System, Method and Apparatus for Bridge Interface Communication

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for bridge interface communication. A node device can be connected to one or more bridge units using a universal sensor interface. A controller in a node device can communicate with a controller in a bridge unit device using a bi-directional data line. In one embodiment, the bridge unit can account for variable amounts of delay in gathering sensor data using availability signaling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a first interface connection configured for coupling the device to a first sensor subsystem, the first sensor subsystem having a first controller and a first set of one or more sensors of a first type;   a second interface connection configured for coupling the device to a second sensor subsystem having a second controller and a second set of one or more sensors of a second type different from the first type; and   a third controller configured for serial communication via the first and second interface connections, the third controller transmitting a first command to the first controller via the first interface connection and a second command to the second controller via the second interface connection, wherein the first command indicates the first serial communication of first configuration data via the first interface connection to configure an operation of the first sensor subsystem and the second command indicates the second serial communication of first configuration data via the second interface connection to configure an operation of the first sensor subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration data is used to configure an operating mode of the first sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration data is used to configure a data resolution of the first sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration data is used to configure a data sampling rate of the first sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration data is used to reset the first sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration data is used to configure an output action by the first sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a communication subsystem. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the third controller receives a third command from the first sensor subsystem that sensor data measured by the first set of one or more sensors is available for third serial communication via the first interface connection. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor subsystem includes a plurality of environmental sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor subsystem includes a plurality of air quality sensors. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor subsystem includes an occupancy sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 transmitting, by a device to a controller in a sensor subsystem via an interface connection of the device, a first command that indicates a first serial communication of configuration data from the device to the sensor subsystem via the interface connection, the configuration data configuring an operation of the sensor subsystem; and   receiving, by the device from the controller via the interface connection, a second command from the controller that indicates availability of sensor data measured by a set of one or more sensors in the sensor subsystem for second serial communication via the interface connection.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the configuration data is used to configure an operating mode of the sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the configuration data is used to configure a data resolution of the sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the configuration data is used to configure a data sampling rate of the sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the configuration data is used to reset the sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the configuration data is used to configure an output action by the sensor subsystem. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor subsystem includes a plurality of environmental sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor subsystem includes a plurality of air quality sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor subsystem includes an occupancy sensor.