Patent · US Active

Communicating through a server between appliances and applications

US8588990B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 2011
Grant dateNov 19, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 7, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L12/2803
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating between electrical appliances (e.g. smoke detectors, thermostats, refrigerators, TV program recorders, lawn/garden sprinkler systems, irrigation control systems, etc.) and cloud-based applications (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, email, SMS, etc.) includes a server that translates communications between the communication protocols used by the appliances and applications. The electrical appliances include a minimum complexity necessary to perform their primary functions and to communicate with the server. Additional complexity necessary for the electrical appliances to communicate with the cloud-based applications is enabled by the server remote from the electrical appliances.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.