System and method for server based control

Abstract

A system and method in a building or vehicle for an actuator operation in response to a sensor according to a control logic, the system comprising a router or a gateway communicating with a device associated with the sensor and a device associated with the actuator over in-building or in-vehicle networks, and an external Internet-connected control server associated with the control logic implementing a PID closed linear control loop and communicating with the router over external network for controlling the in-building or in-vehicle phenomenon. The sensor may be a microphone or a camera, and the system may include voice or image processing as part of the control logic. A redundancy is used by using multiple sensors or actuators, or by using multiple data paths over the building or vehicle internal or external communication. The networks may be wired or wireless, and may be BAN, PAN, LAN, WAN, or home networks.

1 . A method for switching and monitoring an Alternating Current (AC) powered appliance, for use with in-wall AC power cable carrying an AC power and connected thereto by an outlet or via an outlet opening, and for use with a wireless network, the method by a device comprising:
 transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from, the wireless network, using an antenna and a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna;   receiving, the AC power from the in-wall AC power cable by a first AC connector connected to the outlet or in the outlet;   connecting to the appliance via a second AC connector;   switching, using an electrically actuated switch that comprises a non-latching type relay, the received AC power between the first and second AC connectors for powering the appliance by the AC power;   measuring, by a current sensor connected between the first and second AC connectors, the AC power to the appliance;   activating, the electrically actuated switch in response to digital data received from the wireless network by wireless transceiver and the antenna; and   transmitting the measured AC power to the appliance to the wireless network by wireless transceiver and the antenna,   wherein the electrically actuated switch, the current sensor, the antenna, and the wireless transceiver, are housed in a single enclosure housing, and   wherein the device consists of, comprises, or is integrated with, the outlet or a plug-in module that is pluggable to the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the current sensor comprises an ampermeter, galvanometer, or a hot-wire ampermeter. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the current sensor comprises a current clamp, a current probe, a current transformer, or uses a ‘Hall effect’. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is a non-contact or a non-conductive current meter. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a magnitude of an active AC power or an electrical energy consumed by the appliance by using a wattmeter connectable between the first and second AC connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the wattmeter comprises single or multi-phase AC power or energy meter. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the wattmeter comprises a bolometer, or wherein the wattmeter accumulates or averages readings. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the wattmeter comprises the current sensor, or wherein the wattmeter is based on multiplying a measured voltage and the current measured by the current sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the wattmeter or the current sensor are induction based. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically actuated switch is ‘normally open’ type, ‘normally closed’ type, or a changeover switch, wherein the electrically actuated switch is ‘make-before-break’ or ‘break-before-make’ type, or wherein the electrically actuated switch comprises two or more poles or two or more throws. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein contacts of the electrically actuated switch are arranged as a Single-Pole-Double-Throw (SPDT), Double-Pole-Double-Throw (DPDT), Double-Pole-Single-Throw (DPST), or Single-Pole-Changeover (SPCO). 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay is a solenoid-based electromagnetic relay that is a reed relay, wherein the relay is solid-state or semiconductor based, or wherein the relay is a Solid State Relay (SSR). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically actuated switch is based on an electrical circuit that comprises an open collector transistor, an open drain transistor, a thyristor, a TRIAC, or an opto-isolator. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), the antenna is a WPAN antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a WPAN modem. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the WPAN is according to, based on, or compatible with, Bluetooth™ or Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.1-2005 standards. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the WPAN is according to, based on, or compatible with, Zigbee™, IEEE 802.15.4-2003, or Z-Wave™ standards. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), the antenna is a WLAN antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a WLAN modem. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the WLAN is according to, based on, or compatible with, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, or IEEE 802.11ac. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a wireless broadband network. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network uses a licensed or unlicensed radio frequency band. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the unlicensed radio frequency band is an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio band. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a satellite network, the antenna is a satellite antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a satellite modem. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a WiMAX network, wherein the antenna is a WiMAX antenna and the wireless transceiver is a WiMAX modem, and wherein the WiMAX network is according to, or based on, or compatible with, IEEE 802.16-2009. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a cellular telephone network, the antenna is a cellular antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a cellular modem. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cellular telephone network is a Third Generation (3G) network that uses Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) UMTS, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), UMTS Time-Division Duplexing (TDD), CDMA2000 1×RTT, Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), or Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) EDGE-Evolution, or wherein the cellular telephone network is a Fourth Generation (4G) network that uses Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), Mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA), or is based on IEEE 802.20-2008. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sensing a physical phenomenon in the single enclosure by a first sensor having an output. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising activating the electrically actuated switch in response to the physical phenomenon. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising wherein transmitting, by the wireless transceiver and the antenna, digital data in response to the physical phenomenon. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor is a piezoelectric sensor that includes single crystal material or a piezoelectric-ceramics and uses a transverse, longitudinal, or shear effect mode of the piezoelectric effect. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising multiple sensors arranged as a directional sensor array operative to estimate a number, magnitude, frequency, Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA), distance, or speed of the physical phenomenon impinging the sensor array. