Transducer access point

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.