command, performs a so-called Wake Up step 100 of the flow chart of Figure 3a. Next, SOC Ul of Figure 2 tests in a step 105 of Figure 3a whether SOC Ul of Figure 2 has been initiated for the first time. If it has been initiated before, then SOC Ul, in a step 110 of Figure 3a, turns on or activates FET Ql of Figure 2 for activating status checking of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1A, as explained before, by SOC Ul polling port P0_6 that reads the state of switch SI. After polling port P0_6, SOC

Uldeactivates FET Ql, as explained before.

Next, SOC Ul, in a step 115 of Figure 3a, turns on or activates FET Q2 of

Figure 2 for checking the status of proximity detector U2 by reading output signal PRX developed at port P2_0. Subsequently, in a step 120 of Figure 3a, the reading of proximity detector U2 output signal PRX of Figure 2 is compared in the processor, not shown, of SOC Ul with the reading of the previously obtained state of switch SI for providing error checking that is performed in a processor, not shown, of SOC Ul. If the readings are consistent or verified, in a step 125 of Figure 3a, then, in a step 126 that is performed by BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figures 4 and 5 that is referred to later on, the state of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A, locked or unlocked, is transmitted . Afterwards, in a step 130 of Figure 3a, SOC Ul of Figure 2 returns to the so-called Sleep Mode.

If at step 105 of Figure 3a it is determined that SOC Ul of Figure 2 has been initiated for the first time, BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 that is referred to later on of Figures 4 and 5 transmits a message, in a step 135 of a calibration routine of Figure 3b, requesting the user to activate deadbolt assembly 8 of Figure 1 A.

Activation of deadbolt assembly 8 is performed by changing its current state, lock or unlock, to the other state. Then, SOC Ul of Figure 2 in a step 140 of Figure 3b polls each of port P0_6 and port P2_0 of Figure 2 and stores the state of each of switch SI and IR detector U2. Next, in a step 145 of Figure 3b, SOC Ul transmits a message to a user located next to deadbolt 16 of Figure 1A requesting the user to change the state of deadbolt 16 from its preceding locked or unlocked state to the opposite state. Following the changing of the state of deadbolt 16, SOC Ul of Figure 2, in a step 150 of Figure 3b, polls each of port P0_6 and port P2_0 of Figure 2 and stores the state of each of switch SI and IR detector U2. This calibration process is used to confirm that each switch SI and proximity detector U2 do indeed change state in response to the change of state of deadbolt 16.

If the processor, not shown, in SOC Ul of Figure 2, at step 125 of Figure 3a, determines that error has occurred, SOC Ul initiates an error routine of Figure 3c. In a step 152, SOC U2 of Figure 2 reactivates FET Ql for reading at port P0_6 the state of switch SI and reactivates FET Q2 of Figure 2 for reading the status of proximity detector U2 by reading output signal PRX at port P2_0. Next, in a step 155 of Figure 3c, the reading of proximity detector output signal PRX of Figure 2 is compared to the reading of the state of switch SI. If the readings are consistent or verified, in a step 160 of Figure 3c, then step 126 of Figure 3a follows.

Otherwise, BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 that is referred to later on of Figures 4 and 5 transmits an error message in a step 165 of Figure 3C. Next, in a step 170 of Figure 3c, SOC Ul of Figure 2 returns to the so-called Sleep Mode.

Other than antenna El and battery Bl of Figure 2, the rest of the circuitry of sensor assembly 8 that is depicted in Figure 2 is mounted on a first printed circuit board (PCB) 25 of Figure 1 A. Battery Bl is mounted on a second PCB 26 that is connected to PCB 25 using pin standoffs 27. PCB 25, PCB 26 and pin standoffs 27 are contained in an enclosure 148a to form a structure having a length dimension, measured in the direction of the movement of deadbolt 16, of approximately 1/3 inch. Enclosure 148a has an opening 148b for enabling deadbolt 16 to contact plunger switch SI of Figure 2 of sensor 28a of Figure 1 A when deadbolt 16 is engaged for locking door 46.

A spring 29 has an end portion, remote from PCB 26, which makes a sliding contact, without being fastened or immobilized, to a back wall 22a of housing 22. Spring 29 has an opposite end that is mechanically attached to PCB 26. Thus, spring 29 is interposed between sensor assembly 8 and back plate 22a. As explained later on, during installation, spring 29 and the structure of PCB 25, PCB 26 and pin standoffs 27 are manually pushed into cavity 24 to remain there indefinitely.

Deadbolt 16 should, preferably, have sufficient clearance relative to plunger switch SI of Figure 2 so as not to contact switch SI when deadbolt 16 of Figure 1A is unlocked. Also, deadbolt 16, preferably, should be able to contact plunger switch SI of Figure 2 without causing spring 29 of Figure 1 A to be fully

compressed when deadbolt 16 is locked.

