Automated commissioning of controllers in a window network

Abstract

Techniques are described for generating a graphical user interface for providing information and controlling optically switchable windows connected by a network. Windows are graphically represented using interactive smart objects that are placed within views of the graphical user interface in a manner corresponding to their physical location. In another aspect, a method, system, and/or computer program product is described for associating network IDs of optically switchable windows with the locations at which the windows are installed. Window locations are determined by analyzing received wireless transmissions that are sent from transmitters associated with each of the optically switchable windows. The determined locations are then compared with a representation of the building that provides the window locations. Upon comparison, the network ID of each window, which is communicated through the window transmissions, is associated with the appropriate window location on the representation of the building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 (a) receiving a wireless communication signal from a transmitter associated with at least one of a plurality of tintable windows installed in a building, wherein the communication includes or identifies a network ID of the at least one tintable window;   (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one tintable window;   (c) comparing the location determined in (b) with indicated locations of at least some of the plurality of tintable windows, the indicated locations being indicated in one or more drawings or other representations of the building; and   (d) associating the network ID of the at least one tintable window with one of the indicated locations.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is on or in the tintable window. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tintable window is an insulated glass unit comprising an electrochromic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of pulse-based ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, BLE, and Wi-Fi. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to a pulse-based UWB protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to ECMA-368 or ECMA-369. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein antennas disposed on or proximate windows or window controllers are configured to communicate via a micro-location chip. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal includes determining the relative locations of window controllers comprising micro-location chips using the UWB protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the window controllers is equipped with a tag having a micro-location chip configured to broadcast omnidirectional signals. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the window controllers is equipped with a micro-location chip configured to both send and receive UWB signals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal includes determining the location of the at least one tintable window within an accuracy of 15 cm or better. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a pulse based UWB wireless communication signal includes information encoded by modulating the timing or positioning of pulses. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pulse based UWB wireless communication signal includes information encoded by modulating one or more of a polarity of pulses, pulse amplitude and/or by using orthogonal pulses. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises an antenna disposed on a window controller affixed to the window. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the window controller is configured to issue pulse-based ultra-wideband communication signals. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter is part of a micro-location chip. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna is configured to communicate via the micro-location chip. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the micro-location chip is configured to transmit the wireless communication signal in a manner permitting identification of a micro-location chip's position to within about 10 centimeters or less. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicated locations further comprise locations of one or more non-window components, and wherein the one or more non-window components have a network ID and a transmitter for wireless communication, the method further comprising:
 receiving a wireless communication signal from the transmitter of at least one non-window component, wherein the communication includes the network ID of the at least one non-window component;   analyzing the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one non-window component;   comparing the determined location of the at least one non-window component with the indicated locations of the one or more non-window components; and   associating the network ID of the at least one non-window component with one of the indicated locations.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one non-window component is a master controller or a network controller of a window controller network. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a window network comprising a plurality of tintable windows installed at locations in or on a building and having transmitters; and   commissioning logic configured to execute the following operations:
 (a) receive a wireless communication signal from a transmitter associated with at least one of the plurality of tintable windows, wherein the communication includes or identifies a network ID of the at least one tintable window; 
 (b) analyze the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one tintable window; and 
 (c) compare the location determined in (b) with indicated locations of at least some of the plurality of tintable windows, the indicated locations being indicated in one or more drawings or other representations of the building; and 
 (d) associate the network ID of the at least one tintable window with one of the indicated locations. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the transmitter of each of the tintable windows is configured for wireless communication using a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of pulse-based ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, BLE, and Wi-Fi. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein at least one transmitter of is configured for wireless communication using ECMA-368 or ECMA-369. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the indicated locations further comprise locations of non-window components having a network ID and a transmitter for wireless communication, and wherein the commissioning logic is further configured to execute the following operations:
 receive a wireless communication signal from the transmitter of at least one non-window component, wherein the communication includes the network ID of the at least one non-window component;   analyze the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one non-window component; and   compare the determined location of the at least one non-window component with the indicated locations of the non-window components; and   associate the network ID of the at least one non-window component with one of the indicated locations.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising anchors comprising micro-location chips, located at a variety of known locations in the building. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising one or more items of network equipment disposed at a respective one of the known locations, the one or more items of network equipment including one or more wireless routers, window controllers, or a network controller. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the one or more items of network equipment is equipped with a tag having a micro-location chip configured to broadcast omnidirectional signals. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the system is configured to determine the location of the tag by analyzing the time taken for a broadcast signal to reach the anchors from the tag. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the anchors are configured for temporary installation within the building for the purpose of commissioning. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the anchors are configured to be removed after the commissioning is complete. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the system is configured to determine the location of a first window controller relative to the location of a second window controllers by analyzing received UWB signals at each window controller. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the system is configured to determine the relative locations between all or a portion of the window controllers by aggregating and analyzing received UWB signals at each window controller. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus comprising a controller configured to control the following operations:
 (a) receiving a wireless communication signal from a transmitter associated with at least one of a plurality of tintable windows, the windows being installed at locations in or on a building, wherein the communication includes or identifies a network ID of the at least one tintable window;   (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one tintable window; and   (c) comparing the location determined in (b) with indicated locations of at least some of the plurality of tintable windows, the indicated locations being indicated in one or more drawings or other representations of the building; and   (d) associating the network ID of the at least one tintable window with one of the indicated locations.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the indicated locations further comprise locations of one or more non-window components and the one or more non-window components have a network ID and a transmitter for wireless communication; and the controller is further configured to control the following operations:
 receive a wireless communication signal from the transmitter of at least one non-window component, wherein the communication includes the network ID of the at least one non-window component; 
 analyze the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one non-window component; and 
 compare the determined location of the at least one non-window component with the indicated locations of the one or more non-window components, and associating the network ID of the at least one non-window component with one of the indicated locations. 
   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of pulse-based ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, BLE, and Wi-Fi. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to a pulse-based UWB protocol. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to ECMA-368 or ECMA-369. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal includes determining the relative locations of window controllers comprising micro-location chips using the UWB protocol. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the window controllers is equipped with a tag having a micro-location chip configured to broadcast omnidirectional signals and/or with a micro-location chip configured to both send and receive UWB signals. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein a pulse based UWB wireless communication signal includes information encoded by modulating the timing or positioning of pulses and/or by modulating one or more of a polarity of pulses, pulse amplitude and/or by using orthogonal pulses. 
     
