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Technical field

This invention relates to a communication system and a method for communication between a control device and one or more apparatuses to be controlled.

More specifically, this invention is used in any technical field in which there is a control of apparatuses by a device. By way of example, the apparatuses can be home automation apparatuses (lamps, roller blinds, television, ...), radio-controlled drones, audio/video systems, software applications, .... Whereas the control devices may be represented by a smartphone, a PC, a tablet or similar item not expressly mentioned herein. For example, in the case of a household automation context, the smartphone controls apparatuses such as lights, air conditioning systems, heating, etc. In other words, the structure in which this invention is applied is of client-server type wherein the client is represented by the device whilst the server is represented by the apparatus.

Background art

A communication system is currently used for controlling these apparatuses which comprises the following steps:

- the device interrogates the apparatus asking it to identify itself;

- the apparatus responds and sends a signal containing the identification information of the apparatus (this information is usually collected together in an ".xml" file);

- at this point, the device is able to control the apparatus by suitable control signals.

However, this prior art technique has several drawbacks linked to the fact that if the apparatus is modified (for example, a function/action is added) it is necessary to rewrite the ".xml" file in such a way as to update it with the action corresponding to the modification performed. Consequently, the user must substantially re-program the apparatus or the control unit which governs it so that it is updated with the modification performed.

In this situation, the aim of this invention is to provide a communication system and a method for communication between a control device and one or more apparatuses to be controlled which overcomes the above- mentioned drawbacks.

Aim of the invention

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a communication system which is more flexible with regard to the modifications of the apparatuses to be controlled.

Yet more specifically, the aim of the invention is to make a communication system which makes it possible to automatically update the signal for sending the information to the control device with the modifications of the apparatus.

The aims indicated are substantially achieved by a communication system and method as described in the accompanying claims. Brief description of drawings

Further characteristic features and advantages of this invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of a communication system illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 a is a schematic view of a block diagram relative to macro-types of actions relating to the apparatuses to be controlled;

- Figure 1 b is a schematic view of an enlargement of the macro-types of actions relating to the apparatuses to be controlled;

- Figure 1 c is a schematic view of an example of the apparatuses represented by a single macro-type;

- Figure 1 d is a schematic view of an example of the apparatuses represented by several macro-types;

- Figure 1 e is a schematic view of a meta-model of a TV apparatus;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of a block diagram relating to the communication system between the device and three apparatuses to be controlled;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a block diagram of the logic communication sequence between the device and an apparatus.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a communication system according to this invention.

More specifically, the communication system 1 comprises a control device 3 and one or more apparatuses 2 to be controlled operatively connected to the control device 3. By way of example, the control device 1 may be a smartphone or a PC or a tablet or other similar item not expressly described herein. The apparatuses 2 to be controlled can be defined by an electrical household appliance, a door, a tap, a light, a drone, a software application, etc.

It should be noted that the control device 3 and the apparatuses 2 are connected for transmitting and receiving signals. Preferably, both the control device 3 and the apparatuses 2 are connected to a local network by which the signals are exchanged. More specifically, the control device 3 and each apparatus 2 comprise respective signal transmitting/receiving units configured to transmit/receive a signal.

In the preferred embodiment, the control device 3 and the apparatus 2 to be controlled are configured so as to wirelessly exchange the request signal and the response signal.

Each apparatus 2 to be controlled comprises a relative database 4 containing the respective identification information (for example brand, model, ....) and information relating to the functions/information that the apparatus 2 is able to perform/return (for example, if it is a blind to be wound the functions will be: raising, lowering, ... whilst the information will be open state, closed state).

In other words, the functions to be carried out correspond to actions (lifting, lowering, etc.), whilst the information to be returned corresponds to a measuring of parameters (percentage of opening, etc.).

In the preferred embodiment, this database 4 is defined by a file (preferably having an ".xml" extension) containing the identification information of the apparatus 2 and the functions/information which the apparatus 2 is able to perform/return. Preferably, the rows contain the correspondence between the electrical signals 13 which allow the apparatus 2 to perform the functions/information. It should be noted that these electrical signals 13 may be handled by means of a predetermined communication protocol.

For example, the electrical signals can be of the 1/0, SPI, UART, I2C type etc, whilst the communication protocols can be MQTT, ModBus, DMX512, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over http, etc.

The control device 3 is configured for sending a request signal 5 for the information contained in the database 4 of an apparatus 2.

The apparatus 2 is configured for responding to the request signal 5 sending a response signal 6 containing the information contained in the relative database 4. Preferably, the response signal 6 contains the information identifying the apparatus 2 and the information relative to the functions/information which the apparatus 2 is able to perform/return.