In carrying out an advantageous feature, battery Bl of Figure 2, switch SI, detector U2 and SOC Ul are disposed on the structure formed by PCB 25 and PCB 26 that is connected to spring 29. Interposing spring 29 between wall 22a of housing 22 and the structure formed by PCB 25, PCB 26 and standoffs 27, advantageously, provides a capability to displace together battery Bl, switch SI, detector U2 and SOC Ul that are entirely contained in cavity 24 of Figure 1 A. Displacing together battery Bl, switch SI, detector U2 and SOC Ul of Figure 1 A is caused by the movement of deadbolt 16. The flexing capability of spring 29 compensates for a particular travel distance selected for deadbolt 16, a particular selected length of deadbolt 16 and a particular gap selected between door 46 and frame 44. The compensation is obtained by different extent of

compression/expansion of spring 29 when deadbolt 16 is moved from the unlock position to the lock position, and vice versa. In carrying out another advantageous feature, the ability of PCB 25, PCB 26 and pin standoffs 27 to move together laterally in response to locking/unlocking deadbolt 16 by the operation of spring 29 avoids the need to adjust the position of sensor assembly 8, during installation in door frame 44. This feature makes sensor assembly 8 versatile for accommodating differences among travel distances and differences in lengths of different deadbolts similar to deadbolt 16 and also differences of corresponding gaps between variety of door and door frame combinations such as between door 46 and door frame 44.

In carrying out a further advantageous feature, packaging battery Bl, Balun- Low Pass Filter integrated passive component T, SOC Ul, IR detector U2 and switch SI on the structure formed by PCB 25, PCB 26 and pin standoffs 27 avoids the need for installing any part of moveable sensor assembly 8 externally to cavity 24. Additionally, sensor assembly 8 can be manufactured in sizes to accommodate common industry standards. Thus, sensor assembly 8 and housing 22 require minimal or no modification of pre-existing combinations of door frame, door and deadbolt.

Advantageously, in addition to the spring action of spring 29, spring 29 may also serve as antenna El of Figure 2. This feature provides a more efficient use of spring 29.

Figure IB illustrates a side view of the sensor assembly 8 of Figure 1 A when it is separate from frame 44 and before being inserted into cavity 24. Figure 1C illustrates a front view of the sensor assembly 8 of Figure IB. Similar symbols and numerals in Figures 1A, IB, 1C, 2, 3a, 3b and 3c indicate similar items or functions.

Advantageously, sensor assembly 8 of Figure 1 A is not firmly attached to any of the walls of cavity 24. For example, spring 29 touches wall 22a without being firmly attached to it. Sensor assembly 8 of each of Figure 1C includes a group of 4 resilient legs 47 that are evenly distributed each 90 degree angular interval around its circumference 48. Each leg 47 is formed of a flexible material to form an arc-shaped spring. When sensor assembly 8 of Figure IB is still not installed in cavity 24 of Figure 1 A, a curved portion 47a of each leg 47 of Figure IB is tangent to circumference 48 of Figure 1C having a center axis 49 and a diameter Dl. Diameter Dl is larger than diameter D2 of cavity 24 of Figure 1A, when sensor assembly 8 of Figure IB is still not installed in cavity 24 of Figure 1A.

Advantageously, during installation, sensor assembly 8 of Figure IB is inserted into cavity 24 of Figure 1 A merely by a manual sliding push.

Consequently, flexible legs 47 of Figure IB are flexed such that distance Dl of Figure 1C contracts, in a manner not shown, and becomes equal to distance D2 of Figure 1A.

Axis 49 of Figure IB also represents a direction of displacement of sensor 28a, for example. When sensor assembly 8 is installed inside cavity 24, each of flexible legs 47 of Figure IB produces a radial force, not shown, having a component in a direction perpendicular to a direction of axis 49 of Figure IB.

Advantageously, flexible legs 47 are capable of, advantageously, hindering sensor system 8 of Figure 1 A from falling out of or separating from cavity 24 when deadbolt 16 is in the unlock position. As indicated before, flexible legs 47 of

Figure IB enable insertion of sensor assembly 8, during installation into cavity 24 of Figure 1A. Thus, as explained before, installing sensor assembly 8 in cavity 24 is simply done by merely pushing it into cavity 24 that can be accomplished by substantially untrained user.

Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a communication network 300 for communicating the status of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1A to a user, not shown, via a cell phone 301 of Figure 4. Similar symbols and numerals in Figures 1A, IB, 1C, 2, 3a, 3b, 3c and 4 indicate similar items or functions.

For obtaining status information of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1A, the user activates a cell-phone App in cell phone 301 of Figure 4. Accordingly, cell phone 301 makes a phone call to a so called internet cloud 302 through a subscribed cellphone service such as Skype or Google. The phone call will typically be

transmitted over a 3G network or a Long-Term Evolution network (4G LTE) wireless communication network 303.

