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.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for bridging data and services in a network, comprising:
 discovering a transducer device in the network with a transducer access device;   creating a virtual transducer device for the transducer device discovered;   interpreting data from the transducer device with an inference engine; and   controlling the transducer device via the transducer access device,   wherein interpreting data comprises collating disparate information from a plurality of transducer devices to represent a higher level event, a higher level event comprising an event not represented by a specific transducer device.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising when the transducer device is turned on:
 connecting to the transducer access device;   identifying the transducer device using a technology protocol; and   recognizing the transducer device.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein controlling includes:
 subscribing to receive event notifications from the transducer device discovered by the transducer access device;   determining activities occurring on the network as a result of an event on the transducer device; and   initiating an action based on the determined activities.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the transducer access device:
 sends advertisements with device descriptions to a control device;   responds to search requests from the control device searching for the transducer device on the network; and   maintains a status of the transducer device.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , 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. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the transducer access device is part a computing device. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the transducer device is one of a blood pressure monitor, a scale, a sensor and a bed. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the control device is a personal computer, a television, a mobile device or a mirror. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the transducer access device is configured with a plurality of technology protocols. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising discovering a plurality of transducer devices and determining an inference based on data from the plurality of transducer devices. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a light level sensor, a pressure sensor and a presence sensor. 
     
     
         31 . A transducer access device method, comprising:
 discovering a transducer device in a network with a transducer access device configured with a plurality of technology protocols; and   creating a virtual transducer device for the transducer device discovered on the network,   collating disparate information from a plurality of transducer devices to represent a higher level event, a higher level event comprising an event not represented by a specific transducer device.   
     
     
         32 . The transducer access device method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 sending advertisements to a control device;   responding to search requests from the control device; and   maintaining a status of the transducer device.   
     
     
         33 . The transducer access device method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving a measurement taken from the transducer; and   transmitting the measurement to the control device.   
     
     
         34 . The transducer access device method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a control device about a status of the transducer device;   converting the request from a protocol of the control device to a protocol of the transducer device; and   sending the converted request to the transducer device.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising discovering a plurality of transducer devices and determining an inference based on data from the plurality of transducer devices. 
     
     
         36 . A transducer access device (TAP) comprising an interface engine and a decision manager, wherein the interface engine is configured to receive and process data received from a plurality of transducer devices and the decision manager is configured to analyze the data received from the plurality of transducer devices. 
     
     
         37 . The TAP of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of transducer devices are selected from the group consisting of: a Bluetooth device, a device operating using a Zigee protocol, a WiFi device and a Z-Wave device. 
     
     
         38 . The TAP of  claim 36 , wherein the transducer access device is part of a computing device. 
     
     
         39 . The TAP of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of transducer devices are selected from the group consisting of: a blood pressure monitor, a scale, a sensor and a bed. 
     
     
         40 . The TAP of  claim 36 , wherein the TAP further comprises a plurality of virtual transducer devices associated with each of the plurality of transducer devices. 
     
     
         41 . The TAP of  claim 40 , wherein plurality of virtual transducer devices communicate with a plurality of control devices in a network. 
     
     
         42 . The TAP of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of control devices are selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a television, a mobile device and a mirror.