The control device 3 is configured to receive the response signal 6 and to generate a virtual object 7 representing the apparatus 2 to be controlled as a function of the information contained in the response signal 6. In other words, the control device 3 generates a virtual object 7 representing the apparatus 2 to be controlled on the basis of the information contained in the response signal 6.

Moreover, the control device 3 is configured to generate a signal 8 for controlling the apparatus 2 for actuating an action or for receiving the value of a parameter to be measured. The apparatus 2 is configured for:

- receiving the control signal 8;

- performing the function and/or returning the information requested according to the content of the control signal 8;

- sending a signal 9 for changing the status of the control device 3.

Preferably, the status change signal 9 is only sent after the command has been carried out.

In any case, it should be noted that the apparatus 2 is also configured to send the status change signal 9 to the control device 3 irrespective of the request for performing a function or returning information requested by means of the control signal 8 (for example, if the status of the apparatus 2 is modified by another control element such as, for example, a circuit breaker).

Moreover, the apparatus 2 is configured for sending to the control device 3 a signal for updating whether the status of the apparatus 2 or the apparatus itself 2 has been modified by the addition of new functions.

According to this invention, the apparatus 2 is configured for cataloguing the information relating to each function/information of at least one between a first predetermined functions/information macro-type 10 or a second functions/information macro-type 10. In other words, the apparatus 2 is configured for classifying the relative functions/information in predetermined macro-types 10. There are at least two macro types, but there are preferably four: a Boolean function/information (performs a certain function or returns a Boolean Yes/No value), a percentage function/information (performs a particular action or returns a value), content information (returns, for example, a multimedia content and its type, for example 'song'), streaming data (returns a data flow such as, for example, an audio/video reproduction) as shown in Figure 1 b.

Moreover, the apparatus 2 is configured to enter in the relative database 4 the identification information, the functions/information which the apparatus is able to perform/return and the information relative to the macro-type 10 under which each control is applied.

In addition, the apparatus 2 is configured to generate the response signal 6 containing the identification information, the information/functions which the apparatus is able to perform/return and the information relative to the macro-type 10 under which each control is applied.

Figure 1 c shows that the macro-types 10 are combined with each other and personalised to describe different types of apparatuses 2 to be controlled. For example, in that figure, the apparatus 2 is a lamp the functions/information of which are defined by the macro-type 1/0 customised for the "Switching On/Off" action. If a consumption meter is added to the lamp (Figure 1 d), then the apparatus 2 will be modified and its functions/information will consist of the macro-type 1/0 (as defined above) and by a percentage macro-type to provide the consumption value of the lamp.

In other words, each apparatus 2 has functions/information defined in the macro-types 10 provided by the system 1 .

Moreover, to simplify the control of the apparatuses 2, meta-models 14 are provided which define combinations of macro-types 10 (preferably, the macro-types 10 used most frequently are combined).

The meta-models 14 represent complex functions/information of a single apparatus 2 in such a way as to rapidly and simply form functions/information which are even very complex.

The meta-models 14 also advantageously allow facilitating control of the apparatuses 2. For example, an apparatus 2 with the air conditioning function is represented by a meta-model 14 included in the meta-models of a household air conditioning device or a heating system or an air conditioning system for an automobile. In other words, the meta-model relative to the air-conditioning can be reused for different apparatuses 2.

Figure 1 e shows the meta-model 14 of a television comprising a plurality of meta-types 10 representing the list of channels and other commands/information. Advantageously, the meta-model 14 relative to the television may be modified and customised depending on the specific model of television to be controlled.

The control device 3 is configured for receiving the response signal 6 and for updating the information/functions of the virtual object 7 according to the information contained in the response signal 6.

Moreover, the control device 3 is configured for controlling the virtual object 7 according to the respective functions/information associated thereto. More specifically, the control device 3 comprises a services module 1 1 which makes it possible to freely control the virtual object 7. In other words, the services module 1 1 is configured to perform search operations, analysis of activities performed by a user, historical analyses of the statuses of the apparatuses 2, preferences of the user, and for other purposes not expressly mentioned herein, on the virtual objects as a function the respective information/functions. For example, the services module 1 1 allows all the virtual objects to be searched for which are able to perform a predetermined action (e.g. switching on light).

Advantageously, the breakdown of the virtual object 7 into identification information, information relative to the information/functions and macro- types allows a more efficient search by the services module 1 1.

Subsequently, the control signal 8 which is sent to the apparatus contains the information relating to the control of the virtual object 7.

More specifically, it should be noted that the control device 3 comprises a module for sending/receiving the response signal 6 configured to generate the virtual object 7 to be controlled. In the same way, the apparatus 2 comprises a module for sending/receiving the response signal 6 containing the commands relating to the information/functions which the apparatus 2 (real object) is able to perform.

