Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for automatically achieving outbound broadband connectivity to a remote server including the steps of sending a message to the remote server, waiting for an inbound connection request, setting an inbound method of connectivity if an inbound connection request is received, sending an outbound poll if the inbound connection request is not received, setting an outbound method of connectivity, and retrying to connect via the inbound or the outbound method until either of the inbound or outbound methods successfully connects to the remote server

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a method and system for establishing network connectivity between a system or device and a remote computer server, and more specifically for establishing network connectivity so that the remote server can communicate with and/or control the system or device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Virtually all businesses maintain a continuous connection to the Internet, often referred to as a broadband connection. It is also increasingly common to find broadband connections in homes. Generally a broadband connection can be shared by several computers or devices. Such sharing is typically accomplished by use of a router. The router can have one broadband connection and a plurality of distribution connections. The distributed connections can be either wired connections, as by cat. 5 cabling, or by wireless connections, as by WiFi. Most routers include one or more security features, such as a firewall, to block uninvited externally generated potentially malicious or mal-intended information packets from entering computers or devices serviced by the router. 
         [0003]    While router firewalls are important to help create secure computer networks, both in commercial and in home settings, any such security measures can also cause the installation of a new device to be problematic. For example, a customer installing a new device with Internet connectivity via a home router might find that they cannot establish full connectivity with the new device. On calling technical support at the manufacturer of the device, the consumer might be directed to call the manufacturer of the router. Then on calling technical support at the manufacturer of the router, the consumer might be directed to contact the device manufacturer for more information. Or, where the device or equipment needing internet connectivity is being installed by a commercial installer, the installing technician might not be familiar with computer related issues. In such cases, it can be cost prohibitive to the installing company to have installers dealing with a great variety of router types and router network configurations. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a method and apparatus that can allow a device to be simply “plugged in” to a business or home wired or wireless network to achieve broadband connectivity with a remote server on its own, without further intervention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for automatically achieving outbound broadband connectivity to a remote server comprising the steps of: providing a device or system having a broadband connection; providing a broadband access; connecting the device or system to the broadband access; sending a message to the remote server to establish a connection with the remote server; closing the connection to the remote server; waiting for an inbound connection request; setting an inbound method of connectivity if an inbound connection request is received within a first allotted time; sending an outbound poll if the inbound connection request is not received within the first allotted time; setting an outbound method of connectivity if a response to the outbound poll is received from the remote server within a second allotted time; and retrying to connect via the inbound or the outbound method until either of the inbound or outbound methods successfully connects to the remote server. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the invention relates to an HVAC system including a HVAC plant for controlling the comfort levels in a space. The HVAC system also includes a system access module (“SAM”) to provide remote control of the HVAC plant. The SAM is electrically wired to the HVAC plant and has a broadband connection, wherein the SAM establishes connectivity to a remote computer server by first trying an inbound connection method, then trying an outbound connection and the SAM automatically chooses either the inbound connection or the outbound connection to cause the remote computer server to be communicately coupled to the SAM via the broadband connection. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a system for automatically connecting a device to a remote server including a broadband access point. The system also includes a microcomputer board. The microcomputer board has a broadband connection to the broadband access point, and the microcomputer board has a microcomputer programmed to automatically select an inbound or an outbound connection method to a remote computer server. The system also includes a device to be controlled by the microcomputer board. The device is electrically coupled to the microcomputer board, wherein following the automatic selection of the inbound or the outbound connection mode to the remote computer server, the remote computer server performs an action via the broadband access point. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a further understanding of these and objects of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, where: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system or device controlled by a SAM connected via a broadband connection to a remote computer server; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a flowchart suitable to carry out automatic selection of an inbound or an outbound method to connect to a remote computer server according to the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Internet connectivity can generally be made by connection to a distribution point on either a wired or wireless router. Some computers and devices, even after achieving a technically correct connection, such as via a wired cat. 5 Ethernet cable, or a wireless WiFi connection, still cannot work properly without further technical intervention. Such further technical intervention often involves opening a port or setting an exception to overcome router firewall issues or internet service provider (“ISP”) restrictions. Such interventions, while simple and routine to an Internet Technology (“IT”) professional can be daunting to a consumer or an installer in a non-computer related trade. 