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor is a thermoelectric sensor that responds to a temperature or to a temperature gradient of an object using conduction, convection, or radiation, and wherein the thermoelectric sensor consists of, or comprises, a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistor, a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor, a thermocouple, a quartz crystal, or a Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD). 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, a nanosensor, a crystal, or a semiconductor. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, an eddy-current sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, an atmospheric or an environmental sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, a bulk or surface acoustic sensor. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, a radiation sensor that responds to radioactivity, nuclear radiation, alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays, and is based on gas ionization. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, a photoelectric sensor that responds to a visible or an invisible light, and wherein the invisible light is infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, or gamma rays. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the photoelectric sensor is based on the photoelectric or photovoltaic effect, and consists of, or comprises, a semiconductor component that consists of, or comprises, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a solar cell. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the photoelectric sensor is based on Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) element. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, a photosensitive image sensor array comprising multiple photoelectric sensors, and wherein the method further comprising capturing an image and producing electronic image information representing the image, using the image sensor. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising an image processor coupled to the image sensor for providing a digital data video signal according to a digital video format, the digital video signal carrying digital data video based on the captured images, and wherein the digital video format is based on TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), RAW format, AVI, DV, MOV, WMV, MP4, DCF (Design Rule for Camera Format), ITU-T H.261, ITU-T H.263, ITU-T H.264, ITU-T CCIR 601, ASF, Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format), DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) standards, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, an electrochemical sensor that responds to an object chemical structure, properties, composition, or reactions. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the electrochemical sensor consists of, or comprises, a pH meter or a gas sensor responding to a presence of radon, hydrogen, oxygen, or Carbon-Monoxide (CO), or wherein the electrochemical sensor is based on optical detection or on ionization and is a smoke, a flame, or a fire detector, or is responsive to combustible, flammable, or toxic gas. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, a physiological sensor that responds to parameters associated with a live body. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first sensor consists of, or comprises, an electroacoustic sensor that responds to an audible or inaudible sound. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the electroacoustic sensor is an omnidirectional, unidirectional, or bidirectional microphone that is based on the sensing an incident sound-based motion of a diaphragm or a ribbon, and the microphone consists of, or comprises, a condenser, an electret, a dynamic, a ribbon, a carbon, or a piezoelectric microphone. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising emitting, by a light source in the single enclosure and powered from the AC power, visible or non-visible light for illumination or indication, wherein the non-visible light is infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, or gamma rays. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the emitting is in response to digital data received from the wireless network. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the emitting is in response to the measured AC current. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the light source consists of, or comprises, a lamp, an incandescent lamp, a gas discharge lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a Solid-State Lighting (SSL), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), an Organic LED (OLED), a polymer LED (PLED), or a laser diode. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising affecting, by an actuator in the single enclosure, a physical phenomenon, and wherein the actuator is activated or controlled in response to digital data received from the wireless network. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the actuator consists of, or comprises, a motion actuator that causes linear or rotary motion, and the method further comprising converting to rotary or linear motion based on a screw, a wheel and axle, or a cam. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the affecting comprises converting, by a sounder, an electrical energy to omnidirectional, unidirectional, or bidirectional pattern emitted, audible or inaudible, sound waves. 
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the actuator consists of, or comprises, an electromagnetic coil or an electromagnet operative for generating a magnetic or electric field. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the actuator consists of, or comprises, an electrical signal generator. 
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the actuator consists of, or comprises, a chemical or an electrochemical actuator, and is operative for producing, changing, or affecting a matter structure, properties, composition, process, or reactions. 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 51 , the actuator consists of, or comprises, a thermoelectric actuator and is a heater or a cooler, and wherein the affecting comprises affecting a temperature of a solid, a liquid, or a gas object, that is coupled to the object by conduction, convection, force convention, thermal radiation, or by a transfer of energy by phase changes. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 1 , further being addressable in the wireless network using distinct locally administered addresses or a universally administered digital addresses stored in a volatile or non-volatile memory in the single enclosure, which uniquely identifying the device in the wireless network or in the Internet. 
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the digital address is a Media Access Control (MAC) layer address that is MAC-48, Extended Unique Identifier (EUI) EUI-48, or EUI-64 address type. 
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the digital address is a layer 3 address and is static or dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address that is IPv4 or IPv6 type address. 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the digital address is autonomously assigned, or wherein the digital address is assigned by another device using DHCP. 
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising connecting, by a first connector in the single enclosure, to a first device external to the single enclosure. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the first connector consists of, or comprises, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the first connector is couplable to the AC power cable for powering the first device by the AC power. 
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising powering, by an AC/DC converter in the single enclosure, the device by a DC voltage from the AC power. 
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 65 , wherein the device further comprises in the single enclosure a first connector for connecting to a first device external to the single enclosure, and wherein the first connector is coupled to the AC/DC converter for DC powering the first device.