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 control device through a first network protocol;   communicate with a transducer device through a second network protocol;   wherein the first and second network protocols are different;   wherein communication with the transducer is in response to communication with the control device.   
     
     
         2 . The transducer access device of  claim 1 , wherein the first network protocol is WiFi. 
     
     
         3 . The transducer access device of  claim 1 , wherein the second network protocol is ZigBee. 
     
     
         4 . The transducer access device of  claim 1 , further configured to discover the transducer device. 
     
     
         5 . The transducer access device of  claim 1 , further configured to represent the transducer device as a virtual transducer to the control device. 
     
     
         6 . The transducer access device of  claim 1 , wherein the control device is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a television, and a mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The transducer access device of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer devices selected from a group consisting of a sensor, an appliance, a presence sensor, and a light. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 the transducer access device of  claim 1 ;   the control device; and   the transducer device.   
     
     
         9 . A transducer access device configured to:
 obtain and store data from a transducer device by communicating with the transducer device through a first network protocol;   transmitting the stored data to a control device by communicating with the control device through a second network protocol;   wherein the first and second network protocols are different.   
     
     
         10 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , wherein transmission of the stored data is in response to a request from the control device. 
     
     
         11 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , wherein transmission of the stored data is in response to an event represented by the stored data. 
     
     
         12 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , wherein the first network protocol is WiFi. 
     
     
         13 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , wherein the second network protocol is ZigBee. 
     
     
         14 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , further configured to discover the transducer device. 
     
     
         15 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , further configured to represent the transducer device as a virtual transducer to the control device. 
     
     
         16 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , wherein the control device is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a television, and a mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The transducer access device of  claim 9 , wherein the transducer devices selected from a group consisting of a sensor, an appliance, a presence sensor, and a light. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 the transducer access device of  claim 9 ;   the control device; and   the transducer device.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processing units housed by a transducer access device, cause the transducer access device to:
 discover at least one transducer device in a network;   subscribe to receive event notifications from the discovered transducer device using a second network protocol;   determine activities occurring on the network as a result of an event on the transducer device; and   transmit a signal to a control device using a first network protocol, the signal configured to alert the control device of the activities.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first network protocol is WiFi. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the second network protocol is ZigBee. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the control device is selected from a group consisting of a computer, a television, and a mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the transducer devices selected from a group consisting of a sensor, an appliance, a presence sensor, and a light.