         [0013]    One exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the exemplary system embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the goal is to install a system or device  102  controlled by SAM  101  and to have the SAM  101  automatically connect to a particular server  108 , typically a remote computer server. Once successfully communicatively connected to server  108 , server  108  can control device or system  102  via SAM  101 . Such control can be by real time, prearranged, and/or preprogrammed actions and events, residing on server  108 , or by real time, prearranged, and/or preprogrammed actions and events communicated to server  108  from another computer, such as illustrated by exemplary server  109 , another computer server, shown in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, a user of a device or system  102  controlled by SAM  101  can log in to a server such as server  109  and establish control over device or system  102  controlled by SAM  101  such as by a connection to the Internet as illustrated by user access block  110 . 
         [0014]    A communications module, referred to in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  as a system access module (“SAM”)  101  can communicate with a device or system  102  controllable by SAM  101  such as a heating ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system. SAM  101  can be built into such a device or system or a SAM  101  can be co-located and connected to the system or device, typically by connecting wires or cables. Embedded driver  103  can perform the inventive method described below in conjunction with Internet driver  104  that performs basic TCPIP network connectivity functions. In this system embodiment, Internet driver  104  can be communicately coupled to the Internet via a local wired (typically Ethernet) or wireless (typically WiFi) connection via wired or wireless router  106 . Router  106  can be connected in turn to the Internet  105  typically by a broadband connection. Any suitable type of broadband connectivity including for example, DSL, cable modem, FIOS, or hardwired connection such as a T1 line can be used. Moreover, there is no particular requirement for a router  106 . Any suitable substitute broadband access connection or broadband access point can be used. 
         [0015]    Also, while an installer of a device or system  102  controlled by SAM  101  need not be concerned with detailed setup and/or connectivity issues related to establishing communications to server  108 , the mere presence of a SAM  101  on the local router  106  network can provide another convenient access point for connecting an installer or user computer  112  to SAM  101  via a local wired or wireless network, through a local wired or wireless connection to router  106 . Such a connection can be conveniently made, for example, using a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc. SAM  101  can also present a user web interface for controlling or reading diagnostic information from device or system  102 . 
         [0016]    Using hardware having similar functionality to the exemplary system described in  FIG. 1 , the inventive method allows a newly connected or newly installed device or system  102  having at least an equivalent of embedded driver  103 , but not necessarily a SAM  101 , to automatically connect device or system  102  to server  108  via a network connection. Such a connection can typically be made via a local network router, the Internet  105 , and server  108 . Once connected to the local network, embedded driver  103  begins the connection process, generally by communicating in TCPIP through an Internet driver  104 . 
         [0017]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the inventive method is explained in more detail. The first programmed step is to open a network connection. Next registration is accomplished by outbound traffic sent to server  108 . Following the registration process, the connection is closed. Embedded driver  103  then waits for an inbound connection request from server  108 . It is this step that frustrates most conventional system and device connections to server  108 , because router  106  and/or an ISP for the local broadband connection typically thwart unsolicited inbound traffic as a perceived security threat. In the exceptional case where such an inbound connection is successfully made, the “inbound” mode of communications, where server  108  can contact embedded driver  103  at will, can be selected as the preferred mode for communications. Most likely, however, the inbound connection will be automatically refused and will not work. In this second case, embedded driver  103  sends an outbound poll to server  108 . Because server  108  was just polled, router  106  will allow server  108  to connect by inbound traffic from server  108 . Such inbound traffic immediately following a poll request by embedded driver  103  is virtually always viewed as safe or at least as allowable solicited inbound traffic. When the second method works, the second “outbound method” is established as the preferred mode of Internet connectivity between embedded driver  103  and server  108 . In the exemplary system of  FIG. 1 , SAM  101  has thus automatically been linked to server  108  via router  106 , through the Internet  105 . 
         [0018]    In the unlikely event that the outbound method also fails, upon recognizing “connect failed”, the automatic connection routine can attempt to reconnect following a timed interval or reset sequence (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Such a failure could occur, for example, where an installer or user powers up a system performing the inventive method before connecting an Ethernet connection, or before installing a local area network WiFi router. It is also understood that a user might need to enter a WEP or WPA key in order to open a connection with a WiFi router. Such a basic step can be a necessity for connecting anything to a WiFi router so securely configured, and is not considered on par with needing intervention by an IT professional or computer technician as has previously been discussed with regard to opening ports or creating security and firewall exceptions. 