Advantageously, the sending/receiving modules make it possible to translate the signals exchanged between the device 3 and the apparatus 2 into a high level language hiding the language relating to the electrical signals 13 that the sending/receiving module of the apparatus imparts to the rest of the apparatus.

In the preferred embodiment, the request signal 5 and the response signal 6 are exchanged directly between the control device 3 and the apparatus 2 to be controlled without there being a passage through an intermediate device or server for example connected to the Internet (for example, point- point WI-FI ^® connection). In this way it is advantageously possible to have a direct control of the apparatus 2 by means of the device.

In an alternative embodiment, the control device 3 and the apparatus 2 to be controlled may communicate passing through a network such as, for example, a household access point or by using the Internet or by other means.

In some alternative embodiments, the control device 3 is configured for sending a same control signal 8 to several apparatuses 2 so as to perform/return a same function/information simultaneously to these apparatuses 2 (meta-devices). In other words, when several devices have a function/information in common, the set of these controls are grouped together under a single macro-type 10 and may be performed by generating a single control signal 8 sent to the apparatuses 2.

As described above, the structure with which the database 4 is organised is of the hierarchical type and is based on the functions/information which the apparatuses 2 have in common.

Moreover, the device 3 comprises an interface by which a user may interact to operate/modify the virtual objects.

This invention also relates to a method for communicating between the control device 3 and one or more of the apparatuses 2 to be controlled. The method is derived directly from what is described above, which is herebelow incorporated in its entirety.

More specifically, the method comprises a first operating step of sending the request signal 5 for identification from the control device 3 to the apparatus 2 to be controlled. Subsequently, the response signal 6 is generated which is sent from the apparatus 2 to be controlled towards the control device 3 and containing the respective identification information and information relating to the functions/information which the apparatus 2 is able to perform/return.

Moreover, the method comprises generating on the control device 3 the virtual object 7 representing the apparatus 2 to be controlled as a function of the information contained in the response signal 6.

According to this invention, the method also comprises the operating step of cataloguing the information relative to each information/function of at least one between the first predetermined information/functions macro- type 10 or the second information/functions macro-type 10. As mentioned above, there are four macro-types 10, but there may be more or less according to the requirements.

Subsequently, the information relative to the identification of the apparatus, the actions, the information/functions and the macro-type 10 under which each control is applied are entered in the database 4 of the apparatus 2. The response signal 6 contains the information relating to the information/functions macro-type(s) 10 to which the controls which the apparatus 2 is able to perform/return are associated.

In addition, the method comprises receiving the response signal 6 for updating the information/functions of the virtual object 7 according to the information contained in the response signal 6.

As already mentioned, according to this method the request signal 5 and the response signal 6 are preferably exchanged directly between the control device 3 and the apparatus 2 to be controlled. In an alternative embodiment, the control device 3 and the apparatus 2 to be controlled may communicate passing through a network such as, for example, a household access point or by using the Internet or by other means.

Moreover, the request signal 5 and the response signal 6 are preferably exchanged wirelessly.

The method also comprises a step of generating a control signal 8 transmitted by the device 3 for controlling the apparatus 2 for performing an action. More specifically, the method comprises a step of receiving the control signal 8 from the apparatus 2, a step of executing the requested information/function according to the content of the control signal 8 and a step of sending a status change signal 9 to the control device 3 only following the execution of the requested information/function.

Moreover, the method may comprise a step of sending a same control signal 8 from the control device 3 to several apparatuses 2 in such a way as to actuate a same control simultaneously at these apparatuses 2.

It should be noted that the electrical signals 13 which are sent by the apparatus 2 may be controlled by a predetermined communication protocol. For example, the electrical signals can be of the 1/0, SPI, UART, I2C type etc, whilst the communication protocols can be MQTT, ModBus, DMX512, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over http, etc.

Lastly, this invention also relates to a computer program configured to perform the operations according to the method described above.

The invention achieves the preset aims.

More specifically, this invention allows for an abstraction to be performed relative to the complexity of the electrical commands which must be sent to an apparatus to perform a specific function or a detection of a parameter. In effect, the response and control signal contain information relative to the functions/information which the apparatus is able to implement and not the information relating to the electrical commands which are subsequently implemented by the apparatus depending on the functions/information requested by the device.

Moreover, the invention makes it possible to update the virtual representation of the real object in real time when the apparatus has actually changed status or returned the requested parameter.

Moreover, this invention provides a communication system 1 which is flexible with regard to the modifications of the apparatuses 2 to be controlled. In effect, if an item of information/function is added to an apparatus 2 to be controlled, the relative database 4 is updated automatically since the new information/function is associated to a predetermined macro-type 10. In other words, the invention makes it possible to automatically update the signal for sending the information to the control device 3 with the modifications of the apparatus 2.

It should also be noted that this invention reduces the times for construction of apparatuses to be controlled and the development of control devices compared with the prior art.