A Cell-Phone service provider creates an Internet Protocol (IP) packet or packets 304, in a well-known manner. IP, as the primary protocol in the Internet layer of the Internet protocol suite, has the task of delivering packets 304 from the source host to the destination host based on the IP addresses in the packet headers. IP packet 304 is routed, using a correct media access control (MAC) address, not shown, that is a unique identifier assigned to a targeted gateway 305 in, for example, a user's home. Gateway 305 contains a ZigBee router. This router utilizes the well-known ZigBee specification protocol used to create wireless personal area network (WPAN) for small low power wireless communication devices.

A subnetwork, or subnet address, forming a subdivision the IP address, is used to get the corresponding packet 304 to targeted deadbolt system 8 via BLE- ZigBee bridge device 306 that is paired with deadbolt system 8 forming an end point device. Gateway 305 translates received IP packet 304 so that it can be routed to BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 installed in the user's home using the corresponding subnet address. Thus, the translated packet in gateway 305 is sent to BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 using ZigBee wireless protocol utilizing 2.4GHZ carrier frequency with 16 channels. The data in the received packet 304 specify that deadbolt sensor system 8 is to be queried. ZigBee bridge device 306 contains updated information on deadbolt sensor system 8 that is attached to it. SOC Ul of Figure 2 is mostly in a low-power mode and periodically wakes up to check the status of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A and send that information to BLE- ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figure 4 using the BLE protocol, as mentioned before.

BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 then retains the latest status of the deadbolt

16 of Figure 1 A. Upon user initiated command via the cell-Phone App in cell phone 301 of of Figure 4, the latest updated status of the deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A is then of of Figure 4, the latest updated status of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A is then sent back to cell phone 301 of Figure 4 using the same MAC addressing scheme. Thus, advantageously, the latest status of deadbolt 16 of Figure 1 A can be communicated to cell phone 301 of Figure 4 situated virtually anywhere in the world.

Because SOC Ul of Figure 2 is operated from small coin battery Bl, its power consumption should be, preferably, kept low. Therefore, the range of the BLE wireless signal between antenna El of Figure 1 A and an antenna, not shown, of BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figure 4 is typically limited to 50' or less. In many cases, it can't transmit through walls. In contrast, BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 can be powered from a conventional mains line voltage VMAIN that in the United States is 110V. Therefore, BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 does not have the power dissipation constraints of SOC Ul of Figure 2.

Advantageously, the use of the BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figure 4 allows for extending the communication range with Gateway 305 by the use of a built-in transceiver, not shown, in BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306. The result is that the communication range between BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 and the router of Gateway 305 is 100' minimum with the capability of transmitting through walls. An optional security tablet 310 may act as a home security controller. Tablet 310 may employ either BLE protocol or ZigBee protocol for communicating with BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306. If tablet 310 employs the ZigBee protocol , the communication range between BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 and tablet 310 is also 100' minimum with the capability to transmit through walls.

Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a home-automation network 400 forming an expansion of communication network 300 of Figure 4 for

communicating with several sensors including deadbolt sensor system 8 of Figure 4. Similar symbols and numerals in Figures 1A, IB, 1C, 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4 and 5 indicate similar items or functions.

BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 of Figure 5 creates a piconet that includes deadbolt sensor system 8 and a similar deadbolt sensor system 88 that may be attached to it with BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 as a master. At any given time, data can be transferred between BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306, as the master, and any of deadbolt sensor systems 8 and 88, as slave devices. As master, BLE- ZigBee bridge device 306 can choose which slave device to address.

Each deadbolt sensor systems 8 and 88 is typically in a low-power, sleep state and is periodically woken up by an internal timer of the corresponding SOC Ul of Figure 1 A that is set for a prescribed cycle by BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306.

BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 retains information of when each of deadbolt sensor systems 8 and 88 wakes up and establishes communications with it that includes exchange of data. BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 then resynchronizes the wake up time with each of deadbolt sensor systems 8 and 88, sets the period of time to re-wake up, initiates the command for the corresponding deadbolt sensor systems 8 or 88 to start its internal wake-up timer in the corresponding SOC Ul of Figure 1A, and then commands the corresponding deadbolt sensor systems 8 or 88 of Figure 5 to go into its low power sleep state.

If a new deadbolt sensor system, not shown, similar to deadbolt sensor systems 8 is added, the new deadbolt sensor system and BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 undergo a so-called bonding process whereby the two devices are paired. This process is triggered either by a specific a user command to generate a bond, referred to as dedicated bonding, or it is triggered automatically when initially installed into service and the identity of a device is required for security purposes, referred to as general bonding. The Bluetooth protocol with deadbolt sensor systems 8 and 88 implements confidentiality, authentication, and key derivation with custom algorithms based on the SAFER+ block cipher.

A communication network 300' of Figure 5 is similar to communication network 300 having elements that are, each, referred to by similar symbols and numerals as in network 300 except for a prime symbol," "', that is appended to the corresponding element reference in network 300'. A resulting combined network topology of networks 300 and 300' is referred to as a star network. This means that BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306 and a BLE-ZigBee bridge device 306', for example, communicate with the router of Gateway 305 but not with each other.