         [0019]    It should be emphasized that a SAM  101  as shown in  FIG. 1  was merely used to illustrate one embodiment of a system using the inventive method. The functionality of the inventive automatic routine to connect a system or device to be controlled by a server, such as server  108 , by an automatically selected inbound mode or outbound mode can also be accomplished by programming any suitable computer having a network interface to perform the inventive method. Suitable computers include microcomputers, microprocessors, or any embedded microcomputer like device that can perform the functions of a computer or microcomputer. Once connected by either the inbound or the outbound connection mode, sever  108  can send periodic status queries to the system or device to be controlled by sever  108 . 
       Example 1 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , System  102  is a home comfort system (such as a residential HVAC system) located in a seasonal home, such as a winter or summer home that is otherwise generally unoccupied. SAM  101  is a system access module as manufactured by the Carrier Corporation. An installer installs the home comfort system and couples control input/output connections of SAM  101  to the comfort system in a conventional manner analogous to an installation of a multifunction thermostat. Once connected to a local broadband connection, as for example, by a wired cat. 5 cable to a wired router  106 , such as a wired router manufactured by the Cisco Systems Corporation, SAM  101  attempts to contact a server  108  using the first inbound method. The firewall in router  106  prevents unsolicited inbound traffic from server  108  at some later time after SAM  101  registered with server  108  and closed the connection. After about one minute, SAM  101  tries to connect via the outbound poll method and succeeds. Thereinafter, SAM  101  establishes communications with server  108  every minute via the automatically selected outbound method. At a later time following installation, the home owner of the seasonally used home in another state logs into a computer server  109  via the Internet  105 . Server  109  connects to server  108  by a prearranged communication path set up by the manufacturer of the comfort system and transparent to the home owner. Using the established connection, server  108  can periodically send status inquiries the home comfort system. Thus, the homeowner&#39;s computer display can show an internet web page reflecting the temperatures and thermostat set points in the seasonally used, but presently unoccupied home. The homeowner also has the ability to change any of the temperature set points using a web page graphical user interface. 
       Example 2 
       [0021]    The SAM  101  of example 1 can have additional input/output ports for connecting to other systems or devices. For example, a basement water detector can present a digital output signal to a SAM  101  input indicating undesired water in the basement. On detecting such a digital signal, SAM  101  can then notify server  108  of the water condition and any number of optional notification events can follow, including email, phone, and similar such notifications to interested parties such as a local caretaker, a local service company, and the home owner. 
       Example 3 
       [0022]    A home owner installs a fossil fuel powered electric back up generator next to their home. The generator has an internal microcomputer based control board including an Ethernet connection that can be connected to the consumer&#39;s local wired broadband router. Once a week, the generator performs automatic maintenance checks and logs the results in local memory. On detecting a failed condition of some part of the generator back up system, the generator reports the failure to a computer server using the internet connectivity between the generator and the computer server as achieved using the inventive method. No SAM is present or needed. All of the relevant functions, such as the embedded driver and internet driver are provided on the local back up generator microcomputer control board. 
         [0023]    The inventive method solves most security related Internet conductivity problems in spite of most existing router and ISP security restrictions. A device incorporating the inventive method of Internet device connectivity as described with respect to  FIG. 1  can achieve true “plug and play” internet appliance performance generally without further need for computer expert assistance or IT intervention. The principle of operation is that most router and ISP security measures allow outbound TCPIP packet transmissions, but limits some or all of the unsolicited inbound TCPIP traffic. It can be desirable to allow asynchronous inbound traffic from a server attempting to interact with an internet device, therefore this mode of Internet connection is preferable. However, where such connectivity is precluded without further intervention, a device using the inventive method automatically switches to a second outbound mode of connection where exchanges can be initiated by the device at a periodic interval resulting in responses that are allowed by most security systems as direct TCPIP responses to outgoing router traffic to a specific server. 
         [0024]    It should be noted that while exemplary references were made herein to wired connections using cat. 5 cables, the types of wired cable are unimportant to practicing the inventive method and system. Any suitable wireless or wired network connection can be used, including for example, wired cat. 3 connections. 
         [0025]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.