     
         41 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions comprise causing a controller to execute the following operations:
 (a) receiving a wireless communication signal from a transmitter associated with at least one of a plurality of tintable windows, the windows being installed at locations in or on a building, wherein the communication includes or identifies a network ID of the at least one tintable window;   (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one tintable window;   (c) comparing the location determined in (b) with indicated locations of at least some of the plurality of tintable windows, the indicated locations being indicated in one or more drawings or other representations of the building; and   (d) associating the network ID of the at least one tintable window with one of the indicated locations.   
     
     
         42 . The computer program product of  claim 41 , wherein the instructions further comprise causing a controller to execute the following operations:
 receiving a wireless communication signal from the transmitter of at least one non-window component, wherein the communication includes the network ID of the at least one non-window component;   analyzing the received wireless communication signal to determine the location of the at least one non-window component;   comparing the determined location of the at least one non-window component with the indicated locations of the one or more non-window components; and   associating the network ID of the at least one non-window component with one of the indicated locations.   
     
     
         43 . The computer program product of  claim 41 , wherein the wireless communication signal conforms to a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of pulse-based ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, BLE, and Wi-Fi. 
     
     
         44 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the (b) analyzing the received wireless communication signal includes determining the relative locations of window controllers comprising micro-location chips using the pulse-based UWB wireless protocol. 
     
     
         45 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the window controllers is equipped with a tag having a micro-location chip configured to broadcast omnidirectional signals and/or with a micro-location chip configured to both send and receive UWB signals. 
     
     
         46 . The computer program product of  claim 44  wherein the pulse-based UWB wireless communication signal includes information encoded by modulating the timing or positioning of pulses and/or by modulating one or more of a polarity of pulses, pulse amplitude and/or by using orthogonal pulses.